Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-09-28
Geographic News
Bucharest: Paris of the East
Bulletins by the
National Geographic Society

DlspatcneS rumOr that
is inadequate to house a much en-
larged nations official business and
that the Rumanian capital may be
moved to Fogaras, a picturesque
town on the Alt, almost hidden at
the foot of some of that country's
highest peaks. In connection with
this report the following bulletin
dealing with Bucharest has been
issued from the Washington, D. c.,
headquarters of the National Geo
graphic Society:
The new Rumania bears some
what the same relation to the pre-
war land that the forty-eight states
do to the United States of a century
ago. With the sudden increase in
the size of the country has come
the assertion that Bucharest sit
uated near the southern frontier in
the midst of the b~lack-earth belt
which makes Rumania a granary,
and just south of the great oil
fields which supply the major por-
ton of the exports, is not centrally
located.
Capital Open to Attack
But there is another reason for
the proposed change. During the
late war, the ancient forts which
once guarded Bucharest from at
tack proved useless; and situated
as it is in a wide monotonous
plain the present capital lies ex-
posed to any foe. Not a few Ru-
manians remember that, for many
months, what there was of Ruma-
MIA functioned from Jassy. Fogaras
could be made almost impregnable,
except from the air.
The main reason, however, is
geographical. The water supply of
Bucharest is Inadequate, the city
site is exposed to the biting winter
winds that sweep down from Siberia
and the Rumanians who pride them
selves on tbeir taste for the artistic
find themselves with an outgrown
and out of date city on their hands
and SO are considering the idea Of
deserving the Paris of the Balkans
for tire mountain town in the Car
pathans.
Walled Town Without the Wall
Bucharest is a walled town with.
out the wall. Crowded, as was t-.e
custom when city walls were the
main defense, Bucharest drops away
fro mthe glitter of the Calea Victo-
riei and the Boulevards to the rum
down Orientalism of the outer Sec
lions and then abruptly to the
empty, dusty plain. Its population
has more than doubled in the last
decade and houses, as elsewhere in
Eastern Europe are at a premium.
1t requires influence, persistence and
bribery to get into one of the few
hotels. the main attractions of
which are the dining rooms. often
open to the sky.
Surrounded as it is by rich farm
ing country. Bucharest has not lack
ed for food, and the restaurants are
well filled at all times. The Ru-
manian loves the uniform and high
heels on soft laced boots like those
of the French aviators suit the fancy
of the young dandies whose per-
fumed moustaches preserve their
dignity by reaching straight out in
stead of turning up at the ends.
The women are chic.
Feminine fashions run the gamut
from such beautiful peasant Co.'S
TUNES as few lands can equal, such
native dress as Carmen Sylvia loves,
to severely plain black gowns reliev
ed only by the touch. of light on
patent leather and silk or the tiny
aigrette in a jaunty hat. The wo-
men of Bucharest are its chief
charm.
No Zorjng Laws There
"The few fine buildings are mixed
in with assuming structures which
would never be at home in Paris
or Berlin, end opposite the impos-
ing War College Tzigane women
NAV hn UnrkinC of q nniSv mower
saw which is reducing crooked poles
t. fire we'd. The few main streets
arc lined with modern buildings and
ncw residence avenues r stretch
ing out toward the periphery Of the
circular city: bur ir the crowded
litter of tiny streets and alleys re-
minds one of a rabbit warren.
IF the prohihitive cost Of building
a Bucharest worthy of the enlarged
state forces it to build an entirely
new capital at Fogaras, II will be
necessary to carry the center of gov
eminent acr oss the crest of the
Pennsylvania Alps into land which
until recently was under Magyar
rule. Fogaras Is a nvely site. amply
provided with good drinking water.
But Bucharest is now one terminal
of a great European air route and
it may be that time will eliminate
the mountain town from consider
atoms and Bucharest will get busy
on a better water supply the Ru-
manianss will, ignore the strategic
Importance OF mountair peaks as a
means of modern defense. and build
enough houses and public buildings
to make Bucharest we'll deserve the
name which it has so long held"