The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1915-12-31
CURIOUS ANDORRk
Oldest, Smallest and Strangest
Of All Republics.
A PATCH IN THE PYRENEES.
This Tiny Nation, Where All Men Arc
Really Equal, Has Never Produced
Page Of Literature, a 6ar Of Music,
o Painting Nor q Leader OF Men.

For LOO years. since its foundation
as republic in sos (and no one knows
for how many centuries before that,
curious little Andorra has gone its own
strange way utterly oblivious to the
progress of the other nations of Eu-
rope. 1t has its own idea of the mean
Ing of life, and 1t lives according to
that. A traveller entering the republic
today will find it exactly us it was
1000 years ago.
IL IS q republic which has never
achieved anything In its long and
vague history; republic which has
never produced II page of literature nor
q bar of music nor u painting; a re-
public which has never had Il place
IN the councils Of Europe and has new
err asked for one; nation which has
never produced an ambitious man.
Andorra consists of six counties and
boasts about dozen towns. Its en-
tire population is 5000 souls.
The chief occupation of the people of
Andorra Is cattle raising. and thou.
sands upon thousands of cows may be
seen browsing in the rich pastures.
yet 1t has never occurred to AndOrrans
to milk these cows. ana butter and
milk are unknown in the republic.
Dairy products are nonexistent. The
only cheese made is that from the
milk of sheep. Visitors find it impos-
sible to procure milk or cream for
their coffee. Andorrans themselves
use brandy instead and think it is bet
ter than anything else in coffee.
In sos Louis the Debonair laid siege
to the city of Urgel. which is to the
south of Andorra. The Andorrans. led
BY Marc Almugaver. took up arms to
aid the French. and for their assist !
nnce Louis gave them charter and
permitted them to be self governing.
As It now exists 1t is the smallest re-
public in the world. 1t Is situated in
the Pyrenees between France and
Spain. 1t is about eighteen miles wide
and sixteen miles long from north to
south. 1t is difficult of access. as there
Is not single railroad running through
or near 1t.
:. Its capital is Andorra Ia viella. with
4 population of 500 and containing the
Casa de Ia Vail. or house Of repre- |
sentatives- This is large sixteenth
century building at the extremity of
the town, overlooking the valley to- !
ward Spain. 1t is parliament house,
town hall. school. palace Of justice and b
hotel for the councillors all In one. 1t .
Is also used as a temporary prison in
the rare cases when prison is neces-
Safy. Crime in Andorra is practically
unknown. The only Andorrans suffer ;
ing Imprisonment IRE the smugslers
Of tobacco caught by the French or !
not looked upon as mnlefactors by
their fellow citizens. Smuggling is ~.
garded as legitimate trade.
There is no police department and
no police. Every citizen has the pow.
er to arrest, but this privilege is rarely
used.
The territory was once densely
wooded and is said to derive its name
from the Moorish Aldarra. the place b
thick with trees" but almost all the
forests have been destroyed for fuel.
The climate is generally cold. with 4
very severe winters. The land is y
chiefly devoted to grazing for the nu-
merous focks and herds. But on the
sheltered southern slopes it is careful
ly cultivated and produces grain. po-
tatoes, fruit and tobacco. The local
Industries are of the most primitive !.
kind and show little OF no advance
since the middle ages.
The only roads are bride paths, K
with the exception of one municipal
road connecting Andorra with the high
road to SEQ de Urgel and Manreso by
way of the Balira valley.
Andorra is perhaps the truest democ-
racy in the world There Is no nobili-
ty. and there Is no class distinctions.
All men are equal. not only in the eyes
Of the law but In the fullest sense Of
the word. The first citizen OF the land. Il
the president, is farmer.
The republic is governed by twenty
four representatives. elected every four I
y ihSoS iSPAN"Sht"a'S NhcC~-S u
one of their number as president or z
the republic. His salary Is so pesetas
O year. or $50. Representatives get
10 pesetas. or $3.50 year.
There Is no such thing as poverty In
Andorra. Every one has enough and
has no desire for any more. Though
they are hard drinkers. cases OF intox-
tcation are very rare. They speak
their own language. Andorran. but 5
French is taught at the schools. The 4
school system Is regulated by the \
French. and for this service Andorra 4
pays annually TO the French govern
ment 900 francs. or $3.50 From this !,
Il may be seen that taxation Is very
low. Doctors services are absolutely
free. and drug stores supply their pa
irons without charge.
Andorrans drink n great deal. and
they are untldy In their personal ap-
pearance. SUIT they are extremely
honest. and theft is unknown In the
country Though descended from an