Twenty Years of Balkan TangleDurham, M. E. (Mary Edith)
History
Twenty Years of Balkan Tangle
Durham, M. E. (Mary Edith)
Balkan Peninsula -- Description and travel; Balkan Peninsula -- History; Eastern question (Balkan)
The thirteen days' difference between the Old and New Style enabled
me to spend Christmas 1906 at Serajevo, and celebrate it a second
time in old Serb fashion in Krsto's hut at Nyegushi in January 1907.
Montenegro lay deep under snow, all mountain tracks buried. Life in
the villages was rough and severe. We celebrated Christmas, the New
Year, the Blessing of the Waters, and St. Sava. But by leaving
Bosnia I had not found peace. The undercurrent of discontent with
the government was more marked than last year. Even in Nyegushi, the
birthplace of the Prince, there were growlings. What was done with
all the money? The most hateful and wearisome work in all the world
was guarding flocks on the mountain. Therefore a herdsman should be
paid more than a chinovnik (official). Nevertheless every youth
aspired to be a chinovnik, because then you could retire early with
a pension. Many men had lately returned from America with pockets
full of cash. They preached that the duty of a government was to
make "jobs." They used the English word, and their audience had not
the least idea what "jobs" meant, except that it was a highly
desirable something which brought in money. America was a republic,
and in America there were "jobs." Therefore, if you had a republic
you would have "jobs." The new Parliament roused no enthusiasm. The
Prince could veto its decisions, and its members had but childish
notions. The old idea of local soviets was not extinct, nor their
rivalry with the tribe next door. Many a member consequently thought
it his duty to his constituents to veto a road for another district,
until his own had been supplied, without seeing that at this rate
nothing could be done. Dr. Marusitch was clamouring to remove the
capital to Danilovgrad, and make other sweeping changes.
Tomanovitch, the Prime Minister, and his son, aide-de-camp to the
Prince, were hated and reported to have sinister influence. Those
still faithful to the Gospodar blamed him for giving up his official
power. Cetinje, however, was excited over a new subject. A manager
from Earl's Court had come to invite Montenegro to take part in a
Balkan States Exhibition. Highly flattered, Montenegro had signed
the agreement without the ghost of idea what to do or how to do it.
The show was to open in May. Montenegro, of course, could not
possibly be ready by then, so I was asked by the committee to write
a letter informing the management that the exhibition must be
postponed till July, or whenever Montenegro was ready. I explained
that this was no use in England. Montenegro must be ready--or drop
out. They argued: "But when the London people hear there is going to
be an exhibition they will change their season to suit it." I
retorted: "Whenever I want you to do something you say: 'Nije nash
obitchaj!'" (It is not our custom). "Now we say this to you." And I
hustled them. Petar Plamenatz was the Secretary for Home Affairs. He
was to give me facts--imports, exports, education, post, telegraph,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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