Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-02-28
FROM THE CARS LAND.
IMAGES OF SAINTS HANGING IN NEW
 YORK BOUDOlRS.

YORK BOUDOlRS.
 New York Be1les' Craze for Everything
 Russiap-What s.Icons'' Are-An Object
 of Great Religious veneratioD-Articles
 of Curious Design.
 With the craze for everything Russian the New York bellies have taken to adornlng their boudoirs with Russian icons, and hang ing lamps before them that are generally kept lighted. To the uninitiated it is we'll to explain that icons are pictures of the Virgin and child and the saints. They abound everywhere in Russia, from the palace to the hovel, and are treated with extraordinary veneration. The Russians, not being allowed to worship graven images, paint picture of the saint or Madonna on wood or canvas, and then place over it what might be called a screen of silver or brass, nodded or engraved to represent the clothing. Holes are left so that the painted faces and hands show through, and where the Christ child is repre- Sented his feet are also seen. Full length fig ureS of the saints are permitted, but only half length figure of the Virgin, and nude or incompletely draped figures are forbidden.
 In the Cathedral of the Assumption, in the Kremlin in which all the czars were crowned, is the Vladimirski Mother, which is attrib- uted to St. Luke. It is supposed to have saved Russia from the Tartars, and is adorned with jewels valued at $225,0 ,000. The face of the Mother is very sweet one and the face, and one hand of the Child are seen. This was deposited in the most sacred of Russian cathe- drals, represents exactly the side of an an- ciept palladium, and copy of it adorns the drawing room of lady in this city, who brought it with her from Russia.
 THE MOST PENETRATED ICON.
 But the most important of all the icons, and the most venerated. is the Iberian Mother, which was brought from Mount Athos, ln the time of the Czar Alexis, about the middle of the Seventeenth century. The Iberian Mother sits in the midst of gods and pearls, and, like all Russian saints, has dark brown complex ion. Round her head is net of pearls, on one shoulder large jewel, another on her brow, above which is brilliant crown. Around the picture are gold brocaded hangings, on which angels heads, painted on porcelain, with silver wings, are sewed, and the whole is lighted by thirteen silver lamps Besides her face, her hands are seen, and the face, feet and hands of the child. The icon is of silver, large, and has heavy frame of the same metal. A little wound on the right cheek of the mother was inflicted by the Turks, and scarcely had the steel touched the picture when the blood flowed. This is represented in every copy. At all hours of the day there are people prostrating them selves before this icon, and the Virg1n's hand and Child's foot have been kissed so often that, to quote traveller, Git is no longer the hand and foot that are kissed, but the con- crete breath of the pious." The devotion of the emporer to this .venerated icon is really a matter of political importance and bond of affection between him and his people.
 A copy of this icon, in brass, a fashionable lady in this city has set up in her boudoir, along with other souvenirs of her Russian rip, and the suspended brass lamp that .angs before it is lighted on the occasion of III afternoon "tea" These icons in old brass are very valuable, but the modern one are lmost worthless.
 ARTICLES OF CURIOUS DESIGN.
 Icons are scarce in this city, and probably half dozen could not be found in the shops. Inquiries at one commercial house brought .orth two that had been carefully laid away, wrapped in paper. These were of engraved silver, about six inches by ten in size, full lengths of male saints, the faces and hands being beautifully painted. The paintings, which are complete under the silver, were done on wood, the backs of which were GOV. cred with purple velvet.
 For the table the Russians do not much fancy pure white silver, and the majority ot articles in that metal they have gilded. A pitcher in this style, of an antique model initiates the earthenware pitchers used by the peasants, and covered as they cover them with birch bark. The cover they wind round with linen cloth, which is in this case represented by the whitish silver Another pitcher, also of silver gilded, has a very ;,,%o ol ite with the Russians.
 A peculiarity of the Russians is the impor tance they attach to bread and salt, these , two articles playing prominent parts at wed l dings and on all ceremonious occasions Fol 1 this reason they pay much attention to salt cellars, and some of the designs are quite unique. A favorite design is chair shaped so to speak, the seat containing the salt, anc having lid on which is in Russian, ,'Without salt, without bread, only half a meal" anC what may be called the back of the chai1 being richly ornamented, sometimes having the Russian coat of arms at the top. Such one had design in colored channels, the work being in the Byzantine style. Another salt cellar, which might be used as @ drink ing cup, was silver and gilt cock abou eight inches high. This bird is extremely popular in Russia, and enters largely intt Russian decorations, sometimes the coml beak or talons being used if there is no room for more-New York Mail and Express. | Senator Inga1ls.
 Ingalls is the same old two and sixpence that is as far as @ man who changes ever, moment can be the same. He will not mak, many speeches on the floor of the chamber this year. He has high idea of the dignit, l of his position and will be careful not tt compromise it. He has taken big house op posite the Capitol and will entertain.
 He has wife as bright as himself, who i