Final Gem of November, 1927, magazine

Before I read this final article in National Geographic, November, 1927, the only thing I remembered about the country of Liechtenstein (pronounced lickt-in-stine) is that it's close to Germany, the country of my ancestors.  I did a quick wiki-pedia search to find out, 1) if it still exists and 2) its location.

Yes, Liechtenstein is there, bordered by Switzerland on the west and Austria on the east.  I thought it was a big city - for all I know, it may be now - but in 1927, it was a country of small villages, forests, farmland, two factories, vineyards, the capital city of Vaduz and "a dozen or so more-than-mile-high peaks (p. 613)."

All sixty-two square miles Liechtenstein, with its 11,000 (yes, eleven thousand!) citizens, was then ruled by Prince Johann II, an eighty-seven-year-old gentleman who "took office before Lincoln Inauguration (p. 619)."  "He lives in Vienna and his people see very little of him.  His subjeccts enjoy universal suffrage, pay almost no taxes, and have done no military service since the army of eighty men reported for duty too late to take part in the Austro-Prussian War (p. 628)."

The caption under a photo of "A Wayside Shrine" of Jesus' crucifix reports that "tiny Liechtenstein was one of the few parts of Central Europe to escape the horrors of the World War (p.629)."  Will our world ever be bold enough and gentle enough to avoid wars?  In my journey through my National Geographic collection, I'll have to note if the country also was spared in World War II and beyond by the Nazis and the Communists.  I would certainly feel welcome in a country with Christian symbols displayed.

Particularly interesting to me was the Castle of Gutenberg.  How old was it?  Is it still there?  A quick internet search revealed it was started around the year 1200, destroyed and rebuilt several times and is now open to the public.  This is yet another country with Roman ruins.

FYI: In 1927, the Orient Express train passed through and stopped in Liechtenstein three times per week.

Maynard Owen Williams, this article's author, hiked many miles over hills and through valleys with considerable fortitude, considering the deep mud everywhere.  It was the rainy season.  He leads us readers to a deep appreciation of the friendly people, unique ancient architecture and challenging mountains.  Yes, Liechtenstein is now on my ever-lengthening Bucket List of countries to visit!