Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-31

popolis, the capital of eastern Rou-
mela. on the Martha river about
eighty miles southeast of Sofia;
Philoppopolis is distinctly Turk sh
city, although it begins to show some
thrift since taken by Bulgaria. 1t is a
trading center, and has considerable
manufactures for Balkan city. Its
history goes back to ancient times.
PhiliSpopolis having taken its name
from Philip ii of Macedon. In 1885
a revolution occurred which resulted
in the union of eastern Roumelia with
Bulgaria. Philppopolis boasts a fine
building known as lie Gymnase, close
to the bridge which spans the Martha,
and LIE College Francois, or the French
College, is tall. modern structure.
whose red tiled roof is one of the land
marks of the city.
The Bulgarian and Serbian peasants
are picturesque individuals when seen
in their national costumes, particularly
on fete days. The feminine portion of
the two countries seem particularly
anxious to deck themselves with all
the embroidered garments, sashes.
beads, rings and bracelets possible to
be worn at one time. The national
costume of the male Bulgarian Is not
far behind that of the woman folks in
gDrgeousness. The vest is of gayly
ornamented silk or satin, the white
shirt befrilled and garnished with
gilt braid and the short-sleeved red
velvet jacket, fete days and holi-
days, is so heavily embeliished with
scrolls in tinsel braid that it looks as
If 1t would stand alone.
The Horo is the national dance of the
Slays. and the soldiers may be often
seen dancing by themselves with APP
parent gusto while the women stand
around and admire their antics. The
Horo is usually danced by the boys and
girls on the village green. Four steps
are taken in one direction, and then
four more in an opposite direction. the
dancers alternating from side to side
and quickening their steps by leaps and
bounds with the exhilaration OF the
twanging music and the hand-clapping
of the bystanders
The Horo dance was known more than
1000 years ago. 1t was a feature of
the festivities held in honor of Sofas
independence from Turkish rule, and
marks every celebration of the Croats
and Slavs of a festive character.
The Bulgarian patriots" who for
years kept up a continuous revolution
against the sultan until at last, by the
help of the other Balkan states the
Turks were driven out. were simply
type of Bulgarian brigands like those
which still invest Serbia, Macedonia,
Albania and other countries OF the Bal
kan peninsula. In the best of times 1t
is none too safe to travel at night over
the country roads without an escort.
An English correspondent tells of an
unpleasant experience a few years ago
while journeying from one Bulgarian
town to another. At the inn where he
stopped with his friend for dinner he
was warned by a deep-voiced, shifty-
eyed gentleman wearing the regulation
Bulgar fez-like headgear that 1t was
necessary to have an escort II he did
not wish trouble on the road.
He replied that with his driver and
companion he did not feel an escort
necessary. and he proceeded to pay his
bill and go on his way. However. after
nightfall the carriage was stopped by
a band of marauders, the spokesman
having, as the correspondent imme-
diately noted, the same cultural voice