Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-28
FINE FuRS FROM the ARCTIC
SKINS OF ANIMALS USED FOR
ADoRNMENT OF WOMEN.
Stables, Ermine and Silver Fox Pelts
That Come From Siberia-Work
Of the Hunters.

From the London Telegraph.
Although fur has always been regarded
as a necessity for winter wear, there
never was a time when specimens so
magnificent were within the reach Of the
women Of England In its real splendor
ii Is not attainable for the many; it is
luxury of the favorite of fortune. Only
within recent years have the skins Of the
wild animals OF England been pressed
into service, and so may be universally
worn. Whether it be revulsion of feel
Ing or not 1t would be hard to say: but it
is impossible not to observe that this sea-
son has developed marked taste for
leather Soft leather. dyed to any color
or shade. was originally intended for the
use of the motorist. but garments are
offered so dainty and so pretty that they
must perfoyce vie with the cheaper FUR
coats. a loose coat or a Russian blouse
OF dyed leather is considered by many
people more suitable than a fur coat of
uncertain ancestry.
Silk lace. furs and jewels have been.
and are to this day, the costly possessions
that mark the woman fortunate above her
fellows. the treasures that descend from
one generation to another. Siberian sabes.
ermine. silver fox are always associated
with wealth and distinction. The animals
which furnish these furs are found in far
Siberia the land of snow, the bleak, desc
late lard associated with exile from home
and kindred. The opening up of certain
districts of that country is scarcely likely
to reduce the price of these costly peltS
or to h-ing them into more common wear.
for every season makes them more rare,
and SO Of greater value
Siberian Fur Hunters.
The Siberian fur hunter clothes himself
IN skins. In summer he wears reindeer,
t,o ;e- ~ 10 hi
of the less rare among the wild creatures
by whom he makes his living. For deco
ration. of which he is particularly fond,
he has thickly wrought embroidery, fire.
quently In metal and he likes to have
tags and thongs of cut leather forming
fringes hanging about him. II is note
worthy that English women of fashion at
the present moment are also wearing
those cut lengths and thongs of leather.
His head covering is always cap or
hood of fur and the weapon he carries on
his quest for pelts Is bow fitted with
arrows, OF which the heads are especially
thick and round. The beautiful animals
the small and dainty ermine, the fox.
whether white. red or black-must not be
shot. because the skin would be injured.
The best hunters stun these with an arrow
shot on the head, and then. with the ut
most care. turn the skin inside out as
they pull IL of their booty.
Travellers in Siberia tell of certain dis
tricts on the banks along the stretches
OF rivers where they come upon hundreds
Of these skins hung out as closely as they
will pack on ropes. These are the set
Elements of the dealers. to whom the
hunters bring their prey for sale. 1t
must not be supposed that even in this
condition these skins cease to be costly
Every little ermine skin is priced at a
considerable number of rubles. according
to its purity and beauty. and as to the
cost OF the skins of Russian sables. those
coming from special districts run easily
up to a thousand rubies each and more
Stables and Fox Fur.
The magnificent black Russian sable
and tho skin OF the fox, which is dark,
with a silvery light on it, cost several
hundred rubles before they leave the
hands Of the expert hunter who has secur-
ed them. A traveller. recently writing
about those glorious furs, tells how in .
desolate and lonely district, he came
upon the settlement OF a dealer whose
seasons purchase had been specially
good Talking of sables. ermine and
fox. he looked carefully round before he
even mentioned a certain skin he had
been lucky enough to secure. Then he
closing the door. took out his precious
booty. just as a gold miner might hold a
nugget In safe keeping. 1t was only the
skin Of fox, jet black and with the
while the most delicate tips of white
picked 1t out. No one but fur connois-
seur would regard the price obtained by
this dealer for that skin as anything but
a fairy tale, for it brought him not very
much less than 600. tiny skin of
such fur. suitable only for a coat collar,
costs 34O at least before the hands of the
furrier have commenced to make 1t up.
Black sables come, too from China and
from Japan. They cost very much less
than those from Russia, and they rarely
have the silky appearance of the genuine
Siberian. Canadian sable is also very
beautiful and somewhat costly 1t is not.
however, the regal fur of Russia. The
face OF a lovely woman never looks more
like a flower than when 1t rises from the
depths of soft fur, and the fashions in
fur have not at any time accentuated
this SO much as at present. The wonder
full stoles. in which four, or even six
whole skins Of foxes. black, red, or, as it
Is usually called. brown. or white, with
heads and tails complete. are utilized for
making them. and the result Is a costli-
ness not to be realized except by con-
noisseurs. The small skins are procured
so far away; they demand such care in
handling: so much labor is necessary be-
fore they are perfect for my lady's wear,
that whole families have lived comfort
ably upon the proceeds.