The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-02-14

With the present craze for barbaric
metals, the American woman has ap-
propriated all the symbolism, color,
handiwork and material of the abb
original. Eyes are fairly adazzled by
the primary colors and designs in the
Jackets, satchels, bags, card cases,
fobs, chains and bracelets to be seen
every way we turn.
The craze for bead work is mild
compared to that of metals. Golf
sticks and other trite designs in metal
are old, the rage being for the heavy
bracelet, the tiara, comb, waist but
tons, ETC., made by the Indians.
Mexico is so near, just over the bor-
der, the routes so easily traversed, the
mining and excavating passion so in
tense, that travelling is a luxury, and
the tourist, we'll informed through pic
turesque official literature, digs, delves
and finds precious stones such as
opals, turquoise, perodates and Fubies,
and the ever lovely matrix, in subtle
shades of green.
AS a consequence, old silver rings
are ferreted out, literally begged,
borrowed or stolen, when the chink
of coin is not sufficiently hypnotic,
and milady returns to dazzle her
friends with her possessions. The tur-
quoise and unusual natural stones
which are set within the rings, pins
and buckles are really the talismans
of the savage. as is the coral of the
Latin races for the evil eye. There
is but one serious consideration, if one
were superstitious, in wearing jewels,
gems or stones, polished or unpolish-
ed, and that is that the good effect of
the turquoise be not overbalanced by
the bad effect of some other stone
which is supposed to counterfeit
through evil the good acquired. The
fair barbarianS are not troubling
themselves very much over this, how
ever.
There is a charm in being outre or
unusual in taste, and the girl of to-day
is affecting it. Swastika crosses, Az
tee calendar designs, serpent designs,
scroll, circules, triangles and teeth
and claws of wild beasts are common
enough for all to realize the part they
play in aboriginal circles. The Moki
Indians, the Navajos and other tribes
have presented interesting study along
these lines in all directions, their
cooking utensils, their blankets dec
grafton of the tepees, etc, From their
primitive ideas. the merchant now re-
produces in dull metals, pottery or
woolens corresponding articles which
serve as decoration or ornament with
in the home or upon the person.
Therefore, when milady adorrs her
charming self, she seeks appropriate
material and harmony of color to ac-
cent the barbaric ornaments which
embellish her costume. She avoids that
which disfigures and affects that which
enriches and beauties. She is affable
and gracious as she is conscious that
she is original or individual
Very naturally, milady when travel
ing abroad earnestly seeks the homes
of the peasants for family trinkets of
silve or unique metals in particular,
in order that she may adorn herself
in cosmopolitan America according to
her liking. Even in the United States
the foreign settlements are invaded for
such trinkets, which are usually held.
however, in a tenacious grasp; but
judicious cajolery ofttimes proves a
tempting bait when a crisp note of
Uncle Sans is rendered in payment.
Bracelets fashioned from the silver
dollars given by tourists when visit
ing Alaska or Mexico possess a dou-
BILE satisfaction when the process of
carving with a single tool is visible
while you wait" Fobs of metal and
beadwork, collars and chains of beads,
bone and colored silks. held together
with bits of silver uniquely chased in
design are the rage.
The collector in her travels has a
keen eye for .the artistic. When in
the West she pounces upon the bits
of handsome metal which ornament
the harness of the broncho or lean
pony OF the Mexican Indian. These
ornaments are called "conchos," and
they come In various shapes. Some OF
them are circular. These make hand
some cloak buckles when clasps are
added by a civilized" jeweler. All are
artistical'y decorated with designs Of
the SwaEtika cross and other fanci-
Zeal carvings. IN the center of each
ana - a turquoise. which looks beau