Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-03-23
IN PICTURESQUE RUMANIA

Rumania, one OF the little countries
IN Southeastern Europe where the
Junior American Red Cross has founo
much work TO do, has been a center
of much interest to the self-sacrltlc-
ing men and women who have been
CARRYING into out-of-the way places
the friendly greetings OF the children
of the United States.
The representative of the Junior
Red Cross in Rumania thus describes
one OF the trips across that country:
yesterday we left, Bucharest IN
our lutte Ford, heading for Breaza
and Cater Chlsinau in Bessarabla,
about $50 kilometers away, sWathed
to the eyes in blankets and wraps,
with our luggage draped over the hood
of the engine. We started IN the gray
morning light and sailed merrlly
along without a puncture TO breaza'
We were stopped at Campina for our
credentials, showed proudly our re-
Gently acquired license to drive
through the country and discovered
that our chauIfer-the JOY ana priae
of our eylstencc-did not nave proper
identification papers. He and the car
were promptly arrested and we we. Z
told we should have to return TO buch-
Arrest for the necessary creaentlals;
After vainly explaining that we, hau
secured everything that the Bucharest
authorities were ready or wiling 10
issue, | decided to stop talking ana
eat lunch, which wa did at light-heart
edly as If no problems faced US. Ihen
we went to call on the military chief OF
the little town, smilingly told our tale
of woe, admitted we had the honor Oh
knowing Col. Manolescu and asked
when we. could get train to Bucha-
tres. Major Poporici, the chief Jump
edfor the telephone, talked ana ges-
ticulated as only an irate Rumanlan
militaire can, jumped for his desk,
frantically dashed a pen across
sheet of paper, signed it with forlsh,
stamped it with angry vigor, and way
ed us out with the statement that VIC
could travel anywhere in Rumanla
with that.
"Well, it took three hours OF prec-
ious time and we arrived in Breazea
about S o'clock. After a brief visit
at the school we started Tor Alcena'
IA kilometers over the hills, and such
hills! And such a slick road! Three
times we descended to push cur little
car up the steep inclines before we
arriaved at our destination.
Alcena is among the hills near
Sinia on broad plateau. AS our
little car sailed up and down the wind
ing country road that leads to the
highway, we had the most Thrilling
gllmpses Of rolling curving hlllsldes'
preclpitous wooded slopes, VIDE
stretches of open valleys and high
mountain peaks against bluest OF WIN
ter skies. On every side the lntoXl-
eating color of a winter landscape,
the woods like Kermanshaw rug OF
wild pinkish yellow-the hills cover
ed with the blue of snow patches IN
the ho!lows and the golden green OF
frozen pools, the roadside ablaze with
oak with flashes of rise leaves and OF
bitter sweet, so like the colors OF the
native embroideries.
ave spent. the day at the school IN
BreaZa and I wish more than | can
SAY that YOU could see it as We do
now, with the vivid picture, clear IN
memory, of the little half-starved
group in the bare, dark, crowded quar-
tiers in Bucharest that we saw last
winter and that made me heartslck
for many month until the new pro-
gram opened q door Ioc them into
light and warmth and cleanliness and
real degree Of happiness. Very num-
bic and far from perfect is the little
home in Brcaza, sheltered by the hills
and musical with the tumbling melody
of the Prahora that flows through
the valley across which rise the wooded
hills to Siaai. But there is cleanliness
and order and quiet. regular habits
within the walls OF tie simple peas
ant house that shelters the % war
orphans who for the moment make
up our school. The contrast with that
little group in Bucharest is beyond
words, recumpense to us for the
struggle and difficulties OF the past
year. The girls arc bright-cyed, pink
checked outstanding, and as they bend
over looms, spinning wheels and en-
broldcry frames, the lovely colorS and
soft fabric taking new form and beau
ty under their dcftly-moving hands,
they make a picture that l wish with
ali my heart could be passed en- TO all
who have made this come 10 pass"