The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1915-06-07
San Marine Is Oldest,
Smallest and the Most
Peaceful of Republics

rino, the oldest, the smallest and
the most peaceful republic in the
world, which declared war on
Austria last Thursday, stands on
high mountain, few miles
from Rimini. half way down the
boot of Italy, and from its lofty
situation dominates the Adriatic
sea. 1t is less than $50 miles
from Rome.
Therefore, il IL had continued
neutral Austrian aeroplanes oper-
ating from Pola, the Austrian ma
val base on the Adriatic, could i'm
time of need, have taken refuge
In San Marine, repaired, take on
new supplies and returned home.
This will not be possible now
San Marine has joined with Italy
in the war and in addition Italy
will have the benefit, if she want
ed 1t, of San Marines standing
army of $50 soldiers and two
cannon, the only cannon in the en-
tire republic.
The republic has a pOpu-
lation of $4,000 while the
city of San Marine has a lit
tie over 1900 inhabitants.
In addition to the standing
army there are seven police
men and two government
doctors.
San Marino, situated on the top
or mountain almost in the
heart of Italy, has been described
as a mole on the cheek of fair
lady"
Dates Back Many Centuries.
The story of the founding of
this tiny nation is as unique as
the republic itself.
1t is said that in the last part
of the fourth century a stonecut-
ter from Dalmatia came to the
city of Rimini to build walls for
that city. He. got the stone from
quarries on Mount Titanus and
in his spare time sought TO gain
converts to Christianity. He sue
ceeded so well that certain wo-
man of title made him a present
of the mountain as a reward for
his efforts.
This mountain then became a
refuge for prosecuted Christians.
When the stonecutter. Marinus by
name, died the little band he had
gathered around him built a mon
astery, proclaimed him a saint
and then to further perpetuate his
memory they established the re-
public of San Marine.
Always Independent.
Perched on mountain, so
rugged and steep as to make in
vasion a hopeless task for an
enemy San Marine has always re-
NAMED an independent state.
There are no taxes, no
crime and no high cost of iv-
ing problem, for everybody
lives the simple life. They
are peaceful they till the soil
for their comfortable but not
bOuntifuI living, and because
they make no pretensiOns and
as a nation have never sought
to be anything but what
they are they never have
been mOlested or taken part
In international affairs
until now.
The congress that makes the
few laws the republic needs is
chosen for life, and in addition
two presidents (regents) are
elected. One usually nobleman,
the other peasant. Thus a hap
by medium that suits everybody
is reached. -
Has No Louis Bean.
The transportation problem
does not bother the inhabitants,
for there are no railroads or
street cars. Everybody has their
own little donkey and when they
travel they do so via the donkey
line"
There is only one level spot in
the city of San Marino and that
is the little square in front of
the government palace. 1t is
called the bianello 1.-THE plain.
In the center of this piazza is a
statue of liberty-the symbol
that the inhabitants love and
boast of so much-and beneath
the statue is well from which
the city gets its water supply.