Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-12-01
Bucharest, the Paris of the East

WASHINGTON Nov. 2S-To what extent the
recent air raids of Teutonc allies have modned
the gayety existence in the Paris OF the East as
Rumanians proudly call their capital city, 1t Is hard to
Imagine but striking picture of Bucharest before the
war is given by John oliver LaGorce in communica-
ton to the National Geographical society," part or
issued the following bulletin In the soclelys
war geography series:
.~rhe near-eastern metropolis Bucharest Is about
equal in size national capital and yet 1t has
twenty times restaurants and cafes ten times
as many lights, and twice as many heaters Il
is regarded the most expensive place In the world
for wetodo and the cheapest for the poor Prices
at the Hotel du Boulevard higher than In New
York or London travellers who have visited Monte
Crlos leading hotels and then journeyed
have from 10 to rs cent higher than
those obtaining the hostelries Of Monaco
"But II their prices high. their service and their
food leave nothing be desired The cuisine Of the
leading hotels and private homes Is French. and
money is consideration quality Ia paramount
Some of the finest restaurants east Of Paris in
Bucharest and the night lfe with its passionate pull
sating gypsy music its sparkling wine beautiful
women, its scintiating Jewels its handsome men. is
as gay and alluring anything the world has to
offer
"As to clothes, everybody who pretends
all dresses of Paris. and the OF the
elite to the minute as those to be seen on the
Champs Elysees.
Gambling hourishes openly and high stakes are
the rule rather than the exception. Many OF the
players farms big American county and
their incomes are proportionately large.
'The source of the wealth of Bucharest Is the big
county estates and the cheap labor The rich boyar
has
for their toll did the slave in our own country
before the Civil war-their 'victuals and keep The
rasult Is an immense income, which finds its first
sx1rAssion In very fine residence in Bucharest and
later In the Of ultra-expensive estab
1ishment 1t Is said that the Rumanian government
has the finest home for its foreign ministry to be
found in all Europe. 1t built by one Of these
Cboyars' or landed proprietors who had the msfor-
tune TO die after his paatal home completed
The government thereupon acquired It,
"Nobody but the proletariat thinks of walking in
that picturesque capital Nearly all the 'cabbes' own
their own teams long-maned, owingta Russian
horses They are Russian exiles Of the Skopt sect,
who have religious belief that family should
more than one male child and who religious
surgical ceremony insure this condition.
Thev wear great blueblack velvet coats the skirts
oF which reach the ground. Their waists bound
about with ultihued She's flowing ends of which
6rop back over the seat guide his driver
nv milling one end the other of this sash when
language difficulties stand in the way.
"If the presence Of the landed aristocracy in
bucharest reminds one of Buenos Aires. the driving
customs bring to mind those of Mexico City. Every
evening all polite turns out in its smartest
eouipages and drives up down the beautiful park
the endless procession in double le with
the center of the boulevard the royal
outs There physical line of demarcaton between
+bA kings highway and the other part of the
YARD hut courtesy toward the royal family draws
respects an imaginary one."-National Geographic
Magazine.