The Alaska daily empire., 1915-06-23

ALASKA DAI.
 
 not possess more shan 800 square miles Of area. but 1t endured through all manner of bitter trials produced energetic, prosperous citizens through centuries; maintained Q stable and wise government in ages when the country all around it was in frantic passionate unrest and was as willing ly che haven of the oppressed as Is the United States today And. like the later republic. the United States the foreign policy of Ragusa was al- ways peaceful one; the enlightened little state. wherever possible, sub- hitting It's differences with other countries. to arbitration Despite it's peaceful temper however, Ragusa well knew how to defend it's interests, where the course of war was nee essary one. Ragusan armies and Ra' gusan ships nobly preserved their country in che midst of Jealous DOW erful enemies But Ragusan diplom- acy did more: 1t preserved the state in the face of overpowering conquer CTS.
 "The fortified castle of Roman noble was the nucleus of this famous South European city Before the ayal. anche of barbarian invasion-Ayar hordes. according to most authorities -refugees from neighboring Latin communities lied to the noble's stronghold and took refuge under the shadow of its walls. Those refugees brought and conserved Che technique and civilization of Greece and Rome, and in short time. a town arose around the castle. well builded and thoroughly fortified Ragusa is men toned in the 7th century.
 "A colony of Slovenian people joined the Latins. and greatly added to the city's power for resisting the encroachments of its hostile neigh bors. Saracen Bulgarian. Bosnian, Venetian. Hungarian and Seryian waged relentless war with the little state. which, in some cases beat off its enemies. and, in others was fore ed to acknowledge a certain depend ency. It never wholly surrendered it's republican selfgovernment how ever. though Constantinople. Venice, Hungary. Bosnia and Seryia were at various times. recognized to a degree as overlords.
 "Ragusa today-the gem city Of the Mediterranean an inconse- Quential sea port in the Austrian crownland of Dalmatia. Every line of the quaint little city is monument to the importance and the power that gre flown It Is medieval town. still walled in by heavy masonry and still lowered. Ragusa is floored with the naggings of the middle ages. It's homes and buildings are ancient structures. and over all is reminisc- ence
 A Naval Base
 "The town is builded on rocky ridge that iuts out into the Adriatic sea. It's harbor Is small and m adapt ed to the needs Of modern commerce. and the heavier vessels that visit here anchor at Gravaso. a twin city. sit- uated on a deep. sheltered bay across the promintory. north of Ragusa. four miles distant Mostar, capital of Her zegoyina. is 30 miles to the north west.
 "Ragusa is a fortified port, and an outlying naval base. It stil has some transit trade with the interior and it's industries include the output of li- Quor. oil. silk and leather products. For a short time during the Napoi. comic wars. it gave promise of re- gaining somewhat of it's old prosper ity In 1874. its independent career was definitely sealed. and it was an. nexed to Austria. The city Is chiefly of interest as the tiny city the light house on rock that endured all throughout the dark and middle ages, weathering all storms and teaching by example democracy. tolerance and peaceful enterprise, until. at the be- ginning of the 18th century. with the beginning of the two mighty repub- lies. the United States and France. the ting beacon was no longer needed. and 1t was silently extingdished.'