The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-12-05

a RrspArsd by the National Geographic s,
ciety. Washington. d. CO.
Andorra probably lies In the mind {
the average person as merely one {
: the queer Lilliputian states of tn
world. But In some ways it deserve
to stand out emphatically among then
1t has maintained itself as a politics
entity for more years than has an
other republic in the world. The tin
state of San Marine, In the Italian pen
insula, vies with 1t in point of diminu
tiveness, but Andorra was hoary will
age when San Marine was born.
For one thing, at least, Andorra II
famous Nowhere else In the world
perhaps, is smuggling engaged In so in
genuously and in such a matter Of fac
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
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
very lively quarrel of their own. For
that he gave them franchise. Napo-
leon looked the little state over. ut
Is a political curiosity" said he. ut
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 q small tribute must
be paid to the prince bishop Of Urgel
and to the Republic of France, and
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
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 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, 1t Is surrounded by rough
country. The nearest railroads in
France and Spain are near in miles,
,ut separated by most difficult terrain,
ind one must travel into the little re-
,ublic over trails or none-too-smooth
art roads.
The usually Travelled route-if any
cute that brings the infrequent Wis
tor from the outside world may be
aid to be usually travelled one
les from Barcelona In Spain or Per
'ignon In France. Railroads lead from
10Th cities to near Puigcerda, Span
IN city almost on the France-Spain
Inc In the idylic valley of Cerdagne. ;
rom Puigcerda one clings for little
'hile to the transportation systems Of
ne Twentieth century, for he may jour =
ey along the Segre river as far as the
parish town of SEQ d. Urgel But
ne surroundings are those of much II
ariisr century. Oxen wear fringed
nd beaded wells upon their patient d
ices. Men come down from the hill )
de farms, driving before them DON a
eys on WHOSE pack-saddles are racks
,sembling Ave barred-gates, on which d
heat sheaves are tied. Wheeled We II
lcles are current only on the main 6
,ads Pack-mules Jingle with bells Il
i'd wear heavily brassed saddles, on W
hich every form Of package is secure A
foped. The authentic diamond hitch
In use everywhere, so that one sees
here the art Of our Western packers
as born. Chains stretched across the
ads at the posts Of the guardia civile u
op traffic for examination. III
On the hilltops are the remains of
lstles and fortified farms, reminders W
the days, not 30 far distant, when SC
lch man took what he could and held
hat he might. The twin inventions al
repeating firearms and the guardia Of