New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1856-12-22
The Emperor Nicholas Bedchamber.


The Nord has published the following details Of a
visit made by its correspondent to the bed-chamber Of
the Emperor Nicholas, at st. Petersburg -5
The person who acted as my guide did not say
whittier he was taking me. He conducted me into
an orchard room OF very moderate dimensions and
lighted by single window looking into court. This
was both q study and bedroom Before the
window was placed desk, on which was pocket
book half open, few sheets of paper and some pens
crumped handkerchief statuette of the Prince of
Wales in the dress Of saton and water-color
drawing representing children. A straw -bottomed
chair was placed at the desk, which was much the
worse for wear, and bore many marks Of being cut
with pen-kne. Near this desk was an old sofa,
covered with green leather, with well cushions.
Opposite, on console ornament with mirror, was
dressing case. in leather, the simplicity OF which
showed that its owner did not indulge in any refine
ment of the toilet On the chimneypiece was small
tlnepiece in black marble, on which stood bust Of
the Count de Benckendorf. There was no looking
glass on the chimney. Hall concealed by the time
piece satuette in bronze Of Napoleon T.. similar
to that in the Place Nendonle. Some pictures orna-
mented the walls representing military scenes paint
ings by Horace Vernet German artists. A bust of
Marshal Kadetzhy stood on the console portrait of
the Grand Duke Michael, brother of Paul, was hung
half concealed; in the corner of the room stood
common soldiers musket, and on q small table was
the helmet of general, without plume, and bearing
marks of long service.
Near the sofa, and parallel with the desk, was an
iron campbell. On the bed, which my guide told NE
J
mattrass covered with leather, and a pillow stuffed
with hay. There was folded upon the bed an old
grey uniform cloak, and at the foot of it, on a well
worn carpet was pair of morocco slippers. l con-
tempated with surprise this austere retreat in re-
mote corner of one Of the most magnificent palaces of
! Europe. When had seen ALL my guide said
" This is the study and bedroom of he#Emperor
| Nicholas. At that desk he sat for nearly thirty
years, and that bed he drew his last breath.
! That old cloak, which he always wore when in this
room, belonged to his brother Alexander. On that
carpet he knelt down and prayed morning and night
every day of his reign. These slippers, which he
to the last day of his life, given him by the
Empress on the day of his marriage. With that mus.
ket he himself taught his children the manual exer-
else and this helmet he always wore in the streets
of St. Petersburgh.''
THE ORIGIN OF PANTALoONs.-This tight-ftting
garment part Of the official costume of the
great standard bearer of the Venetian Republic. He
carried his banner the lion of ST. Mark and he was
the Pidntalone Planter of the Lion around whose
glorious flag and tightly encased legs the battle ever
ragged with greatest fury and where victory most
hoty commended for The particolored legs of the tall
Piantaleone the raying points of the Venetans.
Where his thighs were upright the banner was sure
to be floating in defiance triumph them and
Venice may be said to have stood the legs Of her
Pantaloons. He who once saved states subse
quently represented the most thoroughly battered
imhecile of pantomme. But therein a political
| revenge. Harlequin. clown and Columbine, repre-
sented different States of Italy, whose delight it
to pllory Venice by beating her nightly under the
guiEe Of the old bufoon, Signor Pantaloon." The
dress has survived the memory of this fact though
the DRESS too, is almost obsolete
Habits and Men.