The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-02-25
BULGARIAN RULER
IS 50 YEARS 0lO
And Loyal Subjects OF Gar
of Little Country Celc-
bratc Today.

Sofa, Bulgaria. Feb. 25.-t Is
doubtful II any ruler OF Europe Is
more popular with his subjects than
Is Ferdinand l of Bulgaria, whose fif-
sieth birthday will be celebrated
throughout his little kingdom tomor.
row with great enthusiasm. And 1t
Is doubtful IL any ruler is more de-
serving OF popularity. for certainly
none has done more for the material
welfare OF his realm than has the
erstwhiie prince of the house of SAKE
Coburg and Gotha, who without hest
tation accepted the Bulgarian crown.
or rather semi-crown. when he was
we'll aware of the dangers his accept
ance would involve.
Bulgaria, as Prince Ferdinand found
Il when he arrived in Sofia in 1887 to
take up the reins Of government was
composed OF two big districts slenderly
Joined together. II was nominally
vassal OF Turkey. Actually, it had
Till then been a vassal of Russia. Rus
STA refused to recognize the election
OF Prince Ferdinand and the other
powers took the same stand. The coun-
try was poverty stricken, rival fac
tions disputed the government, the
army was torn with dissensions and
everything, in fact was in about as
bad a state as could be imagined.
Gear Of Bulgaria.
Today Ferdinand Is recognized ev-
erywhere as the car of Bulgaria. He
Is received with royal honors In all
the capitals of Europe. His realm has
become one OF the most prosperous
and most powerful OF the Balkan
states. II has proudly broken the last
ties that bound 1t to Turkey and at
the same time has effected complete
reconciliation with Russia. The coun-
try Is intersected with improved roads
and railways. Tho capital has become
one OF the most attractive of all Eu-
rope and few cities can boast of more
magnificent public buildings. And
above all the population of the coun-
try is thrifty, Industrious and con.
tented.
To accomplish this truly wonderful
change In the condition of Bulgaria
and her people Ferdinand required
prodigies Of energy and skill and per-
severance. II was an uphill fight but
IN the end II was crowned with victory.
II was not until he took the reins
from Stambouloff who was destined
TO become the victim OF an assassin a
little later that Fcrdinand's strength
OF character and his fearlessness were
fully recognized. Before tina time 1t
was coming saying that Stamboulof
was the real ruler and Ferdinand
mere figurehead. But with the remov.
nj Of the prime minister Ferdinand
went about quietly but none the less
cnergetically to accomplish the pro-
dtgious work that has earned him the
title Of the self made king.
He In not only an earnest student
with special leaning toward botany
and ornithology. but also man of
highly cultivated taste. He is credit
cd with a much greater preference for
tho identification OF rare plants than
for the study OF an enemy's line of bat
tic. At the same time he has not fail.
cd to recognize the fact that the army
Il necessary and that II is the back.
bone OF his country. His active in
tercst In this direction is evidenced
by the many magnificent military
buildings that have been erected in
the capital within the past few years.
Ferdinand has made a complete
study OF the difficult language and the
history OF his people and is a great
sticklcr for the ceremonies of his lit
tie court. In fact the ostentation of
the Bulgarian court. where more form
alities exist than even In st. Peters
burg or Vienna, caused much annoy
Rnce among all classes in the early
years Of his reign, but II had in the