Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-01-10

/ lines OF gold arranged like a rising
sun-they are for five centuries OF
glorious independence-an below
them, in the Russian character, are
| the initials of the beloved ruler who
has lately been made king.
The Montenegro type Of face is
short, square, brown eyed. dark haired.
1t is ready enough to smile, to see a
joke, but in repose it has a tragic sad
ness, look of mourning that matches
the black cap brim. What do the
Montengrins mourn in their sunny
home? Perhaps ii is the Herzegovina,
fairer and more fertile land. 1t was
once their country. but the tide of Tur.
kish invasion drove them from it, and
+, they fed to the Black mountain and
wrung living from its gray. unfriend
lY slopes.
The Treaty With Austria.
They sowed their seeds in the little
pockets of earth that collect In dips
and dells in the rock and built them
selves houses OF the plentiful stone
+ They grew hardy from the hard life.
looked forward to the time when they
would have their revenge upon the
Turks and kept their weapons sharp
and their wits bright against the day
The soil is rich. but there is very
little of it, so every patch Is made to
contribute its half dozen potatoes or
its handful of grain. You will won
der" said Dalmatian friend, "how
such country can grow such tall, fine
men" He had been in Cettinje in Oc-
tober, 1909, at the time or the ratif1ea-
ton Of the treaty by which Austria
annexed Bosnia and the herzegovina
He said that war had seemed certain
and that the Montenegrins wished to
cross the border Immediately to attack
the Austrians, SO indignant were they
| that the country which was once
theirs, and from which their prince
had ousted the Turks, should be given
| away by Europe to Austria.
Enjoys came in from all the villages
! eagerly asking, will there be war to-
day." The standards We're on their
| way to the church One was carried
| by an old man over GO, who was told
! that he was too old to fight. He re-
| torted that his family had held the
banner for 800 years, and that until
| his son, for whom he had cabled, re-
turned from America he would yield it
| to none. But the ENJOYS went sadly
| back to their villages to say that there
would be no war. The prince coun-
seled peace and his loyal subjects
| obeyed him.
The Montenegrin's simple field
| equipment hangs in corner of this
| house 1t consists of rifle and new
pair OF "opanka" (sandals). The
| question of supply and transport does
not occupy the staff very seriously.
for man will live two days on a
piece Of bread the size of his fist. He
takes three days rations with him
when he goes out to fight, and II he
were asked why he did not take more,
he would answer: II have enough for
three days BY that time either ! shall
have killed the enemy and taken his
food or else shall be dead myself.
People Courteous and Brave.
These were the views held by the
people whom we saw walking arm In
arm in Cettinje in the cool OF the even
ing or talking in little groups. Now
and then one splendid blue and scarlet
| unit would detach itself and stride up
to another, salute, perhaps kiss, shake
hands. say a few smiling words and
then withdraw again. We We're as
much impressed by the charm of their
| manners toward each other as by
their untailing courtesy to strangers.
They treat one another with great at.
lection and respect until-i But
the revolver that peeps out of the red
leather "torba" is alawys ready for use
and the blood feud is a living and a
dreadful reality. and no mere dramatic
fragment of a dead past. Part of the
Montenegrins social creed is that he
who avenges himself is blessed