Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1923-11-28

Geographic
ciety, Washington. d. c.
Andorra probably lies in the mind of
the average person as merely one of
the queer Lilliputian states of the
world. But in some ways it deserves
to stand out emphatically among them.
1t has maintained itself as a political
entity for more years than has any
other republic in the world. The tiny
state of San Marino, in the Italian pen
lnsula, vies with it in point of diminu-
uveness, but Andorra was hoary with
age when San Marine was born.
For one thing, at least, Andorra is
Famous. Nowhere else in the world.
perhaps, is smuggling engaged in so in
genuously ana in such a matter-of- fact
way. Smuggling may be said, in fact,
with little eXaggeratiOn, to be the chief
industry Of the Andorrans and to have
lay, clerical and governmental sane
ton.
The situation of this quaint little
survival of lost ages favors this form
OF activity. The Republic of Andorra
measures about twenty-five miles in
one direction by twenty miles in the
other, and is located right on the crest
OF the Pyrenees. 1t is as though the
little state were wedge driven in and
dividing France and Spain at this
point.
Charlemagne gave the Andorrans a
certain measure of freedom because of
their services in the field. They
streamed down out of their hills and
helped Louis the Debonair fight the
Moors, with whom, however, they had
a very lively quarrel of their own. For
that he gave them a franchise. Napo-
leon looked the little state over. at
Is a political curiosity" said he. at
must be preserved"
1t is not worth fighting for, and it
makes no trouble that a few policemen
would not quell. Nevertheless it is a
real state.
Andorrans pay almost no taxes at
all. Each year a small tribute must
be paid to the prince bishop of Urgel
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,
and the "a elect one Of their number
for president. The councillors are paid
few sous each when they attend
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 a new slate on the
roof. The annual budget stops there.
Not Easy to Reach.
Andorra is not easy to reach. Mes
Ting among the crags and valleys of
the Pyrenees, it is surrounded by rough
country. The nearest railroads in
France and Spain are near in miles,
but separated by most difficult terrain,
and one must travel into the little re-
public over trails or none-too- smooth
cart roads.
The usually travelled route-if any
route that brings the infrequent Wis
itor from the outside world may be
said to be a usually travelled one
lies from Barcelona in Spain or Per-
pignon In France. Railroads lead from
both cities to near Puigcerda a Span
ish city almost on the France-Spain
line in the idylic valley of Cerdagne.
From Puigcerda one clings for little
while TO the transportation systems of
the Twentieth century, for he may jour-
ney along the Segre river as far as thf.
Spanish town of SEQ d. Urgel But
the surroundings are those of a much
earlier century. Oxen wear fringed
and beaded wells upon their patient
faces. Men come down from the hill
side farms, driving before them DON
resembling five barred-gates, on which
wheat sheaves are tied. Wheeled We
hicles are current only on the main
roads. Pack-mules jingle with bells
and wear heavily brassed saddles, on
which every form of package is secure
~ roped. The authentic diamond hitch
is in use everywhere, so that one sees
where the art of our Western packers
was born Chains stretched across the
roads at the posts of the guardia civile
stop traffic for examination.
On the hilltops are the remains Of
castles and fortified farms, reminders
OF the days, not so far distant, when
each man took what he could and held
what he might The twin inventions
sf repeating firearms and the guardia