River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-12-23
THE MONTENEGRO HIGH COURT!
Prince Nikita hearing the Complaints
of his Subjects In Patriarchai

of his Subjects in Patriarchai
Fashion.
Cattaro Corr. London Standard.
There are few customs and specta-
cles still lingering in this age to remind
us that the world was not always pro-
sale, utilitarian and unbelieving-a few
suryivals of the time when the super
stition or the loyalty of all classes
found uncriticised expression in mag
nificent ceremonies. They are dying
fast. The simplest, but also the most
interesting of such quaint shows is
seance of the superior court of appeal
in Montenegro. To the left of the pal
ace gate stands a lime tree of very
moderate size, surrounded by bank
of turf neatly edged with boulders.
Hither towards eight III the
morning strolls the prince fol-
lowed by his officers and guard.
At certain distance from it
they halt and uncover, while His High
ness steps briskly forward and seats
himself at a square nook left hollow in
the wall to accommodate his legs If
personages of distinction are present
they receive an invitation to take place
Oh either hand, and the court is open
without more ceremony. Sometimes
the whole space in front is crowded
with peasantry in silent ranks, come
to behold their chief and hear his wis
DOM but in this time of war, which
makes such heavy demands on the
labor of the few who stay at home, the
audience is small. have seldom be-
held finer subject for painter. At
a distance Of twenty yards or so, on
the right front of His Highness, stand
the veterans of his body-guard ranged
in line, tall fellows mostly, grim of
aspect, wearing crosses and decora-
tons, heavily armed, The long fringe
of their plaids sweeps the ground, or
one end is thrown across the
shoulders in Spanish fashion. On
the other side, at a like dis
lance, stands a group of peasantry,
cap in hand, waiting to explain such
complicated grievances as neither the
village Elders Court, nor the district
tribunal can arrange to their satisfac-
ton. To the left rear of the Prince
aides-de-camp and attendants of the
Waywodes present take up station;
they wear their caps, being ''out of
court" by legal fiction, though near
er to the sovereign than the rest. Ev-
cry one being placed, i'll two minutes
proceedings begin. The first COM
plant, which His Highness explained
TO me on one occasion, was that of Il
weazened-veteran, very ragged and dir
tv, but wearing two silver-mounted pis-
tolls and a yataghan. In sing-song
voice, without hesitating for an instant,
his petition was made. He had an
swered the lawful summons of his
chief, and repaired i'll arms to the
camp at Sutormans, whence General
Boz0 Petrovitch had dismissed him as
too old and war-worn for service. Il
am not old, Gospodar," he lament
ed, "for | am strong. And if
/ have bullets in my body, is
that reason that | should be
insulted? l pray you, Gospodar, to
write to Bozo Petrovich and order him
to let me fight" The anxiety of the
poor man was painful to watch, as he
turned his cap ceaselessly, awaiting the
reply, which was not given i'll my pres
enCe.
OF another sutton his highness told
me that in some fight he lost his com
rades and was attacked, all alone, by
five Turks. Four hekilled and wound
ed the fifth, but fell himself in the
struggle. Snow lay on the ground and
the evening chill restored him to con-
sciousness. When he opened his eyes
he saw the Turk painfully crawling to
gather wood, and he proceeded to as
sist the infdels. When arrived certain
comrades at dawn they found these
two sharing their last ration across the
fire and the MOntenegrin would not be
removed until he had seen his late foe
placed on a litter. Together they were
carried to the hospital at Cettinje. A
brawny little man of the hody-guard
was pointed out to me as the hero who
brought in dozen and q half of r eads
him with all the decorations possible
| saw them and the Russian ladies
subscribed a pretty souvenir in the
form of head-chopring knife, en-
crusted with precious stones, at the ex-
pense of 81, 200. This l did not see,
for the owner leaves it with his parents,
an example to the youth of the vicini-
ty In regard to this head-cutting,
Gen. Bezo Petrovitch told me that he
would not try to stop it, in the hostili-
ties daily expected when | was III his
camp. He declared it modern prac-
tice, taught within this century by the
invading armies of the porte. Nose
shcing is still more recent, for until
late years, prisoners were never made.
In the last period of the war, however,
when whole battalions surrendered, the
practice was dropped of necessity, and
we may even hope that it will never be
revived. The prince himself told me
that he made II 600 prisoners, whom he
could not keep for want of means. The
Turkish government had none to ex-
change, for several good reasons itwould
not ransom them; and he was obliged
to send them back unconditionally-
one officer was captured three times.