The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-01-01
.a.eS.:::.s. 3 az

hour on the evening Of December 3ist.
The shopkoepers adorn their windowa
with an attractive medley OF toys and
holiday gifts. Oranges. dried and fresh
fruit. imported and domestic table del.
icaclee. candles. cakes, are either dis
played In the showcases or piled mp In
front OF the stores, which are extraya-
ganily lighted up for the occasion. and
decorated with garlands OF colored pa
per skllfully cut out In the shape Of
natural flowers From the ceilings. from
the top OF the windows. they fall In
the chandeliers. from the pictures. from
grouped fesioona
The mild climate permits n large
and variegaied crowd 70 circulate
through the streets and gather In the
stores. and no sight is more plctur-
osque than a street In the East on ST.
Dasils owe.
There are 10 be feen people OF COM
munities 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 i've
races Is on constant exhibition.
You Gee, 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
breeehes Of the Turks. contrasting with
the long ones Of the Kayaks. The small
red fez aud the large yermilllon one.
designed TO hang down on one side OF
the face like the Phrygian cap. are
lntermlngled with the plain Derby and
black silk hats OF the European gentle
men. whose simple attire Is made OBJ
trusively plain by the bright-oolored
goods used by the natives.
Conceive. too. the variety OF gar
ments worn by the women. Imagine
Tor Instance. the Partisan dress and
bonnet OF European merchants
daughter, side by side with the loose
yellow broeches. 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 aud bright red silk slip
pera, on the women.
Among men Il Is not uncommon to
behold bare legs and gorgeous holiday
iurbans; often a gallant Mohammedan.
covered with rags and ilth. carries In
his belt an assortment OF Damascus
blades. yataghans and jowel-encrusted
firearms. worth a small fortune.
Two singular customs contribute to
This holidays particular character: ono
Ia the making OF st. Baslls oaks" the
other the singing Of song through the
streets on the eve OF the saints al
legged birthday.
Elaborate preparations for the
kneading OF the cake begin In every
mouse two days. al least. before the fcs-
uval, FOR much labor Is involved in It's
contecilon. All the women Of the fam
NY SQUAT on a rug. In the Turkish FASH
ION, around a low. circular pastry
table, and amids, gay stories and
laughter the rolllng-pln runs over the
rich paste. while the housewives vic
In decorating and forming the cakes.
The commoncat decorations are
Oriental arabosques representing
palms, flowers. shells. or gro,esque fig
1res With which TO amuss the children.
while the most skillul workers make
dolls whoe9 faces are red eggs firmly
In the paste.
These would seem simple to an
American housokoeper: but In a 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 It's favorlng Is OF certain
'picos. Il Is usually made very rich.
% that Il may keep soft for days after
[ Is baked.
Housekccpcrs dread the task. for a
argo quantity OF ST. Basirs cake Is
made In each family. A large part Of