The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-12-29
CURIOUS LITTLE REPUBLICS
Some which Are Not We'll Knowa 60
the General Public.
(From aid Bits.l

tell you anything about them, yet each Is
little Kingdom In itself. with Q prssi-
dent and council to govern state affairs,
TO worry the people.
As regards population, the SMALLEST re-
public in the world IL that Of Tavolara,
an leland about five miles long, with an
average width Of little more than half
mile. situated about . dozen miles To
the northeast Of Sardinia. The total
population of the whole Of the republic
does not exceed 90. but they elect a presi-
dent every six years, and council Of six
msmbers. all OF whom serve the stats
without pay. The women Of this island
90 to the coils and vote with the uen,
and ever since 1t became q rspublir, In
1886. oil public business has been trans-
acted without turmoil. the elections
taking place without any high party feel
ing or undue sxoitemert.
| In 1886 King Charles Albert Of Sar-
DINA granted the island OF Tavolars to q
family OF the name Of Bartolsoni. but In
less than half q century the Inhabitants
threw OF the yoks Of monarchy and took
TO them selves this right to b. governed by
themselves. This little war did not
alarm the world, and was quite q peace
ful one. King Paul 1 reigned until 1882,
and on his deathted requested that none
Of his kin should succeeded to the throne,
and as no one claimed the honor, four
yenrs later the peopls decided to draw up
constitution. and Tavola,a has been q
very successful little republic since.
Twelve years ago Its Independence was
recognized by Italy, and, 1t Is to BIS pre-
sun,sd, other powers would have recog-
niz, It also II they had known Of Its ex-
istenos. The Inhabitants live prinoipsll y
by fishing and raising fruits and veget-
ables. They tear no sudden invasion, for
they dispense with any srmy or navy,
and presumably. in case Of need, would
rely upon their entire population to up
hold the freedom OF the country.
| Very few people have heard Of the ex-
istt ncs OF the republic of 6oust, which Is
| situated on the Hat top OF a mountain 10
the Bases Pyrenees, south Of France.
II has but an area OF Ia square miles,
and n population of i40; 50 that, Us re-
CARDS sizs, IL can fairly claim to be- the
SUI allest republic In the world. 1t - an
older republic than the United States,
4
enjoys the distinction Of being reoog-
niaei by both Spain and Franco.
| Tire president 10 elected from an elder
college consisting OF IL PEASANTS, who are
chosen every ~ years by the people. The
president is also tax collector, assessor
| and Judge II, however, his decisions
are displessing TO the people they appeal
to this bishop Of Laruns. In the Spanish
parish down the mountain side. and
what the bishop says Is law. Gouso Is
certainly unique piacs, Tor tt has no
church or clergy man, tbs people worship
their country. Neither havo they any
burial ground, and when u death occurs
among thsm the body Is slid down to n
cemetery In the valisy below. In this
valley, too, all the taptisms and mar
/ The republic Of San Marine, In central
Italy, In perhaps the best known Of these
tiny republics. Ite territory covers about
J3 square miles. and the population mum
bers about $500 souls. Ihis miniature
state was founded in the fourth century
by st. Marinus. who. tiving embraced
Christianity, fed here to escape the per
secution under Diocls:ian. The capital,
San Marine, Ia on the eres: Of o noun
tain over 1000 feet high, and has popu-
lation of 1900. 1t Is one of the most pic
turesqus places In the world, being
psrched on perpendicular cliffs.
ture Senate OF 60 mem bers, elected for
lita From this body is electsd the coun-
oil Of y, which. with . legal adviser. de :
cidas all questions. Two oaptains-fe.
gent, elected every six months, represent
the stats, WHOM has also Its home ss,re-
tary, It's ministers of foreign affairs, Its
chancellor Of the exchsquer, ita army OF
$50 men and regular budget. San
Marine Ii proud OF her antiquity. and
has many curious customs. BY treaty
with Italy the republic receives Il certain
proportion of the Itaiisn customs reve-
nus, but exacts no customs on her Dor
ders She also agrees not to grow tobao-
CO, but Is allowed to import IL duty free.
The small half French and half-Spsu-
ish republic OF Andorra, which lies In an
almost inaccessible valley Of the eastern
Pyrsnees, possssses a charter af rights,
dating from CharlemaGne In 100. There
Is but one way OF getting to AndorFa
from France, and that Ia by the River
Bolira. To reach 10 from Spain you have
to be carried down BY mule over one OF
the IN ost dangerous footpaths In Europe.
There are six parishes In the republic,
and the whole contains about 5000 people.
the territory covering al area OF i4S
| 50 uare miles.
The republic Is governed By u general
council Of 81 members, each parish sind
Ing 4. and of this council the syndto or
president IL chosen for life BY the coun-
eli. The syndio, being president of the
republic. receives salary Of 90 year,
and the members Of this council are paid
sos. fhe republic 10 rather ham ered,
for while Il elects It's own officers, COL
iects It's own taxes and looks after Its
own army Of 100 men, 10 has TO pay to
France $50 francs year for the free i'm
portation Of corn into the country and
IL forced to Import from France.
Twelve months ago Andorra bought q
big gun from Herr krupp and planted it
almost In the center of the republic.
right between Spain and France. Europe
should trsmble, for when the gun is fred
either France or spain will be hit, for
the republic 10 but IL miles across, and
/ the gun carries 20 miles.