The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-07-24
BULGARIAN KING
WISE STATESMAN
Has Advanced Bulgaria From
Turkish Province to an In
dependent Kingdom.
HIS EARLY TRAINING
WAS LARGELY FRENCH
Gar of Bulgars Is Really a
Member of the House of
Orleans.
BY PAUL VILLHRS.

Special Cable to The Tribune.
PARIS. July 23.-The recent visit to
Paris Of King Ferdinand Of Bulgaria,
with his queen, recalls that while the
czar OF the Bugars was German
princeGng before he was called TO the
Bulgarian throne, he is really member
of the house OF Orleans and his training
was largely French, He was the younger
son OF Princess Clcmentine Of Orleans,
and 1T was largely due to her efforts that
he was given the Bulgarian throne when
Prince Alexander was depoSed. Four
and-twenty years ago Ferdinand figured
in the court set of Vienna and the Hun
garian society of Budapest as brilliant
and very handsome cavalry officer, volup-
tuous, something OF a petit maltre in his
love OF material elegancies, and only seri-
Gus as a botanist and ornithologiSt, Hc
was a member OF the brilliant but disso
lutte circle Of which Crown Prince Ru-
dolDh was the center. He has since de-
yeloped into a wise statesman and has
advanced Bulgaria from a Turkish prov
ince TO an independent kingdom.
Sofia Fine Capital.
Twenty-three years ago Sofia was sor-
did village, 1t is now a fine modern capl
tel, with public buildings that would be
a credit to no matter what great city.
The wild country has been covered with
roads. and mountain gullies are being
damned TO store water for irrigation.
The peasantry thrive greatly. They pour
bring their farm and garden produce to
the markets there, The king is seeker
after knowledge. His visit TO the rose
garden of Begetelle with the queen was
at once made for pleasure and the good
OF his people. One of their staple trades
is rose culture for the making OF essence.
He kept secretary busy through his
long visits writing down the questions
he put to the head gardener and the
answers His botanic garden at his place
near Varna covers nothing less than
territory, and has many distinct climates.
Ferdinand aspir6s to make IL wonder
OF the world. and will doubtless do il.
Particular pains were taken to show at
tention to the king and queen while here.
but because it is generally recognized
that ne is the most dominant force in
the Balkans, and 1T Is not beyond the
practically Tule that country.
Resister Rare Bird
a 'resister." passive or otherwise, is
a rare bird among French taxpayers.
They are generally more inclined to be
OF the opinion OF the lady who the other
day protested indignantly because The
tax collector had forgotten her. and wrote
10 the minister Of finance. asking, cam
nobody that ] should receive no tax
But one NJ. Georges L'Hermitte
offers a rare: perhaps a unique, example.
He can hardly. perhaps. be called a pas
siYe, but an active. resister, and has en-
barkeo on a campaign which he intends
what il will cost him. and perhaps even
they don't.
This gentleman observed that the mem
bcrs of tho Paris municipal council, who
are supposed 10 be unpaid. have made
out of the town budgets an
allowance described not salary, but as
indemnity. He has further discovered
that according 10 the best legal opin-
ion. municipal councillors have no right
to draw such allowances without an act
OF parliament. and none such exists.
Finally, ho notes that in his. tax papers
the shares Of the state and of the city OF
Paris. respectively. In the money which
he Is called upon 10 pay are carefully de-
fined
Declines to Pay Taxes.
He accordingly refuses to pay that por-
ton OF his taxes which should go to the
municipality. he contributes willingly,
eagerly. and with the satisfac ction which
every law-abiding citizen should feel in
such case. the exact amount required
from him for the upkeep OF tine state.
But moi penny will he got out Of him
except by compulsion. for the mainte-
of rho latter illegally al
low salaries to themselves M L'Rer-
mite. therefore. pays his taxes on The
nall minus. the sum apporticned for the
The tax, collector naturally does not
see eye 10 eve with him. hence lltiga ton
But NJ LHermittc is dab himself at
Actions arc pHrried with coun-
ter actions as quick as lightning. and In
every devious method OF the law the tax
payer proves match for the tax colIer-
tor. The latter obtained powers TO levy
a distraint upon the formers furniture
M. L'IIermitte instantly lodged con,
plaint against the prefect OF the Seine
for peculation and embczzlement because
he draws salary. The examining mag
lstrate declined To settle the complaint.
Il grand officer OF the Legion of Honor
not being within his Jurisdiction The
tax collector then scored by taking every
step to put the haiIifTS into NJ l. 'IIcrmIttc's
Nat. and the active rcsislcr was 10 be
sold up today.
But ho was by no means al tho end
or his tetllcr. He instantly brought pro-