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Show ORSOVA. FRONTIER CITY ON DANUBE The National Geographical Society's war geography bulletin issued today gives the following Information concerning con-cerning Orsova, the Hungarian frontier city on the Danube recently occupied by Rumanian forces: "Only a few miles above the Iron Gates, the last defile of the Danube, and about an equal distance below the scenically magnificent Kazan Defile, De-file, is the quaint and picturesque free port of Orsova, It Is 94 miles east of Belgrade and a 10-hours voyage from that city on the Danube steamers, steam-ers, which in peace times leave the Serbian capital daily at five In the morning. "Orsova is a double town. Old Orsova, with a population of about 5,000, clings to the west hank of the Cerna river which here mingles Its waters with the Danube. New Orsova, on the east bank, Is mainly a Turkish colony with a population of 3,000. In former times the town was a Turkish fort but since 1878 it has boen in the possession of Austria-Hungary. "On the outskirts 0f Orsova, about two miles from the steamboat pier, there Is an attractive little park In the midst of which Is one of the holiest hol-iest shrines of the Hungarian people. It is tho Kronen Kapelle, erected by Emperor Francis Joseph over tho spot where Louis Kossuth and his fellow patriots buried the Hungarian crown of St. Stophan and .othor regalia of tho kingdom of 1819. The story of the hiding of the crown Is ono of the most pathetic chapters in tho life of tho man who is generally admitted to have been Hungary's greatest orator ora-tor and most incorruptible (patriot. The revolution against Austria (1848-49) (1848-49) having failed, Kossuth and his devoted followers wore seeking safety In flight, taking with them the national nation-al insignia. As they neared the Turkish Turk-ish frontier their patriotism would not permit thom to bear the emblems of national existence beyond tho borders bor-ders of the country, so in secret the regalia was buried, each participant In the act vowing not to reveal the hiding hid-ing place except with the consent of his associates. Some years lator, however, how-ever, after Kossuth had gone to England Eng-land and then to the United States, and the cause of Hungarian Independence Independ-ence seemed hopelessly lost, the place of hiding of the regalia was revealed I to Emperor Francis Joseph, who had I the precious articles unearthed and the spot consecrated by the chapel In which Is a statue of the Virgin and Child, ono of the masterpieces of tho Austrian sculptor Melssncr. The chapel Is approached by a splendid avenue of tall poplars. "Another Interesting spot in the environs en-virons of Orsova Is Mehadia, a celebrated cele-brated 'cure', also Herkulesbad, the medicinal value of whose hot springs has been appreciated since Roman times. "Orsova Is esteemed by travelers as one of the most delightfully restful rest-ful villages of eastern Europe. A famous woman globe-trotter has paid this appreciative tribute to its charms: " 'There Is a certain little town, names Varcnna, lying on the brink of the Lake of Corao and looking down coquettishly on its own fair Image Im-age reflected In that pure mirror. which used to be my beau Ideal ol a quiet retreat, for one wearied lr tho world and Its follies; but as sooc as I had seen this little romantic smiling Orsova, I abandoned my for mer favorite, feeling that nowhere else had I seen a spot at once sc bright and peaceful.' "The little island of Ada Kaleh with its Turkish bazaar, its attractive little cafes, and its low blue-and-green houses, Is to bo seen a short diBtance down the river from Orsova. When this one-time fortified stronghold II the Turks passed under the dominion of Austria-Hungary in 187S the in habitants are said to have made preparations prep-arations to return to Turkey, but they were Induced to remain upon the promise of the authorities that the Sultan would send them each year a shipload of coffee, tobacco and other supplies dear to their hearts and appetites." ap-petites." nn |