Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-22
CHAPTER |.
The Name-day of the King

THE ancient city of Slavna, for thousand
years or more and under many dynasties
the capital of Kravonia, is island set
III in a plain 1t lies in the broad valley
of the Krath WI ich at this point flows
due east Immediately above the city the river
divides into two branches, known as the North
and the South Rivers Slavna is clasped in the
embrace of these channels. Conditioned by
their course, its form is not circular, but pear
shaped, for they bend out in gradual broad
curves to their greatest distance from another,
reapproaching quickly after that point is passed
till they meet again at the endor rather what was
originally the endof the city to the east the single
reunited river may stand for the stalk of the pear.
In old days the position was strong one; now
adays it is obviously much less defensible; and
those in power had recognized this fact in two
ways-hrst, by allocatlng money tor new and
scientific system of Notifications; second, by
destroying almost entirely the ancient and out-of-
date walls which had once been the protection of
the CITY, Part of the wall on the north side indeed
still stood, but where it had escaped ruin it
encountered and built with warehouses and
wharves; for the North River is the channel of
commerce and the medium of trade with the coun-
try round about To the south the wall has been
entirely demolished, its site being occupied by
boulevard, on which faces a line OF handsome
modern reSidenceS-for the North River is for
trade, the South is for pleasure-and this boule
ward has been carried across the stream and
beyond the old limits OF the city, and runs for
mile farther the right bank of the reunited
Krath, forming delightful and well-shaded prom
enade where the citizens accustomed to take
their various forms of exercise
tached to the Palace That building itself dating
from 1920 and regrettaby typical of the style of its
period, faces the river the left bank just where
the takes broad sweep to the south, giving
a rounded margin to the Kings pleasure grounds
Below the Palace there soon comes open country
both banks The boulevard merges in the main
post-road to Volseni, and to the mountains which
form the eastern frontier of the kingdom. At this
date and for considerable number of years after
ward the only railway line in Kravonia did not
follow the of the Krath (which itself afforded
facilities for traffic and ntercourse), but down
from the north, having its terminus the left bank
of the North River, whence carriage-bridge gave
access to the city.
To vote money is thing to raise it another
and to spend it on the designated objects third
Not a stone nor sod of the forts was yet in
place and Savna's solitary defense the ancient
fort which stood the left bank of the river just
above the point of dissection, facing the casino and
botanical gardens on the opposite bank Sueiman S
Tower, relic of Turkish rule, is built simple
plaza square curtain, with bastion at each cor
ner incoses massive circular tower. The gate
faces the North River, and bridge, which admits
of being raised and lowered connects this outwork
with the north wall of the city, which at this point
is in good preservation The fort is roomy; two or
hundred men cOuld find quarters there. and