Byzantium behind Constantine

Leaving the partitions of Byzantium behind, Constantine strode briskly alongside the shore on the head of the surveying occasion, tracing a line upon the earth with the purpose of a spear as he walked. Panting with the hassle of maintaining, Adrian lastly reminded him that be had already indicated the boundaries of a metropolis far higher in space than any in that a part of the world. However he solely mentioned, “I shall advance till the invisible information who marches earlier than me thinks it proper to cease,” and continued on his approach.

The partitions of Byzantium have been nicely behind him when lastly Constantine turned and started to march landward throughout to the shore of the creek typically referred to as the Golden Horn by the inhabitants, marking out an space that included the entire seven hills. Although the remainder of the town was walled, no partitions have been deliberate for the shore of the Golden Horn. As an alternative, the mouth of the waterway was to be secured by putting throughout it a fantastic chain of iron, supported upon floats, denying passage to any ships besides these admitted on the order of the Emperor.

In the course of the 4 years required for the development of Nova Roma, the entire world was combed on Constantine’s orders for treasures with which to glorify the town. Many magnificent church buildings have been erected. One he chosen as his very personal and gave orders that upon his demise his physique was to be buried there in a golden sarcophagus. Devoted to the twelve apostles, it was to be some of the magnificent buildings erected to the glory of God and the salving of his personal conscience by the sad Emperor of Rome.

North of the Augustaeum

Within the heart of the town, he laid out a grandiose construction referred to as the Augustaeum, a big open space paved in marble and surrounded by stately buildings of comparable building. North of the Augustaeum, he ordered the constructing of one other nice church, and on the east, the Senate Home. Constantine’s private palace lay to the south, entered by a gate closed by doorways of bronze, whereas close by was the good Hippodrome for the video games, at all times an vital a part of any Roman metropolis, and the Baths of Zeuxippus, additionally thought-about indispensable by Romans.

Constantine reached out

A cumbersome bandage coated a lot of Dacius’ torso, however from the spreading crimson circle already staining the material, Constantine might see that the wound was nonetheless bleeding significantly. He glanced throughout the sofa on the doctor, who touched his proper aspect under the ribs.

“A spear thrust, Dominus.” The doctor shook his head to verify what Constantine might see for himself from the spreading circle of crimson upon the bandages, the shallow respiratory and the pallor of the wounded man’s lips. The wound was certainly mortal, because the commander of the guard had stated.

Dacius opened his eyes and, seeing Constantine, tried to push himself up from the sofa however fell again. When Constantine reached out to assist him, nonetheless, the wounded man discovered the energy to strike his hand away.

“Assassin!” he gasped, however a match of coughing put an finish to

additional phrases, as a trickle of crimson appeared on the nook of the dying man’s mouth and ran down his chin.

“I don’t know what you’re speaking about, Dacius,” Constantine stated. “Who’ve I murdered?”

“Crispus and Licinianus,” the dying man gasped. “I noticed your signature on their loss of life warrants and mine. However I escaped.”

“When was this?”

“The warrants got here to Pola by courier from Rome every week in the past. The garrison commander carried out two of them, however I managed to flee.” His head fell again on the pillow as the hassle of talking introduced on unconsciousness as soon as once more.

“Is he useless?” Constantine requested the doctor, who was preserving his fingers upon the wounded man’s wrist.

“No, Dominus. There may be nonetheless a pulse, however it’s nearly gone.”

“Revive him when you can. I need to know the reality of this story.”

“There was a paper within the breast of his tunic, Dominus. The guard’s spear penetrated it.”

“Can it nonetheless be learn?”

“Most of it.” The doctor handed over a sheet of parchment bearing the imperial crest. It was signed on the backside with Constantine’s personal signature. And although it was stained with the previous common’s blood, there was no doubting its that means. It was an order to the commander of the garrison at Pola for the execution of Dacius; however although it bore Constantine’s private seal and what seemed to be his signature, he had by no means seen it earlier than.

Preliminary details of the treaty

By no means very nice any extra, Constantine’s endurance was nearly exhausted earlier than the preliminary particulars of the treaty with the Sarmatians have been lastly labored out and he was free to trip to

Nicomedia and take a galley for Rome and the Vicennalia. His mom and Constantia, along with her son, Caesar Licinianus, had gone to Rome similtaneously Fausta, so it was a lonely journey, throughout which he had solely his ideas, and his doubts, with which to occupy himself.

Phrase of Constantine’s strategy to Rome went forward of him, when his galley debarked at Rrundisium on the jap coast so as to keep away from the usually stormy journey across the tip of Italy. Ry the time the official get together reached the outskirts of the capital, an important crowd of individuals lined the streets and, as he rode by means of the cheering throng in a golden chariot with Crispus driving the six white horses drawing the car, Constantine felt his spirits elevate on the spontaneous enthusiasm of his reception.

Constantine’s refusal to sacrifice

Regardless of the pomp and panoply which the Senate and the nobles had marshaled within the hope of convincing their ruler that Rome was nonetheless the middle of the Empire, the triumph was doomed as a spectacle compared with different such affairs by Constantine’s refusal to sacrifice to the outdated gods, a ceremony which had shaped essentially the most colourful a part of former triumphant celebrations. As a substitute, he went alone to the nice new church of St. John Lateran so known as from the title of the household, the Plautii Laterani, whose palace previously occupied the location which he had ordered constructed because the seat of the Bishop of Rome, however which he had not but seen.

One of many first Christian church buildings to be constructed within the type of a basilica, the brand new sanctuary at Rome had already although barely accomplished turn into a sample for others all through the Empire. Mainly, it consisted of an extended corridor of meeting, divided right into a central nave with facet aisles flanking, and lighted, apart from banks of candles, solely by home windows within the clerestory above. Such a church was, in fact, a lot bigger and higher tailored for the colourful and elaborate ritual of worship by which the steadily growing Christian congregations took half, than older sorts of buildings or deserted pagan temples.

Caesar Crispus visited Rome

“Did you say Caesar Crispus visited Rome?” Somebody extra observant than Marcellinus would have seen the sudden change in Constantine’s voice and method.

“Sure, Augustus, on the best way house to Gaul. All of us have been heartened when he sacrificed to Apollo. You’ve gotten a worthy son to ”

“How lengthy was he there?”

“Virtually every week. The individuals went wild over him and wouldn’t let him go. And now ”

Constantine bought abruptly to his toes. “I’ll discuss to you and the delegation once more tomorrow, Marcellinus,” he stated sharply and this time even the outdated Senator couldn’t fail to spot that one thing was fallacious.

“However Aug”

Constantine left the room earlier than Marcellinus may end what he was saying and didn’t cease till he was in his personal personal quarters and the door was shut. There he poured wine for himself with trembling arms and gulped it down, nearly choking from the strain of anger constricting his throat.

So the treachery had not ended with Licinius, he instructed himself. Now his personal son was working behind his again to construct favor with the individuals of Rome, sacrificing to the outdated gods as a result of he knew it could please them, letting himself be honored and receiving the plaudits of the group. What made issues even worse was Constantine’s realization that with the entire space east of the Alps nearly denuded of veteran troops to construct the military that had defeated Licinius and the Military of Gaul fanatically loyal to him, Crsipus may take Italy and Rome if he wished, as Constantine himself had taken it from Maxentius.

Constantine brooded

Combating for management, and shedding the battle, Constantine brooded over what he thought of the ingratitude of his son till lastly he fell asleep, solely to awaken within the grip of a nightmare by which a gleeful Crispus sacrificed his personal father upon the altar of Apollo. When the daybreak got here, he summoned his magister memoriae and dictated a terse order eradicating Crispus from his place as Caesar of Gaul and Britain and naming his son Constantine II as ruler there though the boy was not but in his teenagers with Eumenius, whose loyalty it didn’t happen to him to doubt, as performing Prefect. This achieved, he despatched a peremptory letter to Fausta at Rome, ordering her to return directly to Nicomedia and produce the kids together with her.

Maxentius head to Africa

Step one towards carrying out this vitally essential reform was made when he despatched Maxentius’ head to Africa, the place it was paraded in Carthage and the opposite cities which had been virtually bankrupted by the previous Augustus of Italy and Africa. With the grisly proof of his profitable conquest of Rome, Constantine additionally despatched assurances to the individuals of the African provinces that continued allegiance to him and obedience to his decrees would guarantee peace and prosperity to them. Subsequent, the rest of the Praetorians have been assigned to legions alongside the Rhine, so distributed that they might by no means once more kind a nucleus for riot.

Rut although informers have been coming ahead every day, looking for achieve for themselves by way of naming others as associates of Maxentius, Constantine sightseeing Turkey refused to institute a blood bathtub corresponding to victorious emperors had typically carried out up to now.

The breaking apart of the Praetorian Guard, greater than some other single occasion, served as an omen of Rome’s descent to a lesser place within the Empire. For the reason that nice days of town’s glory within the time of the early Caesars, the Praetorians had represented privilege and energy; now their empty barracks have been a promise of what was to come back. However Rome, busy celebrating the accession of the brand new conqueror as Senior Augustus and constructing a triumphal arch in his honor by tearing away a few of the decorations from the Arch of Trajan hitherto one in every of its most opulent monuments managed to close its eyes to the long run.

Evil Maxentius

Within the two months that Constantine remained at Rome, he labored steadily to undo by way of generosity and leniency the evil Maxentius had completed in his six years of rule. He was deferential to the Senate and to its customs, however he additionally named main males of the provinces to membership, thereby making the Senate a way more consultant physique of the western half of the Empire than it had ever been earlier than. He swore to keep up the traditional rights and privileges of the Senate, however on the identical time made it apparent to all that he was absolutely the ruler and that henceforth the deliberative physique could be little greater than an echo in his selections.

Late government of France

The primary a part of these papers was written a while since; that which is political, about two years in the past, on my return to my native nation; but it surely was not then aligned for the press. It might be objected, that there are issues in it which ought to not be made public, because it com trains info which can profit our enemies; I allover that they being in possession of the vie info which the late authorities of France had procured, there’s nothing important on this guide which shall be new to them; nor had even that authorities, at any time, so many spies, or such precise intelligence, because the Listing now have.

With respect to the Greeks, there shall be discovered a lot matter wholly new to the Public, however to not the Listing; for nobody was higher knowledgeable of the Fee of Greece than citizen (heretofore chevalier de) Truguet, recently minister of the marine division. He was for a very long time employed within the Archipelago, below the course of M. de Choisteul Gouflier, and was despatched to Egypt to barter with the Beys for depart to commerce to India by means of that nation, and to countered!; the Ruffian intrigues with them.

Extra advantageous to Britain

I’ve endeavored to show, that the pursuits of Nice Britain and Ruffia are inseparable and reciprocal. This, certainly, has been typically granted; however every time the aggrandizement of tilt empire on the expense of the Turks has been the topic of diffusion, that cafe has typically been thought of as an exception; on what grounds, I shall study, and, I hope, plainly show that the expulsion of the Turks from Europe, and the re-establishment of the Greek empire, can be extra advantageous to Britain than even to Ruffia itself; that so removed from being an usurpation, it’s an act of justice ; and that, in accordance with the legal guidelines of countries, the Turks haven’t, by size of possession, acquired a proper to the dominion of the international locations they conquered.

The significance of the alliance of Ruffia seems day-after-day extra strongly, and I rife now a lot lower than I did a number of years in the past, when maintained that the salvation of Europe relied on participating that energy as a principal within the warfare. The views of the French with regard to Greece now too plainly seem, and the Emperor of Ruffia is at risk of being attacked within the Black Sea by a French avenue.

Frosty air cuts

The items of firewood have burned up. Michel begins to dig. Every blow with the choose and each shovel of filth value him a lot hardship. The frosty air cuts and smarts his face. His breath and sweat have congealed right into a thick coating of ice over his beard. One shovel after one other he digs away. The grave is half dug. He lifts his head and straightens as much as take the ache out of his again. And straight according to his eyes stands a excessive tombstone lined with snow, however the phrases “A person of charity and lover of mercy” are distinctly discernible. There lies a comrade of Zise the Chapper. With hatred he bows his head and digs on.

A hindrance seems which Michel has not anticipated. In the course of the grave he runs right into a stone. What shall he do? His waning energy won’t suffice to raise it out. And shortly Zise might be delivered to the cemetery. He strains himself to his activity and is immersed in sweat. He doesn’t really feel the chilly any longer. A horrible fatigue overcomes him and he sits down upon the stone for a relaxation. He’s misplaced in far-off ideas. His eyes shut and visions of lengthy forgotten scenes and locations seem earlier than him. He’s a college boy once more. He sees Zise the Chapper and his colleague perpetrating their fiendish crimes. A mom is taking her little one to cheder. Zise runs over and tears the kid out of her arms. She screams and weeps and pleads with him; however Zise responds solely with devilish laughter that appears to echo to the ends of the earth.

Then it appears to Michel that it’s summer time. He lies within the cemetery, usually hidden within the thick, excessive grass along with a celebration of little youngsters, whose dad and mom have introduced them there to cover from the wild tiger Zise. Impulsively a wild cry breaks out among the many youngsters, a mournful wail. They see within the distance Zise operating and his coat flapping within the wind. Michel takes them into his arms and clasps them to his coronary heart. Such heat little hearts. He feels their tears coursing down his personal cheeks and he clasps them tighter and tighter. A chariot of fireplace appears to descend from heaven. The kids enter it. He follows them and embraces them as soon as once more, and but as soon as extra. The chariot is lifted in direction of heaven; and Michel embraces the kids tighter. How candy all of it isl

Fage Gruneh

“A saintly one earlier than you goes,” Fage Gruneh hears the varsity boys lugubriously chanting. She appears to be like by means of her little window and sees them carrying Zise with nice honor. She hurries over to Michel to inform him to come back into the home and heat himself whereas the Chevrah Kadishah do their work.

Her mournful cries resound by means of the cemetery. She finds Michel mendacity within the grave, chilly—lifeless. Near his coronary heart he embraces his shovel and choose. And on his peaceable face rests a peaceful and completely satisfied smile.

Moses Lurya

To Moses Lurya, who sits by himself on one of many cement benches on the ocean entrance, each white constructing on this neighborhood—as a matter of truth buildings in different neighborhoods additionally—is acquainted.

For isn’t he a pioneer builder of Miami? Wasn’t he one of many early actual property males who have been instrumental in reworking the swampy land into a fantastic and flourishing metropolis?

He laughs to himself when he’s reminded of a Jewish girl who defined that though she couldn’t detect any anti-Semitism on this a part of Florida, she had seen that the weather of nature have been considerably antiSemitic.

She defined as follows:

“After I bathe with my household at Coney Island, the waves all the time come in direction of you. Right here in Florida, then again, the waves run away from you.”

The chilly breeze of the chilly Florida night time hits his face and causes him to shut his eyes.

Because the stars above and the waves under are faraway from the sphere of his imaginative and prescient, recollections of days passed by come fleeting by his thoughts.

Actual property investments in Florida

He thinks of these years when he made actual property investments in Florida. He reminisces in regards to the lodges he constructed within the so-called affluent days. When the crash got here he misplaced all of them, and they’re now in unusual arms.

Moses Lurya is deeply spiritual and combines his religiosity with a philosophical pattern. So the fabric losses he has suffered don’t have an effect on him a lot because the lack of his expensive spouse. Sadly, his kids are additionally misplaced to him—not bodily, however spiritually.

They’re strangers to him.

Two years in the past he suffered a coronary heart assault. After weeks of convalescense, his physician suggested him to go to Florida.

In fact, he would like to go to California, or to another heat state, however his physician insisted on Florida.

Since he has come once more to this sunny local weather, he has regained his well being. In fact, he avoids passing by the buildings he misplaced with a purpose to stop one other coronary heart assault.

THE QUEEN’S COSTUME

9 yr previous Charlotte returned from Sabbath College when her father and mom, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hyperlink, have been about to take a seat all the way down to dinner.

“Pa, Ma,” she introduced excitedly, “I used to be picked by my trainer to be Queen Esther in our Purim play. Ma, I’ll need to have a fancy dress, and I do know you know the way to do it.’’

“Sure,” Father Hyperlink admitted, “there was a time when your Ma might do lots of helpful issues. Now she is busy with…”

“Ah, you might be beginning in once more,” Mrs. Hyperlink retorted. “Can I assist it if we’re surrounded with individuals who drag you right here and pull you there? You already know in addition to I try this I wouldn’t even affiliate with a number of the bunch if it didn’t assist your small business.”

Little Charlotte turned her candy face, coated with gloom, to her Pa and Ma.

Queen Esther costume

“I ain’t anxious. I do know one can find time to make me a Queen Esther costume.”

There was silence throughout the meal and the beaming face of Charlotte introduced peace to each her dad and mom.

“I bear in mind whenever you have been very helpful with the needle,” Mr. Hyperlink remarked, breaking the silence.

To which she answered crisply.

“First he offers me the needle after which he jogs my memory that I was helpful with it.”

Deeper gloom settled over the candy face of Charlotte.

When Mr. Hyperlink returned from his enterprise early the following day he discovered his spouse exhausted.

“Aren’t you feeling nicely?” he requested.

She replied with a sigh, “I’m all in. I coated miles visiting locations to get a fancy dress for Charlotte. However none of them have her dimension. After I requested if they may make one to order they defined that they had no materials or assist. Right here I promised Charlotte that I might get it for her and I can’t do it myself. Tomorrow I’ve to attend the luncheon of the Moms Membership. The subsequent day, I’ve to spend the entire afternoon within the magnificence parlor. So I’m occupied till the tip of the week.”

“Can’t you postpone your magnificence parlor go to for another time?” her husband inquired.

“Heh, hell,” she laughed, “what do males find out about such issues! It took me per week to get an appointment and I’m not going to cancel it now!”

Votive Vessels

On the finish of the 1956 season we had reached an Early Bronze Age degree about up to date with the second settlement at Troy, within the final centuries of the third millennium B.C. Right here we have been starting to get better a number of very distinctive pottery of the sort which one normally describes as “votive vessels”. At that second we have been deepening the wheelbarrow trench, and found abruptly that it was chopping throughout one thing which should in any respect prices be rigorously recorded; a constructing, evidently a shrine, containing an altar construction which consisted of two upright stelae and a pair of clay “horns” comparable to one finds in Minoan structure of a a lot later date.

Just a few hours remained earlier than the tip of our season’s work: so the ditch was briefly closed. Within the following spring, a enormously enlarged shaft was marked out, in order that the entire buiding could possibly be correctly investigated. This preliminary discovery then subsequently led to the clearance and recording of 5 sanctuary chambers, which have been the primary spiritual buildings of the Early Bronze Age to be found in Anatolia. One among them has been the topic of a pictorial reconstruction, exhibiting all of the votive pottery in place because it was initially discovered. And one sees how the choices have been evidently handed by the worshipper over the “horns” and between the stelae to a ready priest on the opposite aspect.

Chalcolithic ranges

However an attention-grabbing circumstance about these shrinerooms was that they have been evidently constructed on the skin of the settlement with their ends abutting in opposition to an outer enclosure wall. And as we descended into the Chalcolithic ranges beneath, time and again this similar enclosure wall appeared, chopping throughout our sounding, with buildings inside however solely a “fall out” of gathered garbage on the skin.

This continued virtually all the way down to the unique settlement at plain degree, and it introduced us with a really curious downside. For the wall was going through in the direction of the saddle formed despair which minimize the mound into two halves. It might need been doable to suppose that within the earliest instances, right here on the west aspect of the freeway was a walled metropolis, and that an extension to it on the east aspect was not added till the Bronze Age. However this was not borne out by the info. For our investigations within the japanese hill confirmed that an roughly equal variety of occupations have been represented beneath it.

Excavations in Anatolia

Usually, there isn’t any doubt that Braidwood’s enterprise made a agency starting within the newdy widened subject of analysis w7hich he himself had conceived. In the meantime his archaeological discoveries had been being supplemented by excavators of different nationalities in neighbouring nations, significantly at Jericho in Jordan, the place Dr. Ok. Kenyon had penetrated the stays of a “pre pottery” Neolithic city maybe corresponding in time with the beginnings of the village at Jarmo.1 However nearly a decade was to elapse earlier than a setting was lastly discovered through which the actual prodigies of Neolithic accomplishment could possibly be examined on a broader scale and correctly correlated with their subsequent Chalcolithic growth.

And when this occurred, it was not in Jordan nor in Mesopotamia, nor even in Braid wooden’s hilly flanks zone, however within the western uplands of Anatolia; a rustic which till just lately had hardly been credited wuth a formative civilization sooner than the third millennium B.C. It’s to the mounds of Anatolia that we should now flip our consideration.

Excavations in Anatolia

The identify Anatolia is at present usually utilized by its inhabitants to the entire of Turkey in Asia from the Sea of Marmara to Lake Van. All through most of this broad peninsula, and particularly across the fringes of its excessive central plateau, historical mounds are nearly as plentiful as in Syria or Iraq; and if they’re much less conspicuous it’s maybe the character of the panorama with its mountains and forests which makes them so. One space is outstanding on this respect.

Size of the Aegean coast

The provinces bordering the Aegean Sea are certainly studded with the stays of historical Greek cities: however these which aren’t buried beneath the alluvium of the river valleys have survived quite within the type of ruinfields, scattered with the remnants of stone buildings. All through the size of the Aegean coast, from Lycia to the Troad, precise mound formations are extraordinarily uncommon. And this confers a sure distinction on the in any other case unpretentious hill referred to as Hissarlik, which at present is usually thought-about to be the location of the town of Troy.

If, within the context of our current topic, it’s often essential to check with the in poor health directed beginnings of archaeology within the Close to East the place Anatolia is anxious, the pure level of departure is the location of Troy and the excavations begun there by the good newbie archaeologist, Heinrich Schliemann. However of Schliemann it have to be stated directly that one’s admiration for some elements of his character inhibits the obvious criticisms of his ineptitude as an excavator. As I’ve written elsewhere “It’s not by his shortcomings that he’s to be judged.

Ministry of Commerce and Agriculture

The primary legislative enactment inserting these agricultural banks on a agency basis was the regulation of December 23rd, 1894, which entrusted their administration to a particular division of the Ministry of Commerce and Agriculture. Three years later (February 24th, 1897), one other regulation created an Administrative Council, consisting of a director and of two councillors, wherein the administration of the agricultural banks was vested.

By 1895, these banks had vastly enlarged their transactions, and secured the illustration of the Bulgarian Nationwide Financial institution in these locations the place it had no branches of its personal. Within the following 12 months, they concluded overseas a mortgage of 30,000,000 frs., at 5 per cent, curiosity, of which solely fivesixths have been issued. Via this capital, the banks have been capable of vastly prolong their enterprise, and have now develop into the soul of the agricultural economic system of our nation.

These agricultural banks are actually regulated by the regulation of December 31st, 1903, which gave them the title of Bulgarian Agricultural Financial institution, in addition to by the regulation of March 24th, 1905. Its capital quantities to 35,000,000 frs., to that are added the annual income. 25 per cent, of those latter are, nevertheless, reserved for the development of the completely different branches of agriculture.

ORGANISATION AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE BANK

The Central Administration of the Agricultural Financial institution is in Sofia.

The financial institution has branches in 85 district centres, and businesses in 75 of the extra necessary villages of Bulgaria.

The administration is entrusted to an Administrative Council which consists of a governor and of 4 directors, who’re appointed by the Prince. On the head of each department there’s a director, who is also appointed by the Prince.

TRANSACTIONS OF THE BANK

The principal transactions of the financial institution are as follows:

1. Accepts deposits.


2. Advances loans, assured by mortgage or securities.


3. Advances loans, assured by items, cattle, seeds, agricultural produce.


4. Advances to farmers sums for purchasing cattle, seeds, and agricultural implements.


5. Advances private loans.


6. Opens uncovered present accounts to farmers and cooperative societies.


7. Buys, for the account of farmers and at their request, agricultural implements, machines, cattle, and seeds.


8. Advances to the departments and communes loans, destined for the amelioration of the agricultural economic system of the nation.


9. Collects the worth of business payments.


10. Transfers payments.


11. Accepts numerous deposits.

The pursuits which the financial institution pays or fees are mounted as follows:

5 p.c. curiosity each year on deposits for 5 years.

four PC „    »             »             »             » three years.

three PC       99           99           9J            99           99           99

The financial institution pays 1 per cent, curiosity on deposits left for limitless phrases as much as 50,000 frs., past which sum no curiosity is allowed.

The curiosity charged on loans assured by the deposit of securities, is 6 p.c. each year, on mortgage loans, 7 p.c., and on loans with private ensures, eight p.c.

The tables on pages 28586 will give the reader an concept of the progress which the financial institution has made since 1881.

BULGARIA ART EXHIBITIONS

The gradual and painful progress of creative life in Bulgaria, and the gradual spreading of creative style among the many Bulgarian public, can be finest seen from a quick survey of the historical past of artwork exhibitions in Bulgaria.

The primary artwork exhibition was organised in 1887 by Ivan Angeloff, trainer within the Gymnasium of Sofia and a graduate of the Munich Academy of Positive Arts. This exhibition, which contained three footage painted in Bulgaria and various sketches and research courting from the artist’s pupil days in Munich, in addition to drawings by college students of the Gymnasium, was held in one of many drawingrooms of the Gymnasium in honour of the Prince, who had lately been elected to the Bulgarian throne. In addition to the royal go to, the exhibition solely attracted the eye of some private associates of the artist.

Some 5 years later, on the event of the primary Bulgarian Industrial and Agricultural Exhibition, held in Plovdiv in 1892, the primary collective artwork exhibition was organised, the productions of the varied Bulgarian artists, practically all of whom have been lecturers within the gymnasium, being exhibited. The part of the exhibition during which, apart from the above artists, Bulgarian college students of portray and sculpture within the international artwork academies additionally participated, attracted so little consideration that no printed catalogue of the work exhibited was ever issued. The one Bulgarian newspaper which seen it was Bal kanska Zora, the place an extended article appeared beneath the preliminary Bbulgaria vacation M., behind which in all probability was hidden some Bulgarian artist who was himself participating within the exhibition. Even the organ of the administration of the exhibition, the thing of which throughout its two years’ publication was to tell the general public in regards to the progress of the exhibition and to acquaint it with the objects collected, makes no point out of the part the place for the primary time the works of the Bulgarian artists had been introduced collectively. All that it accommodates on the topic is a quick discover coping with the image of Holarek, ” the Return of the Bulgarian Prisoners blinded by Basil I., 1014.”

This primary exhibition of Bulgarian artwork, which didn’t solely deserve the neglect with which it was handled, was adopted in 1894 by one other—the primary unbiased artwork exhibition consisting of productions by members and nonmembers of the Affiliation for Encouraging the Positive Arts in Bulgaria. This exhibition, as additionally these which adopted in 1897, 1898, and 1899, was organised with the cooperation and the pecuniary help of the Authorities.

The primary collective artwork exhibition with none ethical or materials help from the Authorities was that organised by the Society of Modem Artwork, and held in 1904. This society, which was shaped in 1903, has proven from the very first, and continues to indicate, an incredible, virtually feverish exercise. It has already organised, at its personal danger and with its non-public assets, three exhibitions of the productions of all its members, and 7 exhibitions of images by particular person members. In addition to, the Society of Modem Artwork, as additionally the Society of Bulgarian Artists, took half within the first Southern Slav Artwork Exhibition, which was held in Belgrade in 1904, whereas throughout the months of August and September, 1906, it organised the second Southern Slav Artwork Exhibition in Sofia. On this final event the Society of Modem Artwork was helped by the State, each morally and materially.

Inventive curiosity and style in Bulgaria

With the awakening and growth of creative curiosity and style in Bulgaria, the ethical success of Bulgarian artwork was assured, and materials encouragement and prosperity weren’t gradual to comply with. This final was to some extent true even of the earliest exhibition, that organised by Ivan Angeloff, solely the customer then was not a Bulgarian, however a foreigner, a Slav, who had been captivated by the real Bulgarian topics of images like that of the “ Ruins of St. Sophia ” and the views of the village of Slivnitza, and of Sofia because it appeared in its Turkish character, earlier than the brand new planning of the city had been carried into impact.

 

The present version

Gount Villiers de l`Isle Adam, bom in Brittany in 1838, led an odd life. “Born with out common will-power,” says Huneker, “besides the desire to think about stunning and unusual issues, all his years he fought the contending impulses of his twin nature.”

He was the very mannequin of a bohemian. His unusual tales, the most effective of that are collected underneath the title Merciless Tales, are improbable prose poems within the method of Poe. The Torture of Hope, based on Huneker, remembers Poe at his finest.

The current model, anonymously translated, is reprinted from an American assortment of tales, not dated. It’s from the amount of Merciless Tales.

The Torture of Hope

A few years in the past, as night was closing in, the venerable Pedro Arbuez d`Espila, sixth prior of the Dominicans of Segovia, and third Grand Inquisitor of Spain, adopted by a fra redemptor, and pre¬ceded by two familiars of the Holy Workplace, the latter carrying lanterns, made their solution to a subterranean dungeon.

The bolt of a large door creaked, and so they entered a mephitic in tempo, the place the dim gentle re¬vealed between rings fixed to the wall a bloodstained rack, a brazier and a jug. On a pile of straw, loaded with fetters and his neck encircled by an iron carcan, sat a haggard man, of unsure age, clothed in rags.

This prisoner was no apart from Rabbi Aser Abarbanel, a Jew of Aragon, who—accused of usury and pitiless scorn for the poor—had been every day subjected to torture for greater than a 12 months. But “his blind¬ness was as dense as his disguise,” and he had refused to abjure his religion.

Pleased with a filiation courting again 1000’s of years, happy with his an¬cestors—for all Jews worthy of the title are useless of their blood—he descended Talmudically fromOthoniel and consequently fromlpsiboa, the spouse of the final choose of Israel, a circumstance which had sustained his braveness amid incessant torture. With tears in his eyes on the considered this resolute soul rejecting salvation, the venerable Pedro Arbuez d`Espila, approaching the shuddering rabbi, addressed him as follows:

“My son, rejoice: your trials right here beneath are about to finish. If within the presence of such obstinacy I used to be compelled to allow, with deep remorse, using nice severity, my activity of fraternal correction has its limits. You’re the fig tree which, having failed so many occasions to bear fruit, eventually withered, however God alone can choose your soul.

Bulgaria maintains broad worldwide contacts

The nation’s industrialization has marked a nonetheless better progress The nation’s industrialization has marked a nonetheless better progress. At present Bulgaria has her personal heavy trade – mining, metallurgical, chemical and heavy engineering industries – and lightweight trade geared up with fashionable expertise. The mixed chemical works in Devnya are amongst Europe’s largest, and Bulgaria is likely one of the foremost producers on the earth of mechanical dealing with gear, soda ash, storage batteries, irrigation gear, digital machines. The annual output energy is 32,000 million kilowatt-hours, of ferrous rolled inventory – three million tons, of cement – 5.2 million tons, of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers – 1 million tons, of car tires – 1.5 million items, of tractors – 7,700.

The nation’s accelerated financial growth has led to a continuing rise within the folks’s residing stan- dards.The current-day citizen of Bulgaria has his issues, after all, however he doesn’t know the nightmare of unemployment, enjoys free medical companies and free training, lives with a confidence within the days to return. Thus, as an example, whereas in 1960-1976 interval was attribute with the spiralling processes of inflation everywhere in the world, retail costs in Bulgaria went up 11.2 per cent (wage improve — 89 per cent.)

Notably spectacular are Bulgaria’s achievements within the subject of public well being, training and tradition. She holds one of many foremost locations on the earth for the variety of physicians (one per each 450 folks) and college college students (145 per each 10,000). There are at current 27 increased academic institutions within the nation, 185 state-maintained museums, 10,407 public libraries, four,255 library golf equipment, 7 state and 20 newbie opera corporations, 55 theatres, scores and 1000’s of newbie pop and people artwork teams, a lot of which have been distinguished with worldwide prizes.

Bulgaria maintains broad worldwide contacts and has broadly opened her doorways to the world Bulgaria, which is completely devoted to peaceable and constructive labor, is a satisfied and energetic champion of the coverage of detente and peaceable cooperation amongst nations. Her authorities has demonstrated greater than as soon as its loyalty to the good concepts of peace and human progress, its will to dwell in understanding with all peoples and its neighbors particularly. As an equal member of the socialist group Bulgaria has her loyal buddies.I has all of the ensures for her nationwide independence and is trying with assurance ahead into the long run.

 

 

Gallery of the National Museum

Owing to these gaps, the picture gallery of the National Museum is of small assistance to the student in striving to determine the principal characteristics of Bulgarian art. Of far greater importance for that purpose are the art exhibitions which have been held during recent years in Sofia or abroad, and where Bulgarian art has been well represented both in quality and quantity. This is especially true of those exhibitions in which the artists belonging to both Bulgarian art societies have participated at the same time. There have been hitherto two such occasions: in 1904, during the first Southern Slav Art Exhibition, held in Belgrade, and in 1906, when the members of the Society of Art took part in the second Southern Slav Art Exhibition held in Sofia, while the Society of Bulgarian Artists organised an independent exhibition of the works of its members.

For the purpose of the present chapter, the Belgrade Exhibition offers far greater interest, not only because on that occasion the Bulgarian artists figured with better selected productions, but also, and mainly, because the juxtaposition of these latter with the works of Croatians, Slovenians, and Servians brought into more striking prominence the characteristic traits of Bulgarian art.

The four nationalities which took part in these exhibitions may be classed into two groups, Croatians and Slovenians forming the first, while the Servians and the Bulgarians formed the second. The most striking feature of the works of the Croatian and Slovenian artists was their form and technique. There can be little doubt that this peculiarity is due to the political condition of these two nationalities, neither of which exists as an independent political unit.

Both Croatians and Slovenians are engaged in a racial struggle with the predominant German element in the Austro Hungarian Empire a struggle which is reflected in  all the departments of their national life, art not excluded. They realise that, if they are not to be worsted in Balkan tours 2020 – 2021 this struggle, they must not prove themselves inferior to their rivals in those respects where the latter most excel, the more so as in the case of neither of these two nationalities have form and technique been transmitted traditionally or been evolved on independent historical lines.

Slovenians and Croatians

In contrast with Slovenians and Croatians, the distinctive feature of the productions of Servian and Bulgarian artists seems to reside in their contents rather than in the form. As representatives of free nations, they are not under the necessity of fighting for the right of existence, and in matters of art they have done as they did in other branches of their national activity: they borrowed from other nations such forms as did not exist at home, and gave them a national content. Owing to this circumstance, we find both in Servians and Bulgarians a lack of equilibrium and unity between the form and the subjects treated.

 

Bulgarians uninterrupted possession

Personally, I attach more importance to the fact that the Bulgarians have held long and uninterrupted possession of the soil on which they dwell, than I do to their traditions of bygone greatness.

The whole history of the Balkan Peninsula, from the establishment of the Byzantine Empire down to the capture of Constantinople by the Turks, is one long unintelligible and confused record of internecine wars between Greeks, Turks, Serbs, Wallachs, and Bulgarians. Sometimes one race got the upper hand, sometimes the other. Ever and anon a powerful chief arose in this remote quarter of Europe; made war successfully upon his neighbours ; extended his dominions over the surrounding states; and called himself King,

Caesar, Czar, Emperor, as the case might be. The Bulgarians had their fair share of these ephemeral dynasties. In the ninth century, there was a certain Boris, the national hero of Bulgaria, after whom the infant son of Prince Ferdinand has just been named. Boris founded the first Bulgarian Monarchy;

made himself lord and master of the whole Balkan Peninsula, almost down to the shores of the iEgean Sea; negotiated with Rome ; and finally became a convert, and forced his people to become converts, to the faith of the orthodox Eastern Church. His son, Simian, another of the national legendary heroes, made war against the Greek Empire ; besieged Constantinople with his armies, and actually captured Adrianople; and assumed the proud title of Czar of the Bulgarians, and Autocrat of the Greeks.

Later on, the Russians invaded Bulgaria for the first time; and in order to repel the invaders, the then Czar, Simian, had to call in the aid of the Greek Emperor, who, in return, deposed him from his throne, and converted Bulgaria into a province of the empire. Again, some two centuries after the overthrow of the Boris dynasty, a Bulgarian of the name of Asen induced his fellow-countrymen to rise in insurrection against the tyranny of Constantinople, and declared himself the Czar of Bulgaria. The story of the Asen dynasty, in as far as it is known, is one of continued warfare, waged with fluctuating fortunes against the Greek Empire.

The only difference between the dynasties of Boris and of the Aseni is that, while both were always at war with their neighbours, and always sided with one or the other of the Powers who were engaged in breaking up the Byzantine Empire, the latter dynasty devoted great energy to the development of its own dominions. Asen and his successors established industries, encouraged trade, availed themselves of foreign teachers in arts and commerce, and succeeded for a brief period in making Bulgaria a prosperous and progressive country.

Golden Age of Bulgaria

After this, the Golden Age of Bulgaria, the country fell for a time under the sway of Servia. Finally, at the close of the fourteenth century, the Turks made their appearance on the scene. From that time till the other day Bulgaria remained a province of European Turkey. Such, in the shadowest of outlines, is the general history of the State which, within the last twenty years, has recovered its national existence.

 

The Turkish homes

Marmora ideal for yachting

Our stay in Prinkipo turned out to be one of the most pleasant summer vacations I ever had. I would go to town to attend business regularly, but would take long weekends off; that is, I would do as most business men do in summer and would stay home Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. We would then go bathing in the mornings, and play tennis or go out sailing in the afternoons. The Sea of Marmora is ideal for yachting, and numerous are the sailing yachts which use Prinkipo as their port. Of course the fact that we usually used Turkish yachts would somewhat hamper our movements, as boats flying the Turkish flags were not allowed to go anywhere near the Anatolian shores, the Internalized authorities enforcing at that time a strict blockade of the Nationalists.

Often there would be tea parties or informal after dinner gatherings in the Turkish homes. And while these were small, unpretentious affairs the Turks cannot afford to entertain elaborately on account of their precarious means  they were a most pleasant manner of passing away the time. There was always someone interesting at these gatherings. A man or a woman of prominence who would give to us a new point of view or some insight into the general situation.

Once an Egyptian princess told us of the difference in the progress accomplished by the Turks and by their cousins of Egypt in the last years. How, despite the fact that the Turks had been hampered by political circumstances while the Egyptians had had the supposed benefit of British help, Turkish women now enjoyed a much larger political and social freedom than Egyptian women, and public education had spread more generally in Turkey than in Egypt.

Sultan Abdul Hamid

Another time the director of the Turkish Naval Academy in Halki told us how he had taken advantage of the temporarily complete independence of Turkey during the war to make of his school one of the most progressive and up-to-date naval academies in the world how since the armistice he was meeting seemingly insurmountable difficulties in protecting his school from the process of disintegration systematically applied by the Allies to everything Turkish in Constantinople.

Another time Zia Pasha, former Turkish Ambassador in Washington, told us how for years Sultan Abdul Hamid succeeded in keeping his Empire intact by playing the greedy ambitions of one western nation against that of the other. Once again Reshid Pasha, the Turkish diplomat who negotiated all the peace treaties made by Turkey in recent years up to but excluding the Treaty of Sevres told us of his experiences at the London Peace Conference following the Balkan War.

Kara George would have been completely successful

Immediately connected with this, was the second resolution ; which involved a complete reformation of the Senate. Its judicial and administrative functions were separated. For the former, a Supreme Court of Justice was instituted, to be composed of the less important Sowietniks ; the latter, on the contrary, were to be entrusted to the most influential men, in the form of a Ministry.

They were to be designated Administrators   Popet  schiteli: the first, of “War; the second, of Justice; the third, of Foreign Affairs ; and so on for Ecclesiastical Affairs, the Home Department, and Finance. The intention was that, besides Mladen, Knes Sima Markowitsch, and Dosithei Obradowitsch, who were all declared adherents of Kara George, Jacob Xena  dowitsch, Milenko, and Peter Dobrinjaz, should also be employed in these Ministerial duties.

By thq first resolution, the greater part of the power which the Gospodars had hitherto held was taken from them : they were disengaged, as it were, from their respec tive districts. By the second, an office was found for them beyond the influence of their former relations : an office which, in fact, left them little independent power; as the chief appointment  the Ministry of War was placed in the hands of Mladen. Ilad they assented to this, Kara George would have been completely successful. Precau tionary measures, however, had been taken, in the event of their non compliance: a la^v had been passed in the Diet, that resistance to these resolutions should be punished by exile.

All this having been concluded, the Commander  in chief made the Woiwodes swear that they would obey him; and only him. At his command they then separated, and each at once repaired to his own district.

Such was the state of affairs, when Milenko and Peter, accompanied by the Russian regiment, at length arrived at Belgrade. Unquestionably they were still in a position to offer resistance. Could they but continue united, their combined authority would yet be of great weight. On their side was the Ileyduc Weliko, to whom all rule was irksome; and who, since the preceding year, had held himself in a position of obstinate isolation. So many complaints, of acts of violence and manifold crimes committed by him, had been brought before the Diet of that year, that it was intended to imprison him in some fortress. He assembled his Momkes, and said: “ When I came here, 1 thought I should bo asked how many wounds I had received ? how many brave companions I had lost ? how many horses had been killed under me?

But they ask   how many girls I have kissed! Come ! let us depart.” lie now appeared by the side of the other Gospodars at Belgrade, with seventy resolute com panions  Bekjares, so far as they were paid by him ; Momkes, so far as they were bound to him by personal obligations   who were ready for any enterprise. The Gospodars had also a strong faction in the town; and were altogether in a position to undertake something serious. But already was their unity destroyed and their power lessened by several losses.

Milan, on whom they could reckon unconditionally, had fallen ill at Bucharest, not long after Lasar Woinowitsch had returned to him, and he died on the last day of the year 1810. It was asserted by some that he had been removed by poison. But what to them was of greater importance, Jacob Nenadowitscli had now other views : he determined to fill his place in the Senate. Having married his son Efrem to the daughter of Mladen, and joined himself entirely to the party of Kara George ; instead of coming with a numerous troop, he appeared at Belgrade in his sledge, accompanied only by two Momkes. Thus Peter and Milenko alone remained with Weliko.

This story is the mythological cause of Trojan Wars

Aphrodite: Goddess of beauty and love. She was born of the sea foams arose over the sea waves from the blood and flesh weep­ing from the testicles of Cronus. She has two characteristics:

• Aphrodite Urania; goddess of pure love.


• Aphrodite Pandemos; goddess of prostitution.

Aphrodite is Hephaistos’s wife and this man is a blacksmith and worker lame god. Ares is her greatest love. Aphrodite is al­ways portrayed as being nude. She did not intend to hide her beauty. Pigeon, dove and rose are her symbols.

A legend; While gods and goddesses are sitting and chatting on the Mount Ida (Kaz Mountains) and drinking their nectars on the other hand, a debate over the most beautiful goddess comes up. Is it Zeus’ wife Hera or his daughter Athena or Aphrodite? After the debate three of them take it personally. None of the gods standing there dares to speak his mind. All of a sudden they find themselves in an uneasy atmosphere. Taking the advantage of this commotion, Eris throws an apple with an inscription “To the most beautiful Goddess” on it.

Three goddesses reach for the apple. They fight like cat and dog. There is an unbearable noise now. Zeus interferes in the dis­pute involuntarily and He refrains from giving a decision due to his relation with three goddesses.

“Goddesses” says Zeus. “I love three of you equally. I assign Paris, a shepherd on the Mount Ida, as the arbitrator. Go and find him!.. Settle this matter!..”

Guided by Hermes three goddesses set forth to find Paris. Hermes relates the facts to Paris. Paris scans three goddesses from head to foot. What crossing his mind cannot be known but he is also not able to give judgment. Noticing this situation the goddesses go ahead to make promises to Paris.

Hera:

“Look, you handsome guy” says, “If you give me the apple, I will make you the strongest mortal of the entire world.

Aphrodite:

“Look, you beautiful guy” says, “If you give me the apple, I will give you the most beautiful mortal woman of the world.”

Athena:

“Look, you brave guy” says, “if you give me the apple, I will make you the strongest warrior of the world.”

Confused with such charming promises, Paris submits the apple to Aphrodite who made the promise of “the most beautiful woman”. Thus, Aphrodite becomes the goddess of beauty.

The first beauty contest was held on the Mount Katz (Ida).

Aphrodite keeps her promise and submits the Spartan King Agamemnon’ wife beautiful Helena to Paris.

Women of Bulgaria are very feminine

Bulgarian Brides: Beautiful And Family-Oriented

Bulgaria is a country famous in Europe for its roses, and in the whole world – for its beautiful women. There are many singles who become mail-order brides to marry a foreigner. These ladies are different from the Slavic brides, but still very charming and pretty. The exotic beauty of Bulgarian mail-order brides attracts men from all over the world and makes these women desirable.

Bulgarian women are beautiful

You can’t argue about it, it’s a fact. Ladies from Bulgaria are attractive indeed. They have so beautiful hair, a nice skin, that is usually tanned, and dark eyes. In fact, they somehow remind you the Latina women, but the fact that they are from Eastern Europe, actually, makes them very unusual.

What is so special about Bulgarian ladies?

There is a couple of things that not every man knows about the Bulgarian ladies, being not very familiar with the special features of their appearance. So, here is this short list.

Bulgarian women are usually tall.

They are fit but curvy.

Bulgarian brides carefully look after their bodies and do a lot to stay beautiful.

Should you consider Bulgarian woman a good choice for a mail-order bride?

If you want your wife to be beautiful, and your friends to be jealous of the pretty woman that you got, you can marry a Bulgarian bride with no doubts! The ladies here are extremely nice and unusual, and you would be lucky to have such a woman by your side. Besides, these ladies have a lot more than just their beauty, so they make really good wives.

Bulgarian women are exotic

We have already compared their appearances to the Latina women as it is the first thing that actually springs to your mind when you see a Bulgarian lady. The long dark hair, the curvy body, and the tanned skin make her look stunning. Maybe it’s the tender, but hot Bulgarian sun that raises the women here in such a beauty. Whatever the secret, local singles are wonderful.

There is nothing more attractive than a woman who dresses and behaves like a woman. You will be delighted with the feminine manners of a Bulgarian woman. She will make you feel as like you are talking to a real queen. Femininity is a big part of a woman’s beauty, and Bulgarian brides know it well.

Bulgarian Woman Dating – Give It a Try!

Bulgarian women are okay with long-distance relationships

Women from Bulgaria who register on the dating sites and become mail-order brides know what they do it for. They understand all the difficulties of dating on the distance and the obstacles that may occur during them dating a foreigner. Yet Bulgarian brides are ready to handle it in sake of love.

The importance of the Bulgarian alphabet

Another significant quality of the Old Bulgarian language and the literature of the early medieval period is their closeness to the language spoken by the people. There is no similar closeness between the spoken and the written languages in Byzantium. The situation in Central and Western Europe, where Latin stayed in the church, science and state offices but where, in all other domains, it was replaced by the evolving national languages, was comparable. Thus the artificial literary languages remained without any chance of new, live additions, which was characteristic of the official language spoken by the Bulgarians.

Sometimes the question is posed, and not without reason as to whether the design of the Old Bulgarian script did not distance the country from Latin-writing Europe. The danger that the use of one universal script will hamper the development of the unique national cultures is not valid. The Western Slavs, the peoples of the Germanic and the Romance groups did not lose their cultural individuality until the use of the national languages was established in Europe. The initial universal period left the common core and the closeness of culture which clearly separates the Catholic-Protestant Latin-writing community from the Slavonic-Byzantine community in the East. Yet, the union of Bulgarian culture with the sphere of Byzantine Greek-writing culture was inevitable. At the time of the cultural and state stabilisation of the Bulgarians on the Danube, Byzantium was the leading factor. Bulgaria borrowed from the cultural treasury of Byzantium but also preserved the borrowings in its language using its own code, thus preventing the otherwise unavoidable Greek assimilation, which would have had a greater impact than the moderate Latin assimilation in the West.

The changes in the language of the Bulgarians can be seen during the whole medieval period of the state. It is the natural development bulgaria trips of a living literary language, which develops in synchrony with the phonetic and the morphological changes of its spoken form.

According to written sources, Slavonic peoples from Central, Southeastern and Eastern Europe understood each other until the 11th century irrespective of the foreseeable specificity of the tongues. The lack of Bulgarian state organs with normative functions and of written correspondence in the 15th- 19th centuries caused chaotic change stimulated by the Bulgarians’ inner linguistic feeling, which distanced the Modern Bulgarian language from the other Slavonic languages in the following ways:

– Bulgarian is the only language in the Slavonic group which has a post-positioned definite article with nouns, adjectives, numerals, pronouns and participles;

– Bulgarian is the only language in the Slavonic group which has remained analytical – it has no inflections and cases, only nominative, vocative and, rarely, accusative;

– Bulgarian is the only language in the Slavonic group which forms the comparative and superlative degrees of adjectives, of some nouns and verbs with the particles “po” [more] and “nai” [most];

– Bulgarian is the only language in the Slavonic group which has the so-called dual personal pronoun;

– Bulgarian is the only language in the Slavonic group which lacks the non-finite mood (infinitive).

The importance of the Bulgarian Cyrillic alphabet is marked not only by its place in the spiritual space of medieval Europe, together with the Greek and Latin scripts, but also by its introduction into the system of the European Union (with Bulgaria’s imminent accession).

 

Violence Against Women

Reproductive rights and health

The maternal mortality rate in Bulgaria is 11 deaths/100,000 live births (as of 2010). The total fertility rate (TFR) in Bulgaria is 1.45 children born/woman (2015 estimates), which is below the replacement rate, and one of the lowest in the World. Abortion in Bulgaria is legal on request during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, and at later stages for medical reasons.

Military

In terms of military organization, women’s role has been limited to supporting functions. On exceptional basis there might have been some recruitment during critical times but that would have been very unusual and on voluntary basis.[citation needed]

Marriage and family life

While marriage was traditionally very important in Bulgaria, there has been a rapid increase in unmarried cohabitation after the fall of communism. The transition from communism to market economy had a great impact on the demographic behavior of the population. After the fall of communism, the legal and social pressure to get married has declined, and the population has started to experience new life styles. As of 2014, 58.8% of children were born to unmarried mothers. In the European Values Study (EVS) of 2008, the percentage of Bulgarian respondents who agreed with the assertion that “Marriage is an outdated institution” was 27.2%.

A new Family Code came into effect in 2009, modernizing family law. Legally, Bulgaria has long recognized the equality of men and women in family law. This is explicitly stipulated in the Family Code, Art 2, which defines seven principles of family relations, one of which is “equality between the man and the woman”. This is reinforced at Art 13, titled, “Equality between spouses” which states: “The spouses shall have equal rights and obligations in the matrimony.

“Despite legal equality, societal norms of the Balkan culture often consider the wife to be in a position of subordination to the husband. In terms of maternity leave, from the beginning of the 1970-es women in Bulgaria enjoyed two years of paid leave and one year of unpaid leave. In the early 1990-es it was reduced to one year paid leave and one year unpaid leave.

Violence against women

Bulgaria is part of the paradox of many Eastern European societies: a long tradition of involvement of women in public working life, and high professional status for women; but at the same time leniency towards domestic violence. A 1996 report stated: “Society recognizes women’s intellectual abilities. For fifty years now, women constitute half of the labour force in the country. The situation in the family is different. The relationship model is a patriarchal one. In the 21st century, with the entry in the EU, Bulgaria has revised its policy on family violence, particularly by enacting its first domestic violence law, the 2005 Protection against Domestic Violence Act. In 2015, Bulgaria repealed Article 158 of the Penal Code, which stated that a perpetrator of several sexual offences could escape prosecution by marrying the victim.

 

The Southeast Of Konya

Our fellow citizens who lived in Anatolia about 10.000 years ago had a “matriarchal” belief system. The most significant settling area of Anatolia at that time was un­doubtedly Catalhoyuk. Catalhoyuk, which is on the borders of Cumra district lying 50 km southeast of Konya, is, in our opinion, the first capital of Anatolia. Together with Catalhoyuk, Hacilar Mound in Burdur is a significant settling area as well. However, Catalhoyuk can be regarded as the most important culture centre in Anatolia of that period and around the world. As for the belief system of glorious Catalhoyuk civilization, it comprises the idea of “Goddess”.

It is necessary to familiarize with Catalhoyuk before dealing with the belief system of Catalhoyuk and man of that time.

Catalhoyuk emerges on the scene of history with the Neolithic period. Anatolian citizens settled at Catalhoyuk amid years of 6.500-5.600 BC. 6.000 people living in about 145.000 square meters territory enlivened this place with their tamed ani­mals. Man of Catalhoyuk first tamed cattle, sheep and goat. He created master of wood, weaving and crockery out of his own bo­som. The houses of these first Anatolians who led a collective and sharing life all together by building up a village had a structure of adjacent order without windows and doors. Entrance and exits of houses were available through the door on the roof thanks to a stepladder.

All in all, people of Catalhoyuk symbolize first models of a re­productive society. They could put cereal and certain wild animals in service of humanity. People of Catalhoyuk, having such a great success, worshipped “Earth Mother”, that is, “Mother Goddess”.

The statuettes we first encounter at Catalhoyuk and Hacilar had big belly, wide hips and busty form. This fertile and bulky Mother Goddess was always protected by the wild animals situ­ated on her right and left side. In fact, there are always leopards near Mother Goddess shown on the throne.

When man of Catalhoyuk dating back 10.000 years ago begins to familiarize himself with the soil he lives on, he learns to cultivate it in the course of time. And he starts to get harvest from the soil. The soil takes a new meaning ever after for man of Catalhoyuk. He begins to show a different respect for this soil. He takes a thousand in return for one. The soil becomes fertile, nutritious and signifies nearly eternal continuity in the eyes of a man of Catalhoyuk. He likens the soil with these characteristics to a fertile woman and starts calling it with the name of “Earth Mother”; that is, “Mother Goddess”.

Catalhoyuk first emerges with the belief of Mother Goddess in Anatolia and all over the world. However, after centuries, ex­pression of “God” will depart from matriarchy and turn into a patriarchal denotation through sky-religions.

Namely, 10.000 years earlier, a man from Catalhoyuk is not aware of his own role in the pregnancy of a woman. In the course of time, a discrepancy emerges between man and woman who hunt, battle together equally in the beginning. The man starts to feel inferior in front of woman. Because woman whose stomach is slowly getting swollen and breasts are growing is thought to breed on her own and provide continuity of generations.

Two-Tier Framework For The Protection

A comparative report of the Asylum Information Database (AIDA) managed by European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE) discusses the impact of Europe’s two-tier protection regime, distinguishing between refugee status and subsidiary protection, on the rights of those granted protection.

The European Union (EU) has developed a two-tier framework for the protection of those fleeing persecution and serious harm, drawing a normative distinction between refugee status and subsidiary protection. While the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) is premised on the existence of harmonised standards of protection and outcomes of asylum procedures, the assumption of a common protection space across the continent has never been realised and continues to be dispelled by the practice of asylum administrations to date. The “asylum lottery” results in asylum seekers having widely disparate chances of obtaining international protection, as well as different forms of protection granted, depending on the country where their claim is processed.

Differences in the status granted have direct and far-reaching impact on the lives of beneficiaries of international protection, given that they entail a widely different set of rights between refugees and subsidiary protection holders in some countries.

From an efficiency and integration perspective, the advantages of the full alignment of refugee status and subsidiary protection under EU law are clear. De-coupling the content and level of rights from the type of international protection status granted could:

Foster integration in a more coherent manner, by providing all persons in need of international protection with the tools to become active members of new host societies;

Reduce litigation costs related to the form of international protection granted;

Reduce potential secondary movements between countries related to the level of rights granted to holders of the status in question;

Reduce administrative burden on national authorities by removing undue complexity and fragmentation in integration policies and rules. This would not only affect asylum and immigration authorities, but also employment authorities, social welfare services, or even health care institutions across Europe.

Successful integration of beneficiaries of international protection is generally acknowledged as one of the key challenges for European countries’ asylum policies in the coming years. The current discussions on the reform of the Qualification Directive present a unique opportunity to establish an EU legal framework that supports national, regional and local authorities and beneficiaries of international protection in their integration efforts.

Beyond the reform of the Directive, ECRE encourages European countries to further approximate the content of international protection statuses in their national frameworks and practices in the interest of a smoother integration process.

Two-Tier Framework For The Protection

A comparative report of the Asylum Information Database (AIDA) managed by European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE) discusses the impact of Europe’s two-tier protection regime, distinguishing between refugee status and subsidiary protection, on the rights of those granted protection.

The European Union (EU) has developed a two-tier framework for the protection of those fleeing persecution and serious harm, drawing a normative distinction between refugee status and subsidiary protection. While the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) is premised on the existence of harmonised standards of protection and outcomes of asylum procedures, the assumption of a common protection space across the continent has never been realised and continues to be dispelled by the practice of asylum administrations to date. The “asylum lottery” results in asylum seekers having widely disparate chances of obtaining international protection, as well as different forms of protection granted, depending on the country where their claim is processed.

Differences in the status granted have direct and far-reaching impact on the lives of beneficiaries of international protection, given that they entail a widely different set of rights between refugees and subsidiary protection holders in some countries.

From an efficiency and integration perspective, the advantages of the full alignment of refugee status and subsidiary protection under EU law are clear. De-coupling the content and level of rights from the type of international protection status granted could:

Foster integration in a more coherent manner, by providing all persons in need of international protection with the tools to become active members of new host societies;

Reduce litigation costs related to the form of international protection granted;

Reduce potential secondary movements between countries related to the level of rights granted to holders of the status in question;

Reduce administrative burden on national authorities by removing undue complexity and fragmentation in integration policies and rules. This would not only affect asylum and immigration authorities, but also employment authorities, social welfare services, or even health care institutions across Europe.

Successful integration of beneficiaries of international protection is generally acknowledged as one of the key challenges for European countries’ asylum policies in the coming years. The current discussions on the reform of the Qualification Directive present a unique opportunity to establish an EU legal framework that supports national, regional and local authorities and beneficiaries of international protection in their integration efforts.

Beyond the reform of the Directive, ECRE encourages European countries to further approximate the content of international protection statuses in their national frameworks and practices in the interest of a smoother integration process.

Language of Bulgaria

Language is not an ethnic defining feature. This axiom of the old and the new worlds is often forgotten by scholars who identify ethnicity on the basis of an established or presupposed language spoken by the community under investigation. This refuted ethnic-linguistic approach is used in cases when it is assumed that there is no better means of differentiation between “us” and “them”.

The ancient rule states that it does not matter where one is born but what culture one carries. The rule does not implicate the modem meaning of “culture”, which is close to “art”, if not synonymous. The Latin term, which is a translation from the Old Greek “paideia”, means that a set of specific types of moral norms drive and shape a way of thinking, which determines the active social behaviour of man.

In other words, creative activity depends on thinking, as does disruptive activity. This dependence is a part of the mechanism of thought-speech/speech-thought, which is the most productive not just with what is directly said (in the text) but also with what is suggested (the subtext). Thus, the problem of the languages spoken by the Bulgarians during the different periods of their history, and with which they make cultural-literary contacts, takes a new form. In the oldest linguistic period of the historical life of the Bulgarians contacts were established not by means of abstract notions, but through the simplified use of the word, in which the latter obtains its meaning according to the position of the interlocutor, the place, circumstances and pronunciation manner. This kind of expressing doesn’t create versatility of the verbal existence and doesn’t reach the abstract-conceptual functions of speech-thought/thought- speech.

The terminological instruments of the civilisation of the Bulgarians are not built by Turkic-Altaic speech. That possibly existent poor resource has been wiped from the languages and dialects of the Indo-Iranian world. We must underline the fact that the problems of language in Antiquity and the Early Medieval Period are unavoidably associated with the ruling dynasty and with its state-legal, military and clerical functions. As the state is not “of the people” but belongs to the ruler’s house, the “people’s vernacular” does not influence the language, which forms and formulates the activity in the various domains of life and of spirituality in particular. Therefore, the established Iranian borrowings in the ancient Bulgarian language, including the titles and names of the Kans, show the process of the cultural- linguistic unison in the course of the “movement of civilisation” which Bulgarians realised in Euro-Asia from east to west.

Linguistic material collected in recent decades undermines the thesis that the ancient Bulgarians belong to the Turkic-Altaic language group. The vocabulary and grammatical structure, with parallels in the East Iranian relic languages, anthroponomy and etymology belonging clearly to the Iranian onomastic tradition, notions and calendar system similar to the East Iranian (Sogdian) practices, support such a conclusion.

The runic inscriptions left by the ancient Bulgarians along the routes of their migration lead in the same direction. Some of the graphemes closest to the Bulgarian runes are part of the Alan-Sarmatian epigraphy, with a priority over the Turkic (7th—8th centuries) and the Old Hungarian runes (10th century). The graphic-phonetic links between the Bulgarian runes and some of the glagolithic signs indicate that the “development” of the Bulgarian script was a continuous process with three mutually determining phases – Runic, Glagolitic, Cyrillic. This means that the Bulgarians did not get their script as a result of a good turn of fate. The script was a necessity for the growth of their civilisation and historical existence.

 

Language of Bulgaria

Language is not an ethnic defining feature. This axiom of the old and the new worlds is often forgotten by scholars who identify ethnicity on the basis of an established or presupposed language spoken by the community under investigation. This refuted ethnic-linguistic approach is used in cases when it is assumed that there is no better means of differentiation between “us” and “them”.

The ancient rule states that it does not matter where one is born but what culture one carries. The rule does not implicate the modem meaning of “culture”, which is close to “art”, if not synonymous. The Latin term, which is a translation from the Old Greek “paideia”, means that a set of specific types of moral norms drive and shape a way of thinking, which determines the active social behaviour of man.

In other words, creative activity depends on thinking, as does disruptive activity. This dependence is a part of the mechanism of thought-speech/speech-thought, which is the most productive not just with what is directly said (in the text) but also with what is suggested (the subtext). Thus, the problem of the languages spoken by the Bulgarians during the different periods of their history, and with which they make cultural-literary contacts, takes a new form. In the oldest linguistic period of the historical life of the Bulgarians contacts were established not by means of abstract notions, but through the simplified use of the word, in which the latter obtains its meaning according to the position of the interlocutor, the place, circumstances and pronunciation manner. This kind of expressing doesn’t create versatility of the verbal existence and doesn’t reach the abstract-conceptual functions of speech-thought/thought- speech.

The terminological instruments of the civilisation of the Bulgarians are not built by Turkic-Altaic speech. That possibly existent poor resource has been wiped from the languages and dialects of the Indo-Iranian world. We must underline the fact that the problems of language in Antiquity and the Early Medieval Period are unavoidably associated with the ruling dynasty and with its state-legal, military and clerical functions. As the state is not “of the people” but belongs to the ruler’s house, the “people’s vernacular” does not influence the language, which forms and formulates the activity in the various domains of life and of spirituality in particular. Therefore, the established Iranian borrowings in the ancient Bulgarian language, including the titles and names of the Kans, show the process of the cultural- linguistic unison in the course of the “movement of civilisation” which Bulgarians realised in Euro-Asia from east to west.

Linguistic material collected in recent decades undermines the thesis that the ancient Bulgarians belong to the Turkic-Altaic language group. The vocabulary and grammatical structure, with parallels in the East Iranian relic languages, anthroponomy and etymology belonging clearly to the Iranian onomastic tradition, notions and calendar system similar to the East Iranian (Sogdian) practices, support such a conclusion.

The runic inscriptions left by the ancient Bulgarians along the routes of their migration lead in the same direction. Some of the graphemes closest to the Bulgarian runes are part of the Alan-Sarmatian epigraphy, with a priority over the Turkic (7th—8th centuries) and the Old Hungarian runes (10th century). The graphic-phonetic links between the Bulgarian runes and some of the glagolithic signs indicate that the “development” of the Bulgarian script was a continuous process with three mutually determining phases – Runic, Glagolitic, Cyrillic. This means that the Bulgarians did not get their script as a result of a good turn of fate. The script was a necessity for the growth of their civilisation and historical existence.

 

Bulgarians first contact with the Balkan Peninsula

Still farther west, four other cultural-historical zones have been confirmed. The lands, which the settling Bulgarians turned into their new homeland, are consistent with the distinctive Bulgarian environment. In the post-Kubrat period of Old Great Bulgaria, the Bulgarians of Kan Asparuh, the heir of the ancient rulers’ dynasty of Dulo, conquered the lands to the south of the Dnepar River and in the east part of the Balkan Peninsula between Lower Danube, the Balkan Range and the Black Sea. They transferred the centre of the state to Lower Moesia and established the so-called Danube Bulgaria. It was the one, which made real the most essential achievements during the later development of the Bulgarian civilization.

The large literary source Deeds of St Dimitar Solunski, speaks of the settling of Bulgarians in the region of the “Keramisia Field” (present Bitola Field) in the 670s, i.e. in present-day Republic of Macedonia. The Panonian Bulgarians lived and fortified themselves in the plains of present-day Hungary, along the Tisa River and in the Carpathian foothills. Bulgarian warriors and their families settled in the Italian Peninsula between the mountains and the sea, to the east of the Apennines and along the Adriatic coast in the region of Benevento. In a short period they turned the area from a desolate to a blessed land.

The Bulgarians’ first contact with the Balkan Peninsula is dated to the end of the 5th and the beginning of the 6th centuries. They settled gradually in the regions of the former Roman provinces of Moesia, Dacia and Macedonia. The territories had suffered invasions of the Barbarians in the 3rd—5th centuries but the Bulgarians revived them, bringing economic, political and cultural prosperity. The following expressive statement refers to such a prospering country:

“They say that the land of Alexandaros Ogal Sosmanoz [Tsar Yoan Shishman (1371—1395)], son of Alexandar [Tsar Yoan Alexandar (1331—1371)], is on the bank of the river Tuna [Danube] and belongs to the region of Edirne [Odrin]…

It [the land of the Bulgarians] was a very fertile region. It exported honey, butter and sheep across the world. In general, there were all kinds of goods in it, more than in other regions.”

From Book of Description of the World by Mehmed Neshri. Translated by I. Tataria. Kitab-I Gihan numa, Mehmed Nesri, Ankara, 1949, pp. 244-245.

The medieval Bulgarian state in Southeastern Europe occupied the lands to the south of the Balkan Mountains in the direction of Constantinople. The dream of conquering the Byzantine metropolis was alive until the death of Tsar Simeon I the Great (893-927). The policy of inhabiting the lands in the south-southwest turned out however to be more productive. The territories south of the Rhodope Mountains to the Aegean Sea and in the west to Morava River, present-day Macedonia and parts of Northern Thessaly, Albania, Kosovo were joined at the time of Kan Presian (836-852). These regions and the whole of Moesia and Thrace formed the historical ethnic-cultural space of the Bulgarians in Southeastern Europe in the Middle Ages.

On tills point, Jugowitsch had many stories in readiness. He stated that, of two deputies who had come from Constantinople under pretence of making proposals for peace, and who had been ordered to return, one, named Nicolaus, had nevertheless remained at Belgrade, and entered into the service of Leonti; and that the Metropolitan had, even in the depth of winter, set out in his company, under the pretext of collecting his Dimnitza, but in reality to excite the multitude against their chiefs. Leonti, he said, had asked the people, “ why they fought for their chiefs   for men whose design it was first to enrich themselves, and then to flee with their riches, and to give the peasants up to the Turks ? It would be better for them to submit to the Turks at once.” It could not be believed, added Jugowitsch, but that there was an understanding between Leonti and Rodofmikm; else why should the latter, when new ambassadors from Constantinople appeared in the Kraina, have contrived to be commissioned to negotiate with them himself ? He had gone to meet them accom-panied by Leonti and Nicolaus 3 but no negotiation whatever had been brought under discussion. Secret designs had been there agreed upon, whilst the parties were standing conversing, two and two, together.

On these representations, Kara George considered it almost as a duty he owed to his country to assert his own personal authority   for what event could have been more pernicious to the country than its falling under the rapacious domination of the Fanariotes ? Without delay, he banished Nicolaus; and Leonti also was made to feel his displeasure, lie took especial care, too   in order to prevent an influence of so dangerous a nature from acquiring a preponderance in the Senate   that his two friends should resume their seats in that assembly. And no one ventured to oppose him. Mladen, it is true, visited the Sessions only now and then; yet he enjoyed greater influence, and was more feared than ever.

Such manifold oppositions of the civil administration to the military chiefs, and of the Gospodars to the commander-in-chief, together with disputes concerning internal and external relations, disturbed this government, even at the commencement of its formation: yet they were unable to destroy its unity.

This was sustained by the authority of the Commander in chief: which, though unquestionably much restricted, already extended over all parts of the country; had the preponderance in the Skupschtina, and could influence the decisions of the Senate. Victorious success in arms had laid the foundation of this authority: but, without great tact and natural talent, it could not have been preserved in its integrity. Kara George will be ever memorable, not only as having led the insurrection against the Turks, but also as the founder of a comprehensive national authority throughout the country, lie well deserved to be regarded as the chief of the nation. Let us pause a moment, to consider his history and character, manners and personal appearance.

But George remained inexorable, llis father was at last equally resolved: “Go, then, over alone:” He said, “ I remain in this country.” 1 How!” replied Kara George, “shall 1 live to see thee slowly tortured to death by the Turks ? It is better that I should kill thee myself on the spot!” Then seizing a pistol, he instantly shot his father, and ordered one of his companions to give the death-blow to the old man, who was writhing in agony. In the next village, Kara said to the people, “ Get the old man who lies yonder buried for me, and drink also for his soul at a funeral feast.” Kor that pur-pose he made them a present of the cattle which he had with him, and then crossed the Save.

This deed, which was the first indication of his character, threw him out of the common course. He returned to his own district, with the rank of serjeant, in the corps of volunteers; but, believing himself unjustly passed over at a distribution of medals, he retired into the mountains as a lleyduc. However, he became reconciled in this matter with his colonel, Mihaljewitseh; went with him after the peace to Austria; and was made “ forest- keeper” in the cloister of Kruschedol. But he did not rest satisfied in Austria ; and as, under Hadschi Mustafa, he had nothing to fear in Servia, he returned thither, and from that time followed his business   that of a dealer in swine. The outrages of the Dahis hurried him into the movements in which lie was destined to perform so important a part.

Kara George was a very extraordinary man. He would sit for days together without uttering a word, biting his nails. At times, when addressed, he would turn his head aside and not answer. When he had taken wine, he became talkative; and if in a cheerful mood, he would perhaps lead off a Ivolo-dance.*

That the Sultan should grant all that the Servians had demanded

Princes have ever sought the Tmpathy and cooperation of the common people as their best aid, when engaged in a contest with those classes of their subjects who have grown too powerful through the exercise of exclusive privileges.

It was unfortunate for Selim and the Turkish Empire that he could not thus act: his position would not allow him so to do.

Unlike any other prince, all of whose subjects belong to him equally, he was the head of the Mussulmans before all others.

For, as has been shown, the Turkish Empire is based not on an union and amalgamation of different elements, but on the opposing forces of two distinct populations; one destined to command, the other to obey.

That the Raja, whose part it was to serve, should arm themselves and thus assume an equality with the followers of the dominant religion, was intolerable to the Mussulmans of both parties  the reformers, as well as those who adhered to the old system; and it was also contrary to the fundamental laws of the country: to the very nature of the Caliphate, and to the supreme authority itself.

AVe have seen that it was alleged against Hadsclii Mustafa as a crime, that he had led the Servians against Passwan Oglu. On the difference between the Faithful and the Infidels rested that Fetwa of the Mufti, by which the re-admission of the Janissaries into Belgrade was decided. Nothing made so strong an impression on the otherwise peaceful Turks as the banner of the Heyduc, and the artil-lery carried by the Raja.

That the Sultan should grant all that the Servians had demanded at Ostruschniza, was not to be expected. He was justified in refusing to consign to their keeping the fortresses on the frontiers. Other grants, however, tending to place them and their property in greater security, were unquestionably due to them. Nor could the Sultan condemn them for having taken up arms in his behalf, since he had thus been freed from an usurpation most dangerous to his authority.

Yet, great as was the contradiction involved in this course, Selim III. nevertheless adopted it.

He seemed to consider the Servians in the light of evil-doers, and rebels against his authority ; and instead of any answer to their claims, lie placed their deputies under arrest, and issued an order to Alis, the Pacha of Nisch, to disarm the Baja.

This hostility to the Servians, treatment altogether different in character from any they had before experienced from the Turks, and originating with the Grand Signior himself,  met with the approval of the Mussulmans, and was energetically pursued.

10 Ways to Instill a Love of Reading in Your Child

 

Teaching a child to read is one of the most important skills you can give them. Good readers excel at life, and conversely those that can’t read end up in dire circumstances. But being able to read and reading well begin with a love of reading. After all, those things we do well we usually also really enjoy, because we’ve put in the time to get better. Here’s how parents can help their children start down the right path to joy and success in life, as well as a world of adventure and knowledge in reading:

1. Start at the very beginning. Begin reading to your child the same week they are born. I know you’ve got a lot going on and you’re not sleeping, but setting up a regular bedtime routine and reading to your infant can help them relax and settle into family life, and life in general. You may also find that enjoying a board book or two helps you relax in the evening.


2. Put books around the house. All kinds, and keep them within easy reach of small people’s hands. My precious art books are on a higher shelf, as is Patti Smith’s Just Kids and Roots — not necessary reading for elementary age children. However, my Renoir coffee table book and the half dozen versions of Alice in Wonderland all hang out around eye level. There are bookshelves in every child’s bedroom, filled with classics, my favorites and many they have chosen themselves. We buy used both online and in bookshops, and happily accept hand-me-downs.


3. Be a reader to grow a reader. Especially when they are young (and oh so impressionable) your child will value what you value. If you place importance on the frequency and pleasure of reading, voilá you have a child who loves to read. It might take just a little bit more than that, but not much…


4. Take your kids to the local library’s storytimes. Most libraries have several different storytimes, specially programmed for different age groups. Baby storytimes are great because the children’s librarian will have activities that are great for fine motor skills and print awareness. Remember, it’s never too early to start an appreciation for reading and besides, it gets you out of the house and meeting other parents.


5. You can learn a lot from a librarian, and then pass it on. All public librarians have a master’s degree in library science. They have been trained and educated to understand people’s research and reading needs and children’s librarians are familiar with child development, current trends in children’s literature and the educational needs of young people. They are also caring, invested members of your community and want to see your child grow and learn and thrive.


6. Put limits on screen time. What those limits are depend on what’s best for you, your child and your family. In limiting screen time, you make it necessary for the child to problem solve and find something else do to. They’ll need to exercise their bodies, minds and creative skills. Your child may not automatically pick up a book and spend the whole afternoon reading, but by limiting their time gazing at a screen, they will have developed the ability to concentrate on words on a page — vital for healthy brain development.


7. Make storytime non-negotiable. We read every night. Occasionally we might miss out for something really special, like staying up late for fireworks on the 4th of July, but that’s only once a year.


8. As soon as they can write their name, get a library card. It will give your child access, ownership and ability. The confidence a preschooler will gain by choosing a book and then going to check it out all by themselves is priceless…not to mention precious to observe.


9. Let them choose — most of the time. There’s only so many Equestria Girls chapter books I can endure. When it comes to reading chapter books for the next one or two weeks, we take turns. There was Charlotte’s Web and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and then I had to give in and allow for a My Little Pony Cutie Mark Crusaders chapter book, as demanded by my first graders. My fifth grader and I just finished The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (my choice) and before that, we read Bluestar’s Prophecy which is one of the Warriors series’ super editions by Erin Hunter. It features fearsome wild felines living and dying and doing amazing things (her choice).


10. Encourage your child to go to their school’s library. The more libraries involved in a child’s life, the merrier. If your child goes to the library regularly with their class, ask to see the book they are reading, discuss it, ask if they are enjoying it. Remind them to bring it back to the school library and get a new one. If there is no library at your child’s school, put aside your nostalgic frustration, and help your community bring back the School Library. It’s an important resource for teachers, parents and students.

Though parenting is a big and important job, don’t let it be an overly serious one. Remember that with anything that anyone loves in life, it should be enjoyable. Read to your child, listen to your child read, talk with them about what they read and fall in love with them even more as they fall in love with reading.