DEAR FRIEND:

We were very pleased to receive your letter.

You have evidently misunderstood the article in question, and also

misquoted it.

If you will look back at page 1,390 you will see that we do not say the

Bohemians are an unruly people, but that they are wild and quickly

irritated--information which you can easily verify for yourself. We had

no intention of making any disparaging remarks about the race. We merely

stated facts which are so well known in Europe that they have become

proverbs.

In reference to the Czech language we must also differ with you. Your

argument that you have friends who speak the language does not strike us

as very sound. There are numbers of Europeans who have learned Chinese,

but that does not alter the fact that Chinese is an abnormally difficult

tongue.

If you will read our article through again you will see that your zeal

for the Bohemians has made you defend them before they were accused.

We stated that the governing of Austria is a very difficult task in

consequence of the three conflicting elements of which it is composed,

and explained the nature and grievance of each element.

You must not let your sympathies cloud your judgment.

The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 54, November 18, 1897 A Weekly Magazine for Boys and Girls · 第 9 / 11 题