The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-16
THE MONTENEGRINM
CHARACTERISTICS OF A PECULIARLY
INTERESTING PEOPLE.

Go Armed-women DO All the Labor.
Honor the Dominant Sentiment.
The Montenegrins are first of oil sol
diers. They begin their military service
In childhood and remain soldiers all their
lives. Tho military costume does not differ
from tho ordinary costume The poorest
man never goes abroad without having In
his belt pistol, and often other arms II
Is about the only thing he consents TO
carry, for he works but little. All the
hard, laborious work falls to the women.
unfortunate creatures, miserably clad,
who are always occupied, weighed down
under enormous bundles Of wood or carry
ing on their heads pals OF water or other
heavy loads, while the men, adorned with
brilliant garments, walk before them
empty handed. Not only docs the woman
attend to her household duties 1t Is she
who plows the, field, and the man will
rarely lend helping hand He thinks
that, aside from being "A soldier, he should
do nothing. The Montenegrins are q
handsome race, very tall, brilliantly dress
ed, with naughty bearing, which never
leaves them. Their hair is black, and
their expression always serious and digni-
fed. They are far more attractive than
the Bosnians, of whom they are the issue,
but their history explains why IL Is SO. II
they are taller, greater, stronger than the
other Slavs 1t Is because their ancestors
were the bravest and the haughtiost of the
Servians, who condemned themselves TO ex-
tie and poverty rather than submit To the
yoke of the Mussulman. Jews are un-
known in this country, no doubt on ac.
count Of the poverty that reigns there.
ba houca Of tho Moptopayrip t,oasapt
consists OF ono room. The four walls are
built of stone, the roof Is thatched with
the straw OF Indian wheat, and there are
one or two windows, mere holes in the
wall, In the winter stuffed with straw.
The door is i'll fitting, but the stranger
can knock without fear, for the people are
hospitable and always give ono q hearty
welcome. The woman who opens the door
will kiss your hand and then lead you to
"a low scat near the fire. The husband, if
at home, gives military salute. No mat
ter how poor they may be they make cup
Of coffee for you, and IL is excellent.
An inventory of the furniture in the
smoke blackened room is quickly made.
A gun hangs obtrusively on the wall, and
a huge pot is suspended over the fire.
There is no chimney place, but hole made
In the roof lets the smoke out. In the
room there are two or three little beds
mounted OH thick branches of trees. Two
or three sleep in each bed Add 10 these
two low seats, some pitchforks and rakes,
and certain number Of sheepskins and
eoatskins, dried and ms hard as wood,
which are heaped mp In corner waiting
To be sold, SO as to help support the family.
Their expenses are few. They 1.-Two on what
vegetables they can raise, eat little meat,
md 4 haip al
When man is forced by poverty to work
for others, he receives florin (40 cents)
for days work.
Honor appears TO be the dominant senti-
ment of the Montenegrin. / was surprised
To soc this morning on the square of Get
TIME certain number OF Inhabitants with
no pistols contrary to the custom of the
country. This public square, open TO all,
Is a prison, and the people who prone
naded there, chatting and smoking with all
the dignity and pride which mark the Mon
tenegrins, are condemned prisoners. When
i expressed my astonishment, was told
that these prisoners were not captives. The
only punishment inflicted on them is to be
deprived of their weapons, and this affects
them moro than anything, for they are,
above all, "men of honor" They are not
thieves. ThefS is almost unknown in Mon
tenegro. They are murdercrs, and this is
considered moro distinguished Moreover,
1t is not to DO wondered at that men ac-
customed TO carrying arms should some
times give way TO the temptation of using
them. According To the gravity OF the
case, the guilty one Is condemned TO be
prisoner, as stated above, or his hands arc
chained together and he Is allowed to cir
culaie freely. In tho worst cases tho man
l. 90 Is, uIn npIe i,at
may be witnessed twice or three times
year. The condemned face death bravely
and are generally made to undergo their
punishment at the very place they commit
ted their crime L recently Witnessed tho
execution of two men. They walked to
their doom chatting and smoking with the
men who were destined TO end their days.
When they reached the fatal spot, they
each spoke I'm turn and said II commit
ted horrible crime and am happy TO ex-
plate IL by death. Long live the judges
who sentenced me; long live the country"
And then they themselves gave the order to
fire. The execution of women is unknown
In Montenegro. No man could be found or
hired to fire on woman. He would con-
slider it disgrace 20 use his weapon for
such purpose.
The autocratic government OF Monte
negro is "A direct consequence OF the his
tory Of the people. The country does not
question the orders Of the prince any moro
than an army would question tho orders
of its general. Nothing near or far resem-
blcs parliament. The prince makes tho
laws, and, being sovereign Judge, has the
power to apply them or not as he secs it.
Almost daily he goes and sits under
beautiful elm, which shades his sham pal.
ace, and, patriarohly, like II. Louis of old,
renders justice. His wisdom and discern
mcnt arc remarkable, but before many
years have passed no will hayo difficult
task To accomplish. The historical and
important part Montenegro has played in
the past is not yet ended. The arduous
little country / have just described will
remain tho bulwark of the Hougo-Slav
race as long as the thorny questions of the
Balkans and the numerous problems which
are working the downfall Of the artificial
monarchy Of tho Hapsburgs still await