The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-02-25
Ruler Of Small European State to
Celebrate Fiftieth Anniver-
sary Of His Birth
Tomorrow.
HAS ACCOMPLISHED WONDERS
Although Outlook Was Very Diseour-
aging When He Accepted Crown
He Has Overcome Many of
Greatest Obstacles.

Sofia, Bulgaria, Feb. 25--It is doubt
ful II any ruler of Europe Is more pop
ular with his subjects than is Ferdi-
nand /. of Bulgaria, whose fiftieth
birthday will be celebrated throughout
his little kingdom tomorrow with great
enthusiasm. And it is doubtful II any
ruler is more deserving of popularity.
for certainly none has done more for
the material welfare of his realm than
has the erstwhile prince or the House
Of SAKE Coburg and Gotha, who with
out hesitation accepted the Bulgarian
crown, or rather semi-crown, when
he was well aware OF the dangers his
acceptance would involve.
Country Torn by Dissensions.
! 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 slender
| ly joined together 1t was nominally
vassal of Turkey. Actually, it had till
then been a vassal of Russia. Russia
refused to recognize the election of
Prince Ferdinand and the other pow
ers took the same stand. The coun-
try was poverty stricken. rival fac
tions disputed the government. the ar
my was torn with dissensions and
everything, in fact, was in about as
bad a state as could be imagined.
Recognized as czar. Il,
Today Ferdinand is recognized
everywhere 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 prosper
GUS and most powerful of the Balkan
states. 1t has proudly broken the last
ties that bound it to Turkey and at the
same time has effected a complete re-
Cancellation with Russia. The country
is intersected with improved roads
and railways. The 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.
Is Self Made King.
To accomplish this truly wonderful
change in the condition of Bulgaria
and her people Ferdinand required
prodigies of energy and skill and per-
severance. 1t was an unhill fight but
i'm the end it was crowned with vic
tory 1t was not until he took the
reins from Stambulof, who was de-
stined to become the victim of an as
sassin little later, that Ferdinand's
strength of character and his fearless
ness were fully recognized. Before
that time II was a common saying
that Stamouloff was the real ruler and
Ferdinand a mere figurehead. But
with the removal of the prime minis
ter Ferdinand went about quietly but
none the less energetically to accom-
plish the prodigious work that has
earned him the title of the self-made
king.
Fond of Botany
He is not only an earnest student.
with a special leaning toward botany
and ornithology, but also man Of
highly cultivated taste. He is credit
ed with a much greater preference for
the Identification of rare plants than
for the study of an enemy's line OF
battle. At the same he has rot failed
to recognize the fact that the army
is necessary and that 1t is the back
bone of his country. His active in
terest in this direction is evidenced by
the many magnificent buildings that
have been erected in the capital with
i'm the past few years.
Stiekler for Ceremony.
Ferdinand has made n complete
study of the difficult language and
the history of his people and is n
great sticSler for the ceremonies OF
his little court. In fact the ostenta-
ton of the Bulgarian court, where
more formalities exist than even in
st. Petersburg or Vienna caused much
annoyance among all classes in the
early years Of his reign, but It had i'm
the end the effect that doubtless was
intended. for II impressed the Bulgar-
ians with a sense OF their own ma
tional Importance and did much to
strengthen the movement i'm favor OF
| lcomtlete Findependence