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I declare that I have a name: Aristides Subicz. Subicz from my unwed mother; Aristides from one of my many potential fathers. (Aristides Blanc, the operator of the casino in Monte Carlo? Also one of Mother’s lovers? Possibly. At any rate, a close friend of John’s.)

By the way: Johannes Schwab. Also fits very well. Remains to be seen if I can conceal myself behind it.

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At Home

From the 1821 travelogue of Count Karaczay: This region, bounded by the main branch of the Moldova, the Dniester, the Black Sea, and the Danube, consists partly of gently rolling hills, but is mostly level and extremely fertile. It constituted the province called Bessarabia. The principal town was Kishinev, the seat of a princely clan ruled by Benderli Ali Pasha. Before the Russian invasion of 1807 under General Mayendorf, Bessarabia was inhabited by Volga Tartars who migrated here in 1568. They cultivated the soil, raised livestock with especially great success, and were known for their honesty, kindheartedness, and bravery.

In the warm seasons of the year, the land suffers from drought. The valleys are marshy and full of reeds. There is no woodland, not even scrub growth, and a bushy grass called burian as well as reeds are harvested, dried, and used as fuel. Winters are very harsh.

Under the general name Government of Bessarabia, Russia has incorporated this country into its empire and the little town of Kishinev, not far from Dubasari and almost exactly in the middle of the country, is the seat of government. Bessarabia is bordered by the Wallachian Moldova and thus constitutes a Romanian region despite its separation by the Pruth River. It is administered by Greek princes, the so-called Phanariotes installed by the Turks. The Moldavian peasants are of sturdy stock. The men wear linen shirts, long trousers, and wide leather belts; in summer a white or blackish-brown jacket made from a material prepared by their womenfolk, and in winter sheepskin coats. Their hair is cut short and their usual head covering is a sack-like cap of lamb’s wool. In rainy weather they take their caps and stuff them between their shirt and belly, where they also often keep their lunch, which always consists of a sort of polenta of cornmeal (called mamaliga), and then pull the hood of their jackets over their heads. In summer, the apparel of the women often consists of a simple smock with a light belt, and a white kerchief on their heads. Sometimes their underskirt is replaced by a striped apron, usually of black wool, tied around the waist. This apron is sometimes tied with a narrow wool belt, usually of a bright red color. Their chemise is long, reaching almost to the ankles, very close fitting, and of a fairly fine, well-bleached linen, made at home of fine-spun yarn and often interwoven with stripes of cotton or silk threads as decoration, and always embroidered, often very richly. There are no unembroidered women’s chemises among the peasantry. The embroidery is of silk, and sometimes spun gold and silver or even glass beads are worked in. The primary embroidery is on both shoulders and always at least a hands-breadth wide. In addition, two stripes run left and right down the entire chemise and on the sleeves one often finds many straight and slanting embroideries, and frequently red and blue flowers as well. The white kerchiefs on their heads are even finer than the chemises. They are the masterpieces of the women’s handiwork. They are usually white and often embroidered with colors, with very tasteful decorations worked in along the edges. The way they arrange this kerchief on their head without a mirror and even without pins is a tribute to their good taste. It covers the head more or less like a nun’s wimple, but without stiffening or constraint. Its ends hang down somewhat and are secured at the throat and halfway down the breast by a number of clever folds. The free ends are usually thrown over the left shoulder. One sees women and girls thus attired coming to church or into town, but also working in the fields. Especially when the weather is cold, some wear a sort of sleeveless vest of silk material usually trimmed with a narrow band of fur. Their bare feet are a striking contrast to this quite fetching costume, especially when it’s muddy. Only on holidays and in the winter do the women put on boots of strong yellow morocco.