The Washington herald., 1912-09-06

fCopyrirht, 1872 by Court Gossip syndicate.)
The Montenegrins. who once more
are SO hard beset by the Turks, who
menace the borders OF their arid little
realm in the mountain Businesses OF
the Black Mountains. and which are
defended by the handful Of Czerna-
Govan sharpshooters, pride themselves
on the possession OF two great VIZ
and honesty. Their
love of their country has been demon
strated in their history. and their hon
esty is witnessed to by their laws.
One remarkable law Of the Black
Mountain kingdom directs that any
man finding a purse or 1ewelry upon
the road shall place the same upon the
nearest stone, so that the loser Will
have only to retrace his steps to re-
cover his property. That law Is never
violated A Montenegrin thinks noth-
ing of shooting a man with whom ne
disagrees, but would shrink In horror
from the idea of stealing the veriest
trifie. Montenegrin law is more severe
upon the thief than the homicide.
The Montenegrin's love for nghtins
once ELECTED from Mr.. Gladstone
magnificent tribute of admiration, when
he said that In his deliberate -opinion
the traditions of Montenegro exceeded
in glory those of Marathon and Their
mopylae and all the war traditions OF
the world.
In King Nicholas the Montenegrins
have a leader after their own hearts.
MY country" he once said. is will
derness Of stones: IL is arid. II Is poor:
but h adore Il, And II / Eere onered
the Ehole of the Balkan Peninsula In
exchange I would not hear one word
A splendid shot and fearless rider. old
Nicholas also is a poet and hasl found
time TO write two tragedies: The EN-
press Of the Balkans" and Prince Arba-
nit" in addition to a volume OF Serb poe
try.
An essential part of a Montenegrin &
dress are his weapons. 1t is safe to put
down a man seen without them as a
priest or convict. The two may be dis
tinguished by the hair on their faces
As a rule, Montenegrins have only a
mustache. 1t is believed to be slovenly
for any but priest to let the hair grow
AS to prisoners who are not strictly con-
fined, but who may be seen about al
large working or going on errands, the
only difference between a convict and
free citizen is that the former Is de-
prived OF his weapons. In Montenegro
this is a degradation equal TO the striped
dress or brand elsewhere.
MOntentETln nOHtslN 10 AHN
British bank agent who during the war
| time of the seventies OF last century wa:
known to carry about his person severa
hundred pounds in gold-Russian sub
sides for the families OF the killed ant
wounded-never was molested in the wild
est and most remote Of the mountain
passes in the Czerna Gova the Blaci
Mountainsl. though he was often ever
| without the escort Of a single guide
During two campaigns his dispatch bal
with his store of coin hung on the poll
Of his unguarded tent. but not shillin'
ever disappeared. The entire free NAL
population being away at the front. tn
| sum OF 5000 forms TO be paid to tn
banker at Cattaro. in Austrian territory
was intrusted TO a prisoner in the Get
TIME Jail. The man delivered the casl
and before night reported himself bacl
at the prison.
| The Montenegrin law which ordain
that any found valuable shall be place.
where the loser can find 1t reminds on
| of the anecdote told Of Grimaldl'
grandfather in Dickens life of tn
famous clown. On one Of his visits Z
Leadenhan Market. London. with som
c4nO in gold and silver on his person, h
found that his shoe had become un
buckIed, and taking from his pocket tn
bag, he placed IL upon a neighborin
post and then proceeded TO ADJUST nj
buckle. Later on. attempting to pay 10
IA purchase, he missed the bag OF gold
and hastened back to the place wher
lhe had buckled his shoe. Although NOR
than three-quarters of an hour ha
telapsed, there was the bag safe and ur
touched on the top OF the post In
ibusy street But that was an eighteent
century London. Could the like happe
, to-day?
No name is considered more unluck
for girls by the Russian family tha
that of Alexandra: for, since Empero
Paul. who ruled Russia toward the en-
of the eighteenth century. had his daugf
ter named Alexandra, dire disaster ha
fallen upon each member of the Rus
sian royal family bearing that name.
Il When she was seventeen years of ag'
n marriage was arranged between En-
peror Paurs daughter and the King {
Sweden. The wedding day arrived, III
bride was dressed, the tables laid fC
the feast. tho guests assembled, and III
priests were waiting. But the bride
groom suddenly declared to his gentle
men that he could not and would M
go on with the marriage. Vainly the
impiored him not to insult his chose
bride and the Russian nation. But b
was obstinate and left the winter palaC
with his suite as quickly as possibl
A marriage was speedily arranged fl
the poor. Inundated young grand duel
ess with an Austrian grand duke, HI
she never recovered the shock. and die
broken-hearted at nineteen years OF ag
Nicholas had a very beautif
!. daughter named Alexandra. She W,
married to the step-son of NapoleC
Bonaparte and died before she was
years OF age. There is a beautiful stat
to her memory at Tsarskoye-Selo, also
lovely little memorial church.
> Alexander II had a daughter of Il
same name: she died in childhood:
pretty golden-haired child she wa
judging by her portraits. A little bl'
silk frock, which she used to wear
still shown in the Winter Palace.
Other branches of the family also h;
: Alexandras, but in no case did they Ii
to be u.
Lord Liverpool. owner Of the on
y title which the late Mr.. Gladstone CO