Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-06-24
WORLDS FINEST REPUBLIC
Ancient San Marino Is Again on
the Firing Line.
Hns nm Arcn of 81 square Miles and
Population Of Observation-Disclosures
Well Equipped Army-AquiIeia
and Grade Described.

San Marine, the worlds tincst repub-
lie, vest pocket edition, has been brought
into the war area by Italys declaration
against Austria-Hungary, says the latest
bulletin prepared by the National Geo
graphic society. San Marine, despite its
midget proportions, Is the most venerable,
the most persistent and enduring of re-
publics. For it adds to its quality of
being one of the smallest States in the
world, that of being the oldest state in
Europe 1t has weathered violent storms,
storms threatening to eXtinguish even its
memory among men, by the score; and to-
day. the ancient. midget republic is again
on the firing line Of a world CONFUSION.
San Marine Is situated between the
Italian provinces Of Forli and Pesaro-
| CrbinO, in the north of Italy, near the
Adriatc coast, within reach Of big guns
, from the sea It lies about u miles south
west of Rimni, an Italian coast city, and
well within the zone exposed to hostile
airship and aeroplane attack. The repub-
| lie has one town. which lies toward the
coast. about lis miles due south Of Ven
| ice.
| The little state has an area of g. square
miles, and a population of some 1900
| Its territory IL very hilly, mountainous in
| the neighborhood OF its city, where the
Monte Titano an offshoot of the Apen-
mines. reaches the highest elevation in the
| republic, that OF 1850 feet. The city stands
at the south of this precpitous rpk, and
| is sheltered under the defenses of the
mountains whose three SUBMITS are
crowned by fortifications. These strong
positions, like the Black mountain of the
Montenegrins have played a significant
| part In the preservation of the republic
through the centuries of war, anarchy
neighborly aggression and that of democ-
Iacy that the small State has seen since
the year 95l. when it adopted it's repub-
! ltcan form of government. This govern
ment. with notifications is still in force
to-day. The arms of San Marine are
three peaks, each crowned with tower
The shield Is a silver shield. and, be
sides the defended mountain peaks, dis
plays the patron saint.
The climate is healthful. Cattle rails
ing and wine production are the chief
occupations In the republic. while lace
and embroidery working are growing
home industry. Many of the citizens Of
| San Marine earn their livelhoods outside
/ Of the narrow limits of the Fatherland as
mechanics. the mason's trade being the
most popular. Some excellent stone cary
ers come from among this people, and
marble figures form one Of the exports
METHOD OF GOVERNMENT.
The town of san Marino which grows
around its mountain, Is protected by Il
wall, and shelters about 700 people. 1t
contains the republics Parliament build
ing, fine type of public structure. much
more pretentious than the legisla tive halls
of number Of nations many times as
large. There are five churches and one
or two other interesting architectural fea-
lures in the city
The Parliament of San Marine is
representative body, with - members
chosen for life service from among the
! burghers, landowners and nobility. The
executive power reposes in committee of
twelve, chosen from among the repre-
sentatves and of two 'reignug captains"
selected by the chamber from its member
ship every six months. The annual in
come and expenditure is about $4,000. San
Marine has no public debt 1t has d
treaty of friendship with Italy.
/ Military service is compulsory in the
little republic, for it has often found that
the preparation of its citizens was the
only guarantee of the endurance of its
liberal Institutions All of it's men are
technically obliged to serve with the
colofs from is to 60 The availa BILE forces
of San Marine total about Leo, a trim and
well-equipped army. The republic issues
its own postage stamps and copper coin
age. Coins Of higher values are Italian.
The city is said to have been founded
in the 4th century by Saint Marinus of
Dalmatia. In 95l. it had developed into
a little republic and during the long years
of its history several times forced the
recognition of it's Independence from
greatly superior adversaries When Italy
went TO war with Austria for her indie
dependence. san Marino declared it's neu-
trality with much the same consciousness
Of the Importance of this manifesto as
that felt by the powerful sister republic,
the United States. in declaring it's position
in the present world struggle. Napoleon
respected the Independence Of the little
State, and sentiment preserved the repub-
lie In ls6o-6l-the Liliput OF 1000 years
survived independent in the midst of a
united Italy.
BACKWARD FOLK OF ADRlATIC.
much mixed. backward and strangely
superstitious people are those who dwell
along the western shores of the Adriatio
sea from Triest to the southern tip OF
Dalmatia. Greek colonies and Roman
municipal Byzantia officials and sick
Franks abandoned on the rocks OF cara
by Crusaders, Italians eAiled during the
centuries of strife among their petty
states or brought thither by trade Ven
lures, the flood of Slovenian and. later.
elements of the people living along Aus
tria- EunSary's seacoast Franks, ByZan-
tans, Croats. Bosniaks. Turks, Hungar-
ians. Genoese. Neapoitans Germans, and.
of first Importance, Venetans have ruled
various parts of this coast at different
times The heavy ground-tone of this
shore people Is Slovenian. but there is
besides tumble of almost every other
racial element under the sun.
From Triest, downward, the Slavonians
predominant. Latin writer's noted that
these Slovenian tribes knew no form of
monarchal government. but that all mat
tiers Of the tribe were dealt with by a
common national council. And to-day the
individual Damatian and lstran is one
of sturdiest independence. These Slavon-
ians worshipped a god of thunder. sacred
groves, nymphs, and genii. special-power-
ed beings, of all descriptions; and they
stll do many odd fetish services. though
more Christian peoples of more simple