Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-08-12

isTRlAN TERRITORY HAS HAD AN
IMPORTANT PAST.
Battlefield Of Europe Throughout the
Centuries, Il is Again the Center
of Discord-Strict Old Com
munaI Regulations.

'iiAf'G' FNSSStaktSnsE
Many long slumbering memories
have been Quickened by the present
resistless flood OF war that has en-
quilted in its course nearly all of the
historic spots in Europe, recalling to
the breathIess onlookers in neutral
lands, in the light Of the tragic signif-
icanss of these places today. their ro-
mantle stories of the centuries past"
begins bulletin issued by the Ma
tional Geographic society, treating of
what life has been in Austrias Istrian
territory, which the Italians are now
attempting to invade. The statement
continues:
''Istria. the wedge-shaped peninsula
at the head of the Adriatic and the
surrounding territory back of Trieste,
not of great Importance commercially
or industrially and with few Connec-
tons with the world in the West,
thus little known and spoken of. IN
rolls stream of highly interesting
"reminiscences of past civilizations
when brought to attention as one Of
today's great battlefelds. The civili-
cation of the peninsula is ancient
Ionians from rich and cultured Mile
tus settled colonies there in the ninth
century B. c., and In 735 B. c. the
Corinthians followed them. The sunny
culture of the Greeks once blossOmed
all along these shores, formed its art
lists here buiIded its temples, and at
last gave way before the Celts, who
arrived about the fourth century B.
c. When the Romans were forced
to crush the pirates of the North
Adriatic, Istria fell under their dom
nation, about 1T B. G. Following
an uprising the Romans thoroughly
subdued the land in 128 B. c., and in
1877 B. c. $4,000 Roman colonists were
| settled there.
Through the Dark Ages and well
into the Middle Ages Istrian land was
in the vortex of the struggle between
| the empires of the east and west, and
then between ByzantiUm, the German
powers of the north aud the rising
commercial cities of italy. BY 1145
Venice had established privileged con-
nections with most of the Istrian
towns From this time date some
| very interesting records of social or
| CARNATIONS on the peninsula. The land
| was organized into communes, with
! their chief magistrate, a small coun-
Gil or council of assessors, and
council of the people. The commune
| governments extended their work to
an even greater degree than the most
! governed communities would think OF
| doing today Their regulations pro-
! vided for all manner of domestic SUI
! pervision. They fixed the time Of new
vintage the time for selling new wine,
the amount of bread that could be
baked in one town, and administered
pure food regulations with greatest
! stTictness.
CAS- today, judges went through the
markets trying the food These judges
went through the tayerns and tasted
| the wine before the innkeepers might
put it On sale. The prices Of foreign
! goods were fixed by the authorities
! and the quality of these goods care
! fully determined before they could be
| put on sale. Stone measurements were
cut on fountains, on the foundation
| stones of public buildings and on 9th
| er conspicuous places. Armed men
were not allowed to enter the cities,
the regulation against carrying weap-
ons being deemed just as important
| then as now However, a citizen
soldier who happened to kill an on
locker during military practice was
able to get immunity from punish
ment Militarism had its privileges In
Istria. MS
'In some of the cities the making
| of false money was punishable with
death; the bearing of false witness.
where no fine was collected, was pun.
ished by the loss of the right nostril
and publication on the stair of the
town hall of the delinquent as a per
jurer. The destruction Of property
was punished by the loss Of the right
hand, and long list of illegal words,
oaths and Objectionable phrases was
attached to the section Of the code
that provided the punishment Of the
pilIory Tor the blasphemer. Tips were
strictly forbidden; the workman was
forced to accept no more than the
wage prescribed. The activity Of
those intrusted with looking out for
the peoples welfare stretched to ev-
cry little detail of domestic life"