The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-02-12
THE MONTENEGRINS.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A. PECULIARLY
INTERESTING PEOPLE.
Government an Autooraoy Conferred In she
Prlnce-Mcn, Excepting Criminals, All
Go Armed-Women Do ALI the Labor.

Go Armed-women Do ALI the Labor.
Honor tho Dominant Sentiment.
The Montonegrins are first Of all SOL
diers. They begin their military service
In childhood and remain soldiers all their
lives. The military costume does not differ
from the ordinary costume. Tho poorest
man never goes abroad without having In
his bolt pistol, and often other arms. 1t
Is about the only thing he consents TO
carry, for he works but little. All the
hard, laborious work falls to tho women,
unfortunate creatures miserably Glad,
who are always occupied, weighed down
under enormous bundles Of wood or carry
ing on thoir heads pals of water or other
heavy loads, while the men, adorned with
brilliant garments, walk before them
empty handed. Not only does the woman
intend to her household duties, it Ia she
who plows the field, and the man will
snroly lend helping hand. He thinks
that, aside from boinR a soldier, he should
do nothing. The Montenegrins are q
handsome race, very tall, brilliantly dress
ed, with naughty bearing, which mover
leaves them. Their hair Ia black, and
their expression always serious and digni-
fled. They are for moro attractive than
tho Bosnians, Of whom they are the issue,
but their history explains why 1t is so. II
they nro taller, greater, stronger than tho
other Slavs 1t Is because their ancestors
wero tho bravest and tho haughtiest Of the
Servians, who condemned themselves to OK
lie and poverty rather than submit to tho
yoke Of tho Mussulman. Jews are un-
known in this country, no doubt on ao-
count Of tho poverty that roigns there.
The house of the Montenegrin peasant
ctckC - nfo H.
built of stone the roof Is thatohed with
the straw of Indian wheat, and there nre
ono or two windows, mere holes In tho
wall, in tho winter stuffed with straw
Tho door is Ill fitting, but tho stranger
can knock without fear, for the people arc
hospitablo and always give ono hearty
welcome The woman who opens tho door
Will kiss your hand and then lead you to
o low seat near tho fire. The husband, II
at home, gives military salute. No mat
ter how poor they may be they make o CUP
of coffee for you, and 1t Is excellent.
An inventory of the furniture in tho
smoke blackened room is quickly made
A gun hangs obtrusively on tho wall, and
huge pot Is suspended over the fire.
Therei is no chimney place, but q hole made
In the roof lots the smoke out. In the
room there arc two or three little beds
mounted on thick branches of trees. Two
or three sleep in each bed. Add to these
two low Seats some pitohforks and rakes
and certain number of sbeepskins and
goatskins, dried and as hard as wood,
which are heaped mp in q corner waiting
to be sold, SO as to holp support tho family.
Their expenses arc fow. They 1.-Two on what
vegetables they con raise. cat littlo meat
and the women woavo their own clothing
When man is forced by poverty to work
for Others, no receives q form GO cents)
for days work.
Honor appears to be tho dominant senti-
mcnt Of the Montencgrin. was surprised
to SEQ this morning on tho square of Get
TIME q certain number of inhabitants with
no pistols, contrary to tho custom of the
country. This public square, open to ALL
is n prison, and the people who promo
nadcd there, chatting and smoking with all
tho dignity and pride which mark the Mon
tenegrins arc condemned prisoners. When
l expressed my astonishment, l was told
that these prisoners were not captives. Tho
only punishment inflicted on them Is to be
deprived of their weapons, and this affects
them moro than anything, for they are
above all, linen Of honor" They are not
thieves. Theft is almost unknown In Mon
tencgro. They are murderers and this is
considered moro distinguished Moreover
1t Is not to DO wondered at that men &C
customed to carrying arms should some
times give way to tho temptation of using
them. According to tho gravity of the
case, tho guilty one is condemned to be q
prisoner as stated above, or his hands are
chained together, and no is allowed to cir
culatc freely In tho worst cases tho man
Is condemned to be shot, spectacle that
may be witnessed twice or three times
year. The condemned face death bravely
and arc generally made to undergo their
punishment ut the very place they commit
ted their crime. / recently witnessed the
execution of two men. They walked to
their doom chatting and smoking with tho
men who wcro destined to end their days.
When they reached the fatal spot, they
each spoke in turn and said: ~ commit
ted horrible crime and am happy to OK
plate it by death. Long live tho judges
who sentenced me; long live tho country"
And then they themselves gavo tho order to
fire. The execution of women is unknown
In Montenegro. No man could be found or
hired to fire on n woman. He would con-
slider it n disgrace to use his weapon for
such purpose.
The autocratic government Of Monte
negro is 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 for resem-
bles parliament. The prince makes the
laws, and, being sovereign judge, has the
! power to apply them or not as no sees flt.
Almost daily he goes and sits under
beautiful elm, which shades his sham pal
ace, and, patriarohly, like ST. Louis Of old,
renders justice. His wisdom and discern
mont arc remarkable, but before many
years have passed no will have difficult
task TO accomplish. The historical and
Important pnrt Montenegro hns played in
the past is not yot onded. Tho arduous