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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



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Photograph from Alice Rohe 



FAIR DAY IN THE PIAZZA E-ELZOPPI ' SAN MARINO 



Fair clays in the little Republic present a kaleidoscope of color. Gayly kerchiefed peas- 

 ant women, farmers, land-owners, stock-breeders, boys and girls mingle in a democratic 

 throng. 



ways created for special service to the 

 country, being citizens like all the rest of 

 the inhabitants. Originally, councillors 

 were elected for life ; now they are re- 

 elected every three years. As few changes 

 are made, the life term practically exists. 

 The only times the Sammarinesi exercise 

 their power of voting is at these tri- 

 ennial elections and when five councillors, 

 through death, are lacking in the sixty. 



From its number, every six months, the 

 Council chooses two consuls, or captains 

 regent, who are invested with the execu- 

 tive power and who preside at meetings 

 of the public councils. These, before 

 San Marino abolished class distinctions, 

 were chosen, one from the patricians, one 

 from the peasants. The office is honor- 

 ary, each regent being allowed 150 lire 

 (about $30) for clothes. The elaborate 

 medieval costumes for state events and 

 the frock coat and silk hat for ordinary 

 public occasions would scarcely be cov- 

 ered by that amount. 



The regents, with their six months' 

 tenure of office, can be reelected only 

 after an interval of three years, the domi- 

 nating idea to, maintain a free govern- 

 ment of the people without peril of a one 

 or two man power being seen here, as in 

 every law and custom of the Republic. 

 Back in the thirteenth century the titles 

 of these two consuls were changed to 

 captain and defender, signifying their 

 special medieval mission of leading and 

 protecting the people. In the fourteenth 

 century the present titles of captains re- 

 gent were adopted. 



NO WOMAN'S SUFFRAGE IN SAN MARINO 



From the Council of sixty there is also 

 chosen each year what is known as the 

 Council of Twelve, which acts as a medi- 

 ary body between the Grand Council and 

 the regents. It has the power of judging 

 criminals in preliminary hearings and 

 civil cases of the third grade and als 

 assists in contracts for minors" an 



