The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-09-23
HOME LIFE THAT IS
LIVED IN RUSSIA
Daily Routine of the People of
Middle Classes
"THE SAMOVAR" DINNER
Expense of Llvins-cost of Clothing
Many Dances for the Young Peo-
pIe-The Children Have
Good Manners.
"THE SAMOVAR" DINNER

of the ordinary everyday domestic life OF
the czars subjects.
From the housekeeping point Of view 1t
must be remembered that families live
much the same there as they do in Paris
and other continental cities-in large flats
in large blocks of buildings rather than in
separate houses. As to the housekeeping
Expenses, says a correspondent of the
London Tribune, rent IS perhaps a little
dearer than here, but fat life enables
Fewer servants to be kept, and food is
distinctly cheaper
The housekeeping food Is procured In
much the same way as in England, the
poor going TO the markets. the well-to-do
people dealing at the shops that call for
orders" in the same way as they do In
our principal towns.
But the food in itself differs much in
Treatment and serving from the Anglo
Saxon idea. The morning tea" begins
by showing the variation from the west
ern Europe habits. At an early hour the
"samovar" is placed in the dining room.
and the household go in on leaving their
beds and before their bathing operations,
draw some tea for themselves from the
.samovar," and eat with it a little bread
in some respects like the French brioche.
The Russian bakers make a great variety
of excellent plain Breads
The real first meal of the day is lunch
eon, which is eaten betwewen - and l
o'clock. At every meal "zakuski," other
wise "hors d'oeuvres," are served Then
Various characteristic Russian dishes fol-
low, such as macaroni and meat fried to-
gether and eggs done In all sorts of
ways. At luncheon time a joint very
rarely makes its appearance. Chicken is
eaten, all poultry and game being good
and plentiful, and many kinds are eaten
which do not form the food dishes in
England. France or America. Fancy
cream cheese native to Russia are popu-
bar at luncheon, as well as foreign I'm
bortations like Camembert Gruyere, etc.
such as are to be found within any coun-
try of Europe.
Tea is Served.
The usual o'clock tea of England and
america is not the universal habit of
Russia, but If you ask a visitor to come
in the afternoon tea is always served, and
always at ladies' "at home" days. The
"samovar" stands surrounded by little
dishes of cakes, etc, and also the char
acteristic feature of the Russian tea la
ble-the tiny dainty glass dishes which
hold the preserve" to provide a great
variety of which is one of the prides OF
she Russian housekeeper.
AS to the dinner, this meal always be-
gins In Russia with the "zakusld" which
is placed at a side table, to which all the
guests go and help themselves, standing
up to partalSe of their choice before sit
ting down to the central dining table,
where the meal proper is served This is
much the same as the ordinary Partisan
dinner though soups are typically Rus
sian being made Of ingredients not gem
orally used for the purpose in other coun-
tries. The "bortch" is about the only
Russian soup which has taken any hold
of western Europe.
AS to entertaining luncheon parties are
not usual in the typical well-to-do Rus
eian household, but though dinner parties
are frequently given, they are much less
stately affairs than with people here in
England, evening dress for the men and
decoletage for the women not being
usual. Dinner parties are generally ar
ranged but two or three days beforehand
or even only on the day itself few
friends calling in will be asked to stay
NO dinner, and REINFORCED by two or three
more couples asked In the same informal
manner.
The service of the table In these fami-
dies is much the same. as regards their
glass and china, as in England, but their
silver is particularly good, and they pride
themselves greatly upon the possession
both of quantity and quality, and they
enjoy good designs, though they are
rather forid.
Flowers are ruinously expensive in Rus
sia and they are fewer and are used in
quantities more rarely. On occasions of
lavish display, however, Russians use as
many and more even than the American
millionaire.
In the class Immediately below the one
] am describing, which includes the ordi-
oaary weli-to-do people, the average table
service and comforts In the home gener-
tally are much below the same in Anglo
Saxon countries, the table equipments be-
5ng scanty and ugly
Frequent Dances.
Dances are given much more frequently
and much more simply than In England.
5Young people in a family constantly gath
her to themselves few more young people
and evolve an impromptu dance after a
dinner party, with just simple refresh-
ments This happens very frequently
mmong the circles l am writing about. Big
balls, of course, sometimes are given. par
lticularly around Christmastide and East
Ter and during the carnival. but outside of
fthese set entertainments pleasant infor-
anal dances constantly take place and are
the result of the young people gathering
ltogether.
As for dressing, the Russian women
sfind this a very costly item All clothes
lare very dear. Models are bought In Par
tas by the Russian dressmakers mantle
tluAkeTSt SHOendkelS, etc. Hats and BON
nets and ''frivolities' arrive and are cop
ited with great swiftness, but as rule
THE Russian copy lacks the delcacy and
taste of the original, for, generally speak
ing the Russians do not make good dress
makers, mathematics, milllners and
ihaberdashers. The Russian lady is not
as well dressed as her French sister, but
better than her German, and she certain
1y lacks the sprightly up-to- dateness of
the American
Good looks are always a matter of taste
ITO great extent; but 1t must be admit
ted that the Russian woman is apt to
run to fat in middle age, and her shape
generally is not so good as her Anglo
Saxon sisters. AS a generalization their
best points are their teeth, their fine
eyes and magnificent hair, their complex
lions being doubtful quality, and their
moses are not a strong feature
Servant Work is Hard
With regard to the servants, they work
much harded. their hours are longer and
their appearance is not so neat as the
English maid or man. They are treated
with less Formally, have less comfort,
less food and less accommodation; but
owing to fiat" life, they can and do gos-
sip more with their neighbors. They are
Is placed at a side table, to (which all the
or English servants, but more patient and
disincined to be servile In manner.
Russian fathers and mothers have their
children with them out of lesson hours
far more than the English parents do.
The children see much more of company,
and consequently grow up with better
company manners and less shyness than