The San Francisco call., 1910-05-15
DALMATIA MAY BE
HAUNTOF TOURISTS
Unique Dress and Quaint Gus
toms of Old Greek Colony
Attracts Visitors

As we were leaving Emigrants' hall
Mr.. Slocum called my attention to an
interesting group of Dalmatians. They
were evidently in gala dress Most
of the men wore caps of scarlet broad
cloth ornamented with black embroi-
derry and heavy fringe. Their heavy
shoes, bound firmly to the ankle by
broad strips of leather, looked quite
Turkish with their long turnedup toes.
Their woolen stockings presented many
hues and patterns. The trousers, made
of heavy, rough, blue cloth, fitted the
legs closely. A waistcoat decorated with
tin buttons and embroidery was held
in place by red girdle. says George
W. Tupper in the Boston Transcript.
Then came sleeveless red jacket, or
blue jacket with sleeves. The few
women in the party were also fantas-
tically dressed. Large handkerchiefs
covered their heads. over their shoul-
ders they wore loose jackets with enor-
nous sleeves. Glass beads of many
varieties were in evidence. The dresses
were generally blue. All wore finely
embroidered aprons.
COUNTRY LITTLE KNOWN
In addition to their unique dress
these Dalmatians would attract atten-
yond the average height and very mus
cular. Their outdoor life has given
them freedom of action and steadi
ness of gaze which indicates latent in
tellfgence. To one interested in the
development of our material resources
these men make strong appeal.
Today Dalmatia is but little known.
In a few years it will be the popular
haunt of American tourists. I had my
first glimpse of it from the steamer as
we crossed the Adriatic. Barren and
gray. it's inhospitable cliffs rise alb
ruptly from the sea. Here and there
bit of green, apparently dropped by
some kind angel, relieved the stern,
forbidding prospect. Yet behind this
stretch of desolation lies a picture land
for the artist, ancient cities with Ro-
man built walls and palaces for the
historian, and relics of ancient man
ners and customs for the sociologist
Dalmatia is the land of the past
Greek and Phoenician colonies -four
ished here as early as 800 B. C. About
16S B. c. the Romans came and began
their work of colonization. Broad
roads extending far into the interior
were constructed. cities were built and
the whole country divided into prov
inces. With the breaking up of the
Roman empire many different nation
alties assumed control over unfortu-
nate DaImaJ1a--
DISSATISFIED PEOPLE
In the twelfth century Venice and
Hungary contested for her possession.
Victory inclined toward Venice Then
in turn came the French and the Turk,
with their different types of conquest,
and finally Austria has settled her
soldiers in Dalmatian forts and har-
bors. Today the relics of Roman civili-
zation frown on dissatisfied people
people mourning over their past and
hating their present rulers.
Into this land of historic struggle
and present day conflict, the spirit of
modern migration has recently pene-
trated. Some of the ancient but bank
rupt houses, children of the soil and
peasants from the hills. have heard the
call of the new world and rushed to-
ward fields of coveted opportunity.
Many of them are in the coal mines of
Pennsylvania; others are in the stock
yards of Chicago; some are carrying
plates about our overcrowded restau-
rants. Soon-very soon-the old pic
turesque custom of Dalmatia and the
spirit of isolation which it represents
will have passed from modern vision
to the museum of history.