St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-02-14

".Nh "nSoiS ho"uo, p"ihtSV vi poicc,
lain, 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 a 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 pr0strating themselves before
this icon, and the Virgins hand and
Child's foot have been kissed so often
that, to quote a traveller, lit is no longer
the hand and foot that are kissed, but
the concrete breath of the piOus." The
devotion of the emperor to this veneer
ated icon is really matter of political
Importance and bond of affection be-
tween him and his people.
a copy of this icon, i'll brass, a fash
ionable lady in this city has set up in her
boudOir, along with other souvenirs of
her Russian trip, and the suspended
brass lamp that hangs before it is
lighted on the occasion of an afternoon
tea" These icons in old brass are
very valuable, but the modern ones are
almost worthless.
Icons are scarce in this city, and prob
ably half dozen could not be found in
the shops. Inquiries at one commercial
house brought forth 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 covered with purple velvet.
For the table, the Russians do not
much fancy pure white silver, and the
majority of articles in that metal they
have gilded. A pitcher in this style, of
an antique model, initiates the earthen-
ware pitchers used by the peasants, and
covered as they cover them, with birch
bark. The cover they wind around with
linen cloth, which is in this case rep
resented by the whitish silver. Another
pitcher, also or silver gilded, has very
beautiful interlaced design, which is a
favorite with the Russians.
peculiarly of the Russians is the
Importance they attach to bread and
salt, these two articles playing prOmin-
ent parts at weddings and on all cere-
mOniOuS occasions. For this reason they
pay much attention to Salt-cellars, and
some of the designs are quite unique. A
fayOrite design is chalr-Shaped, so to
speak, the seat containing the salt. and
having a lid on which is in Russian,
without salt, without bread, only half
a NEAL and what may be called the
back of the chair richly Ornamented,
sometimes having the Russian cOat-Of-
arms at the top. Such one had de-
sign in colOred enamelS, the work being
i'll the Byzantine style. Another salt
cellar, which might be used as drink
ing cup, was a silver and gilt cock about
eight inches high. This bird is extremely
popular in Russia, and enters largely
into Russian decorations, sometimes the
comb and beak, or talOns, being used, if
there is no room for more. A variety
OF spoons in fiat or raised enamel pre-
sent very snowy and elegant appear
ance. The handles are round and Slen-
der, the bowls egg-shape, the handles
being attached at the small end of the
oval. Knives and forks also come in
this Byzantine work, which is eXquiS-
itely done.
enamel, shows the ordinary style of cup
for ladies, but the Russians are fond of
drinking tea in glass, and for gentlemen
the cups are straight, with handles,
which hold thin, straight glasses. A
set for child, pOrridge bowl, cup, plate
and spoon, is in imitation of birch bark
in silver.
In jewelry a very recent importation
is antique. cloSely-linked chains in sill
yer. about half an inch wide and about
yard long, each end having two or three
silver buttons attached and crucifiX or
ornamental cross. These were formerly
worn by the mobiles about their necks.
They would make very pretty girdles
for ladies. Belts are of gold and silver
thread, woven with flax and having
handsome buckles, cocks head, two
bears or an enameled design. Fancy
bags, almost triangular in shape, have
enameled clasps. One is of gold, silver
and heliotrope brocade, like a dress Or
dered by one of the English royal fam
lily. Boxes of papiermache. exquisitely
painted, are also Russian. and may be
used for gloves, handkerchiefs or bou-
bOnS.