Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-11-09
+S|NAIA LIES IN PATH
Of TEUTON|C INVADERS
Rumania's Summer Capital q Place
Of Rare Charm and
Romance.

against the Rumanian forces In the
vicinity of Kronstadt succeeds IN fore
ing its way southwark through the
Tomos pass. the first important objec-
tive of the invaders will be sinaia,
and the summer home of that country's
royal family. The National Geographic
Society, in a war geography bulletin.
describes this picturesque and historic
village as follows:
with it's gabled and steep-roofed
cottages perched upon numerous hill
sides. and surrounded by the luxurtant
foliage Of many trees. the Rumanian
summer resort, Sinaia, closely resem-
bles Swiss village.
Fame put her finger on Siraia fifty
years ago. when the late King Charles
(then Prince Charles) passed through
the village on his way back to Bucha-
rest after a visit to the baths of
Pennsylvania city. He was SO fasci-
mated by the charming location Of the
place that he stopped here for short
time in a restful old monastery on the
north side of the valley of the Pra-
hova river. This institution had been
founded in the seventeenth century by
a Michael Cantacuzene and had been
named for the celebrated monastery Of
Sinaia Delighted Prince.
$50 delighted was the prince with
the surroundings and the reception ac-
corded him that he returned the next
year. and after his marriage to Eliza
beth of Wied in 1859 he and his bride
heat of Bucharest Here. too. the young
couple brought their only child, the
Princess Marie, each summer up to
the time Of her death from scarlet fever
in 1874.
Of seventy rooms. designed by the
prince himself, was begun in 1874. but
was not completed until hine years
later. and all this time the royal
visitors each summer occupied white
washed rooms in the ancient cloister.
practically the only modification made
for their accommodation being the con-
struction of a wooden veranda con-
Meeting their apartments Several 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 Forresters
Hut a charmingly simple little cot
tage, in one of the second-story rooms,
Of which Carmen sylvia did most of her
Of court life. Here she painted, COM
posed songs and wrote verses and
dramas. 1t Is destined to become one
of the hallowed shrines of Rumania,
the service of her adopted subjects,
and her writings not only served to
entertain and instruct the Rumanians,
but aided in an appreciation and un-
Outstanding of the country by the out
side world.
Legend Of L'Omu.
"Overhanging Sinaia IL the high peak
known as LOmu. which derives its
name from a legend concerning the
tallest of the three sandstone blocks
to. be seen on its summit. This rock
vaguely resembles the form Of a man
(Omu). and it is said to have been a
shepherd who became lost on. the
mountain during a severe storm In
his rage at the elements and his own
misfortune he uttered a blasphemous
curse. Whereupon. as punishment for
his impiety, he was turned into stone
land set upon the mountain as a per-
petial warning to mankind
Another unique tradition of the same
mountain Is the peasant romance of a
poor young shepherd. who unhappily fell
IN love with the beautiful daughter of
his master The latter promised him 10
lend a sympathetic ear to his suit pro
vided he would prove himself worthy by
undergoing severe test The shepherd
consented, and he was forthwith told 10
spend an entire winter on the top of the
mountain. Undaunted by the cruelty of
the command, the shepherd went first to
the monastery. where he prayed before
the sacred icons and them with a sup.
ply Of maize and three cheeses in a ba z
ne climbed the rocky heights. accompa-
MED by his dog. who. as in all well regu-
lated legends: was remarkably faith
ful animal No sooner had he made n
crude shelter of stones for himself and
his dumb companion than the snow b.
gan to fall. and he was completely iso-
that of freezing to death. was from the
bears, but soon it became so cold that
these beasts were forced to seek low
er altitude.
Endured Test in Vain.
"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 approach
the summit the faithful dog rushed
down to greet them. but the shepherd did
not appear. Finally. they found him
stir and cold. He was reused from his
lethargy by their shouts and managed to
struggle to his feet. but when he at
tempted to move toward his rescuers he
discovered that his limbs were paralyzed
ord he fHpp'ea from the crag. falling
dead in the valley below.
And il you are skeptical about the
49, titt~ # 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 dis
:'''sis' - Il cross marks the hallowed
ground where Rumanian shepherd died
for Lowell"