APPENDIX 143 



whereby the unique handmade articles of the peasant, 

 made in the snowbound izbas during the long Russian 

 winter, will be placed within reach of Americans. The 

 Imperial Government's purpose in this is partly to 

 extend Russia's trade, but mainly to furnish a means 

 of livelihood for the tens of thousands of wounded 

 and crippled men, forced to return to their peasant 

 homes as a result of the great war. 



The true peasant handiwork, hitherto uncommercial - 

 ized, is the most original that has been seen in modern 

 times. In these peasant izbas is being made a lace not 

 less beautiful in design and fineness than the famous 

 laces of the Middle Ages. Russia is a land of linens, 

 and the manner of their preparation and careful 

 weaving by hand produces textures unlike those of 

 any other country. 



The government has been careful to perpetuate the 

 original ideas of each of these Koustar centres, and 

 every region in Russia is marked by some typical and 

 self-expressive industry. From the Caucasus come 

 rough ornaments and exquisitely chased silver works; 

 from the north comes a whole industry of unique 

 woodwork made in the richly grained Russian birch ; 

 from Little Russia come some of the most beautiful 

 laces and linens. 



In modern trade, where almost every avenue of 

 production has been commercialized to enable the 

 easy supply of popular demand, this opening to 

 America of the hitherto unknown peasant handiwork 

 of Russia is the entrance to unsuspected beauties in the 

 common things of life. 



