The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-23

soldiers TO still greater ferocity and cruelty.
When people of any other nation in any of the
Turkish dominons were arrested and condemned
to death, if they able topay for the tronble,
and TO save their own necks. miserable Bugar-
ian was caught and given the name OF the real
criminal, and executed in his place. and he then
took his old position, and it was all right This
has happened SO often that it is only a too-well-
known fact
There are few industries in Bulgaria, even in
the largest cities. and it was to me question as
TO what they all lived upon, the surrounding
country was always so barren looking, and the
evidences of extreme poverty so pain. The
houses in Sofa, Varna Shumba, ltutschuk,
Sistova RudZgrad and Yirnoya (which were all
the cities | saw) were substantial and IN the
comfortable. though much after the 1urklsh,
fashion, but the streets, like all those In those
old cities, are narrow paved badly and with no
sewerage sidewalks to speak OF Churcnes
abound the Greek predominating. and In every
direction could be heard the peculiar dronlng OF
the sins gers in the Greek churches. OF popu-
laton of over 3, 000 600 there about 1.400 600
Bulgarians, who all are Greek in religion. and
there are many other Lationalities who recognize
the Greek church. so that they are about three
fourths Greek in religion.
Those who belong to the Greek Church are
probably worse priest-ridden than any people on
earth. There priests deacons and acolytes
to be supported. without end; and the Greek
priests can marry, and, of course; their families
also must be provided for At every turn, at
every event-harvest, planting. the killing of an
ANIMAL at births marriages. ehristenngs. sick
nesses and deaths: funerals and prayers for the
dead at stated intervals. in trouble and in Joy
the Greek priest must be present; and he must
always be paid if it takes all and leaves the
family hungry. They sell Candles and votive
offerings; they furnish blessings to order on
planting Seeds on the birth of any domestic
animal, and | verify believe on the Matching
OF a chicken; for all of which they must
be paid No matter how poor the family,
there is always a little shrine to the Panaivah
or Blessed Mother, and light burns for
ever before it. 1t is a comfort to the people,
without doubt, but it should not cost so
much. In a short article like this not one-tenth
the petty extortions made by the priests could
he told Sickness is usually treated by the
priest who goes to the sufferer and writes some
cabalistic words with chalk upon the WALL and
this is scraped off after and given to the sufferer,
who, If he lives is grateful to the priest; and if
he dies bis relatives pay the priest to bury him;
and this is a heavy expense, what with the an
nointing OIL the candles, the prayer, and the
horrible droning by the choir of boys and the
procession of priest. deacon and acolytes.
The people raise sheep and fowls, and of the
wool the women spin and weave and make all the
wooden clothes they wear, dyeing it sometlmes
very nicely in various colors. though dark brown
is the usual color. A little flax is raised, from
which is made coarse linen cloth. which is made
into aprons, and sort of VEIL shaped
like long towel. which is worn some
what like the italian kerchief, and the
ing them in bright colors. The beds are Stats
laid across supports, and covered with wool mat
tresses with wool pillows and quite pretty wooden
quilts. No sheets used. The clothes are
very coarse and simple, but warm and durable.
None wear shoes in summer men or women.
Their feet are small and we'll shaped They use
Sleeps milk tor all domestic purposes. and make
quantities of cheese of it. The household wealth
consists of copper utensils, and these kept in
beautiful state of polish. The buying OF new
copper kettle is of much consequence in a
Bulgarian family as pair of diamond ear rings
with us. The copper being kept bright. the ne
cessity for cleanliness ceases, and everything
else, even beds and bedding. in filthy
dition and alive with vermln, which they do not
seem to mind at all. The houses of the peasants
poor and wretched, always on one floor, with
sometimes two or three rooms with large chin
neys in which they burn wood, which is cheap.
The women are very Industrious and when
not at work out of doors, spin and weave and
sew constantly. and good mothers to their
children. who are in turn obedent and affection
ate. The little girls taught to work early
as they can. and the little boys go 70 the fields
with the fathers The women mostly plain,
though some of them, the younger particularly,
are strkngly handsome, with Jet black hair and
eyes. They are shapely and their flesh hard as
rock. and their busts are very beautifully
formed and firm. They wear their hair BRAIDED
in many small hraids adorned with quantities of
cheap jewely and bri ghtcolored beads They
like bright colors and are innocent and doce,
though very ignorant except in Homework.
Their courtships take place at the fountains,
where the girls 60 to draw water at SHUTDOWN.
and it is pleasant to see the modest innocence of
these young girls, who stant barefooled, listen
ing to the sweet old story, told openly and
honestly. If the match is decided between the
young couple, the parents must ratify it and the
priest consent TO it, and then, provided no Turk
has seen her and decided to take her himself
the wedding takes place soon.
A Greek wedding ceremony is very protract
ed one, being hour in length and CON
sists of much of what mummerv to one
not understanding the words In part the
priest crosses his arms. and takes the wreaths
from the heads Of the young couple. and changes
them three times. placing the brdegroom's
wreath the brides head, and vice versa.
These wreaths are made of natural flowers, and
have bows and long ends of ribbon; and the
magniicence of wedding is spoken of accord
ing to the length of the ribbon. These wreaths
preserved relig1ously by the bride. Daring
the whole ceremony the brides eyes are sealed
with white wax, and she is led by her brides
maids After the ceremony is concluded, the
bride still blinded, is placed astride keg OF
light wine, and there she must sit till it is emp
ty. At nightfall she is taken down and led to
her room, and undressed by the bridesmaids,
who then nnseal her eyes and leave her.
Bulgarian women make docile, affectionate
wives, industrious and patient, and both men and
women faithful to their obligation. The
Bulgarians sincerely attached to their wives
and children and old age is reverenced
among them. They marry young, and raise
families from one to four, rarely more, children.
The men drink occasionally, but the women
never. and they all home-loving race,
rather serious than gay. and probably not one
could understand joke of any description, and
their homes are almost invariably harmonious
and peaceful. In the house the wife's authority
is absolute. yet she always accepts the husband
as the master. No quarreling is ever heard
When any one is sick the priest is first called
and then, in case of fevers or infiammatory dis
eases. the barber is brought to bleed the patient;
very rarely is physician sought The country
is healthy for the most part and the abstemious
lives of the people help to keep them well. Their
diet is black bread. cheese, onions. and their
drink coffee, which is made with milk. The
men are thin and wiry rather understood and
dark, and they shave their heads all but little
lock on the crown, and this lock is braided in
several small braids. They all wear the tIurkis h