The herald., 1896-02-24
AMONG THE MONTENEGR|NS
Strange Characteristics of an
Interesting People
AUTOCRATIC GOVERNMENT
Whose Power Centers Absolutely in
the Prince
rlen. Excepting Criminals, All DO Armed.
Women Do All the Lsbor-Honor the
Dominant Sentiment
AUTOCRATIC GOVERNMENT

The Montenegr1nS are hrst 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 The poorest
man never goes abroad without having in
his belt 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 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 mon, adorned with
brilliant garments, walk before them
empty handed. Not only does the woman
attend to her household duties, it is she
who plows the field, and the maA will
rarely lend helping hand. He thinks
that, aside from being soldier, he should
do nothing. The Montenegrins are
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
fled. They are far moro attractive than
the Bosnians, of whom they are the issue,
but their history explains why it is so. II
they are taller, greater, stronger than the
other Slavs it Is because their ancestors
wero the bravest and the haughtiest of the
Servians, who condemned themselves to ex
lie 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.
The house of the Montenegrin peasant
consists of one ROOM Tho 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 tho,
WALL in the winter stuffed with straw.
The door Is Ill fitting, but the stranger
can knock without fear, for the people ara
hospltable and always give one hearty
welcome. The woman who opens tho door
will kiss your hand and then lead you to
low scat near the fire. The husband, II
at home, gives military salute. No mat
ter how poor they may be they make q cup
of coffee for you, and 1t Is excellent.
An inventory Of the furniture in the
smoke blackened room is quickly made.
A gun hangs obtrusively on the wall, and
hugo pot is suspended over the fire.
There is no chimney place, but a h ole made
in the roof let's the smoke out. In the
room there are 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 pitchforks and rakes,
and certain number Of sheepskins and
goatskins, dried and as 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 live on what
vegetables they c4n raise eat little meat
and the women weave their own clothing.
When man is forced by poverty to work
for others, he receives forin (40 cents)
for days work.
Honor appears to be the dominant senti-
ment Of the Montenegrin. was surprised
to see 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 promo
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 more than anything, for they are,
above all. "men of honor" They are not
thieves Theft is almost unknown in Mon
tenegro. They are murderers, and this is
it is not to be 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 are
chained together, and he is allowed to cir
culate freely. In the worst cases the man
Is condemned to be shot, spectacle that
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. ] recently witnessed the
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 in turn and said II commit
ted horrible crime and am happy to ex-
plate 1t by death. Long live the judges
who sentenced me; long live the country"
And then they themselves gave tho order to
fire. The execution of women is unknown
In Montenegro. No man could be found or
hired to fire on a woman. He would con-
slider it disgrace to use his weapon for
such a purpose.
The autocratio 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 more
than an army would question the orders
of its general. Nothing near or far resem-
bles parliament. The prince makes the
laws, and, being sovereign judge, has the
power to apply them or not as he sees ft.
Almost daily he goes and sits under a
beautiful elm, which shades his sham pal
ace, and, patriarchly, like St. Louis Of old,
renders justice. His wisdom and discern
ment are remarkable, but before many
years have passed he will have a dificuk
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 the bulwark of the Yougo-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 the Hapsburgs still await
final solution. Louis Globe Democrat.