Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-02

The Bulgarian woman is distinctly, unat-
sectediy domestic. For her the whole round
world revoivcs about her man. her chill
drcn, her home. To have q good man, y
who provides well for his family; 10 have
as many children aud to be as well favored
and dressed as her neighbors, to be able to
keep ell the $50 holidays each year-this IS
the erd ard aim of her existence. She has
no long.ngS for the uu;i tn;na bic, no react
ings out for the mystical beyond.
She is honest industrious, capable. kind
hearted. She lives in simple, pat:iarchal
StT.e. calls spade a spade. Is scrupI lousy
c!ean IL many things and horribly dirty In
others. She loves her children and brings
them up In the way they should go by an
interplay Of resouutling slaps and kisses.
The children are seldom bathed and never
und"esscd at night but they are sold
healthy little creatures. about as light ard
graceful on their feet as kitchen table.
Neither picturesque nor sanitary are the
little huts Of the peasants, 10 or u of which
so TO form Bulgarian village. They are
usually set In meadow by the side of a
stream far back out of sight OF the pub
i!c road. Around n framework Of Saplincs
branches are woven in and ont and then
p'aStered inside and out with mud 40 Chin
ner SPOTS the symmetry of the low matched
roof. but frequently one sees melancholy
Sto"k pprchcG on one ion" shank. engaged in
Gathering his BIZ! or aimirins the uheel-like
rest nc has built there for safety.
one Or two little windows. sometimes Of
glass oftener without. admit what little light
can struggle in. The. floor is of beaten
earth There is neither chair nor divan IN
the room. but bank Of earth al one end. IN
which is q pie of heavy com fo"tab.es ana
hay pillows. Above 1t swings 4 wooden shelf
on leathe" straps to hold the baby. rolled IN
like an Indian napoose. Here. also. Is the
meal chest, the wooden tray in which the
bread is mixed and the hnctetS OF copper or
wood for bringing the water from the Villas GO
we'll IN the small outer room is m earth
oven. set in 8 hole In the floor. where the
blnck Bulgarian b"ead is baked.
On another bark of earth strnds the
wooden chest which holds the family ward
robe. Under the caves hang festonns of red
peppers. herbs and wool. and on the side
wall pocket holding the wooden spoons
used by the family. In the winter the loom
completes the furnishing. In the summer il
stands outside the door. where the good wife
sits aud weaves all the stout homespun in
which her family is clothed. watching. mean
while, the family buffaloes wallowing in the
mud near by. the children playing with the
pigs md fowls or the men cutting sandals
for the family from the skin of the sheep,
whose flesh is being Sodden In the pot
Lnc!S of Conveniences.
There are no conveniencas for the Rul.
gnrian women. Everything Is done 81 ct
arms. II she chops meat she does II on y
broad board laid Fat on the floor. When
she washes. If she lives In the capital, she
brings her water from the hydrant in the
street or from the old Turkish fountain: If
In the country. she scours her garments on
the stones by the streams. heating them
With wooden paddle. then rinsins them In
clear water. The diet OF the peasants is
simple IN the eXtreme-onions and garlic
galore, beans ditto. cheese made from thp
milk of the buffalo. also yaburt or matzoon.
black bread. sometimes made from mi,.et.
and an occasional bit OF mutton. Their ordi.
nary drink Is water. thin sour wine being
reserved for holidays. So simple are their
habits that few diseases attack them. even
the plague sparlns the Eu,garians, While il
carried of the more luxurious Turks.
The strong white teeth of the peasants are
doubtless due to the coarse black bread
upon which they have suhsisted .,r genera.
tions. Among the comparatively we'll to do
pok.ova Ia the dish par excellence that
crowns the feast. Certain women are re-
nowned FOR Its preparation. for II requires q
def hand and not every one can achieve it.
1t is compounded of four honey and mutton
fat. and Is about the thickness OF ordinary
pie crust. By reason OF Its hardy constitu
ton /. may be kept on hand for several weeks
at time, II carefully secluded from the
family. Foreigners have to be- educated up
to pokova on account Of the strong mutton
fat favor.
Famous Dish From Buffalo Milk.
The yaourl. or uatZuon. made from he
milk of the buffalo. Is much easier Of assImi
lstion. and our American missionaries and
teachers grow fond Of this dish. !.
little OF the old malzoon Is always KEEP,
Oh band for q starter. just IS our grand
mothers kept yeast.
About three pipts Of NILS 10 put over the
are Ia boil, great care being taken that 4