New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-01-04
DOUKHOBORTSI CUSTOMS.
Women Are Expert Needle7corkers
II CHiIdKhe PeoDle.

Thu home life of the Doukhobortsi is quaint
bit of Old World, almost Oriental. life set down in
the midst of the breezy. hustling Western frontier
Their villages, framed In the wide stretching
praries of Eastern Assiniboia. are curious study
to the traveller in the Northwest.
Their cottages are ranged either side of an
open street. and are fairly Dutch in their inn
maculate neatness. They built Of unsawn
spruce, pastered inside and out with a clay MKT
ure and then painted with a wash of white mineral
clay Around the walls ornamental dado of
yellow clay $and the verandas neatly orna-
mented with woodwork, sometimes carved ana
scrolled.- Over the gates are ornamental arches,
relic of the Doukhobors' long residence in the
Caucasus which give an Oriental tinge to the
whole
The interiors are spotless with whtewash, and
floors and furniture fairly shine with the scrub
bling bestowed upon them by the Doukhobor house,
wives. Just inside the door of each living room is
the great clay oven five feet square. which radiat-
ing heat from its large surface. effects a great
economy of fuel. It is made with inches in the
outer surface, which serve to keep dish warm.
and the broad top. remote from the fire, makes a
comfortable cosey corner for the old grandmother.
There she sleeps with the youngest children. and
there cold days she sits and knits while beside
her swings the baby in his cradle hung from the
ceiling.
HER NEEDLECRAFT.
The Doukhobor woman is famous for her skill in
needlework. When she arrived in Canada three
years ago every shred upon her. from her quaint
peaked headdress of white quilted cotton to her
stout, sandal-like shoes. was the work of her own
hands, and the was true of her husbands
garb. with the exception of his boots. The old
spinning wheel still sits by the window, and she
still manufactures both linen thread and woollen
yarn. serviceable homespun and coarse Irvine. She
makes beautiful fancywork and weaves the finest
kind of baskets
The Canadat Womans Art Association organ
ICED for the promotion of the native industries OF
Canada. has shown many interesting specimens of
Doukhobor handicraft in it's annual exhibits, and
has furnished a profitable market for some Of
them In its handicrafts shop in Montreal. This
skill of the Doukhobor adds occasional
touch of actual elegance TO the plain pioneer
homes. One tablecloth of pure linen. with
pretty patterns woven in it, and knit linen lace
upon the edge. A dainty basket holds the house
wife's sewing, a richly embroidered handker-
chief peeps from the Sunday corsage.
The Doukhobor has very valuable ideas as
to cleanliness and sanitation. One Of the first
buildings erected when they reached their new
home worn, harassed i'll and poverty stricken,
three years ago. the Russian bathhouse found
in every village and put to sedulous use. despite
thermometer which loves to linger below zero for
several months in the year
These chalet-like little houses speak volumes to
who knows the circumstances under which
in East Assniboia in the spring of 1893 they were
almost penniless. Rescued from Russian persecu-
ton by the English Society OF Friends. they had
received free transportation to Canada, and the
Quakers of Philadelphia afterward contributed the
sum which bought their seed grain and stock
Land, fuel and timber were free, but they had
was necessary for them to spend the summer
working farm railroad laborers to secure