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

clv1le nave made rural life In Spain
fairly safe now and the bandit nc
longer roams upon these roads. Never
theless, the passer-by sometimes car.
ries rifle in the crook of his arm, and
the knife is said to be still a ready
solvent Of difficulties.
At SEQ d. Urgel one leaves behind
such modern devices as motorbusses
and must enter Andorra by mule drawn
cart. Not 80 long ago a mere mule
track connected SEQ with the little re-
public, but now fairly good road fol-
lows the winding Valira But one
must be prepared on occasion to WALL
| toilfully up hills that the mules cannot
negotiate.
Smuggling Tobacco Into France.
Andorra itself could not be distin-
guished by its physical appearance and
its people from the Spanish lands
about 1t. But its smuggling makes 1t
thing apart. In these Pyrenean hills
tobacco is raised by comparison with
which the rankest Connecticut second
growth might, class as Havana. This
frightful stuff Is labeled In accordance
with the tastes of the prospective VIC
tim. One may have Havana cigar, or
one ticketed from the Canary islands,
or marked Carolina or Virginia or Gil
cOunterfeited, so that, SC far as ex-
ternals are concerned, the elect would
surely be deceived But an outraged |
palate would discover the deception.
In the tobacco factory of Andorra
these cigars and cigarettes are put up
in packages, and packed in haversacks
which are just a load for one man. If
the smugglers run a haversack through
to France they are paid so pesetas. If
they are forced to abandon the load en-
route they are still paid 20 pesetas
The packages Of cigarettes which one
buys for 20 confines in Andorra sell,
according to the stamp upon the pack
age, for so centimes outside; so that
the smuggling profit is not to be de-
spised. But the most profitable trade
s in mules.
During the World war Spain was
fairly robbed Of her mules by the
leeds of the allied armies, so that fur
her expectation was frowned upon by
he government. Likewise, although
hese mules were bought for the ,
french army, France maintained an
IMPORT duty upon live stock. The An !
rock from Spain, and led them over =
he hills at night by unfrequented
aths into France. The share Of the
endarmes In this traffic was ten dol {
ars mule. There is no record that :
n Andorran smuggler was injured in n
he practice Of his vocation.
1t Is possible for a visitor to get q
Ito the old council hall In the town =
Andorra, in which the horses Of ;,
ne councillors are stabbed on the =
round floor, while the council hall
nd their sleeping quarters are on
lie floor above. There Is a fine old
replace there, In which the admin
trative meat is roasted, and cup o.
,ard with six locks, In which archives b.
e kept that date from the days Of a,
Ii
But each canton has key, and 81
e keepers of the keys are usually 81
/ the hills, smuggling or watching Ell
e cattle that furnish the most perma-
mt source Of income; so ones In
TRY into Andorra's past Is likely to
ing scanty results. -,
The total population Of the republic r,
about 5000, and those men that q,
we arms serve In the army. There he
e no uniforms In the army, but this ~,
ortage Is made up by the surplus O.
e of officers.
Artemus Wards regiment Of briga- at
er generals might well have had its of
spiration here. The man who once tie
ts an Office never relinquishes the
lie, and as offices seem to 60 some
lat by rotation, the untitled man In
ldorra must be poor stick indeed.