Prague

At the far corner, where the quay Is crossed by Narodni trida (National Street), which debouches onto May Day Bridge, is the National Theatre (Narodni divadlo) in Prague, the finest work of Czech 19th century architecture. The Theatre had an inauspicious start: its cost was met by public subscription, but on August 12 1881, scarcely had it been completed, before it burnt down; new public collections enabled It to be reopened in 1883. It was festively opened twice, and both times with a performance of Smetana's Libuše. The foremost artists of the day shared in the building and decoration of this symbol of a Czech national culture: Architect Josef Zitek, who also designed the House of Artists, the sculptor J. V. Myslbek, the painter Mikulaš Aleš and many others. Aleš's cycle of lunettes, Vlast (Homeland), in the theatre foyer, is a notable work as are also the Curtain, a eulogy in paint on the self-sacrificing spirit of the Czech nation in building the theatre, by Vojtech Hynais, 8 ceiling frescos of allegorical subjects by F. Zenišek and allegorical representations of the different theatre genres In lunettes, by Adolf Liebscher; on the attic of the loggia are statues of Apollo and the Muses, by B. Schnirch, teams of horses driven by the Goddesses of Victory on the pylons of the main facade and the portal on the Gottwald Quay, with statues of Opera and Drama, are by I. Myslbek. In the basement of the National Theatre are the foundation stones brought from historical places throughout the Republic; in 1963 the Foundation Patent, splendidly illuminated by Josef Manes, was discovered, unfortunately in very poor condition, so that it will require much patient reconstruction. The National Theatre is to this day the foremost Czecho-slovak stage, although it is now only one of the 25 theatres the city can boast. We may now continue along National Street which, especially where it approaches the centre, is one of the busiest shopping streets in Prague. It arose, in the same way as Na prikope, by the filling up of the ditch surrounding the city fortifications. Obliquely opposite the National Theatre is the massive building of the Czech Academy of Sciences, with interior sculptural decoration by Myslbek. We pass the Baroque Church of St Ursula at the corner of Voršilska ulice (Ursula Street), of 1704. In front of its portal is a statue of St John Nepomuk, by Ignac Platzer. This section of Narodni trida reaching to ulice 28. rijna (Street of the 28th October), at the corner of which is the department store 'Perla', contains no other buildings of note, but look to see if by chance there is not an interesting exhibition on at the House of Czechoslovak Writers. Another exhibition room is in the Danube Palace, on the right-hand side, and further on is the House of Arts and Crafts, on the same side of the street; in the shop, Krasna jizba, you may perhaps choose some souvenirs or gifts to take home, the work of folk artists, or modern Czech articles for home decoration. Opposite is the shop selling glass and china (No 43) and Just beside it, at the corner of Perlova, is a Tuzex sales point with objects d'art and antiques.