Evenimentele din balcani ("events in the balkans"), cartoon featured in furnica, the romanian satirical magazine. Prompted by the bulgarian declaration of independence, whereby romania's southern neighbor severed her ties to the ottoman empire, and elevated herself to the rank of kingdom. On that occasion, bulgaria also took over full control over the railways in eastern rumelia, prompting speculation that it was preparing for war with the turks. A gigantic ferdinand i of bulgaria sits on top of a train locomotive; he is identified by the skeptical note on the right of the image: "ţarul" bulgariei ("the 'tsar' of bulgaria"). His premier, aleksandar malinov, is at the front, leading ferdinand by the nose (a trage de nas, lit. "to pull by the nose", is the romanian for "to dupe"). Rumelian ivan evstratiev geshov is at the other end, pushing the engine along. Istanbul (constantinople) is pictured in the distance, as specified by the arrow sign on the left. The engine drags itself across a human figure, marked tratatul din berlin ("the berlin treaty [of 1878]"). An enthusiastic crowd, bearing bulgarian tricolors and dressed in traditional costumes, cheers the procession along. Several of these bulgarian stereotypes celebrate the events with helpings of bragă (i. E. Boza, a soft beer brewed in balkan areas). Date: 9 October 1908.
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