Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-03-15
MUrcester @atlp Syn.
A NEW YEARS CALL AT THE WINTER PAT
ACE OF THE RUSSIAN EMPEROR.
Correspondence of the Louisville Journal.


be present at the Winter Palace on the first
day of January TO receive the congratulations
OF their majestes upon the incoming new
year. OF course l accepted and accordingly
had the homer 10 accompany Ke1tucky's wor-
thy representative at this court. We entered
the palace at the grand Neva entrance and
were ushered into large aud elegant room
supported by immense marble pillows. IL one
corner of this room were collected a host OF
Chasseurs with their gaudy liveries aud feath-
cred chapeaus, awaiting the return OF their
masters.
We here left our Shubus and galoshins, and
being ready to proceed, handsome, finely.
formed man, dressed in the imperial livery
with large fancy colored ostrich feathers in his
hat, that seemed almost to weigh his head to
one side, came up, bowed, and lei the way to
the top of the stairs, where we were taken in
charge by another servant who seemed to be
OF higher grade than his predecessor. who
showed US into capacious and richly decora.
ted room, with Russian officers OF various
grades busiy engaged in conversation In
this room we were met by an assistant master
of ceremonies, who, after passing tile usual
civillties, wishing us bonnie aimee, accompa.
MED us through several rooms of officers into
the throne room, where already were assem-.
bled several members of the Corps Diplomat
But to return TO an humble description of
the rooms through which we passed. First.
we came through what seemed to be an ele-
giant passage, near hundred yards long, but
what in reality was urge room, with pillows
so placed at intervals, and reflected by mir
rors, as to give 1t the above named appear
ance. This seeming passage led up flight of
white marble steps twenty feet broad. The
walls of the stairway and halls above were
most tastetully and extravagantly decorated
with figures, statutes, aud ornaments of differ
ent kinds, while the entire ceiling was taken
up by solitary painting, presenting ore of
the many exploits OF the Russian arms. The
fist room, the doors Of which were guarded
by couple of soldiers, who stood like statues
themselves, present arms being the only sign
OF life displayed, was, as | said before, crowd
ed with officers. The walls aud ceiling we're
it possible, even more handsome than those
just mentioned. The room itself commanded
a splendid view of the beautiful Neva, so very
broad at this point, aud S commonly known
by the name Plate Room, So called from being
the receptacle of a number OF massive gold and
silver plates, OF which, t,gether with the
plates, were presented salt and bread to the
different empelors on their return from vie
tir'nus campaign, as embems Of wisdom and
plenty. The next room, and ihe next, and
grandeur and magnificence that skiliiul work.
manship aud freely lavished gold could pro-
Guce.
The throne room was not characterized by
that display OF everything rich and costly
that could be crowded into it-so requisite 10
the Russians peculiar idea of beaufy.-but
was simply elegant The large gOldc0lored
throne chair-the back and sides of which
were covered with red velyel-set back in
what might be termed grand niche. In the
center OF the back OF the chair Il double-headed
eagle, with the imperial crown, was worked
with thread on the top OF the back of the
chair was placed small gold crowns imme.
dialely back OF the chair was a life size por-
trait OF Peter the Great, the Top OF the frame
being also surmounled with a crown; still
over This, and on the top Of the fIame-wark
that supported the picture, was a third aud
still greaier gOd-coOred crown; the ceiling
the "niche" was literally spangled with
miniature crowns. The rest OF The room was
perfectly Tree from ornament, but pu either
side of the throne stood two solid silver candle
Zebra, six feet high, and in some parts over six
inches in diameter. From the centre OF the
ceilin. hung IA massive chandelier Of The same
precious metal, and large enough 10 support
two hundred and fifty candies.
Such is hurried description of the room in
which his majesty the emperor and autocrat
Of all the Russias and his amiabe and accom-
plished empress annually offer their congratu.
lations to the diplomatic corps and high Ufii-
GERS of the empire. Soon the foreign ambas-
sailors and their suites began to arrive in
quick succession. The French ambassador
being absent in Paris, the first secretary Off
ciated in his Stead none OF the British en-
bassy were present. on account Of the recent
death of his royal highness the prince consort ;
with these two exceptions believe the entire
corps were in attendance.
1t would be idle i'll me to attempt to describe
tue various uniforms of the soldiery and the
court dresses of the dplOmatists and his mai
esty's high officers suffice it to say that the
uniforms were endless, including Cossack,
Crcassian, Tartar, and KalmucB, and of ev.
cry grade, iron, the generalin chief to the
motionless sentinel stationed at the door.
Scattered in rich proiusion over both ambas-
sailors and members of the court-every one
seeming to have his share-were decorations,
Stars. and the various insignia with which
they had been honored. The Greek minister's
entire costume was worked with heavy silver
thread, SO as to resemble light silver coat
of mail The Turkish envoy wore European
costume, with small, red, tasseled cap. The
Fe sian ambassador was by no means pecu-
ilrly dressed though he, as also the Turkish
L
noticed an invited guest, however, in full
Oriental costume, and sporting mOustache
that would have sufficed to adorn the lips OF
half a dozen Of my less aspiring Kentucky
r,ends.
| had very little time to examine the many
varied and interesting costumes, before a bus
tie among the masters of ceremony gave
evidence of the approach of his ma psiy.
Ambassadors with their secretaries standing
beside them, and few officers Of the empire,
were ranged near the wall on either side OF
the throne. The senior Ambassador 10 the
court being entitled the position OF homer, or
that nearest the door through whlch the em-
ueror would enter, LIE Due d'Osuna - the
longest resident at the imperial court-had
the honored position, and so on down to the
Turkish minister, who has but Lately arrived.
All ewes were now turned upon the door oi
the >alnnn through which his majesty was then
evidently passing, as the surrounding clash
of arms clearly indicated, A small body OF
military officers entered first, and passed en-.
trely through The room; then host OF Guam
berlains, a Jew of whom stopped al lhe last
dnur. then Alexander Xl emperor ana
autocrat of all the Rnsslas, and, MS has heeh
said OF his father, "a figure OF the giandes'
beauty, expression, dimension ard courage,
uniCing all The npjeslies and graces OF all The
heather o )ds-the little god Of love perhaps
alone excepted" wanting no outward token
TO d, clare the majesty Of his presence. lie
advanced slowly accommodating his manly
movements to the short steps OF the empress
WHO. arrayed in blaze Of jewels, dragged
n heavy train OF gold embroidered white more
antique After the imperial pair came the
her apparent and the younger sons OF the en-
pefor, as also the grand dukes Constantine,
NJ. haa