Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-11-28
SAYS RUMAN|A
10000 T0LEAVE
Ottumwa Jockey Back From
Balkans Finds Home More
Attractive Than Ever

''The Balkans and especially Ru.
mania are good places to leave just
now, II you are to leave with a whole
skin" says VIM. Wiley, the well known
local jockey, who for several years
past has been riding some of the
mounts of the crown prince and prime
minister Of Rumania.
The jauntiness of the Jockey was
quite the same as when he left here
last spring for the Balkan states, but
he looked quite tired and showed
signs of having lost considerable rest
Mrs. Wiley returned with her husband
and they are now established in win.
ter quarters in the Mcpherson avenue
home where each winter they live
while in Ottumwa.
The story that they know of warning
Europe would fill library and is re-
plete with all the horrors of the dire
conflict that has been waging so relent-
lessly In Europe for more than two
years and for some months past in the
Balkans where the Wileys have been
living since April
Home Never SO Welcome.
The tired and worn look may be ac-
counted for by the long and tiresome
trip homeward from the seat of the
most severe of the present conflicts in
the Balkans. To spend months of
sleepless nights in terror of aerial
bombardments Is enough to give one a
haggard look and worse, is the state
ment of Mr.. Wiley. The newly arrived
Ottumwans know whereof they speak
too. for they have experienced living
in city while it was being lombard
ed, not once but often and they say
that never was the home coming
sweeter or the sight of Ottumwa more
welcome than this fall
AS was their custom for some years
past, Mr.. and Mrs. Wiley left here last
spring for the Balkans. Upon receipt
OF telegraph from the prime minister
at Bucharest to sail, they packed their
belongings and left Ottumwa for New
York setting sail April s. Arriving at
their destination without anything
more serious happening than being on
boat that was torpedoed and report
ed to their friends as lost, they made
their anxious friends aware that they
had not been lost and took up home
life at Bucharest where Mr.. Wiley rode
at the races.
Prices Soar High.
They found living somewhat more
expensive than when they had left
that country some months before and
the cost gradually increased until the
war broke out and then even at for.
bidding prices, the supply was not Of
ten adequate to meet the demand.
Some Of the prices quoted by Mr..
Wiley make the present high cost Of
living in this country seem like a bless
ing or donation. He says:
For six months before the war
broke out, sugar was almost an un-
known commodity. There was no flour
obtainable and lard was a rarity COM
manding price of $1.75 pound when
you could buy 1t. but that was only oc-
casionally. It was privilege to even
get to buy II.
"The government controls all of the
bakeries In Bucharest and the bread
is dealt out by the police or soldiers
The price, while Of course very high.
is always uniform and kept within the
reach of all. Money. such as it is. is
practically worthless The farmer
bringing in his produce insists upon
silver which is scarce and gold is un-
obtainable while the paper which
serves as legal tender. is worth but
little
Go Without Bread.
There were 1900 aliens interned
when the war broke out and among
these was included every baker in
Bucharest AS aresu't there was no
bread obtainable for three weeks. In
order to get anything you need 10 car
such as bread or meat and even oil
and other necessities, one is issued
tickets"
Continuing he said: "One is allowed
one pound of meat in seven days, but
do not understand me to say that you
get pound of meat every seven davs.
1t is not always obtainable. Tobacco
is high in price and rare. First grade
cigaret tobacco may be had now and
then but no cigars.
"One Of the effects of the proclama.
tion of war was the enforcement of
strict prohibition as to alcoholic
liquors.