The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-20
PECULIAR RUSSIAN CUSTOMS.
Superstitions Concerning the Birth
of an Imperial Grand Duchess.


of an Imperial Grand Duchess.
From the New York Mail ana Express.
The birth of the Russian princess calls
attention to some of the peculiar customs
and ideas OF that nation on the subject
of imperial babyhOod. The wardrobe OF
the little stranger in this case. according
TO a recent letter to the Baltimore Ameri-
can. consists of 500 pieces, and has cost
many thousand dollars Four dozen pieces
each Of bands, skirts, shirts. dresses. OF
whatever has been ordered, as well as
ptna ng-b blankets, EtockiTFS. caps, and
carrying cloaks." The bands and pin
of the richest and finest of real lace and
the most delicate ribbons. and the carry
ing cloaks are Of silk and Nalenciennes
lace.
The woman who IS to be the real mother
of the helpless child for the FIRST twelve or
eighteen months OF it's babyhoOd career
is the subject of extraordinary and auN-
ious search. Her character must be blame
less. Yet she must be situated SO that
for this length of time she can forswear
her own infant and home. No other per-
son in any capacity of household service
commands such wages as does the royal
nurse when she has been found. She re-
ceives at least 500, and sOmetices $500 a
month. She is always provided with two
or three other nurses, and has her own
suite of apartments for herself and her
precious charge.
No more gorgeously appareled person Is
seen in all the Russian court than the
nurse of the young princess.
There are some superStiuOus ObserVances
connected with the Russian infants from
which even Russian royal babies are not
exempt For instance, woe betide the lit
tie one to whom the incautous or igno-
rant visitor addresses an exclamation:
oh, what lovely childv' "Ah, what
a fine, healthy boy!'
God bless himl The Lord be with
him The Holy Virgin be about him.
The nurse exclaims Indignantly.
DO you wish the little angel to be be
wtched Tudarina2 Is il the first babe
you have seen-the first pretty One2 Thou
Christs babe of mine! thou Lords child
of mine! so 70 sleep, my generalW
The nurse is apprehensiVe of the effec.
your exclamation (the thing is to avoid
interjections) may have on the sleep am;
health of her charge. She draws the
silken curtains closer around him, mm-
muring prayers for his welfare. while the
abashed visitor excuses herself assuring
the nurse that she has by no means an
evil eye, and never bcwitched anybody in
her life.
In no country in the world are babies
regarded with greater affection than in
passlonateiy devoted 10 his children ana
young nieces and ncphews, and when :;
was possible he always spent some hours
with them every day.
The terms of cndearment-affection
diminutives-are endless. Although there
is no word which answers to baby" Ina
Russian, there are often tender little ep-
ithets which are common terms of en-
dearment in every household throughout
the cars domains, whether in the peas
ants home or i'm the palace of the ruler
Of the land. The little one ia dOushinka
dear little souD. lubesnoe Oittle DEAR.
milinkoi my little dear, drushka Qittle
FRIEND and gOlubshik Qittlc dove.