Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-05-14

b2lOW llt pIilCe luSre soon ColneS open country on both banks. The bou- levard merges in the main postroad to Volsenl 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 Kravonia 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 riage bridge gave access to the city.
 To vote money is one thing, to raise it another, and to spend it 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- tion, facing the casino and the botanical
 gardens on the opposite bank. Sulei- mans tower, a relic of Turkish rule. is
 built on simple plan-a square curtain,
 with bastion at each corner. incloses a 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 it is under modern conditions of little use against an enemy from without, it occupies a position of con siderable strength with regard to the city itself. It formed at this time the headquarters and residence of the com mandant of the garrison, a post held by the heir to the throne, the Prince of Slavna.
 In spite of the flatness of the sur rounding country. the appearance of Slavna is not unpicturesque. Time and the hand of man Cthe 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 wLich Suleiman's tower broods with an antique inpressiveness. Behind the pleasant residences which border on the southern boulevard lie handsome streets of commercial build ings and shops. these last again glow ing with diversified and gaudy colors. In the center of the city. where, but for it's bisection. we may imagine the Krath would have run. a pretty little canal has been made by abstracting wa ter from the river and conducting it through the streets. On either side of this stream q broad road runs. Al most exactly midway through the city the roads broaden and open into the spacious square of St. Michael, con- taining 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 it from west and east there now runs an excellent service of electric cars, but at the date with which we are con cerned crazy fiacre or crazier omni- bus was the only public means of con. veyance. Not few good private equi. pages were. however. to be seen. fe? the Kravonians have been from of old lovers of horses. The city has a popu- lation bordering on a hundred thou sand. and. besides being the principal Aepot and center of distribution for a rich pastoral and agricultural country, it transacts respectable export trade in hides and timber. It was possible for careful man to grow rich in Slav. na, even though he were not poli- tician nor a government official.
 Two or three years earlier an enter prising Frenchman of the name of Rousseau had determined to provide Slavna with a first rate modern hotel and cafe. Nothing could have consort- ed better with the views of King Alexis Stefanovitch, and NJ. Rousseau obtain ed on very favorable terms large site at the southeast end of the city. just where the North and South rivers re- unite. Here he built his hostelry and named it the Hotel de Paris. A fine terrace ran along the front of the house. abutting on the boulevard and afford ing a pleasant view of the royal park and the palace in the distance on the opposite bank.
 On this terrace. it being a fine 0c- tober mor1'''r sat Sophy. drinking a