Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-07

NAEMEA4a AH AEAAAH ~ ANNE1A ~ 49,
explaining that he can muster a band Of
forty volunteers. Another peasant. know
ing no better. asks when the war will be
declared.
Prince e. Also n Diplomat.
But the old prince is accustomed to such
as this and he does not lack
the diplomatic gift. His reply, while salts
flying the peasant. does not offend the
minister. whose dragoman may
be In the crowd. OF at any rate finds out
before many hours what advice his high
ness has been pleased to give the people.
The prince replies that war Is a terrible
thing and that he hopes there will be none,
but hat they, the people and he. are Mon
tenegrins, and II driven to war they will
fight as becomes Montenegrins.
1t is my will" the prince might say,
that no shot shall be fired across the
frontier unless war is declared. We must
prove hat the charge that Montenegrins
are lawless is a %calumny."
When a man has made his speech and
got his answer il is the custom for him TO
mount the steps and kiss the hand Of the
prince. Some OF the peasants go dow on
their knees and kiss his feet The prince
himself wears the native costume and
carries a long revolver in his belt. He
bears himself like one OF the people. and
the people bear themselves like the prince,
for they are all Montenegrins!
Prisoners Unashamed.
In sight Of the palace, about 100 yards
away, is the low, stablellks prison. in front
OF which In the open street sits a guard
OF two men, willis prisoners with heavy
chains from hip to ankle stroll up and
down in pairs conversing while they take
their daily exercise Psssersby DO not stop
to gaze at them. nor do the prisoners
seem to be ashamed. Perhaps tho crime OF
those in chains is the continuing OF blood
feud. which, though severely punished in
these days, was until recent years a thing
a man would be ashamed not to do.
There used to BE- almost continual fight
ing with the Albauians Of Turkey because
they and the MOntenegrins each in turn
systematically raided the others. and these
aggressions brought about wars between
the two countries periodically. Finally
they agreed to stop fighting and on an
; appointed day they met on the banks OF
a river, and the Albanians and the Monte
negrins. one by one till all had given the
pledge. came forward simultaneously to
opposite sides of the stream and cast in
N@@"A - ~ - NSANa NA1N 80 |eAA~@G N1-
washed away forever.
Session of the skupshtina.
I attended a setting of the Skupshtina, or
Parliament, Of this curious little country.
1t IL held in the theater. the tiniest little
theater 1 have ever seem
StadinG on the floor one Of the tall
deputies could shake hands with the repre-
sentattves OF the powers who sometimes
H. ~
stage IL not more than twenty feet wide
Here on III stage are the chair and
desk of the president and on either side
In front Of him the table OF the clerk and
hat OF the stenographer. The latter is a
Catholic priest In robes, whose small con-
gregstion is unable to support him.
Among the deputies on the floor. about
forty in number. are several Orthodox
Greek church) priests. The members are
all in national costume. except one
Mohammedan, who wears the Turkish
dress. One vain old fellow wears a breast
plate of worked silver. In front OF each
man on his little desk are a pad Of scrib-
bling paper and a pencil Most OF the
deputies carry REVIEWERS. though some few,
those who realize no doubt that their
tsmpers are bad. have left their revolvers
SAAoAHCr nuns NP III lHclI ONGEGOdls anu
umbrellas
Military System Primitive.
1t has been the custom for the Moham-
medans to pay the military tax instead OF
serving in the army. but since the trouble
with Austria. in which Mohammedan and
Serb are on one side. arms have been
distributed a. well to Albanian and Turks,
who form = small part OF the population.
The military system of this poor country.
which would hardly be able to supply it's
men with arms, except for gifts from
sympathetic Russia, is somewhat print
tive. Between the age OF 10 and II each
boy receives a gun. a revolver, a sabre
and a number OF cartridges
According to custom he must always
wear the revolver; a form of punishment
for minor offences against the law is To
relieve him Of this weapon for a time. and
It Is a disgrace to be seen without one. A
man may not, according to military order.
90 a distance of more than two hours walk
from home without his gun and cartridge
belt He must give an account to his officer
OF the use OF every cartridge given him by
the War department.
At the age of 3 the young man goes for
four months to one OF the large towns
~ A|Ao az III liz
receives a course OF instruction in the art
OF war. Those who prove to be the best
pupils and desire to become officers may
spend a year and a half longer at the mill
tary school.
III Montenegro custom OF carrying
arms at all times is probably a natural
result Of conditions under which the nation
lived until a quarter OF a century ago
They were the only people OF the Balkans
who were able TO maintain their indepen-
dence against the power OF the Turk
when he invaded Europe 800 years ago In
an effort TO conquer the world for NOLAN.
med.
Long Fight for Liberty.
The Montenegro wears today a border
Of black silk round his red cap as mourn
ing for Kossovo. the famous battle il
which the power Of Christendom In south.
eastern Europe was broken. Five golc
circles In the corner OF the caps red fielC
denote the five centuries the country hai
fought for and kept its liberty. 1t wa
the flower Of the Serb race that came e
these barren rocks after Kossoyo and helt
them against all enemies. no matter wha
their numbers