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io 102
INTRIGUES AT SOFIA [chap.viii.
August has been celebrated every year by the illustrious
survivors of these battles. On the eve of this day, the
veterans gave a banquet to the representatives of the
Government and to the Russian Legation ; on the day
itself a solemn service was held in the cathedral of Sofia,
and the historical colours of the first Bulgarian militia,
amongst which the flag called " of Samara" was
particularly noticeable, were brought from the Palace to the
church; this was the flag embroidered and presented
to the Bulgarian militia by the Russian ladies of the
town of Samara; it was covered with Bulgarian blood in
the hand-to-hand fighting near Stara-Zagora
(Eski-Zagra), where the Bulgarian militia with their bayonets
succeeded in cutting through the Turkish lines and in
saving the precious flag.
The Bulgarians in general have not an expansive
nature. This people, reserved and taciturn, is almost
completely incapable of boisterous manifestations of
enthusiasm. So that the festival of the veterans usually
went off very calmly according to the programme
once drawn up ; and the crowd gathered round the
cathedral appeared to watch with indifference the
procession of the colours and the review of the veterans
and of the Sofia garrison which took place in the big
square.
On this occasion, that is in 1912, we received as usual
an invitation to the veterans’ banquet and to the service
in the cathedral. But on the eve of the banquet Gueshov
said to me: "Shall you go to the banquet, Monsieur? " "I
was just going to ask you the same question," I replied.
" I think," said Gueshov, " that it would be better
for you and me not to go ; every one is over-excited ;
at the banquet speeches may be made which would
place us in an embarrassing position. But I shall, of
course, go to the cathedral, and we earnestly beg of you
to come as usual."
On arrival at the cathedral at the appointed time, we
were struck by the emotional atmosphere which
pervaded the sacred edifice. One saw pale faces, shining
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