Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-10-02

SERNAN Mbea
IN ERVIA IL q peasant country. Lik'
TX the other Balkan states, III
~ peasant people believe In theil
~ rights to nationality. That wa,
what really kindled the Euro
pean war conhagration.
Some years ago In travelling ovel
Servia with an Englishman who had
more or less to do with the affairs Of
his country. this fact was impressed
ON me. At that time the murder Of
the king and queen by the army grouy
was comparatively recent, and English
indignation was still 20 strong that
the British government had refused Ia
recognise the regicides. But this En-.
ghshman was philosophic. and 70
marked that Servia would get recog-
milton In time because it, existence
could not be ignored by any of the
european powers. Events showed that
he was right.
Al We travelled across the country
ne called my attention to the small
number Of towns and cities. There
were groups Of huts which might be
called villages. but few real towns.
ANY ono coming across on the Orient
express from Constantinople to vien-
M notes this. and. getting away from
the railroad line. It IL even more mo-
ticeable.
Belgrade. ON the Danube, h . flne
capital. modern In most respects, with
lot OF ancient history. but Belgrade
is not typical Of Servia. The valley
and the mountain and the forest are
what constitutes Servia ana what
make the Servians. People who have
lived tn the country say that the bulk
OF the population 10 almost fanatical
in its hatred Of city life.
These servian countrymen are pic-
turesQue In their way. a. are an the
natives Of the Balkan states. They I'm
press one - rather dull, but q
logged. Civilization really seems 70
have touched them very lightly. and
only on the surface. for they Sre crude
and primitive.
Frugal and Saving.
Aside from the race ouestion. the
eternal antipathy Of Slav and Teuton.
economic conditions also have com-
bined to foment the antipathy between
the eervians and the Austrians. The
Servtan peasant II landed proprie-
tor. The country II one Of small land |
owners, and this condition naturally |
creates . large measure Of individual |
independence. The Servian country.
men. according to the testimony q |
those who know them best, are n
nuga and saving - the French peas
ants. They are also temperate ana
Owing to the habits Of frusality and
70 the Agricultural SURROUNDINGS, q
most every year Ssrvia has . surplus
u wheat and corn. fruits and cattle
md pigs for export. Hemmed In q Il
>. IT. exports have been subject 70
he pleasure Of Austria
The chief markets for the aericul
ural products are Austria and Ger
many, although the rest Of Europe =
llso . buyer. 6srvia makes it, own I
arifIs. and when friction has been
|reatest with Austria there have bean
ariR wars. but the advantage always
~ rested with Austria, because Il
ould impose such restrictions a II
LEASED on importations into IT. own
eFritory. and In other ways could
amper Servian exports. l.
Austrian Statesmen 1t times have ,
poken contemptuously Of the Servian .
sasant and his PIG - an illustration .
that which has been the chief CON
ern Of Servian cabinets. Il has not
cen simply the peasant and his pis.
ut the peasant and his beef, his corn.
ID wheat and his fruit that the Ser.
Ian government has had to look AFT, =
:. When pressing political conces-
Ions on Servia. Austria usually has .
lodined the commercial restrictions.
Ding this ~ . favor instead Of . q
ght. Ii
The Servians have chafed under this b
'striction much moro than has BEEN Z