Page:The Bohemian Review, vol2, 1918.djvu/9

 specimens are almost covered with close embroidery in black exhibiting an endless variety of patterns, but in every case showing a perfect harmony of color and design.

Still more characteristic and varied and even more interesting are the embroideries from Moravia and the Slovakland. It would be out of place to initiate a stranger unacquainted with the geography of the Bohemian lands, into the characteristics distinguishing the ornaments of needle work and the dress of the several districts. Only general observations may be given here.

The innate liking for decorative display concentrates its aims principally on the head-gear; hence the endless variety of caps and coifs, as well as of scarves and kerchiefs. The chemises of the women have either broad collars with rich embroidery, or a broad ornament in the middle of the sleeves. The aprons in some districts are blue with a garland of many colored blossoms as a border. In other parts they wear black with blue embroidery or in some cases with an insertion of open work and a colored ornament. Even the men, especially the youthful swains, indulge in many bright ornaments on their dress, the breast of his shirt, waistcoat and breeches, and sometimes even the mantle thrown in graceful folds round the shoulder