New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-21


AND CHARACTERISTICS or THs QUAINT Lrr1t,
MOUNTAIN B1fc-pHRyGrAS cars A,soxs
The PxRgsEEs-A BLooDLgss REyoIIir1oS. 10
FEcrEp.
The gambling fever, which in sandry times and ~
verse manners has attacked most Of the large STATE,
OF Europe. seeks nowadays TO taLs refuge in Cha
smallest and most peaceable Of its independents @ 4.
tries. Ii RACES at Monaco TO an extent which
coed people call out for the intervention 81 ~
ernmeDts to suppress the tables at Monte A. ta
interest Of morality. II attacked the Repnbl;c ~
San Marine. but was arrested for the moment nv ts
deposition of the Captains General Of that Llipofiap
community, who bad compromised himself by ia
tening to proposals from enterprising successors ~
Benazet and Blanc. Now it has invaded the frea
and independent State Of Andorra, and for the s>c
ond time has produced revolution in a government
that has lasted without other Interruption since tia
fatal day when "Sir Roland had been slaughtered
at the field of Roncesyalles" The Andorran Magma
Charta f" dates back TO the reign of Louis 10 Debou-
naire, who granted it to the mountaneers IN token
of his gratitude for the assistance they had rendered
to the remains of Charlemagnes army In their disas-
trous retreat through the PyTenees.
There are few States in the world more dfacult Of
access than tho diminutive Republic Of Andorra
The traveller whether he proceeds thitber from the
EAOhOu iuo spanish. blQc, mas 10 Climb
the steepest peaks Of the Pyrenees. where
anything like a road is unknown. The
further he advances tho more the mountain ranges
seem to bristle up and bar bis path The territory
of the Republic consists chiefly of the Val dAndorrs
which has given its name to the State. From the
depth of the valley nothing but encircling peaks s
visible. The capital, called "Andorra, the Oldn Ia
situated slight bill at the foot of lofty noun
tain and is composed of about score of houses Of
most primitive architecture. The river Valera,
which traverses the whole length of The Republic
flows past the city. and is bordered by narrow strips
of meadow land. which constitute the sole wealth of
the inhabitants. The tourist in search Of comfort
will do we'll to keep away from the place. The lover
of the quaint, the grand and the picturesque should
certainly visit this miniature Switzerland. The in.
habItants have perhaps no claim TO plastic beauty
but their costumes win give the artist some novel
ideas. The men wear the Phrygian cap with its
long point falling far down on their shoulders, Q
large scarf of red wool round the waist. knee
breeches of domestic brown cloth, and the unavoid
able espaderos or sandals. with strings crossing
around tho calf The women have preserved the cos
tune of doubtful elegance of the time Of Louis ls
Debounaire. gown OF blue or red woollen with
similar bodice, very tight straight, and stiff as
board ending close at the neck In collar Of coarse
orally hidden with checked kerehief tied under the
chin. Stockings are un1knownj like the men, the
women wear espaderos
The State Is divided into ak parishes. The popu-
Iatiou is perhaps smaller than that Of San Marno.
1t is governed by Supreme Council of twenty-four
consuls half Of whom are annually renewed by
popular election. The chief executive or Syndic is
nominated for life by. thus council. Two officers
named vigniers" are IN command of the army Of
the Republic, of which every able bodied citzenis
4 soldier and they also intrusted with The ad
of justice. The nomination of the two
vigniers Is subject to the approval of France and
SPAIN respectively. The council meets yearly for
ome weeks In kind of little fortress called TIE
Federal Palace" situated at Andorra. There. in an
lrrROire are preserved the " muniments Of the Re-
public" which are pompously called by the natives
as escriptHras de AndoTd. The respect shown by
hem for this armoire can only be compared with
hat of the Jews for the Ark Of the Covenant Il
contains six ORA wers one for each parish. To open
my one Of them the keys of every parish are re-
Iuired The Andorrans in their simplicity. fancy
hat the loss of any of these papers written In The
Latin of Charemagne would involve the loss Of
heir liberties. When the council meets, ali its
members live in the palace. They are not allowed
to be the guests of any one. They sleep in a COM
mon dormitory. Their meals are cooked in the
kitchen of the palace. The size Of this Kitchen and
Of the implements with which il Is supplied remind
one of the repasts Of giants In the vestbue Of the
Council Hail. there is chest in which are preserved
the twenty-four robes aud twenty-four cooked hats
Of the cOnsuls which have TO be worn at every sit
ting These robes consist Of black mante5 lined
with red. The cloth is threadbare, and the grease
which lies thick on them speaks of their antiquity
and of the number of venerable shoulders upon
which they have been proudly worm These pre-
cious garments are the property of the State and are
displayed to the tourist with all the vene:ation due
10 relics The Syndic's official dress consists of silk
stockings. low shoes and silver buckles, kneS
Dreeches with rosettes at the knees. vest With
metal buttons, and q velvet jacket embroidered IN
gold at the shoulders. The color OF this garment,
which would beft t0read0r, seems to have been
suggested by the violet cas5ock or the BISHOP Oh .
il was during the last years of the Government OF
Napoleon ILL.,, when the Republic was administered
,y DON Gnilbem Arem, that the profits of gam.
bling establishment fascinated number OF the
.uiieess citizens of Andorra. The trading portion
II ITS people, listening to enticing propositions
rom abroad tired 10 dazzle the eyes Of the Council
With the prosperity which would accrue TO tie
tate from the establishment OF great kursaal
WITH its accessories of railroads. hotels and foreign
sitors Don Guilhem, being man or progress.
vas seduced by the brilliant prospect. but be met
nth strong opposition from the Elders OF the com.
nunity. The latter thought that to preserve its in
ependeuce she valley ought TO preserve its poverty
nd bad roads. Two parties were formed The
leroy went so far In their opposition as TO takeap
heir guns. .Bloodshed was imminent. psclns
Olution was, however arrived at. Convicted OF
aving made compromising engagements WIZ Tug
ambling entrepreneHs, Don Guilhem was deposed
md banished from the territory.
Three years ago, Bonayentura Notes was elected
hief of the executive No more conservative mac
reathed the air of the Pyrenees. His friends called
i'm by the nickname of Babot. His trade was the
ommon one OF the country, that Of mueteer zig
ought these animals in Poitou, France. and sold
hem with profit to the Spaniards in exchange fof
heir goods. He was about sixty years OF aEe when
Q was elected aud had amassed an honest Compel
nce more than sufficient TO insure the comfort OF
imselt and his six children. He was widower.
nd has eldest sons were grown up TO manhood. For
D AndOrran. he might be called Q learned man