The Opelousas patriot. [volume] (Opelousas, Parish of St. Landry, La.) 1855-1863, 1855-08-11
A Thrilling Picture.

A Thrilling Picture. .
(From St. Petersburg It's People, etc."l +
He who has never wandered on summer
night through the streets and squares Of st.
Petersburg who has never contemplated that
magnificent panorama in the gentle moonlight,
when the nocturnal stiffness is broken only by
the murmurs Of the soft flowing Neya he to
whom the colossal statues, upon their immense
pedestals, have never appeared, through the
twilight Of northern night, likegigantic phan-
toms just risen from their graves--let him not
say that he has seen st. Petersburg.
Select such night, and go forth tog gaze up
on the monuments OF by-gone greatness. Spec
ter-like they pass before you, their steadfast
eyes fixed upon the book Of genuine and inn
partial history, to whose pages, impressed with
adamantine and blood-red types, they point
with iron tngers-alike to the inscription Of
undying fame, and to the record of infamy and
crime!
1t was on such night that returned alone
from the country, and paused upon the half Of
the Troitzky Bridge, The center portion of
the bridge bad been removed to let vessels pass
through This is always done at night in or
der not to impede by day the traffic over the
bridge. Igot out Of the carriage, had myself
ferried across, and continued my way OH foot
towards the interior of the city. Passing
along the quay, and by the Winter Palace /
rambled slowly to the Summer Garden, and
soon stood on the further side of the canal, in
front Of that remarkable building, whose gra-
ting, bitches, bridges, and palisades, betray the
former tOrtress-lke habitation Of the Emperor
Paul.
The palace is now occupied by the school Of
engineers. Opposite the facade, in the outer
court, stands the equestrian statue Of Peter the
Great. 1t is of bronze the attitude of the
figure is quiet and easy, the horse is in on ad-
vancmg attitude. The pedestal is of marble,
adorned with very handsome bas-reliefs and
bears the simple inscription ITO the Grand
sire, the Grandson" Paul /. had it erected in
the year 1900. so-- uz.. II
In Northern Russia the summer nights, from
the middle Of May until the end Of July, are
almost as light as day. The quality Of this
nocturnal light is particularly favorable to the
aspect Of buildings and statues, whose beauty it
seems to heighten by sort of enchanted radi-
ance. sat down upon bench whence had
q front view of the statue. CHANGING to the
left, my attention was attracted by the walled
up window Of the Emperor Paul's sleeping
room, into which apartment, since his death, no
human foot has entered nor ray of light pene-l
trated. Often, when passing by, had looked
up at that window, but never with such absorb
ing interest as that moment !; lsat gazing alter
nately at the grandsires statue, and ut the
place Of the "grandson's death, until at last
my thoughts grew confused, shadows hovcrcd
about me, and fell asleep. had not slum-
hQrQd Innr Whnn l uo rnuooI b,, IF
footsteps and hollow murmurs. opened my
eyes, but could see nothing, for all was slrouded
in profound darkness. Suddenly the pale moon
emerged from behind the clouds, and distin-
guished in my immediate vicinity group Of
five men, in old fashioned uniforms who, with
pale countenances, and uncertain gestures, whis-
pered secretly together. Almost as soon US /
discerned them one of them perceived me, and
silently taking my arm, he led me away with
him. 'f
We walked softly across the court to the
great staircase. 1t was lighted up. To. our
right hand, at the entrance of the first corridor
stood grenadier on sentry. He. presented
arms, and let us pass. Now we turned into
side passage, at the extremity Of which we
found ourselves in q great hall. At its inner
door stood a Cossack on guard. Before he
! could call out, one OF my companions sprang
upon him and drove dagger into his left
breast. Without q sound he sank upon the
floor. The others strobe across his body to the
door {; it was fastened, but violent kick burst
it open, and we entered lighted chamber,
where was man who, US it seemed, had just
awakened from deep Sleep and who was
stretching forth his hand to the bell-rope that
hung beside his bed. One Of my companions,
who was attired in rich uniform, sprang for
ward, and with his bloody dagger cut the rope
above the outstretched hand. ''5 9
A momentary pause ensucd, then one Of the
intruders approached the man in the bed and
held out to him, after low and respectful obe-
isance, with the one hand al open document
with the other, q pen wherewith to sign it
Thereupon the man sprang from his bed, attired
only in his shirt, and with single bound was
in the middle of the room, when he assumed SC
lofty an attitude, while his countcnance and
bearing were SO imposing and dfgni6ed, that
the others for moment timidly gave back
Now commenced vehement discussion, o
which l, ignorant Of the Russian language, un
fortunately understood nothing. l compre
hended however, that some hard condition wa
sought to be extorted from the person we hat
found in bed, for his countenance grew purpl
with fury, and when the murderer Of the Cos
! sack again approached him with paper and per
he dealt him blow in the face, which mad
, , him stagger three PAGES backwards. L.. a.
At the same moment that this happened,
heard tumult of an unmistakable character il
the guardsroom below. A muts spectator {
this singular affair, / had retired into the en-
brasure Of window, whence now looked GU
) upon the courtyard There saw the Office
oi the guard (who at once recognized a. 'hil