Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-02-06
THE LITTLE MONTENEGRO
A Diminutive Principally That Turks
Cannot Conquer.
1t Has Population of Less Than
Three Hundred Thousand. All
Gentlemen and Soldiers.

negro. In Serb 1.-THE language of Monte
negro) the country is called ''Cernagora,
which, translated in English, means black
forest, and not black mountain. as gen.
orally understood. Montenegro is Italian,
and it is presumed that some Italian travel
er misinterpreted the name Cernagora for
Montenegro.
The population of Cernagora is about
100000 The soil may be well called con-
secrated, for what higher form of conse-
Grafton can any fatherland receive than
the blood of its sons, shed IN its defense?
1t was not for fertile fields, nor for mines
of gold, but for barren stoneS-thelr loving
Otazcina-that the Cernagocics fought for
so many centuries. As you enter their
noble country you see nothing but stones
and mountains. Some of these mountains
are over 5000 feet high, especially the Low
cen, overlooking majestically on one side
the beautiful straits of Bocclide Cattaro,
and on the other side the country itself
and far beyond it, and it is on this lofty
mountain that the great poet, Petar Petro-
witch Njegus, familiarly called by his
people Uladika Rade, is buried. He was
buried there at his own wish-a most fit
ting spot for this loving ruler and great
poet. As you go about through the coun
try the eye becomes weary looking at the
mountains and stones. Here and there
you find small farms, and you wonder how
it could be possible that anything could
grow, yet it is fact that in some parts of
CernagOra you see wheat and fruit trees,
but such sights are rare.
The country is poor and there are no in
dustries in which the people can be en-
ployed, so many have left temporarily their
homes in order to provide for the wants
of their families, but should war be declar-
ed, no matter where ne is nor how far
from his country, a Cernagoric hastens
home to fight for his fatherland. l be-
lieve it was in 1871 resided in San
Francisco then-news came by the cable
of war between Cernagora and Turkey
A young citizen of that country named
Ivanovich, who was only few months in
California, determined at once to return
to his country, although over 1000 miles
away. He would not listen to delay, but
like true son went to his mother country
fought and was killed in battle.
The form of government IN that country
is at once the most despotic and the most
popular in Europe. Despotic because the
will of the Prince is the law of the land,
and popular because the personal rule of
the Prince is kind, and loving, and fatherly
and meets all the wants and wishes of the
people. No sovereign in the world-none
| am sure in Europe-sits so firmly on his
throne as the Gospodar of Cernagora,
and no sovereign is more absolute. |
should liken the Government of Cernagora
to loving father or mother of a large
family whose children not only obey their
parents because it is their duty, but obey
Il, b ~
CORA formed a part of the great Empire of
the Serbs, Greeks and Bulgarians. 1t was
not required for the great Dusan to pro-
claim himself Emperor of Montenegrins,
as the term Serb includes Montenegro.
If you ask Cernagoric what language he
speaks he will tell you Serbski; so will |,
and so will millions of Slavonians in Aus
tria and elsewhere, In 1889 Car Lazar
fell gloriously fighting Kossora, and Milos
guished himself and his race by killing
the Turkish Sultan Murat alone and among
10000 Turkish troops. The lowlands of
Serbs having lost their independence at
Kossora, the highlands (which is Cerna-
gora) became the city of refuge to which
all Serbs might fly. Thus Cernagora be-
came an Independent principaIity then,
and it has been ever since, and will be for
ever more.
What do you think of a capital that is a
little village of less than 1000 inhabitants?
Yet such is Cettinje, the capital of Ger
nagora, situated In valley surrounded by
mountains As you come from Njeguse
you see on your left, rising above the cot
tages, the palace of Prince Nikiza; above
the palace is the Manastir 1.-THE cloister),
and above the Manastir the belfry, where
the heads of decapitated Turks used to be
impaled In days gone by. To your right is
the hospital.
Then there is fine building for girls
high school, and the recently built Zetski
Dom, beautiful building containing a
very fine hall, in which reunions, meetings
and performances are held and given. The
drama ''Balkanska Czarica, written by
the Prince, was given for the opening
night of the Dom. There are to this little
village accredited ministers from the lead
ing courts of Europe, and | venture to say
that the diplomatic communications be-
tween Vienna or st. Petersburg and Get
TIME are more frequent than between those
capitals and Washington.
There is nothing that strikes the foreign
er more than the respectful bearing OF the
people to strangers. Courteous and polite
as the Viennese, it is not uncommon to find
Montenegrins intelligent, not because of
study but In their crude state, and some
possess remarkable natural talent and wit.
| remember an incident when | was little
boy, probably not more than ii years old.
| was in my father store when tall
young Cernagorac came to purchase some
A Il /1fy fa+l
of Joking. remarked to this young hero:
II heard some important news. What
is it?'' asked the. young man. Il heard
that your vladika (bishop) is engaged to
be married. The young Montenegrin'
face became pale from anger and my faith
er thought that he would resent the insult
by physical force. but to our surprise he
composed himself and without any hesita
ton he answered him: Eyes, it Is true;
would you like to know to whom" Eyes,
replied the friend. ''Well, to the daughter
of your Pope of Rome" The Montene-
grins all belong to the Greek church. and
the Bishops cannot marry. My father
friend was Roman Catholic.
The Cernagorel are Serbs, and form the
flower and aristscracy of the Slav race.
Physically they are both big and handsome.
and if some should walk here ON Broadway
they would tower over the New Workers.
In appearance and bearing they compare
favorably to any European people. For
example. take Bulgarian and Montene-
grin In your parlor for the first time, and
you viii notice that the Bulgarian will APP
pear as he is, a peasant; the Cernogorac
a gentleman. Cernagora has no peas
antry; all are gentleman, all are soldiers.
But place this same Montenegrin and
Bulgarian in field and the Bulgarian