The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-18
Visit to San Marine.

After visits TO almost all parts of the
British empire. 10 the vast territory OF
Africa, and the limitess plains Of North
and South America. Dr. John c. Bowker.
the famous travelogist, at Chase's this
week, has concluded his wandeHngs with
a farewell trip to the tiny republic OF
san Marino, which was in hourishing ex-
istence more than $50 years before the
United States came into existence.
Perched on a great rock mountain al
most on the eastern coast Of Italy, at a
point due east OF Florence, 1t has for
LOO years maintained its independence,
elected its own government, supported it.
self without the aid OF the adjacent king
dom, and. according 10 DR.. Bowker, has
set an example OF civic purity that to-day
is uneXcelled.
The final visit of DR.. Bowker 10 San
Marine, he asserts, was a climax TO his
years OF constant travel He declares
that, Notwithstanding its diminutive size,
the republic constitutes a worthy con-
clusion for his worldwide visits. Many
thousands of people have heard Dr. Bow
ker tell, with vivid descriptive powers.
the scenes he has encountered in foreign
lands, and he has given 10 the Sunday
edition Of The Washington Herald a
graphic description Of his experiences in
the little cloud high republic which Is
so near and yet so far removed from what
is commonly called civilization"
Pew people, he says. know there is
such a place as San Marino, and stiIl
fewer know that IT Is the oldest republic
in the world. the smallest, the best gov
erned-an example TO all republics and
monarchies.
1T lies on a rock mountain. 800 feet
above the sea, almost directly east OF
Florence. near the shore Of the Adriatic
and with the nearest neighhor. Rimini
fifteen miles away below On the plain
There are between 1000 and 1900 inhab-
itants there. and the whole acreage of
the domain does not exceed thirty-two
square miles-or less by far than that
Of the city Of Boston.
mo carriages or automobiles may en-
ter the town, for the reason that none
can. To get there you must go by dill
gence up the mountain from Rimini to
the walls OF the town, and then one must
walk. The streets are so narrow as 10
effectually bar any carriage from enter
ing.
THE people are simple agricultural
folk eking out a difficult existence from
the crops they raise on the rocky soil
and. We're it not for an excellent college
they have there. where pupils from all
over italy are educated. the republic
would have been bankrupt long ago Even
as it Is. they have had such hard time
that they have recently, with the permits
sion Of the Italian government, instituted
q lottery, which is expected TO put about
s. o10. 000 into the treasury.
The republic, which has always been
an independent state, was officially al
lowed TO continue its independent exist
ence at the time that the states Of Italy
combined TO form the present monarchy,
and it has gone unmolested ever since.
But although there is no desire to alb
serb it into the Italian government, and
although it would be powerless to protest
If there were such a desire, il maintains
a regular standing army Of 800 men, with
a reserve list of 200 more, and these sol
diers constitute quite feature of the
government.
While this government and It's man
agement are matters Of ignorance to
Americans at large these latter will be
surprised that American government
methods have been held up as a warn
ing in the administration OF San Marine
affairs.