Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-07-03
]Claapter ~
Ten H
.HE ancient city of Slavna, for
thousand years or more and
under many dynasties the CAPT.

Z. VI alteEAAIstlu. WHICH, ", luiS pOluL u0WS
due east Immediately above the city
the river divides into two branches,
known 8s the North and South rivers.
J. Slavna is clasped in the embrace OF
these CHANNELS. Conditioned by their
course. its form is not circular, but
I pear shaped, for they bend out in grad
nals broad curves to their greatest dis
lance from one another, reapproach-
ing quickly after that point is passed
I'LL they meet again at the end, or,
rather. what was originally the end.
OF the city to the east. The single re-
united river may stand for the stalk OF
the pear.
In old days the position was strong
one. Nowadays it is obviously much
less defensible, and those in power
had recognized this fact in two ways
first by allocating money for new and
scientific system of Notifications, sec
ond 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ancient and out of date walls which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 1t
had escaped ruin it was incumbered
and built over with warehouses and
wharfs, for the North river is the
channel of commerce and the medium
of trade with the country round about.
To the south the wall has been entirely
demolished. its site being occupied by a
boulevard. on to which faces line of
handsome modern residences, for as
the North river is for trade, SO the
South is for pleasure, and this boule
ward has been carried across the
stream and on beyond the old limits of
the city and runs for mile or farther
on the right bank of the reunited
Krath, forming a delightful and well
shaded promenade, where the citizens
are accustomed to take their various
forms Of exercise.
Opposite to it, on the left bank, lies
the park attached to the palace. That
building itself, dating from 1920 and
regrettably typical of the style of its
{ period, faces the river on the left bank
just where the stream takes a broad
sweep to the south, giving rounded
margin to the kings pleasure grounds.
Below the palace there soon comes
open country on both banks The bou-
leyard merges in the main postroad to
Volseni and to the mountains which
form the eastern frontier of the king
dom. At this date and for consider
able number of years afterward the
only railway line in Krayonia did not
! follow the course of the Krath, which
itself afforded facilities for traffic and
intercourse, but ran down from the
north, having its terminus on the left
! bank of the North river, whence car
rage bridge gave access to the city.
To vote money is one thing, to raise
It another, and to spend 1t on the desig
mated objects third. Not stone nor
a sod of the new forts was yet in place.
and Slavna's solitary defense was the
ancient castle which stood on the left
of the bank just at the point of bisec-
ton, facing the casino and the botanical
gardens on the opposite bank Sulei-
mans tower, relic of Turkish rule, is
built on a simple plan-a square curtain,
with bastion at each corner, incloses
q massive circular tower. The gate
faces the North river, and bridge,
which admits of being raised and low
cred, connects this outwork with the
north wall of the city. which at this
point Is in good preservation. The
fort is roomy. Two or three hundred
men could find quarters there, and, al
though 1t is under modern conditions
Of little use against an enemy from
without, 1t occupies a position of con-
siderable strength with regard to the
city ITSELF 1t formed at this time the
headquarters and residence of the com.
mandant of the garrison, post held by
the heir to the throne, the Prince Of
Slayna.
In spite of the fataess Of the sur
rounding country, the appearance Of
Slayna is not unpicturesque. Time and
the baud of man Ghe people are color
loving race) have given many tints,
soft and bright, to the roofs, gables and
walls Of the old, quarter of the north
{ town, over which Suleiman's tower
broods with an antique impressiseness.
Behind the pleasant residences which
border on the southern boulevard lie
handsome streets of commercial build
dngs and shops. these last again glow
ing with diversified and gaudy colors.
In the center of the city, where, but for
Its dissection, we may imagine the Krath
would have run, pretty little canal
has been made by abstracting wa
ster from the river and conducting It
through the streets. On either side of
this stream a broad road runs. Al
most exactly midway through the city
the roads broaden and open into the
spacious square Of st. Michael, con-
tanning the cathedral. the fine old city
hall, several good town houses dating
two or three hundred years back, bar
racks and the modern but not unsightly
government offices. Through this
square and the streets leading to ii
from west and east there now runs an
excellent service of electric cars, but
Mt the date with which we are con-
cerned crazy facre or a crazier omni-
bus was the only public means Of con.
sveyance. Not few good private equi.
pages were, however, to be seen, for
the Krayonians have been from of old
lovers of horses. The city has a popu-
lation bordering on hundred thou
sand, and, besides being the principal
depot and center of distribution for a
rich pastoral and agricultural country,
It transacts respectable export trade
In hides and timber. 1t was possible
for careful man to grow rich in Slav-
M evan fho1,oh In x,ya,,r rot :, ,,olf