The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1895-09-04
RUSSIAN NATIONAL DRESS.
1t Is the Most Beautiful and Picturesque
of Any In Europe.

1t Is the Most Beautiful and Picturesque
of Any In Europe.
It is well known that of all Euro
pean national costumes those of the
Russians are the most beautiful and
picturesque. The sarafan, the wom-
ans gown, is still worn by the en-
press of Russia and her ladies at
court receptions and could not be
equaled in beauty by any modern
gown. Unfortunately the national
costume is now being replaced even
among the peasantry by the use of
factory products, which are cheap1y
produced, oheaply bought and soon
worn out and replaced by new ones.
Formerly a handsome holiday cos
tune was a possession to be priced
and, would often be handed down
from mother to daughter and some
times descend to the grandchildren.
Neither labor nor expense was spar
ed on these costumes. They were
things Of beauty, and as the fash
ions did not, change the joy they
gave was permanent. Some'of these
costumes are still in the possession
of distinguished families, who long
ago ceased to wear the national
dress. Many of them have been do
mated to museums, where, in the
chronological department., a~rtistioally
executed manikins can be seen, the
work Of real artists, dressed In ex-
quisite ancient costumes. The pres
ent empress dowager has given sew
eral complete costumes to the Dash
koff museum in Moscow.
Among the peasants who still
wear the national dress the older
costumes are handsomer and richer
than the modern ones. The style If
dress is not the same in all parts Of
Russia. It differs not only in the
several provinces governments, but
there are often three or four differ
ent styles in the different parts of
the same province. In the main
features, however, the costumes re-
main the same and generally consist
Of the following articles for a wom-
ans dress:
A linen chemise, or shirt, is worn
next to the skin extending down to
a little below the knee. The up
per part of it, with full sleeves,
forms a kind Of chemisette and is
generally embroidered in red or
black or red and blue arranged in
geometrical patterns. In holiday
costumes the chemise is madeof fine
linen and the bottom is either en-
broidered or trimmed with fine lace.
Over this is worn the sarafan, q
sleeveless gown consisting of a skirt
almost reaching the ground and a
bodice attached to 1t with straps
across the shoulders. These sarafans
are frequently made of fine wooden
or silken material of beautiful colors
and handsomely trimmed with en-
broidery or gold and silver braid.
An apron, also embroidered. is al
ways worn with the ~sarafan. In the
house a short sleeveless jacket is
sometimes worn called dooshegreika
(soul warmer). It is made Of silk
or velvet, embroidered and fur trim
med.
For outdoor use in cold weather a
shooba, or fur lined coat, with long
sleeves, is worm. It is provided with
fur cuffs and collar. The coooshnick,
the headdressa of Russian women,
is a very elaborate and handsome
affair, in shape very much like a
crown. It is made Of gold or silver
cloth and embroidered with pearls
and precious stones in the costumes
Of the rich OF with cheap fnery, but
still very bright, in those of the
poorer classes. These headdresses
are exceedingly becoming to tho
round, full faces of the Russian
women and are wor principally by
the maidens. The married women
generally cover the cocoshnick with
a silk kerchief. On the feet stock
ings and leather shoes of different
kinds are worn, sometimes maroon
slippers embroidered with gold
WaShinntnn Timao