The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-06-26

Washington, p. c., June 25.-How
the Andorrans. citizens of the little re-
public which has preserved it's indie
pendence among the crags of the Ply
renees since medieval times, have de-
veloped smuggling until 1t has become
their great war industry is told in a
communication to the National Geo
graphic society from Herbert Corey,
war correspondent A part of Mr..
Corey's communication is issued by the
society as war geography bulletin. as
follows.
DOUBTLESS Andorra smuseles at the
best OF times That is the conclusion
reached at least. from the perfect
openness with which every one dis
cussed the free~trade proclivties of
the Andorrans. One might ha Y g
thought they were talking eff the
spring blowing or the price Of lambs.
And yet Andorran secretiventss has
become a proverb in the hills. Tell a
thing to an Andorran and It is lost, is
one form Of this saying. Nowadays.
with the neighhor France In the mar
lSet for everything that Andorra can
furnish, and toe busy lighting ia watch
her douanes very carefully, the men
at Anderra are reaping golden har-
vest. Seandalous rumor has II that the
Spanish frontier guards look with a
certain eompiacencv on the illegal ttaf-
fic.
IT have cousin who is frontier
guard. man In Barcelona told ne
He saws that If the war lasts another
year he will retire. Al SO a mule, he
is already rich
The situation IF this quaint little
survival Of lost ages favors this form
Of activity, The Republic Of Asiorra
measures about twenty-five miles in
one direction by twenty miles In the
NJ I'd Il 10 ear {Erh
of the Pyrenees. It is as though the
little state were a wedge driven in the
dividing France and Spain at this
point ChaLlenaEne gave the Andor
rams "A certain measure Of freedom be-
cause Of their services In the field
They streamed down out Of their hills
and helped Louis the Debonair fight
had n lively quarrel Of their own Far
that he gave them franchise
at liz Political CurioSity,"
Napoleon looked the little state
over.
ut Is a political curiosity said he
II must he preserved
"Andorra has maintained Itself as 4
political entity for more years than
has any other republN in the world
The tiny state of san Marine, In Italy,
vies with it in point of diminutiveness,
but Andorra was hoary with age when
San Marine was born.
1T is not worth lighting for, and it
makes no trouble that few policemen
would not quell. Nevertheless 1t is a
real state
'Andorrans pay almost no taxes at
all. Each year a small tribute must
be paid to the Prince Bishop of Jrgel
and to the Republic of France, and a
levy Is made on the incomes Of the
Andorrans for the purpose. There are
almost no other costs attached to the
operation of the republic. Each of the
six cantons in which the little state Is
divided elects annually four councillors.
nd the twenty-four select ones of
their number for president. They are
paid a few sous each when they attend
a meeting of the council Their horses
are fed by the state and they have
their meals Now and then the hall Of
the council needs new slate on the
roof The annual budget stops there,
spain has been. fairly robbed of her
mules by the needs of the allied armies
frowned upon by the government.
| Likewise although these mules are
bought for the French army. France
still maintains an import duty upon
live stock. The Andorrans procure
mules by hook and crook from spain.
and lead them over the hills at night
| by unfrequented paths into France.
| The share of the genaarmes in this
traffic, as previously stated is $40 a
mule There is no record that an An
dorian smuggler has been recently In
iured In the practice Of his vocation"