Without Resort to Law By DONALD ALLEN Copyright, igio, by Associated Literary Pross K'A' a OTI ll I - II if V y- - xj - fi ONTENEGRO whose reigning prince, Nicholas I., by way of cele brating the Jubilee qf hla accession has proclaimed himself king and his principality a kingdom Is one of the storm centers of the nsar 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 aKsumed the title of king, his wife became Queen Mllcna. 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 manla, a tenth of Bulgaria, a seventh of Greece, and a fifth of Servla. Yet Greece has long been an Independent state, Roumanla a monarchy since 1SS1, Servla 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 action 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 Bervla 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 hardy mountaineers have never known the harsh hand of a conqueror. Spcure In . their wild mountain fastnesses, almost lmpreg- , liable 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 on either hand, but this one tiny Btate has preserved its freedom from alien control. Even when the Turkish hordes threat ened to overrun Europe and in their triumphant, - r NffiOJLAS T. fell -.-mi m J , WHW feral. 'r:i3Sb?'V' A V . march swept away thg medieval Servian empire this warlike mountain race kept its passes by ceaseless watching night 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 lilgh up Into the moun tains founded a secure seat of government within the rocky walls of Cettlnje. 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- trlorchal state. To this day the men wear an edging of black In their scarlet caps-Mhis 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 rrfuch loved the church, handed executive authority to the metropolitan bishop, who henceforth bore the title of "vladlka," or prince bishop. For three and a half centuries spiritual and temporal power lay in one man's hands, the vladlka being a littie Balkan pope. In 1C9C the Petrovlc Njegos family entered into possession of this princely power, and this dynasty rules In Montenegro still. In 1851 Danllo I. renounced the title of vladlka in favor of that of hospodar, at the. same time severing the temporal authority from the spirit ual oversight of the people. In 1853 Danllo 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, 18C0, 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 Montenegro Is per haps the least known to, the least visited 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 la by no means to be underestimated when Balkan Questions arise to disturb the currents of t'sh 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.thelr 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 Corslcan vendetta. Nicholas I. has for y.ears steadfastly discouraged these blood feuds, which are a bone 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 well as by successive conflicts with Turkey, which has ever been envious of the Montenegrins" stubborn independence. In the struggles 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 sme famous agreement of the powers the Independ ence of Montenegro, really existent toi centuries, was at last formally recognized even by Turkey. With so much conceded to their heroism and1 pa triotism the Montenegrins were free to develop their national resources, whlcV 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 Btrength In this respect, and he has fashioned at least a fifth of the population Into a well-disciplined and well-equipped little army comprising y68 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 th national costume; prosaic European clothing li 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 Ills ordi nance. Much that may seem extravagant and absurdly archaic to western ideas baa a hidden purpose In the Balklna. Austrian, Russian and German policy alike has atmed 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 cotuHItutiton, first granted In 18C8. The skupstchtna 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 bis 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. SOME QUEER ENGLISH NAMES. ' Subscx cau produce queer names in plenty, for example: Replenished Pryor, a damsel who dwelt at Heathfleld; Mr. Stand-fast-on-hlgh 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, Wildsoose, and Lies. , Dorset can hold her own tolerably well with villages named Ryme Intrlnseca and Toller Por corum; rivers called Wriggle 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 hall from -Kent, which owna two Starvecrow farms within a ride of each other. LondonChronlcle. "Come and put In your vacation with me. House in the country. Lake. Fish. Golf. Mighty good-looking girl only eighty rods away. Cupid. Moon light, etc." So ex-Judge Gormnn wrote to his nephew, Phil Walker, JUBt before col lege vacation. The judge was a bach elor sixty years old, who had bought a manor house on retiring from the bench. He waB alone except for his servants, and Phil was bis favorite nephew. Judge Gorman had caught only a brief glimpse of Aileen Travers as she crossed the lawn of her mother's grounds next door. Any lawyer could have made a case of false pretenses eut of that letter, but Phil Walker replied that he would be happy to come. Miss Aileen Travers was just two weeks ahead of him on vacation. She had got home and settled down for the summer before he was due. When at home she was the man about the house. She could handle saw or hammer, and when the lawn mower got out of kilter she had a way of fixing It up Instead of sending it off to town to be tinkered at. She reached home on this occasion to find that many things needed her atten tion, and among them was the glazing of a pane of glass In the kitchen win dow. This was left to the last, but on the day her mother and little sta ter went away to he gone 'till night the cook was Informed: "Now, then, If James got that pone of glass and some putty, we will fix that window. We shall need the step ladder." ' It's the easiest thing In the world for a Btnnrt and good-looking girl to putty In a pane of glass. She first takes out any fragments of the old pane. Then she mounts to the top of a stepladder and has the cook hold , "It's the Easiest Thing In the World." It while she cutB away the old putty. Then the new pane Is set In and made fast. Miss Aileen Bet out to accom plish this task. Mid-afternoon came along while she was still working. So did Phil Walker. He was walking out from town for exercise. He dHn't know what house his uncle lived In, and be decided that the sensible thing to do was to make Inquiries. He rang the bell at the Travis' mansion, and as he rang he wondered If that "mighty good-looking girl" lived there. ' , No answer. He thought he heard voices at the rear of the house. The sensible thing to do was to go around and find the owners. He found them. Miss Aileen was standing on the crest of the stepladder, sleeves rolled up, old skirt on, and bareheaded and her hair tousled and flying about That's the way a glazier glazes. The cook was hanging to the ctep laddcr like grim death and throwing out a suggestion now and then, and the stage setting was ready when the young college man appeared. There was a yell from the cook! There was an exclamation from the mistress. There was a roar from the family dog, who has been held back until this noment to complete a dramatic situ ation! The cook let go. The stepladder wabbled. Miss Aileen came down. Mr. Walker stepped backward, and It seemed to the dog as If the three people were all mixed tip for a mo ment. , Then he took after the one who fled, nipped him and chased him off the grounds and down the road, where ex-Judge Gorman, standing at his gate, threw, up his arms and called out: "What vlllr.ln has dared to set a dog on my favorite nephew! Tell me his name that I may give him seven kinds of law!" Phil thought he understood the case, and when he got his breath he tried to explain. It was a case of natural cause and effort. Let any young man discover a girl puttying In a pane of glass from the top of a stepladder, with the family cook braced to pre vent a wabble, and the family dog dozing in the sunshine, and exclama tions, falls and bites must follow. It's like the stock market when a report Is circulated that John Doe Is dead It creates a flurry He held no one to blame. "Say, boy," replied the uncle when the story had been told, "that girl on the stepladder must have been the one I wrote you about I am afraid you have dished your case right In the beginning." "I can call and apologize." "Atyliake another mistake? Never! You see, she's mighty good-looking." "I I guess bo. I Just got one glimpse, und then she came Balling." "And she's a sylph." ; "She flew like one." "And she didn't have her hair done trp and her Sunday clothes on, and you didn't see her In the parlor and have a formal Introduction. Then then, you nil tumbled around together and the dog' bit you, and the cook probably swore," and taken all to gether It wi'J require all the legal tal ents I possess to win your case." "But what case am I going to win or lose, sir?" was asked. j "Why the mighty good-looking girl Miss Travers the girl on the step ladder. I have It all mapped out. I shall give you this place and then board with you after marriage. Right handy to her mother's, you know. Pass back and forth across the dewy grass. One phonograph answers for both houses. Birds sing to both at the same time. No separate thunder show ers needed. Had It down pat, my boy, and then you bad to go wandering around to the back yard and making discoveries. Lands, can I ever con vince that girl that you hadn't stood there for ten minutes before the cook yelled out!" Mr. Phil Walker was contrite enough that day, but on the next he stood on his dignity. tWhat business had a girl, good looking or not, to turn glazier? What business had the family cook to let go of that wabbly stepladder? What business had that old dog to bite him? All the Injury was on his part. Miss Travers was not the only person to be considered, and he wanted her to understand it. HIb uncle saw how things were with him and didn't interfere. Ten days passed very quiet days. The gloss was in and the putty all used up; the stepladder was laid away, and the dog was at rest! Then the college man ached for ex ercise. There was an old dead tree on the Bhores of the lake at the back end of the ground. He would re move It. He look the saw and went forth. Hot off, coat and vest off, shirt sleeves rolled up, he mounted Into the top of the tree to cut nway a limb. Nothing startled him. lie simply slipped and caught his foot In a crotch, and there he was, hanging head downward and, yelling for help. - He had been yellRig for five minutes when he beard foot steps on the grass and some one lifted up his head and shoulders until he could get a grasp with his hands. Then that some one softly sold: , "Please don't set your dog on me for It!" That "mighty good-looking girl" hod been rowing on the lake and witnessed the accident just as Bhe landed. She was gone before the tree-climber 'could descend. "Say, boy, your case is won, and that without resort to law," exclaimed the uncle as he. rubbed his hands In glee. "You discover her she discov ers you. Two discoveries, with the cook and the dog left out. She can't call and thank you for discovering her, because she was on top of a step ladder, but you must call and thank ber because you were hanging head downward from a tree. See the dif ference? Why, boy, your case is won without the Jury leaving their seats. Prettiest affair I ever handled." Mr. Phil Walker called and ex plained all about that tree and sev eral other things, and there were blushes and smiles and laughter, and a game of croquet on the lawn. And, later on, Judge Gorman was called upon for his house as a wedding present All Dodge Soup. Soup is probably the most unpop ular dish In the luncheon menu of the New York business girl today. She acknowledges that It may be nour ishing and all that, but it simply does n't taste good to her. The only time, so a down town business girl says, that the girls she knows resort to soup Is when their finances are at a very low ebb. "What would astonish you, though," says this same girl, "is the number of mothers that think that their daugh ters should eat soup every day, and try to persuade them to do it They say boup Is so sustaining. Well, per haps it Is. I can't argue as to that. But I' know soup doesn't taste espe cially good, and doesn't make any too good a foundation for an after noon's work. It would be different If we could have soup, then a meat dish, ana men a oessert; but very tew girls, I tell you, can afford that, "So we all cut out soup. .Probably It disgusts the dietician young wom en Just out of college, but we all feel we know what's best for us." New York Press. : It's Natural. "He knows all the best people In Jown." "Why doesn't he associate wito, them, then?" "They know blm.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers