The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-06-23
WAR STlRs MEMORIES
Of ANCIENT Times
Life In Austrian Territory Which
Italy Is Now Trying To Wrest e
From Her Grasp.

Washington, June 22.--" Many
memories have been
ouickened BY the present reststiess
flood of war that has engulfed in us
course nearly all of the historic spots
in Europe. recalling to the breath-
less onlookers in neutral lands in the
light of the tragic significance OF
these places today, their romantis
stories of The centuries past, oesins
bulletin issued recently by the Ma
tiopal I'nic Society, treating OF
what life has been in Austrias ter
rifory. which the Italians are now at
tempting to invade The statement
continues;
"Istria. the wedged 3 Ia ped penin-
s,fa at the head of the Adriatic and
the surrounding territory back Oh
Triest not OF great Importance COM
mercialIy or industrially and Win
few connections WITH the world In the
West, thus little known and SPOKEN
Of unroils q stream OF hishly IN
terestinx "reminiscences Of past CIVIL :
cations, when brought 10 our atten.
ton as one of today's great battle"
fields. In the light OF events that
have occurred there IL takes higheE
f,lace in our consideration fills uaN
with deeper interest III the history
that Is now being sunde al pom its hor-
ders and, later, may @bes made VIII nan
them.
-,rhe civilization oft'the peninsula
IL ancient fonians from rich and
cultured Miletus settled colonies tnere
in the ninth century, e. G. and IN
1856. b. G. the Corinthians followed
them. The sunny culture of the
Creeks once blossomed all along these
shores. formed its artists here build
ed it's temples and at last gave way
before the Celts, who arrived apout
the fourth centnry, b. c. When the
Romans were forced to crush the
pirates OF the North Adriatic. istria
fell under their domination, about IT,
b. C. Following an nprssing, the Kos
mans thoroughly subdued the land II.
12s, Il. c., and in f27, Il. c., i4.oU0
Roman colonists We're settled tnere,
Through the Dark Ages and We'll
into the Middle Ages, Istrian land
was land in the vortex the strng-
gle between the empires Of the East
and West. and then, between Brzan-
tium. the German powers of the North
and the rising commercial cities OF
Italy. BY las, Venice had estao-s
lished privileged connections with
most of the Istrian towns, From this
time date some very interesting re-
cords OF social organization IN tins
peninsula,
The land was organized into conn
munes. with their chief magistrates,
a small council, or council of asses
sors and a council of me people. the
commune governments extended their
work To an even greater degree than
the most governed communities Woul0
think of going today Their resIla-
lions provided for all manner OF dos
nestle supervision. They fixed tins
time of new vintage, the time Tor
selling new wine, the amount of bread
that could be baked in one oven, and
administered pure food regulations
with greatest strictness-
''As today, Judges went through the
markets trying the food. These judges
went through the taverns and tasted
the wine before~tre innkeepers might
put IL on sale. The prices of foreign
goods were fixed by the authorities.
and the quality of these goods care-s
fully determined before they could be
put on sale. Stone measurements
were cut on fountains, on the foun-s
datfon stones Of public buildings and
on other conspicuous places. Armed.
men were not allowed to enter tho
cities; the regulation against EarFyina
weapons being deeHieA iiist. asessss n.s4
sportans then as now. However scitt-
zen soldier who happened To Rib Al
onlooker during military practicesswas
able 10 get immunity from puFtssl-s
ment. Miiitarism had it's privileges
In Tstria.
I'm 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
I ished by the loss of the right n0stril
and publication on the stair Of tho
| town hall of the delinquent as a
periurer The destruction of property
was punished ny the loss of the tight
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
/ pillory for the blasphemer. Tips were
strictly forhiddens the workman was
/ forced to accept no more than the
wage prescribed. The activity of those
/ entrusted with looking out for the
| peoples welfare stretched to every
little detail OF domestic life"