The Chanute times., 1897-01-01

and variegated crowd to circulate
\ through the streets and gather in the
\stores, and no sight is more pictur-
esque than a street in the East on st
Basil's eve.
There are to be seen people OF COM
nunities and races having nothing IN
common but the land and the sur
rounding atmosphere; there are curious
contrasts Of complexion and wearing
apparel; there the genuine attire OF hve
races Is on constant exhibition.
You see, for instance, the long, loose
robes of the Jews, and the bright red
or yellow silk garments worn by their
wives. There are the short, wide
preeches of the Turks, contrasting with
the long ones of the Rayahs. The small
|red fez and the large vermillion one,
\ designed to hang down on one side OF
the face like the Phrygian cap, are
inte>mingled with the plain Derby and
black silk hats of the European gentle
men, whose simple attire is made OBJ
trusively plain by the bright-colored
goods used by the natives.
Conceive, too, the variety Of gar
ments worn by the women. Imagine,
for instance, the Partisan dress and
bonnet Of European merchants
daughter, side by side with the loose
yellow breeches, the lilac doublet and
the long green veil of a wealthy Ar
menian lady! Every day one sees en-
broidered bosoms, long garments some
times trimmed with fur. robes, CASH
mere shawls and bright red silk slip
pers, on the women.
Among men 1t is not uncommon to
behold bare legs and gorgeous holiday
turbans; often a gallant Mohammedan,
covered with rags and filth, carries in
his belt an assortment of Damascus
blades, yataghans and jewel-encrusted
firearms, worth a small fortune.
Two singular customs contribute to
this holidays particular character; one
is the making of "St. Basil's caks," the
other the singing of song through the
stress on the eve Of the saints al
legec birthday.
Elaborate preparations for the
kneading of the cake begin in every
house two days, at least, before the fes-
tival, for much labor is involved in its
confection. All the women of the fam
lily squat on rug, in the Turkish fash
Ion, around low, circular pastry
table, and amidst gay stories and
laughter the rolling-pin runs over the
rich paste, while the housewives vie
s", DECORATING f6esc and forming the cakes.
commonesr decorations are
l<tsntal arabesques representing
palms, flo 1,ers, shells, or grotesque fig
ures with which to amuse the children.
while the most skilful workers make
dolls whose faces are red eggs firmly
embedded in the paste.
These would seem simple to an
American housekeeper; but in coun-
try where cooking utensils and baking
ovens are very rude, the undertaking
requires much patience.
The cake consists of butter, eggs and
sugar, and its flavoring is of certain
spices. 1t is usually made very rich,
e1that 1t may keep soft for days after
ffs baked.
Housekeepers dread the task, for a
large quantity of st. Basil's cake is
made in each family. A large part of
1t is destined for the hospitals, the
children's and orphans asylums, the
prisons and the poor; another part is
given away to callers, to servants and
to the boys who come round in the ear
ly evening to sing st. Basil's song
New Years eve is a great time for
the Rayah boys. AS soon as they ring
the bell of house the door is thrown
open and the voice of the master is
heard, saying:
Let the boys in at once! Give them
money, fruit. and all that they can
carry of st. Basils cake. Come on,
servants, fill their pockets while they
give us their song"'
Then the poor children, delighted by
the warm welcome of the host and the
profusion of dainty things given them,
sing with frenzy the romantic little tale
Of st. Basil, which ends with the call