Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-28
PEOPLE OF BLACK MOUNTAIN
STORY OF THE AMBITIONS OF
THE MONTENEGRINS.
Austria Holds Keys to Doors of the
Capita1-Montenegr Men
as Soldiers.
From the London Mail.

From the London Mail.
There are two doors to the capital of
Montenegro. and Austria holds the keys.
You must see these doors to understand
why Prince Nicholas talks Of war as a
prisoner talks OF liberty.
Antivari is modest roadstead on the
Adriatic which Italians are trying to
make into a harbor, and from which they
are dragging a light railway across the
fnountains-to nowhere. At the mouth
Of the cove rises Spizza-a cliff and an
Austrian fort commanding the town, the
harbor and the railway. 1t is as If a
policeman looked in at your window and
kept his hand on your door. The collec-
tive wisdom of Europe put the Austrian
policeman there a quarter of a century
ago, and he insists on remaining.
Why?
"Come on the BRIDGE" said the Italian
captain. land I'll show you what Austria
has prepared for her allies"
We were drawing near to Cattaro-the
beautiful ford that Is mated with Austria,
yet embraces the feet Of Montenegro. Can
non to right Of US, cannon to left or US,
cannon in front of us. Austria Is jealous
of this ravishing widow of ancient Venice
and the Bocche di Cattaro shrieks war at
the top Of her voice.
"And it is at Italy she shrieks." said
the captain, as we went hard aport in
obedience to a signal from the island fort
ress. Austria and Italy are an i'll
matched couple. They may be faithful to
their marriage vows, but they can never
forget that they were bad neishbors."
That is why Austria keeps the key to
the door at Antivari. She fears that one
day she may have to lock 1t against
Italy.
And the other door to Cetinje?
A Mountain Highway.
Over the old-world town OF Cattaro. at
and the face Of it is engraved with a
road. From the ship it looks like an
etching, SO steep and lofty is the noun
tain. SO delicate and winding is the road
This is the highway to the capital Of
Montenegro--the only way to reach
Cetiuje with ease and speed-across the
!, threshold of an Austrian port strongly
fortified, garrisoned with many soldiers
and guarded by battleships and cruisers
And the traveller is never allowed to for
get that he owes the right Of way to
Austria. AS the carriage tolls from the
Austrian custom house heavenward he
hears the crackle of Austrian rifles at
the range; he sees Austrian forts and
uniforms at the crossroads: and when
Austrian searchlight from an Austrian
battleship follows his steps like a sus-
picious policeman with his lamp. Only
when he plunges into darkness over the
summit can he escape this unsleeping
eye. Then thhe Montenegrin driver bursts
into song-like an uncaged bird: and the
traveller feels. II he cannot see. that he
is in q new land where they give less
thought to road making and have con-
tempt for precipices.
MY companion was a MontenegrIn,
whose acquaintance made at Antivari.
Beautifully dressed after the fashion
Of his race. with the manner and air of
young seigneur, I was amazed to hear
that he was q coal miner in the United
States and had fastened home at the
first whisper Of war Many. I find have
followed his example. for the Monte
negrin has ever one ear open to the
call OF his mountains and the other to
a call to arms. The miner was in the
garrison artillery. and as we came in
sight OF snow-capped Lovchen he point