The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-14
Rushing Laborers to Complete
Onaga Cut-Off.
Lining and Ballasting Delayed
by Severe Weather.
IN FAR OFF BULGARIA
Describes Experience With Ma
tiVeS and Turks.
There 40 Years Had Same Ser
want 81 Years.
IN FAROFF BULGARIA

The officials of the Pleasant Ridge
Grange will distribute among it's mem
bers at cost a carload of -four a car
load of salt and a car of northern po-
tatoes. The Grange will make a feature
of buying staples in quantities and thus
furnish them at a smaller cost than il
bought in small lots.
The work of erecting the Grange hall
will not begin until next fall although
the subscription papers for the pur-
pose have been started At present the
organization will meet twice a month
on Saturdays in the Pleasant Ridge
school house, the first Saturday in each
month at 1870 p. m, and the second
Saturday at p. m.
Mrs. Ursla Marsch. Congregational
missionary in Philoppopolis, Bulgaria,
spent several days with the family OF
her late brother, Daniel Clark, who live
four miles northeast of Granville. She
also visited a short time with Mr.. and
Mrs A. A. Keller of 141S Quincy street
and Mr.. and Mrs. w. B. Whitehead OF
1414 Quincy street. Mrs MarSch has
been in missionary work AZ years,
spending 35 years in Bulgaria and seven
in Turkey. In this time she had sew
maral narrow escapes in the turkish
~massacres of the Russo-Turkish wars
the A years she has had the same ser
want paying her 81 a month and keep
which is considered big money in Bull
garia.
She has made nine visits to America.
On this trip she spent most of her time
with relatives in California. She LEFT
Topeka for Grinnell. Ia, where she
will visit her SON Later, in May. she
VIII sail from New York for the ORIENT.
She met her husband when she first
went to Bulgaria. He and her brothers
had gone there as missionaries befor~
her.
Solved Servant Problem.
II think 1 have solved the servant
problem said Mrs. Marsch. My Bull
garian servant has stayed with me for
81 years. 1 pay her only 81 a month
in American money, but that is good
pay in Bulgaria She is Christian
and very devoted to me, but like the
rest of her people she is very super
stitious. She scarcely ever spends the
night in our house, which by the way
IS over $50 years old. She says that
when she sleeps in my residence the
ghosts come and sit on her chest. SO
she generally sleeps at the home OF
relatives.
"The natives are; apt-pupiIs and have
exceptionally good memories. They
take readily to American ways, but
still retain many of their customs For
instance, their tables are not more than
six inches from the floor. The guests
squat along the table. Before the meal
water is passed in a basin so that each
one may wash his face and hands
When drinking a man pours the water
pitcher which is held high in the air.
Whenever 1 try this, 1 generally miss
my mouth and souse my face.
I'm cooking a great deal of vegetable
oil made from English walnutS is used
A sweet meat containing rose petals. IS
a favorite treat. Coffee is pulverized
and served black. without cream. Goat
milk is used almost exclusively.
Very little meat is eaten except pork
and mutton. Herds of hogs and sheep
are kept. The swine are driven to the
pastures in the morning and back
again in the evening to their pens like
cows are in America.
Narrow Escape From Death.
''What were our most interesting ex-
periences? 1 think my husbands mar
row escape from the Turkish pillagers
and our subsequent flight in the Russo
Turkish war of the '7O's were the most
thrilling.
In August of 1877 the Turks were
footing a town where we were staying.
Our native friends had hidden US in the
cellar of their dwelling-and a Turk IS
indeed our friend if he likes you.
Against the remanstrance of our
friends my husband ventured out. Al
most Immediately shell passed just
above his head. He returned to his
hiding place. A second time he came
out and was captured by the Turks.
Just as they were ready to kill him, his
friends rescued him.
After the Turks had left the village
we decided to risk a journey to Con-
stantinople, about % miles away. where
we thought we would be safe. We were
three days on the journey. Our family
and natives subsisting on a little con-
densed milk and dough made from
flour and water-our only provisions
"On the way one of the natives chill
dren was lost However, we found her
on account of a garment she was wear
ing. The dress had belonged to my
own girl before it had been given to
the little Bulgarian. My daughter
thought she saw her dress lying by
the road. Investigation proved it to be