The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1916-01-29
CURIOUS ANDORRA
Oldest, Smallest and Strangest
Of All Republics.
A PATCH IN THE PYRENEEs.
This Tiny Nation, Where All Men Are
Really Equal, Has Never Produced q
Page Of Literature, Bar Of Music,
Painting Nor a Leader Of Men.

as a republic In sos Cand no one knows
for how many centuries before that.
curious little Andorra has gone its own
strange way utterly obllyious 10 the
progress or the other nations OF Eu-
rope. 1t has It's own idea OF the mean
Ing OF life, and II lives according to
that. A traveller entering the republic
today win lind II exactly as 1t was
1000 years ago.
IL Is republic which has never
achieved anything IN It's long and
vague history; republic which has
never produced page Of literature nor
a bar OF music nor a painting; a re-
public which has never had a place
in the councils OF Europe and has new
er asked for one; a nation which has
never produced an ambitious man.
Andora consists of six counties and
boasts about n dozen towns. It's en-
tire population Is 5000 souls.
The chief occupation of the people OF
Andorra Is cattle raising, and thou
sands upon thousands OF cows may be
seen browsing in the rich pastures,
yet 1t has never occurred TO Andorrans
to milk these cows, and butter and
milk are unknown In the republic.
Dairy products are nonexistent. The
only cheese made IS that from the
milk OF sheep. Visitors find It impos-
sible TO procure milk or cream for
their coffee Andorrans themselves
use brandy instead and think II is bet
ter than anything else in coffee.
In 500 Louis the Debonair laid Siege
70 the city OF Urgel, which is to the
south OF Andorra. The Andorrans, led
by Marc Almugaver, took up arms to
aid the French. and for their assist
ance Louis gave them a charter and
permitted them TO be self governing.
AS II now exists 1t IL the smallest re
public in the world. II is situated in
the Pyrenees between France and
Spain. 1t Is about eighteen miles wide
and sixteen miles long from north to
south. Ii is difficult OF access, as there
Is not a single railroad running through
or near II.
It's capital Is Andorra Ia vlella, with
population Of 600 and containing the
Casa de la Vail, or house OF repre-
sentatives. This Is large sixteenth
century building at the extremity OF
the town, overlooking the valley to
ward Spain. 1t Is parliament house,
town hall, school, palace OF justice and
hotel for the councillors all In one. IL
is also used as temporary prison IN
the rare cases when prison Is neces-
sary. Crime In Andorra is practically
unknown. The only Andorrans suffer
ing Imprisonment are the smugglers
OF tobacco caught by the French or
Spanish custom officers. and these are
not looked upon as malcfactors by
their fellow citlzehs. Smuggling Is re.
garded as legitimate trade.
There is no police department and
no police. Every citizen has the pow
er to arrest but this privilege IS rarely
used.
The territory was once densely
wooded and Is said TO derive It's name
from the Moorish Aldarra, THE place
thick with trees, but almost all the
forests have been destroyed for fuel
The climate is generally cold, with
very severe winters The land Is
chiefly devoted TO grazing for the nu-
merous flocks and herds. But on the
sheltered southern slopes il is careful
ly cultivated and produces grain, pc
tatoes, fruit and tobacco. The local |
industries are OF the most primitive I
kind and show little or no advance
since the middle ages.
The only roads are bride paths. |
with the exception OF one municipal !
road connecting Andorra with the high !
road TO SEQ de Urgel and Manreso by /
way OF the Ballra valley.
Andorra is perhaps the truest democ
racy In the world. There Is no noblli J
ty, and there is no class distinctions
All men are equal, not only in the eyes
OF the law but I'm the fullest sense OF !
the word. The first citizen of the land,
the president, is a farmer.
The republic is governed by twenty
four representatives. elected every four
years. These representatives choose
one OF their number as president OF
the republic His salary II 80 pesetas
n year. or $50. Representatives get
10 pesetas. or $3.50 year.
There IN no such thing as poverty In
Andorra. Every one has enough and
has no desire for any more. Though
they are hard drinkers cases OF intox-
Ication are very rare. They speak
their own language. Andorran. but
French IN taught az the schools. The
school system N regulated by the
French. and for this service Andorra
pays annually TO the French govern
ment 900 flames. or $3.50. From this
Il may be seen that taxation Is very
ow. Doctors services are absolutely
free. and drug stores supply their pa
IRONS without charge.
Andorrans drink = great deal. and
hey are untidy IN their personal ap
pearancc But they are extremely
honest. and theft Is unknown In the