Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-29

NJ
ninsula. from excessive ravages by war,
is generally left barren, and IN parts
wholly desolated. the scars from the re-
cent devsstations and atrocities remain
ing still dissgreesbly apparent; how
ever, here and there, in spots more Ia
yorably situated or that vero pro-
tocted by isolation, the cultiva-
ton of fruit-trses. vineyards, and va
rious kinds Of vegetation, not emitting
the abundant and iavorite rose, jasmine.
and other understanding flowers. offer
70 the eve beautiful and charming array
and delicious perfumest that make the CIR
sweet-scented. The peasants live in small
farm huts and in villages when not
hiding for greater thrift and security in
out-of-the-way hooks in the mountains,
for they have suffered so much ut the
hands OF sundry armies aud governments
as 10 have become timid and DIS
trustful of the most apparently
well-regulated and orderly state OF
things under whatsoever ruler, be
bis name what il will, Turk or Chris
tian. The cultivation of the coil is car
ried on according to the old primitive
methods,sthe wooden plow and such Ike
insufficient implements for scratching
ont O livelihood The women do most
of the work in the fields, the hardest
part always, helping the beasts to pull
their burdensome loads, and in fact
seem to be looked upon as Little better
than the beasts themselves. AS con-
sequence of this rough work and treat
ment they are very coarse and unpre-
possessing in looks, squatty in build. a
bard rude set, with complsIions very
thickly and darby tanned, whilethe men,
exempt from drudgeries. are OF better
proportions and appearance. The time
immemorial national costumes are oxclu-
sively worn by both sexes. The women
in their peculiarly striking costumes,
with leather or hide aprons, are always
to be seen in the field toiling from morn
ing to night tho year round, owing 10
the mildness of the climate and tho pc
rennisl character OF crops. always either
planting, nursing, or resping. The male
peasants, also arrsyed in tho national
togeery, are not much given to work.
and seem to prefer keeping q corner IN
idleness as far as possible
affair OF ROSES.
One of tho most lucrative of Bulga-
ria's crops, and for the rest a specially OF
ahe Balkan peninsula, is the distillation
OF roses from which is obtained that
world-renowned essence in its greatest
purity called the "attsr OF roses." il
il also called "otar." The roses are not
ONLY extremely beautiful, but have a
peculiar fragrant odor not TO be found
elsewhere, due to soil and climate, the
best leaves being selected and most care
fully prepared for manufacturing, which
is q delicate process throughout, re-
curing skill and the incest judgment
and handling. There are various grades
of altar, according TO the quality OF the
roses and the more or leIs careful
manufacture, but the best yields a
natural perfume of great price and es-
teen, not to be equalled by any other
known floral extract, and which cheaper
chemical compounds have not yet en-
tirely overthrow on the general market,
which clamors for cheapnoss. The gen
uine article still has the call on long
purses. Some OF the rose gardens are
extensive, but as rule they are not
large, and every peasant farmer Is en-
abled TO have little patch OF roses,
which no carefully tends. and which
pays something TO exc out his year, as
there is always a ready market for their
sale. Tobacco of excellent quality is
also another profitable crop, though
small. The cereals are only cultivated
for local subsistence, and are not sufli-
cient to yield any returns through ex-
porting.
Upon their original advent on Euro
pean soil the Bulgars were fearfully
ravaging horde, and laid waste tbs conn
try they passed over even up to Con-
stantinople, which they attacked, bat
which was too strong for them. They
have always been a warlike race, and are
so vet, Turkey and Seryia having lad
recent experience of their fighting quail
ties. By race, tradition. and faith they
are close kin 10 the inbabitantsof SOuih.
ern Russia, from whence they migrated
to their present domain and were finally
Incorporated under the Turkish yoke,
now at last removed. Their Turkish
masters were never loved, and since
the atrocities OF the late war there
is no yearniug for further Turk
ish rule. The population OF Bull
garia is somewhat mixed, including
even gypsy tribes, but its vast bulk
is Bulgar Of the original stock. Owing
to the very depraved rule to which they
we're so long subjected, or the blighting
tyranny of the Turk in matters OF State,
society, and religion, their present social
standing is very low in fact, it Is very
little advanced from what it was ut THEN
FIRST settlement, as they were not reared
after the requirements of civilization,
never even refined from gross. savage
brutality, much less educated from the
darkness Of ignorance into enlighten-
ment.
The FAMOUS ATROCITIES.
The "atrocities" committed in Bulga
ria on the eve Of the war Of 1877 by the
Turkish soldiery known as Bashi-Ba
zouks," which caused cry Of indignation
throughout sill civilized States, and which
we're so elOqueptly magnifed by Mr.
Gladstone, then out of power, are wildly
remembered by the Bulgars.
As THEATRE oE WAR.
The Balkan peninsula, being noun
famous region, affords a worry difficult
theatre for the movements and handlinf
Of armies, and so the Russians hac
rather hard job TO drive the Turks out
OF it during the war of 1877. The fight
ing there was OF the most obstinate
character. The battles at Shipka Pas,
and Plevna were won slono by the over
whelming numbers that Russia wal
enabled to concentrate against her OPP
ponents on the defence, though illus
trated 10y conspicuous gallantry on the
part of the victors, 50 zealously en-
conraged by the example of Skobe
left, the general who resped the most re-
nown during the campaign, which wat
also SO masteriully described by Archi
bald Forbes, the English war correspon
dent. But the experience then gaineC
by the Russian staff officers will greatly
facilitate operations in their next cam
A