The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-06-03

A LBANIA is settling down aga
IA after a revolution whit
threatened under the surfa'
for a time to be another mate
In the European powder magazin
With the backing Of Yugo-Slavia PR
, viously ousted leader came to powe
again, superseding prime ministe
who appealed to Italy for aid. Othe
powers discouraged Italy from lendin
assistance and after Italy, Grea
Britain, and France had all rushe
warships to the Adriatic, the crisi
passed with the new leader still Il
power.
The prevalence of Turkish name
and Mohammedanism in Albani'
tempts q superficial observer to con
slider the Albanians as brothers tt
the Turk. But the Albanians art
Europeans and are regarded as thu
most ancient race of southeastern
Europe There is no record Of theil
arrival in the Balkan peninsula, nc
legend relating to their origin. They
are thought to be descendants OF the
earliest Aryan immigrants, and with
praiseworthy persistence have retained
their mountain strongholds through
many ages.
| Except for Byron's casual tribute In
"Childe Harold" the Albanians, I'M
like other peoples of the Balkans, have
not been praised in song or story.
Indeed, they appear to have received
but little attention from the world,
except to be characterized as turbu-
cipal occupation has been to fight
among themselves when not engaged
In fighting against some one else.
But, like the early Swiss, these rude,
untutored people possess many prim-
tive virtues. They have preserved
with remarkable tenacity the traditions
Of their descent. and are brave, honest
and hospitable. Their lives having
heen spent in constant conflict with
nature in its most unfriendly aspects,
they have been taught from infancy
to fight against man as readily as
against the warning elements Of the
air.
Land Of the Blood Feud.
Albania is notorious as the land Of |
the blood feud-a tribal, or perhaps |
more properly racial, custom OBJ
served for many centuries. Travellers
and commentators usually refer to the
Albanian mOuntaineer as utterly law
less, but In reality his actions toward
his felow-men, up to few years
ago, were based upon the strictest pos
sible observance of lava tribal law
founded upon most distorted idea
Of personal and family honor.
The smallest infraction of custom
a blow struck In anger, an unwilling
shove in a crowd-inevitably led to
the declaration Of blood feud, and
The honor Of the injured party was
,ullied until he had slain either the
actual offender or some male member
# his family The relatives Of the
lain individual were then compelled
o take up the man hunt, and thus
he feud spread.
So fatal were these feuds that In
ONE mountain districts 1t is said an
Id man Is seldom to be encountered,
n spite Of the traditional longevity
4 the Albanian race. The men were s
illed Off before they attained patrIar- I
hal years. t
A rigid code protects guest in the a
fountain Businesses. and If traveller q
as slept under the roof Of an AL 0
anian the host, according to tribal r
wv, Is obligated to declare a blood q
'ud against any person who insults o
: harms the visitor within certain 1
myth of time after he has been en- n
rtained. g
Under the Turks the great majority II
the Albanians, probably more than II
ree-fifths, were Moslems. The con-
'rsion Of the Christian population to o.
lam appears to have taken place II
ring the Sixteenth and Seventeenth b.
INJURIES. OF the Christians about a la
xth are Roman Catholics, the re- tt
ainder orthodox. or followers Of v
e Greek Church. In Difference to pr
pular prejudices, the bishops and
Tests Of the Catholic Church wear In
g mustache and are typical speci- tn
ms of the church militant. IT.
Before the Italian occupation, edu- be
ion was almost nonexistent in AL tn
MA; both Christian and Moslem pc
re, and the adults still are, totally oc
terate. Under Turkish control in WI
uction in the Albanian language
s prohibited for political reasons.
single exception was made In the
e Of little American school for
8 at Koritza. n
Magnificent Scenery. =
n the days Of the Turk there were
nary and secondary schools in tel
,e of the towns, and instruction In
Koran was given In the village d.