word "Czecho-Slovaks." In 1918 the United States also abandoned the idea of preserving AustriaHungary and consented to its dismemberment and disruption. And in the meantime, largely because of Masaryk's successful diplomacy, the various political parties of Bohemia, back in Bohemia itself, had been able to pursue a united policy. And now, coming together, all of them, they united and unanimously summoned Masaryk to return home to guide Bohemia through the present European tempest as its first president and really as its dictator, a dictator freely chosen and universally loved, but a dictator supreme and virtually absolute for the maintenance of law and order and for the solid establishment of a democratic republic.

So Masaryk became Bohemia's Washington, summoned as only Washington before him ever was by all parties without opposition to be the first head of his new country's new Government.

So he prepared to leave Washington. He appointed Charles Pergler to be the commissioner of the Government of Bohemia, to speak for it to the Government of the United States. And he assembled his books and his manuscripts and his notes. And the last day of his stay in Washington came. And he sat in the front room of the new Czecho-Slovak Legation at Washington, facing a plain wooden table with little

methodical pieces of paper on it and pencils. And it was a violent day of horrible hurry for almost everybody else. But Masaryk turned to receive his visitors with the same apparently endless leisure which superficially had always been at his disposal.

The fact is that he never stops working. But the fact is also that he never hastens. He does a million things and goes on instantly to the next one in complete calm.

Czecho-Slovak officers came in breathless and told him their tales of decisions needed, and Masaryk tapped on his table with his pencils and, after listening long, said three words or five and the CzechoSlovak officers went away. And the evening came. And Prince Lvov of Russia was to come with it to see Masaryk at the legation. And at Pergler's house, some distance off, there was a little evening tea, where those who were to accompany Masaryk to Europe and those who were to stay behind were saying their farewells, quite aloof from presidents.

But there was a little tap at the door. And President Masaryk came in. And he sat quietly with his cup of tea and said a few words when anybody reverently said a few words to him, and slowly pulled out his watch and said, "I must go now," and went unhurriedly back to see Prince Lvov punctually at

nine. And those who were to be left behind said, "Well, Father Masaryk is gone."

He is "father" not only to his country, but to the men and women and the children, the individuals, of his country. He will leave his country a greater legacy than greatness. Forever and forever in Bohemia every mother will say to every boy on her knee:

"You can try to be like him. No matter how small you are, you can try to be like him. He was a great man, but more greatly still, he was a simple man and a true man and a good man."