The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-10-04
THE MONTENEGRINS.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A PECULIARLY
INTERESTING PEOPLE.
Government an Autocracy Conferred In the
Prince-Men. Excepting Criminals, All
Go Armed Women Do All the Labor.
Honor the Dominant Sentiment.

Inc lOutontBflnS are urSt 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 mover goes abroad without having in
his belt pistol, and often other arms. 1t
is about the only thing he consents to
carry, for no 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 does the woman
attend to her household duties, IL is she
who plows the field, and the man will
rarely lend helping hand. He thinks
that, aside from being 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-
fled. They are far more attractive than
the Bosnians, of whom they are the issue,
but their history explains why it is so. If
they are taller, Creator stronger than the
other Slavs it is because their ancestors
were the bravest and the haughtiest of the
Servians, who condemned themselves to ex-
lie and poverty rather than submit to tho
yoke of tho Mussulman. Jews are I'M
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. The four walls are
built of stone the roof is matched 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 ill fitting, but the stranger
can knock without fear, for the people are
hospitabio and always give ono hearty
welcome. The woman who opens the door
will kiss your hand and then lead you to
n low seat 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 it is ox6ollent.
An inventory of the furniture in the
smoke blacEened 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 a hole made
in the roof lets the smoke out. In tho
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 pitchforks and rakes,
and u certain number Of sheepskins and
goatskins, dried and as hard as wood,
which are heaped mp in n corner waiting
to be sold, SO as to help support the family.
Their expenses are fow. They live on what
vegetables they can raise eat little meat,
and the women weave their own clothing.
When man is forced by poverty to work
for others, he receives a flCrin Gao 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
tinje certain number of inhabitants with
no pistols, contrary to the custom of the
country. This public square, open to ALL
Is prison, and the people who prone
naded there, chatting and smoking with all
the dignity and pride which mark the Mon
tcnogrins, are condemned prisoners. When
] expressed my establishment, | was told
that these prisoners were not captiyes. 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, linen of honor" They are not
thieves. Theft Is almost unknown in Mon
tonegro. They are murderers, and this is
considered moro distinguished Moreover,
it is not to be wondered at that men ac-
customed to carrying arms should some
times give way to tho temptation of using
them. According to the gravity of the
case, tho guilty ono is condemned to be a
prisoner, as stated above, or his hands arc
chained together. and he is allowed to cir
culato freely. In the worst cases the man
is condemned TO be shot, a spectacle that
may DO 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: 81 commit
ted horrible crime and am happy to ex-
plate it 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 1t disgrace to use his weapon for
such purpose.
The autocratio government of Monte
negro is ulrecb consequence Oh tne MS
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 n parliament. The prince makes the
laws, and, being sovereign judge, has the
power TO apply them or not as he sees fit.
Almost daily he goes and sits under a
beautiful elm, which shades his sham pal
nee, and, patriarchly, like st. Louis of old,
renders justice. His wisdom and discern
ment are remarkable, but before many
years have passed no will have difficult
task to accomplish. The historical and
important part Montenegro has played in
the past is not yet ended. The arduous
little country 1 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
arc working the downfall of tho artificial
monarchy of the Hapsburgs still await
final solution.-St. Louis Globe Democrat.
Anticipated.
"What, Styner i'm trouble with his wifel
49, L..t A hnxy