The Kanzas news., 1858-10-23


Its iron tongue is swung by the uni
ted exertiOns of three men. 1t is only
rung thrice a year, and when it speaks all
other bells are silent. To those who stand
near the tower. the vibration of the air is
said to be like that which follows the ST.
multaneous discharge of hundred can
non. In the other stories hang at least for
ty or fifty bells. varying in weight from Sc
tons to thousand pounds-some of them
are one-third silver. When they all sound
at once, as on Easter morn. the very tower
must rock on its foundation. In those
parts of Russia where the Eastern church
is predominant, no other sect is allowed to
possess bells. In Austria the same prohi-
bition is extended to the Protestant church
es. The sound of tie bell is a part of the
act of worship, and therefore no heterodox
tongue, though Of iron, must be permitted
to preach false doctrine to half the city.
The. Empress Anne seems to have had a
fondHess for monster castings. Turning to
the right, into an adjoining courtyard, we
behold a tremendous piece of artillery, fa-
miliarly known as the 'pocket-pieee'' of this
Tzariua. The diameter of the bore is three
feet, but is is evident that the gun never
could have been used. 1t was no doubt
made for show, from the bronze of cap
tured cannon. In the same court are ar
ranged the spoils of 1919, consisting OF
nearly thousand cannon. French and Ger
man. They are mostly small field pieces,
and hence make but little display, in spite
of their number. The Turkish and Per-
sian guns, some of which are highly orna-
mented, occupy the opposite side of the
court, and are much the finest of all the
trophies here. = =
Close at hand is the House of the Holy
Synod, and as We are accompanied by our
obliging Consul, Col. ClaxtoB, to whom all
doors are open, we are admitted into the
sanctuary where are preserved the robes
worn by Russian Patriarchs during the last
six hundred years, as well as the silver jars
containing the sacred oil, used for solemn
sacraments throughout the whole Empire.
The robes are of the heaviest silk, inwoven
with gold and silver thread, and so sown
with jewels that they would stand stiff up
right with their own richness. The Patri-
archs seem TO have had an especial fondness
for pearls; of which, in some instances,
the embroidered figures are entirely COM
posed. In strong contrast to these daz-
zling vestments are the coarse brown hat
and mantle of the Patriarch Nichon The
holy oil is preserved in thirty three jars,
which, as well as the larger vessels used in
preparing it, are of massive silver. About
two gallons year are necessary to supply
Russia. The council hall of the Holy Sy-
nod is in the same building. It is evident
ly the ancient place of assembly, long,
lNx -i.H L.
ground, and raised seats along the wall for
the principle personages.
Let US now turn from the sacred to the
secular sights of the Kremlin, although
some of the latter are not less sacred to
Russian eyes. The palace doors open to
the special permit presented by Col. Clax
ton, and we ascend the broad, noble stair
case. The plain exterior of the building
gives no hint of the splendors within. I
have seen all the palaces of Europe with
the exception of the Escurial), but can
not now recall one in which the highest
possible magnifcence is so subservient to
good taste, as here. Inlaid floors, ,sof such
beautiful design and such precious wood
that you tread upon them with regret; cap
itals, cornices and ceiling -soffits of gold; /;
walls overlaid with fluted silk; giant candle
labra of silver and malachite, and the soft
CLEAN of many-tinted marbles, combine to
make this truly Imperial residence. The
grand hall of St. George, all in white and
gold, is literally incrusted with ornamental
carved-work; that of ST. Alexander New
sky is sumptuous in blue and gold; of ST.
Vladimir in crimson and gold; while in
that of St. Elizabeth, the walls are not only
overlaid with gold, and the furniture of
massive silver, but in the center of every
door is Maltese cross, formed of the lar
gest diamonds I! The eye does not tire of
this unwonted splendor, nor does it seem
difficult to dwell even in such dazzling halls.
In lower story is the banqueting hall.
hung with crimson velvet, studded with
golden eagles. Here the Emperor feasts
with his mobiles on the day of coronation
the only occasion on which it is used.
The dwelling rooms are fitted up with
equal magni6cenc, except those occupied by
the Emperor himself, in which the furni-
ture is very plan and serviceable. In some
of these rooms we found everything topsy-
turvy. Officers were busy taking an in
ventory of the furniture, even to the small
est articles, in order that stop may be
P W 'iiO ""'ICHdIV pIuHucT WHICH mas Deen
carried on in the Imperial household. since
the death of Peter the Great. The dishon
esty of Russian officials is. matter of uni
versal nOtoriety, and Alexander II is doing
his part to check and punish It. He has
not been the slightest sufferer. During the
coronation forty thousand lamps were
bought for the illumination of the -Krem-
lin, and now not one Is to be foundi Thou
sands of yards of crimson cloth. furnished
on the same occasion, have disappeared.
and enormous charges appear in the bills
for articles which were never bouubt at all.
All Moscow IS now laughing over one of
these discoveries. which is too amusing not
to tell, although l may offend strict ideas
of propriety in relating it, In the suite OF
the Empress were fifty chosen Ladies' OF
Honor, who, OF course, were lodged and
entertained at the ImnariaI avres.,,ss =