Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-06-10

No country has had to struggle with
greater difficulties In working out Of its
destiny than Bulgaria, begins a statement
by the National Geographic society. From
the days of the Byzantian emperor who
felt 1t his duty to exterminate the Bull
CARS. through five centuries of Ottoman
rule. down to the present day, the Bulgar
nation has enjoyed hardly a placid mo-
ment and hardly ever has found an un-
selfish friend. 1t has been tested by suf-
fering ever since leaving its home within
the Nolga basin for new homes in Europe
The Bulgars, of Finnc stock, began to
make their appearance in southeastern
Europe around 800 A. D.. and, by the end
of the seventh century, they had crossed
the Danube and taken up their Balkan
home. They merged with the Slavonic
populations whom they conquered, and
adopted Slavonic tongue and culture.
AT the beginning of the 10th century.
under their first Tsar, Simeon. Bulgarian
glory was at its zenith; and it's territory
stretched from the Black sea to the Adri-
attic, from Thessaly to the Carpathians.
This strong, young nation, with its luxu-
rious cities and fabuously rich capital.
was finally ruined by Greek cunning.
tens of thousands. The hatred of the
Bulgar and the Greek began in the Midde
Ages, when the Bulgar and the Byzantian
! clashed
In the 18th century, the Turks began
their conquests and. after 1898, the Bull
garian people fell completely under Otto
man subsection, ceasing to have a history
| of their own until 1878. The crownins
event of these 500 years, the Bulgarian
horrors" gave Russia her main excuse
for going to war with Turkey In 1877
After the war, Great Bulgaria was Great
ed by the treaty of San Stefano, but Eng.
fish fear of Russia led to tearing up OF
this treaty at the Congress of Berlin r
1878, an undoing of the establishment OF
a Bulgaria along ethnic lines. and per
petuation of discord and atrocities within
the Balkans. without outside help. tn,
Bulgarians have had to defend their in
dependence against all Corners. and the,
paid for the sturdy assertion of theii
nationality in the second Balkan war
1918
Despite their difficulties and theil
many overpowering opponents. the Rul
garians have builded we'll in these latteI
Years of comparative peace; so we'll tina
in the first Balkan war, they We're abb,
to bear the brunt of the struggle Will
the Turkish empire, and to win the de
cisive battles that brought triumph I,
the Balkan allies. The advent of Bull
garia into the present war would brini
an army of 10000 into the struggle mos
of them veterans of two wars
LARGE GAIN IN AREA IN 1913.
Following the adjustments made at tn
conclusion of the second Balkan war
Bulgaria found herself occupying i3, 80
square miles. or a gain of Is per cent
as the result of two years of hostiites
The population Of the country, with tn
establishment of peace, was 100000. TIL
public debt was high, but fair harvest
left the people in a solid financial condi
ton. Bulgaria is, like the other Balkan
countries, mainly an agricultural land
The valleys of the Danube and the Mar
tia are the most fertile parts of the pen
insula. There are vast forests over tn
numerous mountain ranges of oak. ash
beech and pine. In these same mountain
are rich mineral lands, belonging to tn
State, which produce iron, coal, copper
gold. silver, lead and salt. The chief ex
ports of the country are grain, ANNA
products. tobacco, fruits, cloth and alta
of roses. Bulgaria produces the world
supply of altar of roses, manufacturing
about $3.50 pounds a year This produc
sells at about 500 a pound.
Bulgaria is constitutional hereditar
monarchy. 1t was proclaimed as such b
Prince Ferdinand on October s, 1905 Bull
garian representatives are elected by uni
versal suffrage. and politics are taken b
them and their constituents with grea
seriousness. The event Immediately lead
ing up the proclamation of the kingdor
!, Is of interest as showing the proud char
acter of the Bugars In September q
. 1908. the Turkish government held re
ception for diplomats in Constantinople a
which it was neglected to invite the Bul