Norwich bulletin., 1916-12-27
THE WAR PRIMER By National Geographic Society

ian borders, is the summer home of that country's royal family. The National Geographic Society, in a war geography bulletin, dscribes this pie turesque and historic village as fol- lows:
 With it's gabled and steep-roofed cottages perched upon numerous hill- sides, and surrounded by the luxuri- ant foliage of many trees, the Ru- r1anian summer resort, Sinaia, closely resembles a Swiss village.
 Fame put her finger on Sinaia fifty years ago when the late King Charles (then Pince Charles) passed through the village on his way back to Bucharest after a visit to the baths of a Pennsylvania city. He was so fascinated by the charming location of the place that he stopped here for tery on the north side of the valley of the Prahova River This institution has been founded in the 17th century by a Michael Cantacuzene and had been named for the celebrated mon- astery of Mt. Sinai in Arabia.
 So delighted was the prince with the surroundings and the reception next year, and after his marriage to Elizabeth of Wied in 1869 he and his bride came to the monastery to es- cape the heat of Bucharest. Here, too, the young couple brought thein only child, the Princess Marie, each summer up to the time of her death from scarlet fever in 1874.
 "The erection of the summer pal ace of 70 rooms, designed by the Prince himself, was begun in 1874 but was not completed until nine years later, and all ths time the royal vis- itors each summer occupied white washed rooms in the ancient cloister, practically the only modification made for their accommodation being the construction of a wooden veranda connecting their apartments. Sev- eral of the walls of the monastery are today adorned with pictures painted by Princess Elizabeth (affectionately known to the world as Carmen Sylva) during their summer sojourns.
 Deep in the woods of the palace grounds at Sinaia is the 'Forresteps Hut charmingly simple little cot tage, in one of the second story rooms of which Carmen SyIva did most of her literary work, far from the distraction of court life. Here she painted, composed songs and wrote verses and dramas. It is des- tined to become one of the hallowed shrines of Rumania for this queen gave her whole life to the service of her adopted subjects, and her writ irgs not only served to entertain and
 
 an appreciation and understanding of the country by the outside world.
 "Overhanging Sinaia is the high peak known as L'Omu which derives it's name from legend concerning the tallest of the three sandstone blocks to be seen on it's summit This rock vaguely resembles the form of a man (OmU and is said to have been a shepherd who became lost on the mountain during a severe storm. In his rage at the clements and his own misfortune he uttered a blasphemous curse. Whereupon, as punishment for impiety, he was turned into a stone and set upon the mountain as a per- petual warning to mankind.
 Another unique tradition of the same mountain is the peasant TO- nance of poor young shepherd who unhappily fell in love with the beauti- ful daughter of his master. The lat ter promised him to lend a sympathe- tic ear to %his suit provided he would prove himself worthy by undergoing a severe test. The shepherd consent ed and he was forthwith told to spend ar entire winter on the top of the mountain. Undaunted by the cruelty of the command, the shepherd went first to the monastery where he pray ed before the sacred icons and then, with a supply of maize and three cheeses in a bag. he climbed the rocky heights, accompanied by his dog, who, as in all well regulated legends, was remarkably faithful animal No sooner had he made a crude shelter oh stones for himself and his dumb companion than the snow began to fall and he was completely isolated. His only danger, in addition to that Of freezing to death, was from the bears, but soon it became so cold that these beasts were forced to seek a lower altitude.
 At length the five months were over and the shepherds brothers scaled the mountain in eager but fearful search of the long absent one. As they approached the summit the faithful dog rushed down to greet them, but the shepherd did not ap- pear. Finally, they found him stiff and cold. He was reused from his lethargy by their shouts and managed to struggle to his feet, but when he attempted to move toward his rescu- CTS he discovered that his limbs were paralyzed, and he toppled from the crag, falling dead in the valley be- low.
 And if you are skeptical about the authenticity of this legend, one of the natives Of Sinaia will lead you to the very spot where the youth fell, and there' the incredulous will have all doubts digsipated, for a cross marks the ilaII01Hed ground where a RJ1u,au.