The Ely miner., 1930-08-08

paths flanking the thoroughfare con-
stantly resound with the thud of hoofs
of blOOded horses, mounted by smart
looking men and women; and the
seemingly endless mass of pedestrians
strolls in gay mood with no apparent
destination.
Here and on other fine thorough
fares lined with palatial residences
! and fine church and government
buildings a sad countenance is out
of place However, this portion Of
the city has no corner on smiles for
the dOOrways of the humblest Bucha-
rest homes in the cObbled byways of
the poorer section of the city are
filed with smiling, chattering parents
while their children bOisterOusly run
here and there while playing native
games. The meat vendor with whole
slaughtered animals swinging on the
end of a long pole, vendors of sweet
meats. and even some of the multitude
of beggars are a cheerful lot.
Bucharest Has Fine Shops.
Bucharest impresses the traveller
from the time he emerges from one Of
it's modern hotels downtown. Shops
as fine as can be found in most cap
itals of the world line the business
streets Behind large plate glass win
dows the American traveller finds such
familiar articles as American-made
flashlights, radios and monographs.
1t is not necessary to find an auto
mobile salesman to see American au-
tomObiles on display. The streets are
full of them. In front of hotel or
business building six to eight of a
dozen automobiles are popular Ameri-
can makes and across the street a
billboard is plastered with an adyer-
tisement of a popular car made in
Michigan. The dOorways of the large
movie or cinema houses display bright
colored advertisements with the names
of American actresses emblaZoned in
large letters.
Bucharest is a walled town. without
the wall. Crowded, as was the Gus
tom when city walls were the main
defense. Bucharest drops away from
the glitter of the Calea VictOriei and
the boulevards to the rundown Orien-
taIism of the outer sections and then
abruptly to the empty, dusty plain.
It's population has more than doubled
in the last decade and houses. as else
where in eastern Europe, are at
premium. 1t requires influence. per-
sistence and bribery TO get into one
l. fO1e, flA pNoiT of
of which are the dining rooms, often
open TO the sky.
Surrounded as it is by rich farming
country, Bucharest has not lacked for
food and the restaurants are we'll
filled at all times. The Rumanian
loves the uniform, and high heels on
soft laced boots like those of the
French aviators suit the fancy of the
young dandies whose perfumed mus
taches preserve their dignity by reach
ing straight out instead of turning up
at the ends. The women are chic.
Some Striking Contrasts.
The few fine buildings are mixed
in with unassuming structures which
would never be at home in Paris or
Berlin, and opposite the imposing War
College Tzigane women may be work
ing at a noisy power saw which Is re-
ducing crooked poles to firewOod. The
few main streets are lined with mod
err buildings and new residence ave-
nues are stretching out toward the
periphery of the circular city; but in
the crowded center of the town the
confusing litter of tiny streets and
alleys reminds one of a rabbit warren.
The automobile has not yet driven
the old Bucharest victorias from the
streets and travellers frequently prefer
to see the city behind two sleek, coal
black. housekeeping horses, driven by
a native cOachman whose long, we'll
trimmed beard hides his thick neck
and a large part of the front of his
voluminous velvet coat. Although they
do not speak English, Bucharest cab
bies are accustomed to driving for
eigners so they wrap sash about
their waists with the two ends hang
ing over the back of the seat. a tug
on the right end signals that the
the left end signals turn to the left.
Traversing the city in the slow
moving vehicle. one notices the preva-
lence of Paris fashions with sprin-
king of nattily clad Rumanian military
officers Now and then gypsy in
costume including all the colors of
the rainbow recalls that Rumania is
the home of the wandering tribes OF
Romany. Many of the Bucharest gyp-
sizes live in small huts just outside of
the town. When a gypsy man works,
which is as seldom as possible. he is
usually employed as mason on
building construction jobs.
In the market place, the traveller
gets a glimpse of the rural folk who
cluster about stands of vegetables
which they bring to the city from the
rolling farm lard nearby. Here the
men seem to display no particular type
Of costume. most Of them wearing
European coats and trousers and there
are as many derbies as there are caps
and soft hats and fez-shaped wOOlen
head coverings. On the other hand
the women folk blaze forth in bright
colOred shawls which cover the head
and shoulders. and aprons with stripes
of half dozen unblending cOlOrs.
Their dresses are just short enough
To reveal in the summer time hat all
feet are not shod.