Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-12-27
REvAL PORTRAYED
AS SPR|GHTLY.C|Ty
Esthonia's Capital, Scene of
Communist Outbreak, DEM
onStrates Stability.

feHal scene of recent Communist
outbreak, is the capital of the new
Republic of Esthonia, whose stability
was demonstrated by the quick
Quashing of the disturbance, SAYS a
bulletin from the Wa 5hington head
quarters of the National Geographic
Society.
"Reval is a-sprightly city, a music
loving city, progressive and up-to-
date city" continues the bulletin.
This is contrary to all expectations
of port OF the upper Baltic and
a people of whom one American ex-
claimed. The Esthonians? Oh. yes,
they live up in the frozen north, lik e
the l-apps, don't they
Literary statistics Quoted.
Just before the World War Reyal
completed a magnificent opera house.
built entirely by contributions of the
people. The ESths are not witty or
demonstra tive-their virtues are. the
sturdy patience and hardy endurance
OF the North countries-but even the
pea"ants can improyse verse and
narrate legends by the hour over
their black bread and weak tea
Neither has Esthonia been accounted
a literary nation, but one prodigious
compiler has collected $4,000 Esthon-
ian songs. 5000 tales. $4,000 proverbs
and 10000 riddles, not to mention
$4,000 snperstitions. And another COL
lection embodes more than IL, 900 folk
melodies
"Once the Esths were the Vikings of
the Baltic, hardy and adventurous ter
rifying the Danes and the Swedes with
their piracy. They retain today their
love of seafaring, which. keyed to the
demands of modern shipping. makes
Reval, despite its one ice bound month
port of growing business. The capital
has more than 10 per cent of the cuun
try's population, of some 1.110.090 Deo-
ple-and, economically. Esthonfa is a
transit land rather than a self-produc-
tive one
Neat little trolley cars cruise through
crooked streets from the modern ship
ping district of the lower city past
crumblng churches and ancient castles.
Commerce has not crowded out remind
ers of the days when the Hanseatic
merchant. proud Dane, Swedish con-
qreror and Russian assailant success
Siyely held sway. Out in a suburb is a
chateau, and its environing park. which
Peter the Great built for his wife. a
former housekeeper of a Lutheran pas
tor and later Empress in her own
right.
"In the days when the Danes were
the Romans of the North RevaIs his
tory began. Its colloquiaI name. Tall
linn. means Town of the Danes The
Danish flag of today commentaries a
legend of mighty battle near Reval.
The Danes lost their banner, so the
story runs. and were exceedingly hard
pressed. Suddenly from heaven fell a
red banner with a white cross and
around this insignia the Danes rallied
to a decisive victory
'Reval has the only medieval Gothic
city hall remaining in the Baltic coun-
tries. It's venerable palace, memorial
of the thirteenth century, now is an
official residence. Visitors may ascend
it's tower for a good view of the harbor
where Russia's men-of-war used to
ride, though Baedeker quantity notes
that the ascent is not recommended to
ladies' Another hall contains rooms OF
the Blackhead Society, a national
guard formed by merchants OF the
fourteenth century.
Grass Outgrows Grain.
Geography was kinder to Reval than
to Esthonia as a whole. A splendid
harbor, recently enlarged, invites the
worlds largest ships to moor there. The
whole Of Esthonia is a plain, elevated
slightly, with soil partly so sandy
that it cannot be cultivated at all
partly pure clay. which often is impass-
able and the moist atmosphere is good
for grass, but bad for grain. Conse-
quently Esthonia's chief industries CEN
! ter about cattle from its grazing areas
and wood pulp from its forests. Pota-
toes are grown in plenty, and potato
spirits are distilled. Leather, cement
furniture and paper are manufactured
and Narya uses water power to weave
cotton.
1.-The present government of Els.
thonia, which resisted the Communist
attack, places the power in the hand,
! of the people, who elect Legislative
! Assembly of 100 members, chosen b.
! proportional representation"