Land a/^e '
Black Mpuniairv
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Men of Montenegro.
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(Prepared by th* National OeoKrap* '?
Society. Washington, D. C.) / f
Little Montenegro, which wai-.the
tiniest kingdom In Europe, haa been
merged since the 'World war Into the
big new kingdom of Jugo-Slavta. Its
well.-loved king la dead; lta capital
? only the seat of a province. But half
a millennium of dearly bought Inde
pendence and the moat Intense patriot
ism hns' made Its Inhabitants not alto
? gather willing to lose their Identity;
?so from time to time commissions ap
pear to present Montenegro's case to
the world and to keep alive Its mar
velous history and traditions.
This little country, then smaller than
Delaware, .and sometimes with no
more than 8,000 lighting men within
Its borders, has the distinction of be
ing the one patch of land In the broad
expanse of the Balkan peninsula that
kept Itself free frotfl Turkish conquest
during the Ave and a half centuries
Mnce the Turks crossed the Hellespont.
One after another, the regions that ai-e
now Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia and Al
bania fell before the excellent Turkish
' lighting organisations, and settled
down tfor hundreds of years under a
eon<PTori. little better than slavery to
Mos\ k masters. Montenegro remained
free and was practically a Christian
Island In a sea of Mohammedanism.
Only on Its western border was It In
contact during this loifg period with
otheB Christian territory, a narrow
strip of Adriatic cttaat controlled by
Venice.
Upon the final overthrow of the an
cient glory of the Serbs on the field of
Koasovo, a fc-v valiant souls retreated
to the rocky fastnesses of Cernagora
to seek asylum with the Votvode of the
Zeta. A few years later, abandoned
bjptheir ruler?w^ preferred a life of
ease at Venice?they turned to their
bishop, made him also their prince,
and with htm retreated still deeper
Into the hills and there set up that
long line of the Vladlkas which did
not end until well Into the last cen
tury.
Tributes to Their bravery.
There they maintained their free*
dom, With suffering indescribable and
with courage Illimitable; and won
from Gladstone, the great English
apostle of Balkan freedom, those
words of undying praise, in which he
gave It as his "deliberate opinion"
; that "the traditions of Montenegro ex
i ceed in glory those of Marathon and
! Thermopylae and all the war tradi
tions of the world"; and Inspired In
Tennyson what ha retarded at the
finest of his sonnets. Inscribed to the
smallest among people*! rough
rock-throne "
or freedom! warriors beating baak the
swarm
Of Turkish Islam 'for five hundred years,
Great Cernagora! never since thine own
Black rldxee drew the cloud and broke
the storm
' Has breathed a race of mightier moun
| talneers"
Within bnt a stone's throw of the
; Adriatic sea, Montenegro was long cut
off from It until In the middle of the
Nineteenth century her arms won An
tlvarl from the Turks. Oattaro has al
ways been the logical port of the coun
try and Its natural gateway from the
West, yet It remained until the World
war In the hands of Austria. Now
Cattaro la Jngo-Slavic and la no longer
under a control alien to that of Monte
negro..
In the days before the World war
the few diplomats and travelers who
visited Cetlnje, the capital of Monte
negro, considered the ride over the au
tomobile road from Cattaro one of the
grandest scenlcally to be found In
?urope.
Ascending the marvelous slgsag road
, which leads up from the port, one ap
! preaches the stern and gloomy defile
> which forms the portal to this historic
! stronghold of freedom In the Balkans
Splendid engineering Is this road,
j Built for post and military uses. It
i cllnga to the face of the sheer reck
and weaves back and forth In a multl
! tude of "hairpin curves" which the
( chauffeurs Of the post automobile treat
;wlth that contempt which familiarity
; slone can breed. V
Cp and ever up, one goes. Below
stand forth the dusky cliffs vhlch Jut
Into the southern fiord; nes ting be
; neath them, and hemmed In with the
[sMSSive battlements of those' giants of
an earlier day who atretched out the
lion of ST Mark's from the Lido to the
Bosporus, ilea Cattaro?which was
Italian in appearance, Austrian in al
legiance, bnt Serb in feeling, Its heart
ever in the Highlands. Beyond smiles
the Adriatic, and above tower the
gaunt gray rocks, against which the
road seems a veritable ladder laid
upon a wall
A Wilderness of Rocks.
threading at last a narrow detHe,
whose walls are pierced with caves
where lurk the fables of the moun
taineers, and crossing a pass too often
swathed in clouds, one turns a comer
and comes face to face with the an
cient realm of the Vladikas..;
The smile of the soft blue sea lies
behind, and before stretches a wild,
turbulent ocean of rock, rising and
sinking in angry gray waves flecked
with white, which seem to ledp and
rage and battle together like a sea
lashed by a storm. 8tones, rocks and
crags, nothing else; not a tree, not a
blade of grass; scarcely even a tuft 'of
brushwood to relieve the dreary scene
of desolation.
At the creation, so runs the Monte
negrin legend, an angel was sent forth
to pick up the superfluous stones on
the earth's surface. He placed them
in a bag. which burst as he was flying
over Cernagora?and certainly the
landscape bears out the tale.
And yet the scene cannot he said to
lack charm?the charm of majesty al
ways to be found among the hills. And
while Cernagora at first sight?gaunt,
gray and drear, an arid wilderness of
bare rock?tells in one blow of the suf
ferings of centuries, pity does not long
endure; It passes almost at once to
praise for a people who have pre
ferred liberty in this desolation to
slavery In fat lands.
From the old Austrian" border to.
Cetlnje one encounter?-bU< one village,
Nlegush, nestling in a little cleft in
the hfllls and claiming attention as the
cradle of the Petrovich dynasty, which
for more than two centuries ruled the
destinies of the land. Here was born
not only Danllo I, progenitor of the
line, but most of his successors, includ
ing the late king, whose tiny villa Is
the show-place of the town.
From the pocket of Nlegush, one be1
gins the ascent and an hour's climbing
brings Mm to the top of the pass, In
sight of Cetlnje. The distance as the
crow flies is short; but the winding
road multiplies the miles, and one has
ample opportunity to survey the tiny
former capital which boasts?albeit
somewhat inaccurately?that Its
streets alone of all the Balkan capi
tals have never echoed to the tread of
a conquering Turkish host.
Cetlnjt, the Capital.
Two broad, parallel streets, connect
ed bj irregularly laid out croaa streets,
comprise the town, which lies hemmed
In on every side by the stern hills. The
green fields, the elms, the buttercups
by the roadside, and the steep gables
of the housea, which often lie banked
to their eaves with winter's snows, are
reminiscent of a White mountain vil
lage.
European drees has made slight in
roads In tills part of the world. Though
the army, thanks to Russian generos
ity, wore' khaki, the palace guard wore
Montenegrin garb to the end, and It
was the habitual drees of both king
and queen, the latter having pointedly
refused the suggestion of her daugh
tere-ln-law that, together with thai
royal tide, she Shouldttake on modern
gowns.
Montenegrins are nearly all glantt
and they stride as though each wore
seven-league boots. Indeed, when a
Montenegrin wants to go anywhere in
h hurry he walks, not using; the aplen
did roads with which his mountains
are threaded, but taking the old short
ruts among the hills.
These Montenegrins are a race ol
warriors, and before the World wat
sat about *ln the coffee houses bemoan
ing their lot "What a life for a man!"
they said. "Thirty years without a
War; nothing for a man to do." Bui
there was always plenty for the women
to do, and the women of Montenegro
so alert anl graceful lu their youth,
suon loea their good looks and become
bent and bowed and ugly.
QUAINT CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS j
Cupid Maya Part In Many A thi l?
paratltlona That Art Mill a Ivan
. Consideration.
i Ooad at Thomas, ?rr* ma right
And aand ma my trua lava tonight.
That t may gaaa upon bla far a.
Than htm la aqr fond anna aaakraaa
t( a "J FTBR placing a pi oca at
j ?k I holly under bar pillow, many
1**1 a girl. In the north of Eng
p land especially, repeats
. these lines to herself before
retiring to rest on Christmas ere, ac
cording to a writer In London Tit-Bits.
Oupld playa an Important part In
many of the superstitions and customs
that are still extant at this season.
A Christmas practice among super
stitious girls who wish to dream abont
their future lovers la that of abstain
ing from food or drink or speech dur
lttg the whole of Christmas eve. Then,
after all the family have retired, they
make a cake of flour, salt and water,
called a "dumb cake." This they eat
Just before retiring to bed. In the be
lief that their somewhat Indigestible
supper will cause them to dream of
their future husbands.
In the Alps there exist several
charming Yuletlde customs of propos
tng marriage by the lkbgUageo^ flow
era. If a girl accepts a bouquet of
edelweiss from a man during the pe
riod from Christmas day to New
Year's eve the action denotes that she
accepts him as her future husband.
Another Christmas custom In Switz
erland la for the young man to place
a flower pot, containing a single rose,
and a note on the window alll of the
girl's room whan ahe la absent from
home. He then waits tin a reply. If
the maid accepts the flower before |
New Tear's eve, then the young man
boldly enters the bouse to "ask papa."
If. on the other hand, tho m m
not touched, bat to allowed to fade i
away, the proposal to rejected without
a stagl* word of law having ban ??
chanced between tha couple.
In Sardinia Christmas wooing la Car
mare complicated. If a Sardinian fa
ther haa a marriageable daoghter, tha
would-be suitor applies to htm for
parmlaalon to speak to bar by means
ef a species of telephone that has
bean In use for the purpose for centu
ries of Ghrlstmaaes.
It la a long string with a wooden
knob at each end. The girl drops one
knob oat of her window and, the shat
ters being closed, places the other
knob to her ear. Down below her
would-be lover pours* words of un
dying devotion Into his knob 1
On every New Year's day In Ru
mania a fair of marriageable girls is
held. The girls are all drawn up In
one line and the men in another, with
tha parents of both behind them. If
a young man likes the looks of any
particular girl he steps oat of his
line, goes up to her and enters into
conversation. If he is favorably re
ceived by the girl, his parents and
h?g parents compare notes aa to the
marriage settlement and similar prac
tical matters.
Many quaint superstitions are asso
ciated with the^ftestlve season In va
rious parts of Britain. In Hertford
shire the wearing ot new shoes on
Christmas day to considered to be vary
unlucky.
SOME JOB
. "John, your facej looks terribly
mttered up," said the teacher to John
tged seven.
ASSESSED VALUATION, TAXES LEVIED, BONDED AND
OTHER INDEBTEDNESS?1921 I
Town of AHOSKIE, for the Fiscal year.ending May 31, 1922.
Name of mayor: W. L. Curtis.
Name of Cleric: D. P. Boyette.
Name of Treasurer: D. P. Boyette.
Name of Attorney: Winston A Matthews.
' Names of Commissioners: J. B. Barnes, H. W. Stokes, D. p. Boyette.
Assessed valuation of real estate and
Assessed valuation of personal property $1,439,827.20
Railroad and other property assessed by
Corporation Commission - 136,629.60
TOTAL valuation of all property $1,676,456.80
Total amount of tax levied on property 19,906.71
Total taxes levied on polls 847.60 20,763.21
Total taxes collected for fines , 9.20
Total taxes from License for all other purposes 600.00
Receipts from electric lights, water works
or other municipally operated public service 12,641,21 ,
Receipts from sale of bonds or money borrowed 39,418,28 62,668.69
GRAND TOTAL ? 1? 73,421.90
Disbursements of above were as follows:
Streets and sidewalks ? 986.91
General purposes 738.09
Salaries of Mayor and other officers.. 1,936.00
Expenses operating electric light, water
works, or other municipally
operated public service 13,629.67
I Payments upon principal or interest
of bonds or other indebtedness 61,705.70
TOTAL disbursements 68,990.37
Amount uncollected tfom property (ending
of fiscal year) and
Amount uncollected from polls (ending of
fiscal year) 11,787.12
TOTAL uncollected from property and polls 11,787.12
Tax rate on the $100 for the year 1921 was as follows:
Special (water, sewerage and lights) $ .75 on the $100 valuation.
General ... .60 on the $100 valuation.
TOTAL tax rate for all purposes on the $100 valuation r$ 1.26
Number of white polls, 153. * S
Number of negro polls, 73.
Total number of- polls, 226.
Tax levied on each poll, $3.76.
Bonded indebtedness: ,
Amount authorised $ 140,000.00
Amount issued 140,000.00
Purpose of issue, Water, Light and Sewerage.
Date of issue, June 1, 1920 and March 1, 1921.
When due, Serial Bonds
Amount outstanding -? 139,000.00
Rate of interest 6 per centum per annum.
Current liabilities -?-?- 10,768.95
TOTAL indebtedness ? - $149,768.95
L. C. WILLIAMS, Clerk.
Town of Ahoskie, N. C. Dated December 5, 1922.
??-n
An Ideal Christmas Gift
his Beautiful Ribbon Wrist Watch*
It it not very often that we can
offer to our customers such values in
watches as the attractive wrist watch
illustrated in this advertisement. This
watch is a high-grade imported 15
jejvel movement in a 20 year case.
This same movement in a plain case
is one dollar lets.
Our selections of Christmas mer
chandise are most coAplete, and we
urge you to make your selections
early. Order now and avoid disap
pointment later.
411 orders filled same day received.
? ^
Paul-Gale-Greenwood Co.
LARGEST JEWELERS SOUTH C
NORFOLK, VIRGINIA
' -III (
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gag
=^v
TWO WEEKS
AND THEN
CHRISTMAS ,ltepr
" As is custom with us, odr store is well prepared
to take care of the Gift Buyers, both expensive and
inexpensive.
Perfumes, powders, stationery, Cigars, Smoking
Tobacco, Candies, all make acceptable gifts, and sure
moderately priced at our store.
We also have displays of special Christmas
goods, and know we can fill you requirements.
"TH^ QUALITY KIND"
, Ice Cream
Is always tasty and never staple?it never outgrows
its sweetness, and is as pure as oan be made
Place your order with us
Ahoskie Ice Cream Co.
Manufacturers of
"The Quality Kind"
124 Main Street Ahoskie, N. C.
City Deliveries Made on Sunday from f
10:00 a. m. to 1:00 p. m.
' ? 1
WynnBros.
THE ONE PRICE STORE
MURFRBESBORO, - NORTH CAROLINA
CHRISTMAS TIDINGS I!
Everyone should take advantage of our Christmas
offerings in our various departments
Ladies Suits, Coats and Dresses at exceptionally LOW
PRICES that will not only APPEAL to your purse but also to
your good judgment as to both quality and style. Coats in
Velour, Normandy Cloth and Bolivia. Sport Coats in Polo and
Astrakhin
STYLISH, SNAPPY, SEASONABLE DRESSES in Poiret
Twill, Serge and Canton Crepe
HOSIERY?NeW line Ladies Silk Hosiery, just the thing for
" gift seekers
SHOE DEPARTMENT
Florsheim shoes for men. Complete line of Roberts, Johnson
and Rand Shoes for men, women and children
READY-TO-WEAR CLOTHING
Men's Overcoats, Boy's Overcoats. Biggest and best line of
Men's and boys suits ever offered in this section at prices that
DEFY COMPETITION ' ,
REMEMBER?That every garment offerfd by us is absolutely
new. No left-overs or shopworn goods bought on the high war
market, but we sacrificed our entire stock of clothing, notions,
and dry goods last July which makes it possible for us to present
to you this wonderful opportunity
SEE OUR BEFORE CHRISTMAS QFFERINGS
? AT AFTER CHRISTMAS PRICES
WYNN BROS.
THE SHOPPING CENTER
"V : =? ?' ,
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W(jY YOU SHOULD DEPOSIT YOUR MONEY IN THE
BANK OF AHOSKIE
?
When you deposit your money in this bank,
you not only deposit it in one of the strongest banks ,
in this section, but it is financially able to take care
of yob during the dull season of the year.
We loan money to our patrons, and when you
deposit your money here you become one of the large
number that we are glad to accommodate in every
way possible.
We loan money to our patrons, and when you
deposit your money here you become one of the large
number that we are glad to accommodate in every
way possible.
- If you are a farmer you buy merchandise, and
if you buy on time you pay more than you would
have to pay if you were financially able to pay cash
?The Way to do this and get ahead, is to deposit
your money here during the harvest; and we accom
modate you during the spring and summer.
Every accommodation extended our customers
that sound banking will permit.
BANK OF AHOSKIE
The Bank That Has Never Charged Any Person
More Than 6 Per Cent Interest
Ahoslrie, N. C.
>
SUBSCRIBE TO THE HERALD
)NE YEAR > - - - - $1.50
" ' ' > ' -? ?. .vVijf