Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-12-14
NO. 294.
miscellaneous.
PRINCE NICHOLAS or MONTENEGRO.

Prince Nicholas is undoubtedly the
most prominent figure IN his country. ana
10 his energetic patriotism is solely due
the prominent place which Montenegro oc-
cupies un the pre- sent political plan oi
Europe. Its claims are no longer neglect
ed at foreign courts. and at the Congress
of Berlin lis heightened struggle with the
Turks for lie aud liberty was rewarded
by a considerable extent of frontier. bv
articles ~ and .. of the Berlin treaty, the
town of podcoritza and districts of An
tiyari were annexed to Montenegro, Civ
ing il the long-coveted seaport on the Ad-
riaiie These and other notifications vi
the frontier added no less than Dos square
miles. with llS.oo0 inhabitants to the
Principality. 81 that at present its total
area is 3.73s English square miles. popu-
lated by 3ll 900 people. But the Monte
necrins' old enemies of the Turkish bor-
der were not disposed 10 give up pcacea-
bly, possession OF a single acre under the
Berlin award without a struggle. Thus
the Montencgrins narrowly escaped an
other war in trying To occupy the district
of Gusinje. and even up to the moment ot
nv writing it is doubtful whether they
will he permitted to claim this portion OF
the award of the congress without blood
shed. Prince Nicholas himself is OF an
emincntly peaceablc disposition. lie has
more of the scholar than the soldier about
him. His great delight is In his schools
which he has planted throughout the
country-in his farm down at Danilograd,
where he is experimenting in cotlee-plantt
inc, and in his literary pursuits. As an a'ir
thor tho Prince has added to the literature
of his country by the publication oil '.
tragedy and volume ol songs. The po-
etic s1it, indeed. is hereditary i'm the house
of Petrovic. and there is scarcely cot
tage in the country where at nightiall we
NAV not hear some of the Princes verses
sung to the accompaniment OF the nation
al instrument-the ne-stringed, plaint've
gns1a. Indeed the Princes popularity in
the country is unbounded, rs he -
essentially one of his people. AS the
head of his highland clan, every peasant
in the land. however poor, has a right To
come to him for counsel or redress, anu
such is their affection for him that no one
would dream of questioning his Judgment
We had been led to believe, before We
came to Cettinie, that the home life oi t'c
Prince was simple and unpretcntious as
that of a country squire. The palace IT.
self is certainly not more imposing than
wcll-appointcd French chateau. or a hrs'-
rate highland shooting box. But the
Prince himself does not appear to dispense
with any of the forms and ceremonies
| which usually surround "A ruling frlnce.
We were ushercd into his Highness's
presence by an aide-de-camp, who acted
his part of chamberlain with great sle-
gance of department. And on our wbs
to the audience chamber. on the first focr.
we passed. drawn up in kind OF review
order. number of stalwart body guards
of the Prince. each standing on step oi
the staircase with drawn sabre IN ms
hand As soon, however, as our formal
introduction TO the Prince was ended, we
were placed at our ease by the irankness
and cordiality of his manner. The Hos
podar. who i one of the largest men III
his dominions. standing considerably over
| six feet and with almost herculean depth
of chest. was dressed in the national cos
tune. with a revolver in his girdle, but
without kappa on his head. Unlike the
rest of his race. he wears whskers with
his mustache. and these are trimmed III
such manner as to give his somewhat
swartby features n distinctively Spanish
look. These facial characteristics are
very faithfully reproduced, as becomes an
ardent admrcr of his chief, in the features
ofM. Popovic. the Princes secretary. The
Prince. who was the first of his dynasty
sent for education TO Paris instead OF St
Petersburg. speaks French perfectly, and
is. moreover, well acquainted with Ger'
man, Italian and Russian. We. who are
more familiar with the Teutonic than any
other foreign language. were soon en-
ragged in conversation with the Prince up
on his dearest topic--the welfare and de-
velopment of his country.-Scritncr'
Magazine.