The Lambertville record. [volume], September 27, 1910, Image 6

About The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968

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ONTENEGRO — whose reigning
prince, Nicholas I., by way of cele
brating the jubilee of his accession
has proclaimed himself king and
his principality a kingdom—is one
of the storm centers of the near
east. Its influence on Balkan pol
itics is not to be measured by its
size, for this Land of the Black
Mountains, as the Venetians
named it long ago, is actually the
smallest monarchy in all Europe.
When, a few weeks ago, Nicholas
assumed the title of king, his wife
became Queen Milena. Nicholas also declared
that Montenegro shall be known henceforth as
Zeta, that being the ancient name of the country.
The territory subject to the rule of King Nich
olas is just one-fourteenth of the area of Rou
mania, a tenth of Bulgaria, a seventh of Greece,
and a fifth of Servia. Yet Greece has long been
an independent state, Roumania a monarchy since
1881, Servia a kingdom since 1882, while Bulga
ria exchanged the rank of a suzerain principality
for that of an independent kingdom only two
years ago. Ever since that dramatically precipi
tate actijn on the part of Bulgaria and the assim
ilation by Austria of the neighboring provinces
of Bosnia and Herzegovina the Montenegrin
prince and people have been ambitious to assert
their sovereign dignity.
And if there be any satisfaction in this eleva
tion of their national status the Montenegrins are
assuredly as entitled to it as their neighbors of
Servia and Bulgaria, for Montenegro can boast a
record unrivaled by any other state in the whole
Balkan peninsula. Alone of all the Balkan
peoples these hardj mountaineers have never
known the harsh hand of a conqueror. Secure in
their wild mountain fastnesses, almost impreg
nable in their inaccessibility, the Montenegrins
have retained their national life and political in
dependence through centuries of strife and Sla
vonic dismemberment. Dynasties have fallen and
kingdoms crumbled oil either hand, but this one
tiny state has preserved its freedom from alien
control. Even when the Turkish hordes threat
ened to overrun Europe and in their triumphant
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march swept away the medieval Servian empire
this warlike mountain race kept its passes by
ceaseless watching pight and day, and submis
sion to Turkish authority was of a nominal na
ture. And when their ancient capital was threat
ened they abandoned it as ruthlessly as those
other Slavs of the northland burned and aban
doned Moscow in the face of the advancing foe,
and betaking themselves high up into the moun
tains founded a secure seat of government within
tile rocky walls of Cettinje.
A wonderful people these Montenegrins, with
a wonderful history. If ever a Servian empire
be re-established, if ever the Balkan states be
come united in a powerful confederation that
would wholly change the political complexion of
the near east and its problems, it will be largely
due to the patriotism and pluck of this little pa
triarchal state. To this day the men wear an
edging of black in their scarlet caps—this in
mourning for a lost Slav empire—and with all
the passion of a primitive people they hold to
that national idea which would accomplish the
union of all the Serb states.
Early in the sixteenth century the ruler of the
Montenegrins, being a pious prince, who much
loved the church, handed executive authority to
the metropolitan bishop, who henceforth bore the
title of “vladika,” or prince bishop. For three
and a half centuries spiritual and temporal
power lay in one man's hands, the vladika being
a little Balkan pope. In 1G9G the Petrovic Njegos
family entered into possession of this princely
power, and this dynasty rules in Montenegro still.
In 1851 Danilo I. renounced the title of vladika
in favor of that of hospodar, at the same time
severing the temporal authority from the spirit
ual oversight of the people. In 1853 Danilo II.
ordered the enrollment in arms of all Montene
grin males capable of service. The tribal system
still obtained, chieftains of clans being directly
responsible to their prince. On August 13, I860,
the present ruler acceded to power, and during
the fifty years of a notable reign Prince Nicholas
has done much to civilize and modernize this
primitive mountain land while at the same time
he has been careful to keep national habits in
all their simplicity and to foster a lofty national
ism of spirit and sentiment among his people.
Of all the states in Europe Mont snegro is per
haps the least known to, the least rlsited by, the
average traveled man, while to the untraveled
the very name is a blank. The proclamation
of a new king in Europe is a reminder, however,
of the value which the Montenegrins set upon
their own Importance, an importance which is
by no means to be underestimated when Balkan
auestlcos arise to disturb the currents of high
diplomacy. Packed within an area which is at
most a hundred miles long and eighty miles wide
is a population of about a quarter of a million
people, the sturdiest, bravest and most warlike
people anywhere to be found. The Montenegrins
are a fighting race, among whom personal bra
very is accounted the highest virtue in man. By
a national decree the men all carry loaded pis
tols at their belts, and these they are prone to
use on small provocation. They have no regard
for the value of human life, and family animosi
ties are pursued through generations after the
fashion of the Corsican vendetta. Nicholas I. has
for years steadfastly discouraged these blood
feuds, which are a bane of Montenegrin life; but
racial instincts die hard, and these men of the
Black Mountains are not easily soothed into civi
lization's ways.
In the early years of Nicholas’ reign Montene
gro suffered much by pestilence and famine as
wdll as by successive conflicts with Turkey,
which has ever been envious of the Montenegrins’
stubborn independence. In the sttuggles of the
seventies Prince Nicholas and his people were
successful to the extent of recovering valuable
seaboard territory, in the possession of which
the principality was confirmed by the twenty
eighth article of the Berlin treaty. In the s/me
famous agreement of the powers the independ
ence of Montenegro, really existent for centuries,
was at last formally recognized even by Turkey.
With so much conceded to their heroism and pa
triotism the Montenegrins were free to develop
their national resources, which are wholly agri
cultural. Among the humanizing influences es
sential to the progress of his people Prince
Nicholas promptly recognized the value of edu
cation, and almost before the ink was dry on
treaty signatures an extensive scheme of elemen
tary education was organized throughout the
principality. There are now some 200 primary
schools maintained by the state and attendance
is compulsory on all children.
Whatever Nicholas I. has done and may do,
however, by way of fostering the arts of peace
and of advancing the material prosperity of his
people avails little when the Montenegrin genius
is essentially military. In all eastern Europe
there is no finer soldier than the hardy man of
the mountains. The Montenegrin ruler knows his
strength in this respect, and he has fashioned
at least a fifth of the population into a well-dis
ciplined and well-equipped little army comprising
58 battalions of infantry and 12 batteries of artil
lery, but no cavalry.
Of eVen greater account than their martial
order Is the intense nationalism of the Montene
grins, a sentiment which their ruler stimulates
by royal decree as well as by personal example.
It is, for Instance, Incumbent on all to wear the
national costume; prosaic European clothing Is
tabooed. Picturesque as it is, the costume em
phasizes the extravagant theatricality of the Mon
tenegrin pose. But if garments enhance an ideal
Prince Nicholas is shrewd indeed in His ordi
nance. Much that may seem extravagant and
absurdly archaic to western ideas has a hidden
purpose in the Balklns. Austrian, Russian and
German policy alike haR aimed at such a seve
rance of Serb associations as shall effectually
repress Serb aspirations to a reunited empire.
On the other hand It has been the settled pol
icy of Nicholas I. to keep the flame of Serb pa
triotism alight. Hence it is that the fervent na
tionalism of this Montenegrin people finds ex
pression in the very jackets of the men and the
skirts of the women, in the minstrelsy of the
single-stringed fiddles and the ever-present readi
ness for war.
Montenegro has a constitutlton, first granted
in 1868. The skupstchlna or national assembly
is elected by universal suffrage for a term of
four years. A ministry of six portfolios repre
sents executive authority, but to all intents and
purposes Nicholas I. is an absolute autocrat. The
father of his people, he gives public audience to
all and sundry and administers justice beneath
a famous plane tree hard by the palace gates at
Cettlnje. Such is the patriarchal ruler of a pa
triarchal state who in the pursuit of a national
ambition is exchanging the primitive simplicity
of ancient Czernagora— as Montenegro once was
styled—for the trappings and majesty of a mini
ature monarchy.
30ME QUEER ENGLI8H NAMES.
Sussex can produce queer names in plenty, for
example: Replenished Pryor, a damsel who dwelt
at Heathfield; Mr. Stand-fast-on-high Stringer;
Mr. Ales Cressel, and Master Perform-thy-vows
Seers. The county archives also yield unusual
family names, such as Pitchfork, Devil, Leper,
Juglery, Beatup, Breathing, Whiskey, Wildgoose!
and Lies.
Dorset can hold her own tolerably well with
villages named Ryme Intrinseca and Toller Por
corum; rivers called Wriggte river and Devil’s
brook; commons christened Giddy green and
God’s Blessing green, and heights called Hungry
down, Mount Ararat, Grammars hill, and Danc
ing hill. A prospective tenant might well hesi
tate before signing the lease of Wooden Cabbage
farm, Labor in Vain farm, Poor Lot farm and
Charity bottom, even though he should hail from
Kent, which owns two Starvecrow farms within
a ride of each other.—LondonChronicle.
11 Merchandise of Integrity.”
f f Onyx” Hosiery
We are carrying a line of the
“Onyx’* Hosiery in cotton,
lisle, silk lisles, and pure silk.
Our prices are never higher
than city prices, and in many
cases less.
The “LION BRAND” Shirts, Collars and Caffs
are made for each other. The man who wears a “Lion Brand”
Shirt and Collar has no shirt troubles. The line is at its best now
R. & G. CORSETS
are made for the most discriminating trade. These models are the
latest. R. & G. Corsets are made to fit you. If we haven't your
particular style in stock we will gladly get it for you. ^ Every
Corset guaranteed.
Bonbons French Balbriggan Underwear
for men is better than most others. We only get one shipment a
year. They come in long or short sleevb and reg. or “stout”
drawers.
“B. V. D” UNDERWEAR is popular. We carry in 2-piece
suits or combination.
Our stock of EMBROIDERIES AND LACES are worthy of your
notice.
We are ready for spring business and solicit a portion of yout
trade.
S. A. FINGER, Agt.
N. UNION STREET, LAMBERTVILLE, N. J.
EASY
HOUSECLEANING
Clean your house with our
VACUUM CLEANER.
-A Moderate Sized House can be Cleaned in a Day
TERMS $1.50 A DAY
LAMBERTYILLE HEAT, LIGHT AND POWER GO.
H. M. MOORHEAD, Gen’l Mgr.
Some like the EDISON and some like
VICTOR. Both are the highest grade TALK
ING MACHINE. We have a full line of both
the Edison and Victor Machines and Records
which we will cheerfully play for you at our
store. You may purchase them on the easy
payment plan, and there is nothing you can
place in your home that will make it more
cheerful than one of these splendid machines.
We have a full line of the renowned
ESTEY PIANOS and Organs, which are
known the world over. We also have a full
line of Violins, Bows, Mandolins, Guitars,
Banjos, Harmonicas and Accordeons and
strings for all musical instruments. We
have several second hand pianos and organs,
which have been put in good condition, at a
low figure. Tuning and repairing.
Holcombe’s Music House,
36 N. UNION ST., LAMBERTVILLE, N. J.