I'li.jto by Hester Donaldson Jenkins 



A BULGARIAN GIRL IN FANCY COSTUME) 



There is a love of bright colors and ornament in the heart of every Bulgarian girl; 

 but, then, this is a characteristic of the sex and not confined to the little sisters of Bulgaria 

 by any means. The beautiful embroidery worked by these girls into wonderful shawls and 

 aprons is remarkable, even though the articles are often breath-taking in their reckless blends 

 of color. 



as you approach it by train. It is a tran- 

 sition town, partly old Turkish, bazaars 

 and gray, old houses, partly new and 

 modern streets and buildings. It aspires 

 to be a second Sofia, but I am glad that 

 nature will always give it some beauty, 

 even if it lose all its Oriental charm. 

 One little detail may serve to show the 

 different stages of progress in the two 

 cities. In the best hotel in Philipopolis 

 the pillows on the beds are as hard as if 



they were a pile of folded sheets, while 

 in the Sofia hotel they are of feathers. 



The Bulgarians have shown themselves 

 eager for education and for civilization, 

 and their women acquire culture with the 

 ease of the traditional American woman. 

 Often the daughter of an unlettered 

 peasant, living in a remote village, after 

 some years of schooling will take her 

 place in Sofia or Varna as a teacher, or 

 lady of fashion, or leader in civic better- 



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