Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1878-06-13
ROUMANIA-SERvIA.

In the fall of the Turkish empire two
new nations have already come into
existence, and both seem prepared TO
maintain their freedom by the desper-
ate resort of war. One ofthem has had
history so remarkable that ii may yet
form the theme Of some native Macau-
lay or Motley. Roumania, which stands
on the brink OF a great conflict with
Russia, surrounded by all the fiercest
elements of the Eastern strife, with Ser
via, forms the most recent OF those new
powers that have joined the European
family of nations. II stretches broad
extent of fertile territory enclosed by
the Danube and the Carpathian noun
tains, and bounded on the east by the
Pruth. IL has a small coast-line, Bes-
sarabia, north of ITS great river on the
Black Sea, its only outlet for naviga-
ton. The new kingdom has surface
Of about $4,000 square miles, little
less than England, and population Of
perhaps 5000, 900. A strange blend
ing of discordant races appears upon
this inland region, so shut in by its en-
circling range of mountains, and by the
vast river that bounds il on the south.
The Roumanians claim descent from
The Romans, who under Traian first
planted colony in the midst Of Dacia,
and whose cities, roads, bridges, once
covered IL with the first traces of civil
ization. After century or more OF
dangerous occupation il was found that
the mountains and the rivers failed to
protect the exposed province. A Ro-
man emperor withdrew his garrison,
Dacia was abandoned, and the Danube,
diligently fortified, became the upper
boundary of the Roman power.
But Roumania has been ever the re-
fuge of wandering races. Among its
most remarkable inhabitants are 200, 900
gypsies-wild, half-savage. who were
long held in slavery by the Turkish ru-
lers, but who seem to have clung with
tenacity to q land which offered them
only miserable oppression. Why
these wanderers have fixed themselves
in this inland and inhospitable region
can scarcely be imagined. But since
Roumania has become a nation the gyp-
sizes have been set free; they were pur-
chased from their masters by govern
ment aid. and il is said are now en-
ployed as servants IN various useful
pnrsuits. A still more unfortunate class
of the population are the Jews. They,
too, seem to have thriven in the midst
of persecution and tyranny. and have
refused 10 fly from land of bondage.
They number almost one-tenth of the
people. They are often oi light COM
plexion and hair. of Spanish descent.
Their activity in trade excites the ieal-
ousy of the ruling class. They are still
exposed TO various disabilities. But it
is stated that since its erection into a
separate state, and its freedom IRON
Turkish control. Roumania has made
progress toward liberation, and that
equal rights will at last be awarded to
all its people.
IN Its early history, when the Ro-
mans retreated scross The Danube, their
place was supplied by the savage Goths,
and on the wide plains of Roumania took
place that fierce conflict between Goth
and Hun that led 10 the conquest Of
Rome and the foundation Of modern
Europe. The Goths were driven across
the river; the Huns filed their place,
and hele al the wide and fertile region
and lis subject people that had once
formed the Dacian province. Under
AthIa the wandering race was formed
into an obedient. nation. The master
genius Of the famous conqueror founded
brief and powerful empire To the
Germans he was known rs Etzel, the
most potent of earthly princes. His
capital was fixed somewhere upon the
Danube within the boundaries of Hun
gary, or at Vienna, aud here were per-
formed or Witnessed the stately nup-
tials of Kriemhild, and all the dreadful
scenery oi the close ofthe German epic.
But Attila as real character exceeded
the exploits of all that was told Of him
in romance or legend. He swept the
Roman provinces. ravaged Greece.
fought on the fields Of France, piIlaged
Italy. and in comparatively short Pc
riod established the supremacy OF the
Huns in Europe. The horrible race
seemed destined to rule over all civil
ization. But The conqueror died. and
his empire vanished. New states arose.
new races Of barbarians crossed the fer
tile fields Of RnuEania. The Turk.
SeIaye, Tartar. Russian. Pole have L.