Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-11-24
u|bERTY'SuTTLEST
ALLYP|CTURESQUE.
Republic of San Marine Has
Ideals of independence for
Sixteen Centuries.
PEOPLE LOVERS OF MUSIC

The National Geographic Society is
sues the following war geography
bulletin on the allies littlest ally, the
republic of San Marine. which boasts
a population Of 1900 Inhabitants, and
an area of thirty-eight square miles,
entirely surrounded by the kingdom
of Italy. The bulletin, which is based
on a communication to the society
from Alice Robe, a war correspondent
on the Italian front, says:
THE little republic of San Marino
has maintained its independence, its
ideals Of liberty, in the midst of strife
and bloodshed, of changing social con-
ditions, for sixteen centuries.
"In the most disrupting centuries of
Italian history San Marine had no fac
tions, no strife between feudal lords
and people, no domineer1ng lnSolence
of conquerors, no lost rights to vindi-
cate Instead, the people lived simply,
changing their constitutions slowly,
according to the needs of the time, al
ways adopting changes which were
best for the development and con-
servation of liberty.
Stone Cutting Chief Industry.
'.The quiet of San Marine is proven
bal. From the slopes beneath the an
cient fortress the sound of the stone
cutters at work in the quarries re-
calls the story of the republics found
er. st. Marine, the Dalmatian stone
cutter, even into the heart Of the CAPT
tai. The Sammarinesi of today follow
assiduously their founders occupation,
Stone is carted to Rimini, thirteen
miles distant, and to all the neighbor-
ing town and country sides.
I'm this tranquility there Is small
need of a police force, and even the
militia of the fortress, now used as
public force, with the exception of
several carabinieri, whose duty seems
to be to make picturesque details in
the narrow streets, consists or the
gendarmes and the noble guard now
called guard of the council. 1t is
their duty to act as escort of honor
for the captains regents on days of
civil and religious solemnity, and es-
pecially to guard regents and coun-
cilors when in public session. The
nieri, during these war days. exam
ines passports and decides whether
strangers may remain in the republic.
"As for the national defense. every
citizen between eighteen and sixty
years Of age is enrolled for military
Service in case of the country's need.
There is no CONSUMPTION. the Sam
marinesi of all centuries recognizing
their obligations of defense as mat
ter of course.
Recreations Are Picturesque.
1.-THE quiet recreations of the Sam
marinesi are picturesque to the out
Saturday nights band concerts are
held in the Piazza della Liberia.
these evenings, when full moon
hangs over the dark outlines of dis
tant mountains, the picture is rem1-
niscent Of those medieval squares as
reproduced in our grand operas. Cou-
pies walk back and forth about the
statue of liberty, or they seat them
selves on the walls separating the
steep street from the piazza, or lean
the depths below. Others gather
about little tables before the age-gray
cafe, all living pictures of days that
seem long past.
"In winter life is different story.
The little mountain REPUBLIC is so cold
streets that the people practically
hibernate. The climate, which in sum-
mer is especially delightful. changes
from warm to cold early in october
and remains cold until April.
1.-The jewellers in the capital, bearing
family names interviewer in the his
tory Of the republic, are for the most
part government employees. professors
in the college, storekeepers or doctors.
There is good hospital and a college
which admits to many OF 1taly's uni
versities.
'The commercial life Of the repub-
lie is centered in the Borgo. Every
week market days draw from the cap
ital above housewives and servants.
The fairs, the chief ones being in Sep
when buyers and sellers come not
only from all oyer the republic. but
from neighborihg italian towns as
well.
Present Kaleidoscope Picture.
Fair days present a kaleidoscope
picture of gay-kerchiefed peasant
women, farmers. stock growers. boys
and girls leading sheep, pigs and cat
tie. The cattle market from dis
tance looks like an encampment Of in
Vulnerable tents. with the indistin-
guishable forms Of hundreds of great
white cattle, which are the beasts OF
burden in this country.
War has demanded its toll even
among Sammarinesi cattle. but SC
prosperous is the stock-raising indus
try, one of the most important of the
republic, that the fairs still are i'm
posing and picturesque events. One
sees young and old climbing tho as
cending roads. bringing their cattle
little calves. half grown. good work.
ers, good breeders. cows that provide
milk and daily toll as we1l-an fol
sale.
I'm the piazzas peasant women, with
great garlands Of onions and garlic
baskets Of eggs. picturesque fat bas-
kets full of live chickens. hampers OF
the famous San Marine sheep's-mflk
cheese, bargain and barter. Booths
with everything from dress goods to
hair oil are surrounded by eagerly
buying peasants and townsfolk, fol
San Marine has no well stocked stores
and therefore the fairs. with their
visiting merchants. are of unusual
importance"
AMERICAN HOSPITAL
OPENED IN PALESTINE