• Orchestra of the Prague Sokol Gymnastic Society: participating orchestra

Národní listy 11/3/1863 reported that a ‘Great national entertainment [Velká národní zábava] will take place to benefit „Svatobor“ on Sunday 16th March at 6pm in Žofín Hall. More detailed news of this may be read in the inserts [i.e. advertisements and notices] part of our pages.’ The date of the event being given as the 16th was evidently an error; 16th March 1863 was a monday. Subsequent notices, such as the advertisement published by Národní listy 12/3/1863 and 13/3/1863, clearly reported that the event was to take place ‘On Sunday 15th March’.

Národní listy 12/3/1863 published a substantial advertisement for this event announcing: ‘On Sunday 15th March at 6pm will be a great National Entertainment [národní zábava – národní meaning either ‘national’ or ‘folk’] in aid of Svatobor in Žofín Hall. Music of „Sokol“ will play favourite compositions.’ A lottery would also take place. Distributed at the event to those attending would be a souvenir wooden token inscribed with the mark of the society Svatobor. Admission tickets priced at 50kr could be bought from the Slavonic Bookshop [Slovanské kníhkupectví], in the bookshops of I.L. Kobr and Jaroslav Pospíšil, and on Sunday 15th March from the box office of Žofín from 5pm.’ This advertisement was repeated in this newspaper on 13/3/1863, 14/3/1863 and 15/3/1863. The content of the advertisement was also published in the section of daily news in Národní listy 14/3/1863. This report added that the good cause for which the entertainment was being given would hopefully ensure a strong attendance.

Národní listy 15/3/1863 reported: ‘Entertainment [Zábava]. This evening at 6pm takes place the great national entertainment [velká národní zábava] to benefit Svatobor on Žofín Island, about which we mentioned yesterday.’

On 16/3/1863 Národní listy reported that the ‘National entertainment to benefit Svatobor [Národní zábava ve prospěch Svatoboru], which tooke place yesterday and at which were distributed by lots some articles from Havlíček’s lottery, was numerously attended.’ 700zl was raised for Svatobor. No further details of this event were given by the source.