Winning a Cause: World War StoriesThompson, John G. (John Gilbert)
History
Winning a Cause: World War Stories
Thompson, John G. (John Gilbert)
Readers -- History; Readers -- World War, 1914-1918
The people of the United States with those of other countries are
hoping that Paderewski's great national family shall become united in
one free and independent state. They now applaud this master of music
as the first leader of free Poland. He will help destroy Bolshevism
with its cry, "Death to the educated," which has resulted already in
the death of hundreds of doctors, professors, engineers, and in one
case, the extermination of all the pupils in a single high school. He
will join the other great leaders in their belief that "Economic
development, patriotism, and the ennobling of all human souls alone can
lead to freedom."
To the south of Poland in the very heart of Europe is another new
country, which already has set up a democratic government and elected
as its president,--Thomas G. Masaryk, a former professor in the
University of Prague, now the capital of Czecho-Slovakia.
Professor Masaryk spent some time in the United States conferring with
officials at Washington. He was here when he received word that he had
been elected first president of his newly formed country by a
convention held in Geneva, Switzerland.
Great preparations for his return were made by the people. When at one
o'clock on December 22, the booming of cannon told that the president's
train was drawing in at the station, the hundred thousand people who
had poured into the city of Prague were massed on every side to welcome
him and sang, as only the Slavs can sing, their national song.
Soon President Masaryk's train, with its engine elaborately decorated,
steamed in through the silent crowd. In complete silence, Masaryk,
gray-haired and distinguished appearing, left the train and entered the
station. There he saw groups of Czecho-Slovaks in French uniforms,
some wearing the war cross, and groups who had been fighting in the
Italian Alps. He saw also a group of university professors who had
come to honor him.
In the tense silence, one of the leaders of the new republic came
forward. He had for years conspired and worked with Masaryk for the
freedom of their country, and now he greeted him by throwing his arms
about him. After a further greeting from the government officials, and
from the nation's aged and honored poet, Masaryk gave a brief speech
telling of his hopes for the republic. He then passed out to the crowd
who hailed him in a tumult of joy. One who witnessed Masaryk's return
pictures the scenes on the way to the government buildings.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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