Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-24
BULGARIA AND IT'S PEOPLE.
Facts About the Country King Milan
Has just Invaded.

Sulelman IaSna sW ore 10 extern lh0le the
Christians of Roumela and leave their
country a desert. The Roumelians offered
no resistance, but, like their country men
across the Balkans, sullealy submitted.
For this tame acquiescence, THIS want OF
spirit, historians have called the Bur
garians and Roumeliaus towards and
sheep, and for their subsequent guer-
Tilla warfare against the Turks IN
East Roumela, they have called
them wolves. Both terms are un-
lust, Bulgariaus. Boumanlans and
Roumelians are neither cOwa Oily nor re-
vengeiul. An Eastern statesman hRens
thems 10 the Germans. He thinks their
weakness as a nation due not TO coward
ice or laziness, bat % their pecuiiar de-
ve.Opment or individuality, resulting from
tneir sudden leap from slavery TO freedom.
lie ascribes their incapaclty for seii-goy-
eminent TO their ant Of political ap-
premiership. In less than q hUndred
years the Bulgarians, whose very aane
and language has become almost extinct,
rose from the most abjsct servitude to
substantial independence. They are in
dustriOus, frugal, perseYering The Bull
garian student makes up Tor lack Of
brilliancy by undying patience and APP
plcatiOn. The Bulgarian school, es-
done wonders in educating the
masses. Obstinate and slow to adopt
new ideas, the Bulgarian holds them fast
when he gets them. his religion, for
which he fOug bt so desperately, is like
the religion OF all enslaved nations,
marked by superstition; his virtue-tOr
among the native Bulgarians crimes Of
violence are rare-is marred by lying,
stealing. and the small rogueries char
fef ffao of "a a IL
rogue should surprise no one when it is
remembered that for 500 years he
was the bOndman OF Turkey. aud for
another hundred years was ground under
the heel OF the Patriarch; that he was
taxed and eXCOm munlCated by Bishops
who had sometimes been BARRIERS and
cooks; that his property was conhscated
under charges which he never heard;
that the Turkish pashas. with braWling
Tetinue, would stop at his home. eat his
food, carry on his daughters, and kill him
II he objected: that on the highway he
was often forced 10 carry a lazy Turk on
his back for miles. All this he bore with
no hope Of redress-the COnstantinOple
officials we're 10 league with the pashas,
and both found a convenient slave in him.
Though morally and mentally he de-
Perforated under this slavery, phys-
cally he improved. The Roumanians
and Bulgarians Of the present day are
among the bandsOmest races in Europe.
For centuries The lights Of pashas'
harems have come from the banks of the
Danube. At Passau, little town on the
river bank, every woman is beautiful as
an houri. Tourists make pilgrimages
there 20 see them. They are a noble
type-placid, massive JunOs. with sol
emn black brows, heavy-lidded, velvet
ewes, skins naturally olive, but artif-
cially tinted, and pr0hles worthy to be
stamped on Roman coins. Peasant girls
wear their haiT-Of a dull, lustreless
black-hanging down to their feet. some
times twisted with beads and flowers. but
generally uncontned, when il envelops
them like d cloak. Standing about the
village fountains Of an evening, their
massive figures straight as arrows, their
earthen jars poised on their heads, with
one large, white arm raised to steady
them, these handsome peasant girls, gig
Cling and gossiping IN the red afterglow,
make group for BOuguereau.
The passion OF the Roumanian- Bulga-
rian women is dress. To be dressed in
clothes from Paris IS to them the summit
OF earthly bliss. Fashion IS their goddess,
and even among the peasants she is ex-
acting. Each village has its particular
costume, and when a buXOm belle enters
a shop she mentions her village, and is
Immediately shown the particular style
OF dress which is supposed TO be thor
Oughly che there. She shows a noble dis-
regard for pOmp and vanity, however, as
she trudges home from market with the
conveniently loose front of her white
linen jacket filled with cabbages, turnips.
eggs. and any other spoils OF a shopping
tour. But on her wedding day she is gOr-
geous, glltterlng with glass and amber
beads, and covered with really beautiful
embrOideries. The groom Is like a brig
and in the opera-he wears q red hussar
jacket, green waiscoat (bOth mass of
embroidery. red sash bristling with
silyer-mounted revOlyers and knives: his
white petticoats are tucked and stitiened
Till they stand out like a ballet dancers
and his shapely legs are covered with
fawn-cOlOred trousers hooked up the
sides with an endless array Of hooks and
eyes, while, to complete his appearance
as young blood, the bowl Of his pine
towers over his hat, the stem being stuck
down the back OF his neck. He is gener-
ally lucky dog, for the Bulgarian
woman Is gentle sOul-warm-hearte
and kindly. She greets the wayfarer
Hospitality. gives him place before the
IRE, and supper of damper-an ex-
pansiVe dough, which sWells like cork in
side him, and makes his sleep a reign or
terror.
Rich Bulgarians and Roumanians at
Sofia, Bucharest and other large cities are
grandees. The women are handsome as
pictures. Large and lazy, they spend
their days on divans. eating candies.
smoking cigarettes and reading French
novels. for all well-educated Bulgarlans
speak French Ike Parsians. When they
70 out they drive. Walking they abhor.
A stiff leather boot on the plump foot Of a
bulgarian belle would cause her agony.
Exertion bores her; she isalwayslaneuid-
~ lazy and graceful, always gorgeouslv
ana gaudily dressed in the latest novelty
from Paris, and always falling in aud out
OF loYe To her, divorce is a bagatelle.
IL seldom causes unpleasautness; every
poay remains on perfectly good terms
with every body else; il Is all matter of
convenience; she and her husband don't
agree, that IS all. After the divorce she
marries somebody else. and so on da cdpO.
The successive members Of the dynasty Of
husband are all friendly with each other
and with her. When a Bulgarian beauty
fat, slow, handsome and gorgeous az q
bird OF paradise-enters ball room. Ale
bows 10 husband No. /, who IL chatting 10
husband No. IN a corner; then seeing
husband No. 3 leaning on the mantle.
piece, sue blows bin a kiss, whispers "a
s0ft nothing On No. 4, on whose arm she
leans. and all the time her dark, sleepy
eyes are keeping a sharp lookout on auo
door Tor the entrance Of the 4hrol
specuye No. D. A Roumanian grandee
remarked once OF society at Bukarr6t:
marriage with us resembles mazurka.
IN which our ladies take turn frstfWith