The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-02-03
LITTLE POWERS.
Something of Countries About Which We
Care but Little.

Care but Little.
The Ameer OF Afghanistan. Abdur
Rahman Khan, Is a grandson OF Dost
Mahomet He was recognized as SOW
ereign In 1880. The four provinces,
Kabul. Turkistan, Herat. and Kan
dahar. are practically under British
protection" except against the
tAmeer's agents OF robbery. There
are two haryests a year, but ten
would not satisfy the corrupt tax
gatherers. There are no navigable
rivers and no wheeled carriages in
the country, which is bound ulti-
mately TO be fighting ground for
Russia in her approach 10 the British
dominion in that part OF the east.
The population consists OF 400, 900
tribesmen. 1t Is not generally
known that there are slaves n Afghan
istan. They are appurtenances OF
the land system. This is headed by
hereditary land lords, who rent TO ten
ants, who rent again TO ~subtcnants,
who work the ground with the help
OF hired laborers non they pay in
produce or money, and under these
u Nv HCb hObiiIhE u iOOh
and shelter for their toll. They are
generally better of than the sub
tenants.
Greece has been experiencing OF
late almost as frequent change Of
cabinets as Italy or France. The
King, George l., born in lS45 and OF
age in 1863, enjoys an income of $500, .
900 a year, Of VIII .ch 800, 900 is paid
by the governments OF Great
Britain, France, and Russia.
The legislative power is invested in
the single chamber called the boule,
chosen 10y manhood suffrage for four
years. The number OF members is
100. The population is a little over
:, 900, 900. The heir is Pr nee KOn-
stantinos, born 1868 and married in
1889 TO Princess Sophia OF Prussia.
The foreigners who live in Greece are
gradually undermining many Of its
dilapidated antique customs and in
situations. Ancient poesy still finds
n occupat on ia thful-shepherds
are s per cent. OF the population.
OF the little powers that are init
mately connected with the whole
world by reason OF "a peculiar institu-
ton Monaco is the smallest and most
influential. Its area is not one
twentieth that OF Chicago and its
population is II, 600. The army con-
sists Of seventy-tve men. 1t has its
own coinage, its own postage stamps
and its W Prince, Albert, born in
ls48, who succeeded his father in
1889 and has been married twice, first
10 Lady Mary Douglas Hamilton, and
secondly TO Alice, Dowager Duchess
de Richelieu. The gambling at
Monte Carlo, whence the Prince de-
rives his income OF not less than $780,
600, I'm addition TO what he al rake
off in one way and another, is a ''con-
cession." The game was founded in
1858 and pays the syndicate 81, 000,-
600 a year. A number OF suicides en-
liven each year and the Prince is a
scientific gentleman in his tastes.
The spiritual and temporal govern
ment OF the p~rincipality is carried on
out Of revenues from the gaming
tables.
The reigning monarch or Corea is
simple Li-Hi i'm Celestial language,
but there is translation adequate in
plain English. King Shoai Shing
was his father and is duly worshiped
The heir is 10 years old. Aristocracy
is hereditary and the will OF the mon
arch is absolute. He is not trou led
with rebellious legislators The mill
tary attaches OF the departments OF
government carry matchlocks. There
are departments OF ceremonies, war,
civil affairs, justice, public works,
finance. and foreign affairs, OF which
foreign affairs IS the least important
aud ceremonies the most important.
The upper classes adhere TO Confu-
cianism and Chinese classics mark
the high tide OF Corean culture.
Buddhist monasteries are numerous.
Two American professors teach En-
glish in a government school and eX-
officers OF our army are teachers in
the military school. The hermit
kingdom Is y Gliding slowly to modern
ideas. A railway IS projected be-
tween the cap tai and one OF the
three treaty ports at which alone
foreign trade is allowed.