Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1852-04-08

D SCI NC0s
3 The next day the Emperor re
, turned TO the scene Of destruction
/ Within the walls the fire still ragged
For some time he gazed mournfull
, at the blackened remnants OF one c
: the chief ornaments OF his capital
At last he raised. his head-passed hi
hand over his brow, and said cheer
fully
"This day year | will sleep in m,
room in the Winter Palace. Whc
undertakes the buiIdingl" For
moment all recoiled before an un
dertaking that seemed impossible
Then Gen. Klenmichael, an aid-de
camp of the Emperor, stepped for
ward and said, 81 willI'' sand the
building is to be complete in a year?'
asked Nicholas. "Yes SIRE" "'Ti:
good! Now set to workP'
An hour later the still burning
ruins were being cleared away
The fire was in December, 1887;
by December, 1888, the palace was
rebuilt. Three months afterwards
il was occupied by the court. Klein
michael kept his word--but at a
heavy price, price that could be
paid only in Russia, for it was at the
cost of human life as well as oI the
mountains Of gold. Under the En-
press Elizabeth, the palace had taken
eight years 10 build; Klenmichael
completed it in one. True il is that
almost the whole Of the masonry
resisted the fire, but the interior had
10 be reconstructed; and what a
task that wasl The work went on
day and night; festivals were un-
needed; the seasons themselves were
overcome. To accelerate the work,
the building was kept at the exces-
sive temperature of "a 10 % degs.
Reaumur. Many workmen sank
under the heat, and were carried
out dead or dying; a painter, who
was decorating a ceiling, fell from
his ladder struck with apoplexy.-
Neither money, health nor life was
spared. The Emperor, vino at the
time OF the confagration had risked
his own life to save others, knew
nothing Of the means employed to
carry out his will.
In December OF the following
year, says Mr.. Jerrmann, and in
proud consciousness of his power,
the Emperor entered the resuscita-
ted palace, and rejoIced over his
work. The whole was constructed
on the previous plan, but with some
Improvements and many embellish-
ments. With the Empress on his
arm and followed by his family, he
traversed the apartments OF this
immense building, completed in one
years time, by the labor OF thou
sands Of men. He reached The sa-
loon OF ST. George, the largest and
most beautiful Of all, and the royal
family remained there longer than
any where else, examining the costly
gold mouldings of the ceiling. the
five colossal bronze chandeliers, and
the beautiful relieve over the throne,
representing ST. George Staying the
dragon. The Empress was tired,
and would have sat down. (the
patron spirit OF Russia prevented
her,) as yet there was no furniture
in the hall, so she leaned upon the
Emperor's arm and walked into the
next room, followed by the entire
retinue. The last Of these had |
scarcely passed through the door
when a laundering crash resounded
through the palace, which trembled
TO IFS very foundations, and the air
was darkened by the clouds of dust.
The timbers of the ceiling Of the sa-
loon St. George had yielded to the
weight of the chandeliers, and the
whole had fallen in, crushing every
thing beneath its enormous mass
The saloon, so brilliant a moment
before, was a heap Of ruins. The
splendid palace was again partly
destroyed, but the genius Of Russia
watched over her destiny-ihe i'm
perial family was saved.
Even the smallest glimpses Of the
private character and habits OF so
a man as Nicholas of
Russia, cannot but have their interest.
The chapter entitled the "Imperial
comprises several pleasing
traits Of bon homme and kindly feel
ng, in the Emperor. He considers
himself as the first servant OF the
state, and likes 10 make those around
him observe this. II a party Of
pleasure is proposed, she will join
t if the service permits" To a
avored but weary official, who asked
10 retire on a pension, he replied
SO long as | serve, you also, | hope,
will not refuse your services TO your
The days he passes in his country
palace of Peterhof are his days OF
-eIaxation from this "servic6."-
Every hour of them is spent in the
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