The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-12
CZARINA'S FAMOUS
CORONATION ROBE
MADE FOR THE CZARINA OF RUS
STA. 1T WILL BE ON EXHIBITION
AT LOUIS sAKS' STORE IN BlR-
MlNGHAM ALL NEXT WEEK.

Forty thousand dollars-and that sim
ply the actual cost of materlals-$10000
worth of pure gold thread and 1900 costly
royal ermine skins, valued at $1,000 to
say nothing of the rich velvet the double
satin and the gold fringe and embroidery.
Did any one ever expect that this mag
nificent creation for the czarina of all the
Russias, which the St. Louis Post-Dis-
patch describes as "a sight to dream of.
not to tell" would ever be brought to-
this practical, democratic Birmingham of
ours2
1t is a wonderful product of art, yet.
as the ost-Dispatch well says, ut could
never be 1ourneying the length of a con-
tinent except for the strange story of its
making. Some of the observers may take
more interest in the robe II they know Its
romantic story. In the year 1881, six
years after Alexander ii of Russia made
that friendly overture toward France of
forbidding bismarck and Germany to re-
new hostlities. there arose an adventure
ess In the city of Paris who might have
ranked In fame with DuBarry If she had
had the same opportunities. But Nine.
Barutti's gift was dressmaklng rather
than intriguing, and the only profit which
she saw coming out of Frances graft
tude to Russia was along the line of this
talent. 1t was a talent which she multi
piled a thousandfold, and her daring
scheme just missed success. When the
sudden news of Alexander's lis assassi-
nation came to Paris Nine. Barutti coolly
announced that she had received the or
der for the coronation robe Of the new
czarina. Marie Dagmar. Nobody doubted
her when she set 100 women at work en-
broidering heavy white satin In gold, and
when she bought no less than 1900 of the
costly ermine skins while the great court
train grew richer every day in its exquis-
itely wrought border of gold horns of
plenty Her dressmaking establishment
became a salon for the rich and the
great. Her holiness increased She an
nounced that all the royal families of
Europe were her patrons. Unlimited credit
was at her control This $4,000 gown was
only a small bit of her expenditures. For
this season of her brief triumph Nine.
Barutti saw life. She contracted debts
of 81. 200, 900. hoping always In her heart
that the czarina would perhaps take the
gown, after all, when she saw how beau
tiful 1t was. But the bubble broke. The
czarina showed no mercy to the adven-
turess who had been trading on her royal
name. and the next day Nine. Barutti
was found dead before her beautiful crea-
ton. She had taken her own life.
Then the gown remained without an
owner like a beautiful woman without
soul From the fantastic valuation which
had been given to 1t by reason of Its as
ISOLATION with royalty II fell to an esti-
mate based upon what the materials of
its rich velvet its double satin. its gold
fringe and embroidery and its ermine
were really worth. This price was $40 900.
The model who wears the robe is adorned
with facsimiles of the pearls and other
Jewels worn by the real czarina In court
and only a little ina gination Is needed to
forget the commercial part of the story
and to believe ones self actually behold
ing a coronation scene"
The robe will be on exhibition In the
ladies' department, second floor, of Louis
Saks' store every day during his opening
week, which will Include every day Of
next week.