Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-08
RUSSIAN SAM0VARS
HALL MARKS OF THE GENUINE
ARTICLE.
Witches and Fairies, According to
Old Folklore, Are Especially
Interested.
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star
In the growing popularity Of a samovar,
both as an ornament and an adjunct to the
breakfast table, the natural desire is to
possess Russian samovar as distinct from
one manufactured in some other part OF the
world. The purchaser will do we'll. there
fore, to note the marks which stamp the
Russian article as genuine.
In the first place, as the manufacture of
samovars in the dominions Of the car is
reserved exclusively to the government, the
imperial crest will be found stamped upon
every genuine Russian tea urn. The reason
why the government engages in this indus
try is that a samovar may be within the
purchasing power of the humbIest peasant.
1t is regarded public necessity In Rus
STA, and is sold by weight and at the actual
cost of manufacture. OF course there are
many grades. from those of the simplest
pattern to others of gold and silver worth
thousands of dollars. and made for the
court or wealthy mobiles. But good brass
samovar, with bowl and tray TO match. will
cost in Russia about $50. and imported into
the United States double that sum.
Another test of a genuine Russian samo-
var is to be noticed in the heating appara-
tus. If spirit lamp Is the method en-
ployed. then, unless it has been obviously
adapted, the samovar is an imitation Those
made in Russia are all heated with char
coal.
But to many people, and especially to
readers who are familiar with Russian now
els, in which the samovar is perpetually in
bubbling evidence, it may be news to learn
that the use of the samovar is a compare
lively modern Russian custom. There are
still to be found peasants in Russia who de-
plore its introduction with the words, Holy
Russia has never been the same since we
have SO many Samovars"
For all that, samovars are to be found
In almost every house and howell of the en-
pire, and sufficient time has elapsed for
some quaint superstitions 20 enshrine them
IN the eyes of the peasantry. A Russian
of the humblest order, for instance will
not light a new samovar unless 1t has been
first blsssed by the priest. Otherwise the
Witch of the Winds might keep blowing the
flame out and the water would never stay
at the boiling point In some parts of the
country, for similar reason, 1t is not con-
sidered advisable to keep samovar too
highly polished. Spirits and elves, like hu-
man beings, are presumed to have their
conceits, and they might be attracted to
hut where a well-burnished-up samovar
would serve the purpose of a looking glass.
AS to the drinking of tea, for which the
samoVar Is IN as constant use the ice
pitcher is with us, what we understand as
Russian tea would scarcely be recognized
by native as such. In the first place, a
Russian makes strong decoction OF the
leaves, which he keeps warm In pot on the
top OF the samovar. Then whenever he
feels like taking drink, which is about
twenty-four times in the twenty-four hours,
coction into a glass, mixes in sugar, some
times jam, and heaven knows what else be-
sides, fills up with boiling water, and swaJ
lows down.