THE GAYEST CITY IN EUROPE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 177, 26 May 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE GAYEST CITY IN EUROPE.

LIFE IN BUCAREST. By AN ENGLISHWOMAN. Living here in Bucnrest, I find it *l®" cult to realise that the most appalling catastrophe the world has ever seen is shaking the very foundations ot Europe. . B nearest is certainly at the present moment the gayest capital on the Continent. ,11. Amazing as it may seem, the luxuryloving Rumanians are more recklessly extravagant than ever in their pursuit of pleasure. .... , „ Theatres, music-halls, ball-rooms, kinemas, and places of amusement of every description are crowded every night . In fashionable and expensive restaurants champagne flows, to the fascinating strains ot tne delightful gipsy orchestras. In casinos gold is thrown away with a carelessness that makes one gasp; 6iiperb cars roll up and down the Galea Victorici, bearing lovely, laughing women exquisitely dressed. On every side one sees luxury, dissipation, extravagance, and wdifference. , We foreigners look 011 with awe ana amazement at the spectacle of this joyous crowd dancing madly round the edge of an active volcano. The fact that their country may at any moment be forced into the deadly struggle does not seem to trouble t.is minds of the Bnearest people. Beyond loud rejoicings every time the ALics gain an advantage over the teutons, the Rumanians do not manifest any very great interest in the gieat war. Like other neutral countries, Rumania has been greatly enriched by the war, for her wheat, maize, benzine, petroieum, etc., are in great demand in spite of the verv high prices asked and the heavy taxes the Government has pu« on all exports —taxes which have to paid in gold. . The buyers are Austria and an(V need forces them to pay the pi'■ So long as Rumania has corn to sell t le Germans will not be reduced to famine. BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION. During the month of January the British Government bought up a quantitv of Rumanian wheat, having suddenly awakened to this fact. This wa-, such a serious blow to the Central Powers that Germany actually protested officially against the sale as being a hostile act. But M. Costmescu, the capable Finance Minister, remained firm, and the affair was definitely concluded. If England had bought up long ago all the wheat this country had to dispose of the blockade would have been more efficacious and our brave men nearer to their goal. Another source of wealth for Rumania at present is the progaganda * which the Germans spread throughout the countrv. No effort is to great, no price too high, to win her over to their side.

Their soies and agents are swarming everywhere. Bribery and corruption are rife. Many formerly respected and well-known men not overblessed with this world's goods have sold their consciences and gained huge sums of monev by writing articles favourable to Germany in the various newspapers founded or bought up for tlie purpose. Others (and they are more numerous), hitherto obscure, have set themselves up comfortably for the rest of thenlives by selling their services to the propaganda committee. The Goveimment is cautious and M. Bratianu astute enough to keep on good terms with both sides; he cleverly parries the extraordinary insolence of the German Ambassador, for he does not want an ultimatum till he is quite prepared for it. Almost the entire population of Rumania is for the Allies and does not hesitate to show it openly. THE UNPOPULAR LEGATIONS. Both the hated Legations have had their windows smashed once, and on account of the hostile manifestations which have taken place from time io time they are strongly guarded day and night" by policemen and soldiers, the latter being permanently quartered in the back premises ready for emergencies. The two Ministers seldom appear m public. Their newspapers, of which five are printed in Rumanian and two in German, are boycotted by the public, though large numbers of them are distributed gratis all over the town. Exasperated by the insolence of the German-edited paper "Zina," the students recently turned out in groups and seized all the copies they could lay their hands on and burned them in the open places. This done they marched off, singing patriotic songs and the "Marseillaise," to the publishing offices and demolished everything they could find. The German colony in Bucarest is very large and important, and owing to tlie influence and protection of the late King Carol I. (born Prince Carl of Hohenzollcrn), and more particularly to the ' active interest taken in it by Queen Elizabeth (Princess zu Wied), has prospered greatly. Besides a >ne church there are splendid schools for both boys and girls, various clubs (Vercins), ball-rooms, a sanatorium run by "deaconesses," and innumerable shops, some of which rank among the best in Bucarest. The few lactones to be found in Rumania are nearly all German.

Though Rumania is at present enjoying a period of exceptional prosperity, the misery of the lower (lasses is very great on account o 1 " the excessive rise in the price of everything owing to the war.

Being entirely an agricultural country, almost everything one requires has to bo imported, save natural products. The few factories cannot work owing to the lack of raw materials, though one or two arc working for the Army. The British cotton mills have had to be closed for want of cotton. In fact, the lack of cotton goods is getting serious; calico is scarce, a reel (if sowing cotton costs In 3d., and a cotton frock is dearer than a silk one. RICE PUDDING. Woollen goods are at fabulous prices, footwear also. Salad oil, olives, dried fruits, orange-, lemons, tea, coffee, and cocoa are only for the rich: lard, butter, soap, and candles arc very expensive; all indiarubber good prohibitive, and rice is so dear that if yon were having some very select friends to dinner you would greatly impress than by having "rice pudding" on the menu Rents in Hue-iiv-t have be: ,i steadik going up for .!■ • la I f w year- , i... I have roar-he 1 tl. < dim . A i mail house eonipn: ed el' four n i i :-, a kitchen, with a liltle card, eo-N about €IOO per annum, w idle a t-n 1I v-!ooki;i----house, with live d ~-•:,- \ v , ',} .-,, .»,.;. kiich.n. so.vau!\ b. !;•,.,.m, j, n d gnr-(J-11. costs C'l'o (.1 'jl.'M .. I- ;■;;.,!.,.!. Tiio ri'h live in their o\. n fin'. |. :n- i-,;N with eyerv modern cm ! '.-.'. • . I,el !i ■ i - ..•■ have often (o pav "I oer ~ -„<!, for one small room :111-1 a trm kit.-h'-i. The Bminninns are a ! i'i;!-::. ;:• ; ■<] sociable race. p-<trome'v friendlv ree. erous to a hull and < f provi •■'.;••! !.-...

pitality. If frivolous, they are kindhearted and quic* to sympathise, and life among them is in general very pleasant. Their love of France is traditional; the upper classes speak French instead of Rumanian, read French books, wear French clothes, s.md their sons to study in Paris, and cultivate a French atmospher in their homes. Their hatred of Hungary, their secular enemy and the oppressor of thenrace in Transylvania, is intense, and the Rumanian Army, which is semimobilised since the war broke out, is eager to join in the fray. This state of armed neutrality cann \<> last very much longer, and the AustroGermans them < !ves do not try to deceive themselves a.s to the intentions of Rumania; their violent speeches and throats prove that they are beginning to lose all hope of wininng her to their side.. When he time is ripe and the circumstances favourable we shall be able to salute Rumania as one of our most valued Allies.