Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1902-03-28

anc tie Smallest Of Nations Of the
Earth

asa AAA
The Oldest nation in Europe is
the smallest, and few people ever
hesrd Of it. With the exception of
Chiua and Japan aud other Of the
'orieotal despotisms, is the Oldest
nation Ia existence, and has pre-
served its independence and main
taiued a republican form of govern
inert, based upon the equal rights
OF the people and the exercise OF
popular suffrage, unbrokeu for
period of LOO years.
San Marine has an area of seven
aeen square miles and a population,
by the census OF 1896, of $3.50 in
6Sbitants. The kingdom of Mon
ACC, of which Monte Carlo is the
capital, has an area OF only eight
square miles, but population of
ASSOC In the Pyrerees Mountains,
near the town of Pau, is another
1ittle semi lndependent state of 600
sqWare miles and about 1000 in
habitauts. 1t is called Andorra.
and lies between the Spanish
ppoVince of Lerida and the French
dep artmcnt of Arriege, entirely
surrounded by mountains. 1t con-
ssists of little pocket of valley, in
(which is the source of Segra River.
The inhabitants raise sheep and
cattle aud a little tobacco, rye and
potatoes. There are some iron and
lead mines in the neighboring noun
taIus, which furnish employment
Cor many OF the men, but the large
part OF their income is supposed to
lbe gained 10y illicit traffic in liquors,
tobacco and other articles, upon
which both France and SPAN i'm
pose a heavy duty. They speak .
the Catalan dialect of the Spanish
language, and their ancestors we're
of Spain.
From so far back as 1170 An
dora has maintained her autono-
my. In that year the daughter of
Count Of Castelbo, who exercised
ieudalauthorityin thevalley married
Bernard the French Count of Folk,
and both the government of Spain
and the government Of France
guaranteed neutrality and protec
IfiOn to their domain In 1878 the
privileges of the community were
cOE6rmed by the church and the
bishop of the Urgel was made the
permanent ruler. Since that date
abe little settlement has been prac.
aically independent, although the
gretically it is under the protection .
0f both France and Spain, and
pays san annual tribute Of 900
francs to each government.
.Andnrra has preserved the medic
val customs, Institutions and forms
of government Under the bishop
Of Urgel there is a "consel gen
veEal" OF twenty four members, elect
ed by the people, who have jurisdic
ton over secular affairs, make the
laws, appoint the judges and civil
officials and collect and disburse
tine taxes, which are imposed upon
ythe. Rocks of sheep aud herds Of cat
tie instead of upon the land, The
pastures are owned by the people
in common and are subject TO the
use os anyone who desires upon the
payment of this tax. There is an
army of 900 men who exercise Po-
lice authority in details of fifty or
more and are commanded by two
vIguiers, one of whom is nomina
ded by the government Of France
aud the other by the bishop of
Urgel.
San Marine, however, is a genu-
5ne republic and was founded by
a stone-cutter from Dalmatia name
Igarinus, who took refuge in Mount
Eitanues to escape persecution dur
ing the reign of the Emperor Do
rIetian. There, in the solitude of
the rocks, was founded the first
Christian hermitage, which is now
"A pretty town of go inhabitants,
with handsome residence and pub |
lie buildings, we'll paved and well
aighted, theater seating 600 peo-
pie, public library of
zBiU09 volumes, museum
g5lled with interesting historical
relics, archaeological specimens and
works of art; a university whose
diplomas in law, medicine and the
SCIENCES are recognized in Italy and
WN-.-ca and uJa11 ormauiZad cue