River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1890-01-02

MONTENEGRO'S CAPITAL.
About One of the Most Extra
ordinary Towns of Europe.

Something About One of the Most Extra
ordinary Towns of Europe.
Cettinje is the most extraordinary
capital in Europe. 1t consists of one
long street, with four smaller ones
crossing it, and ending vaguely in the
fields. The whole town covers perhaps
thirty or forty acres. The principal
building is the hotel, which worthily
blocks the end of the main street. 1t is
bare and ricketty-looking structure,
but represents the acme of luxury at
Cettinje. The other public places are
the prison, the church and the school.
The first of these lies on the right-hand
side, and in front of the gates, on a
lawn, the prisoners amuse themselves
by playing various rude games-bowls,
with pieces of rock for balls, leap-frog
and so on. A few of them are engaged
in odd building jobs about Cettinje. and
other hew wood in the mountain. They
are not chained, but appear seldom to
dream of running away. When a
case of evasion happens, one or
two fellow-convicts are dis
patched to catch the runaway
and bring him back. The theory of set
ting thief to catch a thief is here prac-
ticed most literally and methodically.
The only distinction between a con-
demned convict and free citizen is that
the former is deprived OF his arms. This
is an equal degradation to the usual
dress or brand elsewhere. Close to the
hotel is the royal palace, whitewashed
house with green Venetian blinds,
which is popularity supposed to have
cost million of francs owing to the ex-
penses of transporting the materials.
Over against it is long, low red build
ing, known as the ''Bigliardo." 1t re-
ceived this nickname from an English
billiard table having been set up there.
The carrying of this piece Of furniture
by fifty men over the mountain was con-
sidered-and undoubtedly was-a great
feat. While the porters struggled man.
fully under the slate pilot stood astride
on high, and shouted his directions as
to how to get round awkward corners.
The "Bigliardo" is now used as offices
for the different Ministries and Parlia-
ment house. The church is very small,
capable of holding, perhaps, one
hundred and fifty people. On either side
of the entrance are the tombs of Prince
Danilo and his brother, Mirko Petro-
witch, and in the chancel a sort OF
sarcophagus, which is opened on solemn
occasions, containing the embalmed re-
mains OF the Bishop-Prince Peter /.
The old monastery faces the palace.
Fifty or sixty years ago this MONASTERY
and twenty of thirty cottages round it
represented the town of Cettinje. Be
hind the monastery is the famous
Tower of Skulls. In the old days no
Montenegrin was entitled TO be con-
sidered an able-bodied soldier until he
had decorated the tower with Turkish
head. The last occasion on which it re-
ceived its CHASTITY decorat tons was after
the battle of Grahovo, which took place
On the 18th of July, 1859. The Mon
tenegrins lost 400 men and brought in
4, 900 skulls, at least so says tradition.
The account is more or less confirmed
by independent witnesses, one of whom,
an AUSTRIAN officer, counted 1890
skeletons ON the field several weeks aft.
sr the famous fight. The custom has,
however, now died out, having been
abolished, together with the most
practices of similar nature, by the
Draconian code and inhexible rule of
fsenilo l. Saturday Review