Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1924-08-01

prepared by the national Geographic So
ciety Washington. d. CO
Rumania has been made larger by
additions of territory taken from neigh
boris in the past and Is now in the
somewhat unpleasant situation of hav-
Ing the unwilling contributors anxious
to bring about new deal. While Rus
STA wants Bessarabia, which was a
Muscovite province for a hundred
years until the close of the World war,
Bulgaria on the other side is said to
be cycling with desire Dobrudja, strip
of territory which she formerly owned
along the Black sea coast. These two
"fiank problems" are worrying the RAJ
manian rulers while In the heart of
Old Rumania a near revolution Is
boiling
Bessarabia has changed hands sew
eral times between Rumania ans Rus
STA and may well be called the Alsace-
Lorraine Of southeast Europe. An
American observer set down without
information in the prairie land might
at first easily imagine himself in rural
Indiana or Ohio.
TasseIed Indian corn, from seed
brought from America, rustles in the
breeze while ripples play over seas of
yellow wheat Earth black as Illinois
"gumbo" lies beneath ones feet. When
land like this brings from 5000 to $500
an acre in the United States, 1t Is
clear why both Russia and Rumania,
after five years discussion punctuated
with armed threats, still make counter
claims to Bessarabia.
Geologically Besssrabia is allied to
Russia, including as it does, the tail
end of the black earth belt Of Rus
sian pratries. But even Russian CEN
sus figures state that more than half
Bessarania's population is Rumanian,
In fendal days@ there arose in what
now is RumaE1a, the house of Bass
arab. One of the princes is said to
have established Moldavia, which, with
Wallachia, established by another
prince of the same house, helped make
UP pre-war Kumania. Bessarabia
takes its name from the family. This
point. of history is not forgotten in
Rumana's "irridenta" program.
Russa's Claim to Bessarabia.
Rumania, variously considered, is
1900 years old. 90 years old, or 9 years
old. Bessarahia was the extreme out
post of the Roman dominion, Dacia,
which, in the time of Trajan COM
priseAi all of what now is Greater
Rumania. Only Wallachia and Mold
avia were included in the familiar Ru-
manian ''boot" which made up the au-
tonomous Rumania as first carved out
of Turkey in Europe, in 1859. indie
pendent Greater Rumania, 6 years old,
was born when the Versailles treaty
reallotted Pennsylvania and Bucovina
Bessarabia was annexed after repeat
ed requests from the principality's
peasant council, which first attempted
to establish republic.
Rumaniae three ages are the key to
the condition of Bessarabia, which has
the air of being part Of one of the
oldest nations Of Europe and yet bears
the marks Of the green pioneer stage
of Nebraska in overland mail days
Like the American pioneer, the Bess
arabian peasant is sufficient unto him
self. He builds his own house from
materials at hand his fields supply
wheat and corn, his stock supplies his
meat and his fax the fiber which his
wifn and daughter spin, weave anC
dye. His private still brews corr
whisky or "tsuica," fragrant plum
brandy. Only recently have anilint
dyes replaced natural herb dyes fol
the brilliant peasant costumes. In
dependence is prime virtue in
country which has only $50 miles Of
railroad and only 60 miles Of improved
highway.
The household obeys the pioneer
rule that everybody works. From
the child who drives the geese to the
pond, to the patriarch who closes the
gate after the oxen. each has his du
ties. Schools command scant atten
ton where there Is work for every
hand and therefore only 40 per cent
Of Bessarabian men and only 5 pei