New-York tribune., 1906-02-04
A YEAR OF FAMINE.
YELETZ PEOPLE STARVE.
american Womem May Relieve DIS
tress by Buaing Laces.

AT time when all kinds of coarse ana me
handmade laces are being worn In profuslon py
the woman of fashion, there comes from far OH
Russia an appeal to the women or America 10
buy the laces made by the women OF feietz' 10
save them and their families from starvation.
The appeal is sent out by Mrs. Sophia klepi-
kof q Russian woman who Is SAID 10 nave ue-
voted her life to the promotion of the lace IN
dustry among the peasant women of her district
and who has recently been appointed to an OIL
ciaI position in connection with the Department
of Cooperative Workshops. so that she may
the better foster this form of activity
The Department of Cooperative Workshops Is
the direct outcome of the philanthropc ideas or the
Young Empress of Russia The Empress proush'
with her to her new home at the uine oi nei
marriage scheme for the organization Oh
series of government workshops, to De run on
the co-operative plan and their products soid
for the benefit of the workers.
Great success has attended the system since
fits introduction into Russia. There is said TO
he hardly a province or. a town of any impor-
tance which has not one or more OF these CO.
operative workshops. giving employment to the
unskilled Iaborer or the artisan temporarily
out of work.
Among importers of foreign handmade laces
the Yeletz laces are known for their handsome
striking patterns. The coarser varieties resern-
BILE Cluny There are other kinds that are ike
| the handmade torchons and still others that are
fine and small, like Valenciennes
Here is Mrs. Klepikofs appeal:
The vast and rich country of Russia. wneIe
until now all private initiative was supPLeSH%I' %
is periodically afflicted by the calamity OF IN
sufficient harvests, bringing misery TO tne puih
of the population which consists OF siltA asIi-
culturiStS or peasants 80, , .,,, -
alton and suffering from extreme disorganlza.
ton. lives from year to year III od beIAet %
unstable economic equilibrium PAD harVess
suffces to unsettle everything, and millions or
good and able men become paupers.
An insufficient harvest. or, to speak more
letz district of the government or Orel.
The wives and daughters OF peasants from .,a tne
tender age of six to seven devote their tifne
free from field work to the making or lace In1S
industry spreads over the greater part OF the
Yeletz district, l. e., htty villages, ensasils
about 1000 women. In years of good harvest
these women spend the money received Tor lace
chiefly on dressing their families ana them
selves and other necessar1es or me- put IN
years of famine they give all they earn TO buy
bread fuel, etc.
This wear is a. year Of famine. All the sup
plies of bread and fuel were long ago ex-
hausted and In our treeless Yeletz district, when
there is no bread there is no fuel as the peas
ants heat their stoves with straw. 1t is pttiful
to see the poor hungry children, who do not
dare to ask for bread, because there is none
to be had!
Knowing that the American nation has al
ways shown sympathy with human sufferings,
7 appeal to the American women who would
help their sisters. the Russian peasant women,
by purchasing their original and cheap products,
to address themselves with orders for lace and
money to me, at Yeletz. Province of Orel, Rus
sia I have been appointed by the Department
of cooperative Workshops to attend to the sales
of lace in this district in order TO help the starv
ing population.
We have large quantities Of real linen lace
(coarse and fine, of original Russian and other
designs). and badly need orders
When sending orders, kindly state what pUr-
pose the lace is intended for, whether for trim
ming underwear for dresses curtains, pillow
cases. etc. (MrS.) SOPHIA kLEP1hOF.
YeletZ, Russia