New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-12
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
A RosE-COLORED PICTURE OF sERVIA'


,aa N haar The br,,nt OF the despicable King
Milan's reputation. Could anything GOOD come
out OF that unhappy little kingdom? That Is the
nuestion that has doubtless been asked thou-
esnd times by readers Of newspaper dispatches
Mr. Vivian answers il with a sweet. girIlsh en-
+husiasm which would be calculated to vitiate
confidence in his report II he had not. with true
British sagacity. brought facts and hgures 10 MS
assistance telling not only pretty storiee a''"'
King Alexander and his long suherlhs' Out 10"
triumphant mother. Queen Natahe' OUT soooi'
Instructive things about the economic aHalS vi
the nation. His regard for the present ruler Oh
the State is rooted TO a certain extent IN an ac-
ouaintance with the past history OF Servfa Inc
country has had heroic annals. and over THESE
our author fingers with PRIDE, coming GOWN u
the Young man now on the throne with an air OF
introducing a splendid figure In splendid line
Milan's peccadiloes and general badness ne
cannot OF course overlook but MI Vivian is not
going 10 condemn nation because one OF us
rulers has disgraced himself He has studied
the Servians carefully he has conceived warm
affection for King Alexander-and there's an end
70 #. II the reader IS not instantly inspired to
adore Servia and the servians II must he the
unhappy readers fault.
Putting aside It's adjectives. however. TINS
book is interesting and ought to he especially
,sef1l in England where the author desires TO
create confidence in the opportunities for IN
vestment offered in Servia. And II is perhaps
Unsuitable TO preface his sketch OF the economic
condition Of the country with generous portrait
OF the King. showing that while he Is at the head
Of the Government there is fair assurance OF
that liberal administration which should be one
of the first things to encourage foreign capital.
Alexander is young. but thoughtful and honest
" ambitious. II he dreams Of q revival Of Ser
Was power. he dreams still more OF the present
good OF his subjects. Conservative. as a matter
of course. and resolved to rule his State with
energy and strength. he is. nevertheless, eager
for the spread Of liberal ideas. The many polt-
1cal parties resolve themselves. as Mr. Vivian
puts II. into two broad divisions. on one side
tho Kings friends. on the other his enemies.
I'VE are confronted by distinct and momen-
&ous issue" ne says: whether sturdy monarchy
or unbridled democracy is better suited to the
development Of young country" In the past
Servian democracy has proved itself broken
reed Under Alexander II Is developing win
doubtful success. He has thus far kept 1t under
control and since both army and Church are
with him. IT is not likely that It will cause him
serious trouble for some years TO come. lie
works hard. is simple in his tastes and hapl's'
seems 10 grow more popular every year ana
ought to have no difficulty in minimizing radical
tendencies II the country suffers at all IN the
near future II is apt TO be from continuance or
the Austrian domination, which now insidiously
wreaks itself upon the economic life OF the peo-
pie. Alexander may never have upheld MS
fathers base treatment Of Queen Natalie. but
he has not broken with Milan. either: the court
is filled with friends Of the ex-King. and until
his and their influence has worn out or been su-
perseded there is every prospect that the foreign
trade of Servia will be Austrian trade. Factories
are rising with encouraging rapidly, but Servia
IS on the whole an agricultural country. and
must remain one. Hence English commerce Is
offered a brilliant opening II 1t only chooses 10
take IT, Why the British capitalist holds back
Mr. Vivian cannot understand. He discredits
the common assumption that Servia is on the
brink Of a financial crash Affairs are Fighting
themselves he declares. and then makes the
following observations:
"Al who have travelled about the country as
have done and beheld its marvellous riches and
natural resources must perceive how remote is
the possibility OF bankruptcy. The Servian peas
ant is himself magnificent reserve. The direct
taxes amount TO little more than six shillings
per head per annum. and the thrifty peasants
could well afford TO pay two or three times that
amount at q pinch. The monopolies Of tobacco
budget, and there great metallic riches only
awaiting capital to develop them and increase
the resources Of the country a hundredfold.
Well may the Servians exclain at the foolish
ness OF our investors. who squander their saw
ings in shady African enterprises. when there Is
80 much genuine business TO be done almost at
their doors"
We need not transfer 10 this place Mr. Vivian's
recapitulation OF the shrewd dealings Of Aus
TRAN capitalists and the doggedly stupid trans
actions Of British merchants-that is matter
between him and his countrymen exclusively
but II is certainly OF interest to the world al
large to know that Servia is industrious and
fruitful, that her prosperity is based on legltl-
mate resources. and that she promises to take
her place firmly and proudly among the most
advanced Of the Balkan States. AS 10 the para
disiacal side Of Servia, fancy that Mr.. Vivian
has been msled by his observations OF the fer
tility Of the land and It's various speculative
potentialities From the standpoint OF Lombard
Street there are fairylands in servia. That the
British emigrant would find his paradise there
we venture TO doubt. and even the native might
be better Off than he is The wants OF the Ser
Wan peasant are few" says Mr. Vivian. but
they are amply gratfed The smallest vestige
Of foresight enables him TO satisfy all his needs
on little more than half his produce. Such
things as salt. tooacco and sugar are almost the
only calls upon his purse. Everything else. down
TO clothes and table linen. he provides for him
self The other half Of his produce is sold and
the proceeds generally devoted to new carts,
fences and various Improvements. many OF them
wholly unnecessary. When. however. peasant
chooses to save. he can do 50 to much purpose.
On the other hand. IL he be lazy and mprovi-
dent. he cannot come seriously to grief state
granaries insure him against the ravages OF war.
floods or famine. and there is a homestead law
which protects him in quite grandmotherly
way. a minimum Of his property is inalienable.
and no court OF Law can authorize. much less en-