Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1888-03-08
THE LATEST CRAZE.
Tirlng of Anglomania, Society Leaders
Find Diversion in Russian Customs.


Find Diversion in Russian Customs.
The powers that be, early in the sea-
sen attempted to substitute Russomania
for Anglomania. The after dinner
coffee was served la Russo, double
sleighs were rallied in with eight-inch
pickets and ornamentcd 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 redscarfed uniform.
White silks were ripped up and made
again after night-gown pattern. to fin
ish which 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, couches 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 hospitality--black 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 la 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 being as clear as the
body of the glass itself. An intense
heat is necessary to procure this result,
and often 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 putt in stock
Most Of the jewelry'is large in design
but the workmanship is marvellous,
consisting of mosaics; tiligrce etching
and cutting on laid metal. One mar
vel of ingenuity, intended for 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 ant
mosaics, to be set in book or box
, cover, are shown in topaz of crimson
yellow beryl pink jade and canary
amethyst, averaging four ounces an(
exquisitely carved. In the work Their,
are war scenes, landscapes true to tn,
Ural and Baltic, wandering Tartars
picturesque Bedouins, spirited horse
and fearless-leoking Bulgarians t,
, choose from, but never glimpse o
the life of the poor Siberian exiles, witt
while away their enfo reed leisure il
| this wonderful work.
Generally the Russian jewels are to-
! heavy for personal adornment Tha
= is to say,'a Siberian carved comb viii
q cause worse headache than crown
and pair of earrings would tear on
, the lobes of IN elephants auricular ap
r pendages. Used for girdles, buckles
: bangles, or rs pin to hol,
: in place a ruflie or bow. there is no no
r ttion that can compete with the prod
4 uct of Bulgarian jewellers.
e Slavonic table ware is rare and cor
t respondingly precious. The materia
s is silver overland with gold, and heav
r iy enameled,is Weight cuts. an impor
= tant figure in the designs. which ar
o often based on platinum. .aud'invaria
bly, inscribed in Siavonic, the Russian
/. crest. a pair Of seflrontant eagles, hay
a ing conspicuous corner.
Y Saucers with handles. worked i
: enamel after Byzantine patterns, al
Q priced for table use, and make a yer
e charming receptacle for olives, boz
: bons, or like dessert. The tea sci
t are also copied from the Byzantin
S period, and include tray, sugar an
it cream jugs, teapot and pair of glasses
IS for it must be remembered that tea a
e Russo is generally drank cold, and a
it ways from glasses. In appearance tn
= tumblers are similar to the soda glas:
being sunk in filagree frame of mel
a al, while the other articles are con
L posed of silver and platinum or gold
It half relief of enamel.
IS Nearly all the Russian ware receive
d in Chicago is bought through Easter
l. firms. and is so very expensive that, a
J, told, the purchases would not fl
IS one shelf of buffet Chicdgo Int,
l. Ocean.
1T A petrified sandwich was dug L
c near Swan Creek. H.. the other da,
is They put it with the collection at Il
to railroad station and the purchaser sa
it was the tenderest sandwich he h
IN ever bought at that plaee.-Judge.