The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-02-09
THE LATEST CRAZE.
firing of Anglomania, Society Leaders
Find Diversion in Russian Customs.

THE LATEST CRAZE.
firing of Anglomania, Society Leaders
Find Diversion in Russian Customs.
The powers that be. early In the sea-
son attempted to substitute Russomaria
for Anglomania- The after dinner
coffee was served a Ia Russo, double
sleighs were rallied in with eight-inch
pickets and ornamented with black
and red pompons. The ladies ordered
Moscow livery that came near turning
merchant tailoring establishments into
lunatic asylums, and which cost them
the service of the trusted old coach
man to display the red-scarfed uniform.
White silks were ripped up and made
again after night-gown pattern. to fin
ish which a small fortune was spent
for black fur. At the Russian teas real
glasses and saucers, colors, cakes and
rolls of the nation were introduced,
and the walls were draped with flags,
rugs, druggets and tapestry bought
or borrowed from the oriental shops.
Bulgarian ornaments decorated the
mantels and cabinets. touches were
made up in Polish fashion, and in the
cutting of the crystal bowls could be
seen the Cars own crest. Before din
ner, invited guests were both amused
and interested at the symbol of Rus
sian Observation-Disclosures bread and salt
presented at the threshold of the dining
room from silver tray, one-half finished
to represent damask napkin, and the
other half overlaid with gold in the
form of basket work. Then came cold
tea Ia Russo, served in etched glasses
of such perfect purity that one could
see through etching, tea and glass any
object opposite. These lovely mugs
cost more than solid silver. and to own
half dozen was like owning span of
white elephants. Russian glass is con-
trolled by the Gar, and the peculiar
feature is that it takes precedence over
all other enameled glass in transpar-
ency, the designs beng as clear as the
body of the glass itself. An intense
heat is necessary to procure this result,
and often a dozen are sacrificed in the
fabrication of one.
Now comes the rage for Russian
jewelry, and agents are securing the
country for designs that will admit of
reproduction. At the bottom of the
scale is amber made into hair orna-
ments, girdles. combs, toilet boxes.
bracelets and clasps for the ankles and
elbows. One very lovely girdle, in
tended for 81 TX and blue-fox robe,
made of rocco twisted gold set with
turquoise and alternating with amber,
was sold to an uptown lady at private
sale before the goods were put in stock.
Most of the jewelry is large in design,
but the workmanship is marvellous,
consisting of mosaics, tiligree etching,
and cutting on laid metal. One mar
vel of ingenuity, intended for 4 breast
pin or belt buckle, made of jasper,
was inlaid with onyx and serpentine,
repres enting cluster of grapes. Ear
rings, seals for bracelets, bangles and
mosaics, to be set in a book or box
cover. are shown in topaz of crimson,
yellow beryl. pink jade and canary
amethyst, averaging four ounces and
exquisitely carved. In the work there
are war scenes, landscapes true to the
Ural and Baltic, wandering Tartars,
picturesque Bedouins, spirited horses
and fcarless-looking Bulgarians to
choose from, but never glimpse of
the life of the poor Siberian eXiles, who
while away their enfo reed leisure in
this wonderful work.
Generally the Russian Jewels are too
heavy for personal adornment. That
is to say, Siberian carved comb will
cause q worse headache than crown.
and a pair of earrings would tear out
the lobes of an elephants auricular APP
pendages. Used for girdles, buckles,
bangles, or as a pin to hold
in p. ace ruffie or bow. there is no no.
ton that can compete with the prod
uct of Bulgarian jewellers.
SlavOnic table ware is rare and cor
respondingly precious. The material
is silver OVERLAND with gold. and heav-
lily enameled. Weight cuts an impor-
tant figure in the designs. which are
often based on platinum. and invaria-
bly, inscribed in Slavonic. the Russian
crest, pair of efrontant eagles, hav-
ing conspicuous corner.
Saucers with handles, worked in
enamel after Byzantine patterns, are
priced for table use, and make very
charming receptacle for olives, bon
hons, or like dessert. The tea sets
are also copied from the Byzantine
period, and include tray. sugar ard
cream jugs. teapot and pair of glasses.
for it must be remembered that tea a Ii
Russo is generally drank cold, and al
ways from glasses. In appearance the
tumblers are similar to the soda glass,
being sunk in fiiagree frame of met
al, while the other articles are COM
posed of silver and platinum or gold in
half relief of enamel.
Nearly all the Russian ware received
in Chicago is bought through Eastern
firms, and is so very expensive that, all
told, the purchases would not fill
one shelf OF buffet Chicago Inter
Ocean.