The Bolivar County Democrat., 1923-01-20

ciety, Washington. D. CO
While the Near East conference Is
reshuffiing the territorial cards that
were shuffled last by the treaty OF
Sevres, Albania, Just outside the most
recently disturbed region, will prob
ably be permitted to go on its rather
somnolent way. The country was
created in 1912 to avert world war,
and when World war did come the
troops in five countries occupied varl-
Gus sections Of it. Germans, Aus
trians and Bulgarians were In control
in the northern districts where Ser
bians made after-war attacks, while
France and Italy held the south, in
Guiding the area about Koritza, which
later formed bone of contention with
Greece. Durazzo, chief Albanian port,
was seized by d'Annunzio.
Perhaps history will recognize Ko-
rita as the scene of the first definite
step toward rema king the map of Eu-
rope. For there In December, 1916,
was set up government, generally
referred to as the republic of Koritza.
While most of Albania was in Aus
trian hands this little republic, under
French military protection, started to
function as an Albanian republic, IS
sued paper money, postage stamps,
and established national army with
= fighting strength of GOO
Before 1914 Albania was the new
est country Of the Old World, and it
Is peOpled by the most ancient race
Of southeast Europe Edward Gibbon
called 1t "a country within sight Of
Italy, which Is less known than the
interior of America" And more than
a century after that Characterization,
before the war helped introduce the
Balkans to America, letter addressed
Albania" was sent from England to
the United States, and was returned
from Albany, N. Y, with the notation
"Not for Albany, try Europe"
The towns of southern Albania are
few and, though strange and pic
turesque in appearance, are in reality
poor in comfort. OF cities there are
not any. Koritza, with some 10000
people, is the largest place, but it Is
far from being a city. However, if
the towns are somewhat mean and
squalid, they are interesting to the
eye and have the charm of old-world
quaintness. There are but four worth
mentioning: Arjirokastro, so old, at
least in appearance, that its origin
falls back into the mists of time; the
pleasant village of Premati, lying in
q fertile valley along the river Viosa
Koritza, which was held by the
French; and Valona, which became
clean and thrived under the Italian
army.
Few Modern Comforts There.
They are all pleasant places to look
upon, nesting among the mountains
in the valleys, and by the sea, with
their old gray walls and roofs of stone
dotted with storks; but they possess
none of the comforts or conveniences
Of modern life.
Such matter-of-fact things as trans
hotels, or cafes do not exist in Al
bantam towns and would seem wholly
out of place. Water Is drawn from
the wells as it was 1000 years ago
or maybe from some nearby stream
Inns are represented by the khan. g
stone building half house. half stable
where caravans and pack trains STOP
to rest.
A 1frS, n q G a y a nj
as the annals of the world can reach
and is as primitive as If it were In
central China, almost as difficult tC
penetrate as Tibet itself. 1t is land
unfamiliar to the traveller and Stunned
| by the tourist of today.
| If the three or four centers of popu
lation in southern Albania are a little
disappointing as cities, this is not true
Of the country or of the picturesque
villages which gather like gray
splashes upon the grayer hills, where
they appear to have nestled since the
beginning of time. Rough stone huts
they are for the most part, with flat
stone roofs For purposes Of defense
they are usually situated half way uI
the lower hills and the houses an(
outbuildings are often surrounded by
strong stone walls.
| The valleys are rich and well cult
waited, chiefly by the women, but pre-
sent desolate, deserted appearance
except in the daylight working hours
Not farmhouse nor stable Is t.
be seen amidst all the fertile acres
The crops cannot be stolen; no bandi
would think of destroying them, ant
81 they are left unguarded.