Nikola Petanović, (Podgor 1892-San Francisco 1932) belongs to the rare members of the so-called old emigrants who received higher education in the USA. At the invitation of his older brother Mitra, he went to the USA in 1912. After a short time time spent in Butte-Montana with a perfect command of the English language he goes to California where he continues his education and begins with literature journalistic work.

Nikola Petanović (Nicholas Petanovich Naiad) In 1923, he published his first book in San Francisco poetic philosophical work in the native language "Pride of Life", almost all of them his later works were written in English. Concerned about the events in Crno Gori after 1918, makes the decision to dedicate his entire intellectual engagement struggle for the restoration of Montenegrin statehood. It started operating in 1924 among the intellectual circles of that time and our emigrants in the USA. It starts with publishing brochures, writing public announcements, letters and holding lectures on Montenegro. In 1927, he started the magazine "Montenegrin Mirror" (Montenegro Mirror) and founds the Committee for a sovereign and independent Black Up in San Francisco. He creates a circle of influential people around him with their help continues to exert pressure on the American public regarding the Montenegrin issue until the end of 1931. His most significant work from that period is the drama "Troslavia" whose theme was the oppressed position of Montenegrins and others people in the kingdom of SHS. During his political activity, he advocated for creation of conditions for holding a referendum in which Montenegrins would freely declared what kind of country they want to live in. His predictions that he will In the following decades, the USA will become the largest military and economic power, and yes that English will become the world's leading language proved to be correct. Poetic his nickname was NAIAD. Soon in the edition of Matica Crnogorska from the press the first book dedicated to the life and work of this great man is published. Among its parts, we highlight: To My Enemies From the throne of wisdom I was once in a great ecstasy, I felt strong, virtuous and determined. I was under the impression that I could stand in the way of any obstacle; that property with which at my disposal I can set whole masses in motion; that I can from them turn into an insurmountable whole, which is not easy to do business with. Thought if I could make a world out of these masses, there would be no doubt about the correctness and the need for his arrival. I thought that all the forces involved would adhere to my views, that they will adopt my understanding in the latest views of the world and others who live in it. I was thinking of preparing a huge chemical mixture in such a way that she would not there were explosive forces that would disturb the harmony of that body, but those develop explosive forces in stimulating his life. According to new views, according to new horizons, which daily, in the advanced and of the scientific world, enter into the process. I was thinking of a creative force whose outpouring I discovered in myself, prem yes, you can know, I didn't imagine myself a god, nor a tyrant, nor any kind of dictator in general: I considered myself called to a great and noble work. It's me I thought that in the structure of my creation I would raise her will to the highest level the possible degree of its output; that every atom willingly vibrates and performs his job according to the needs of the whole federation, which makes up my imagined one the university. In my new world, I thought of establishing observers, u each one binoculars - with individual binoculars (binoculars) that I can at once to warn everyone present about the mutual symmetry of all his citizens - that everything would come true for them if they found themselves there with the feeling of love and feat, in observing and participating in it. To realize the feeling (because very few people today have that feeling) I found a source from which they secretly drank, but did not drink drunk by such great and distinguished men as Carpenter, Kropotkin, Ferefo, Morris, Burke and others; and not to use the methods of ancient Sparta-everyone free choice: ENFORCING THE RIGHTS WITHOUT VIOLATING THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS. I showed my face in the true color of the natural gift. I opened my chest and allowed the scientist to take out my heart, to feel it, and put him back in his place. I raised my hand in the air, and gave a sign to the truth that I was her messenger. You came before me, in your eyes I saw the record of doubt, and the latter conclusion of the inquisition; you noticed: "strange guy".You stated that I am a man without a cover - so that it is your duty to me cover up. I refused, because I noticed a suit on you that had been stretched out by your hands shake hands; which have washed away the tears - which are cynically attracted to yours sometimes the face pours out; a suit, which covers your muscles, which have been skilfully abducted to those who produce and arrange its conditions: that they are strong and full of strength, - which rot in laziness and ignorance of use. I refused your offer, I refused your instructions; I also invited you to come to to my world - to build a temple of love, brotherhood and justice together. You refused, and did not leave me alone: You forcibly dragged me into yours circle, you poured me a drink that kills my senses: you killed mine exploits, with your exploits I survived long ago; you suffocated my love with hatred towards others and troubled my will with your hypocrisy and despotic action towards me... I wanted to run away, and you twisted the rope around me and dragged me back. I wanted to protest, but you stopped my mouth and forbade me to do so normally i speak I wanted to revisit my plans for creative forces in the meantime you run out to pay the butcher who wears a metal number-pretending that I will know who is. I sighed painfully, I started to cry, but I resisted crying, and I was alone into wisdom, which is of little use to you; BECAUSE YOU ARE PEOPLE, AND SO ANGRY THAT YOU ARE NOT PEOPLE From the book "Pride of Life" 1923 San Francisco A TOKEN Evildoers are in mortal fear they are shaking...their fruit is ripening. Gardens have given birth abundantly everywhere...yes sons eat ... for which their bloody father sowed ... born in the dark died in the dark. The wreath was dedicated to Rade the poet a descendant of a pharaoh... The old bard was terribly wrong about that... Because the ruler was not an anthropologist... And he died when science came. The gypsy tribe rules - because evil now reigns - the devil became the master for a short time... the sins of the land bewitched him. A nation that was sent by God -although now he has silenced his voice- He is getting ready to play the role given to him... So the villain asks - in a trembling voice - Someone over there: in Montenegro if it starts... Or give me your hand? And this was the answer he received: let the Montenegrins repay your loan!

Front page of "Montenegrin Mirror" magazine Gordan Stojović