Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-16

Rubicon, according TO tTaQltlon. Inc
stream is known as the Urgone now.
Sigismondo the enterprising erected a
stone in honor of that achievement,
which stone-a worn and battered post
still stands in Rimini'S streets. In
81 b. c. the Roman government, erected
a magnificent triumphal arch Of trav-
f, ertine in gratitude to Augustus for his
restoration of the Via Flaminia. The
figures of Jupiter and Venus, Neptune
and Minerva still look down from TINS
arch upon Rimin's little people. There
is still turbulence in this land upon
the house walls we saw rude scraWis
of "Viva rRivoluzione," which the mill
tary had vainly tried to dauh out with
paint One may get in even nearer
touch with Caesar at San Marine. There
the clocks still mark six-hour day, as
was the habit in ancient Rome There
is not a clock in the republic which
shows more than six hours upon It's
dial Law everywhere is based upon
the Roman code The code Napoleon,
still in use in Louisiana. is merely
modern adaptation. But in San Marine
they are unswerving in their ale
Roman code itself. handed down UNI
changed through the centuries.
Democrats in San Marine.
Unless one has completely fallen
victim to the charms of cathedrals and
ruins; San Marine is the most interest
ing spot in Italy. 1t is the most COM
pletely democratic country in all Eu-
rope, with the possible exception of the
still older and poorer republic of An
DORA in the Pyrenees. 1t is the most
Ievel-headed little land in the world,
perhaps Realizing that it's strength
lies in it's weakness, it refused to ex-
pand when Napoleon offered to extend
it's boundaries. 1t is the one remain
ing survival of the Italy of the middle
ages, when every citys hand was
against every other city. and towns
visits. 1t was of such scattered and
warning and anachronistic fragments
that the movement which began with
Garbaldi built modern Italy. In one
of his times of defeat Garlbald1 took
refuge here. One regrets to learn that
he was ungraciously received: The
burghers of San Marine had become
selfish in their freedom. and feared
complications.
1t was founded by St Marinus in 3e6
AID, according to tradition. In those
days the men who wished to worship
according to their conscience could not
be content with merely finding place
in wilderness. 1t was further neces-
sary to find a place in that wilderness
which could be defended from those
who worshiped according to different
formula. The rock of Monte Titano
answered every requirement. 1t stands
tous sides, so that one sees for miles
across this fiat, warm land. So stiff is
the ascent that the diligence takes hve
hours to do the twelve miles from Ri
rock of San. Leo. To-day San Leo's
chief interest is in the fact that in its
castle the impostor Caglostro died a
prisoner. San Marines authenticated
history dates from SS5. During those
ten centuries it has been for the most
stones could defend it's ladderlike APP
proaches against men in armor
Today it is self-respecting. self
sustaining republic. There are no rich
people in San Marine, but there are
few poor ones. There are no beggars,
for there are few tourists to toss pen
MES. Its sole revenues come from its
import taxes, which are collected by
imported into San Marine, and amount
to about $4,000 year. The cost of
running it's government is absurd.
Members of the great council of sixty
members are paid 81 a year each. The
twelve members of the small council of
twelve. chosen by lot from the great
council, are paid no more. Even the
two capitani regent. the ostensible
rulers of the republic. are only paid
$40 a year each There is little cost
in the rock. The wind sweeps them
clean each day.
To an American, San Marines chief
interest is in its political system, un-
old and the picturesque. Every man
in the republic has a vote. once year
the great council is elected. The small
council elects six of it's twelve mem
bers candidates for the position of
capitani regent, and twice a year two
are chosen by lot from the six. Their
induction into office is an interesting
ceremony, frankly survival of me-
dievalism. and Astounding in gold lace
and quaint professions. The system
must be held to have proven it's worth
There are no official scandals in San
Marine. Almost every one of conse-
quence gets at one time or another
during his life chance at the chief
honors. Because they are abundantly
practical, the infrequent cases at law
are heard before a judge chosen from
a distance. The San Marine theory is
that in so small a community no judge
swayed by neighborhood prejudices
Years ago some one gave San Ma
rino a battery of field pieces. 1t proved
a white elephant. The guns could not
be fired from that hill except with the
certainty that the projectiles would
land unon the territory of their neigh
Dor. The great council considered the
matter for many anxious nights, and
finally solved the question by giving
the guns to Italy. The standing army
IS, IN erect, d ponce loTCe, anu the
national guard is merely a device to
keep the standing army from too great
ly feeling it's oats. If it has declared
war against Austria, it was forced by
the conflict between modernfty and an
anachronism. 1t may have been re-
garded as desirable to withhold from
Austrian fliers neutral port upon
which they might alight and submit
to interment rather than to capture.
But has San Marino-this pinpoint of
n ran1Ih1ic-dpc1ar
not find out.