The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-08-22


ciety, Washington, D. CO.
Bulgaria, where the Balkan pen.
chant for turbulence seems to have
made Its first important appearance
since the World war, presents para
dox. 1t is country very largely of
peasants, scornful of idleness and pre-
tense, yet producers of what Is per-
haps the worlds best known symbol
OF luxury, altar of roses.
The country Is often considered
merely "cne of the Balkan states"
But whatever its faults and it's virtues
1t certainly Is not colorless, and it
rully deserves to stand on its own
feet. The differences between the Bull
CARS and the Turks are obvious, and
oOO years of domination by the latter
did not serve to eraGi ate them. There
Is almost as much OF / racial gulf be-
tween the BulGars and the Greeks;
and their differences are accumulated
by an ancient enmity dating from the
time when the Bulgars were a threat
ening spear-point, against the Greek
Byzantine empire, and later when for
same Byzantium. The Rumanians to
the north are Latins and they, too, are
racially distinct from the Bulgars. The
closest kinsmen which the Bulgars
have among their neighbors are the
Serbs and other Jugo-Slavs. But just
as In smaller families feuds exist, so
there Is little love lost between Bull
garia and the Kingdom Of the Serbs,
Croats and Slovenes.
Bulgaria long suffered not only
from the tyranny of the non-C Christian
Turk, but also from the diplomatic in
trigues Of the Christian powers Of |
Europe. Russia liberated the country |
from the Turkish yoke by the Russo
Turkish war Of 1S77-78 and proposed |
to set 1t up as an Independent nation
with considerably more territory than
1t has today. But other powers, fear
full Of strong state In the Balkans
compelled the transfer Of areas to adj
Jacent states, divided the territory that
was left into Bulgaria and Eastern
Rumelia, and placed both back under
the suzerainty of Turkey Bulgaria,
4 semi-independent principality, elected
4 German prince for its ruler and re-
manned much as 1t was created for
seven years. Then by a coup d'etat
Eastern Rumelia was annexed to the
an arrangement accepted
BY Turkey. Full independence came
only In 1908 when the then Prince
Ferdinand proclaimed himself tsar like
the Bulgarian rulers of the country's
ancient golden age.
Acquires a Bad Name.
Poor leadership during the last
decade has given Bulgaria a bad name
With much of the outside world. After |
he war In which Bulgaria, Serbia and
3reece defeated Turkey in 1912. there
vas war over the spoils between
Bulgaria and the other former allies,
With Rumania finally intervening
gainst Bulgaria. The responsibility {
or this conflict, whether rightly or
wrongly. has generally been laid at
he door Of Bulgaria During the World l
var, perhaps largely because of the '
1ohenzollern blood Of the Bulgarian 8
sar, Bulgaria lined up with Germany, e
.ustria and Turkey. But the late pre- L
1ier, Stamboulisky, was opposed to )
his step and was imprisoned because 4
his opposition. His attitude prob v
bly, reflected that of his peasant party L
hitch is now opposing the new regime, o
Though Bulgaria produces the usual q
rains. fruits, tobacco and live stock II
I Its part of the world, 1t IS best II
nown for its extensive culture of II
oses for the manufacture of the .
amous and valuable altar of roses
he number Of acres of roses cult p
ated for this purpose in Bulgaria has 10
pproached 10000. An acre produces II
bout 1000 pounds Of rose petals, but g
MS great bulk Of petals yields orRy lc
bout 20 ounces Of altar. The salable ri
roduct from a whole acre Is there CT
ore little more than one pound. This
essence however, Is worth RI
rom $50 up per pound in Bulgaria m
nd many times more than that In for O,
Ign countries. .,
Sofia Like Western City. 81
Sofa, capital Of Bulgaria, and scene h,
( the chief acts In the recent coup til
'etat. II an adequate expression Of q