Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-06

garian lace, is the finely worked medal
lion. which forms an important motif
Of the trimming.
Sleeves In Family Many Years.
Calling attention to an odd pair Of
white raw silk sleeves with brilliant
crimson stripes and edged with hre
silk lace. Nine, Radeff said, These
sleeves have been in my family for many,
many wears The brilliant coloring is char
acteristic of all the clothing worn by the
women of my country. The Bulgarian
country women love gay colorS-they
love bright Things and always look on
the happier side OF life. They are al
ways singing, tco. no matter how hard
they may be working"
In addition to the silk sleeves, two
very handsomely embroidered Woolen
mats said TO be many centuries old,
testified to the durability Of Bulgarian
fabrics as we'll as Bulgarian work
preservation. Practically all of the
laces shown by Nine Radef were
needlepoint, of 8 heavy, durable, raw
silk.
It has long been the custom among
the peasants to deliberately trim the
groonn's shirts with lace. as well as the
brides costumes, the Minister'S wife
said.
A primitive but effective method Of
dyeing materials, is still employed IN
Nine. RadeffS country among the
natives of the villages. To obtain the
gay stripes upon the white backgrounds
so often seen in the Bulgarian silks. the
raw thread is tied very tightly into a
compact bundle. It is then dipped into
the dye, which incidentally is entirely
made by the peasants. and when the
bundle is united, 1t shows the stripes
on the white background. produced by
the fact that only the exterior portions
Of the conpaetly tied silk has absorbed
the dye, leaving the interior untouched
by the color,
Thirst for Education.
Keeping UP good ancient customs
and traditions throughout the country,
Is accompanied by q love OF progress"
Nine. Radeff remarked, Bulgarian
women have a thirst for education. In
the larger cities Of the country may be
found many women doing important
universities-active in social welfare
enterprises and the other fields into
which the twentieth century woman has
entered
Although Bulgarian women do not
vet vote" continued the Minister'S wife.
they take the greatest interest In gen.
eral politics, especially In social work.
They also influence the men in questions
of national Importance to the women
and children. Bulgarian men always
give consideration to the opinion ex-
pressed by their women. Public opinion,
as we'll as the government. fully appre-.
ciate the importance Of the participa-
ton of women in national and state
life
You will perhaps remember that the
first government 10 appoint woman to
a diplomatic post was the Bulgarian, as
we'll as giving to q young woman lawyer
the important mission of representing
her country in an international mixed
claims court.
The American schools for girls in
Bulgaria and at Constantinople are al
ways overcrowded with Bulgarian girls.
Near Soma, a big American college Is
being built. Development Of social work
In Bulgaria was greatly stimulated by
an American lady-the wife OF Q for
mer Russian Minister In Soma, Nine
Bakhmeteff. who, before her marriage,
was Miss Mary Beale,
Although l was very young at that
time" reminisced Nine. Radeff. II re-
member her quite we'll, as she was
great friend of my mother. Nine,
Bakhmeteff founded the Society of the
Good Samaritan, in which she received
the cooperation of the most prominent
women Of Bulgaria.
The American Red Cross also has
assisted Is, sending to Bulgaria nurses
for training the personnel for Bulgarian
hospitals.
Americas part In Bulgarian eduea-
ton for women and in social welfare
work has heen of greatest importance"