Cairo evening times. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1865-1866, 1865-11-12
RUSSIA
The Army being Reduced Capt H.
Tells Good Story-A Drive to Arein-
lin-Palace of the EDlperOr-Halls OF
St. George and st. Vladimir, &c, Ac.

CONTINUED FROM fES1ERoAfl
An important reform has recently been de-
creed-instead of fourteen years. IL common
scldier now serves seven. The army is beng
considerably reduced, although conscripton
ls going on in the country; and here, again,
this falls unduly hard upon the people. MOBILES
are not subject to conscription, although they
receive military education, and become offl-
GERS. The tables turned very nicely the other
day; two serfs being conscripted, bought their
former masters to serve in their stead.
Capt. H. tells good story of his experience
in getting the peasantry to work. He had
urged friend of his-a large and-holder-to
try reaping and threshing machine; but he
said it was no use; he could not get his serfs to
work it, and that he knew nothing of running
one himself Capt. II. profferred to arrange
that; he would go and oversee the starting of
it himself. Accordingly he did so. There
were acres of golden wheat, spread out on a
surface level as floor Hurrah, boys! at four
a. IN. everything was ready for work, and at
five the machine went off beautifully. The
Captain was quite elated with his success, and
| the equally delighted land-holder stood looking
on, counting the ready rubles that would be
garnered in wheat, in his. barn, that night, if
everything moved on at that speed during the
day. At six o'clock every laborer stopped
| work; some threw themselves down to rest,
and some started for their quarters. What's
this meaning of this?'' exclaimed the Captain.
''Oh, our days work is done early" ''Done
early! What do you mean? We have but
| lust begun ''But our task, from time i'm.
| memorial, has been so many bound bundles
| per day, and these are fnished.'' "But the
machine has done it, and not you" reasoned
| the Captain. >' Yes, we know that has helped
| US along, but our allotted task is done, and we
| shall do 10 more.'' Not even the inducement
of wages would move them. The consequence
| was, a heavy rain came, and the rich man s
rubles that he had counted prematurely went
to the dust.
"And now for the sights" says the Captain,
! and we drove to the Kremlin, through the
| Holy Gate, where sentinel is stationed, whose
! duty it is to that every head is uncovered
| that goes through. The sanctity OF the arch
| way dates from the time that Napoleon's army
| stormed the walls, when this suffered from the
siege, only rent, protected, it's believed, by
picture of the Saviour, which is still held in
great reverence. Criminals formerly executed
in front of this gate, offered their last prayers
TO this miraculous image. After all that [ had
read and been told of the kremlin, [ found
| that had very imperfect idea Of it, as prob
ably you will still have after l tell you of it.
find that seeing is necessary to a complete un-
derstanding of any place, or thing. 1t occu-
pies nearly the centre Of the city, and forms an
ahinsa Triangle about two rntes in eirenmfer-
ence- Only wall across the hypothenuse of
| the triangle shuts you out, when within, from
| view Of the city. :. The other two sides. built
| upon wall, perhaps fifty feet high, form ter
| race upon which you can overlook the Moscow
| river at its base, the former moat now turned
| into prettily laid out shaded grounds, and the
city. The various buildings contained in the
Kremlin are mostly placed on one side, so that
! the Alter is left quite an open space, where
| plenty of lolterers congregate to promenade and
| admire the view.
! ~ The palace was not open to outsiders in gen.
eral The Emperor had just left, and was in
| time to sniff Imperial dust. One unsophisti-
Gated to the display Of liveried gentle men, in
ante rooms, halls and saloons, would have
thought himself Just in time to witness grand
| levee. "A d5gnftary, dressed in a red broad.
| cloth cloak with wide cape trimmed with gold,
| ushered us liz. Red broadcloth floor covering
| in balls, was being rolled up; chandeliers were
| being put in sacks; chairs and SOFAS covered
| with brocade and velvet, receiving their robing
of white linen. 1t was a fortunate mo-
| ment to be, admitted little longer
and much that now gave splendor to the ROOM
| would have been concealed. An attendant
distinguished by brass buttons and profusion
| of medals-showed us through the long suite of
apartments. thought had seen too much
of palatial display to be astonished at anything.
but really these are too gorgeous to believe
a reality, and it seemed as if / were walking
in halls Of Arabian Nights imaginings, and
yet, all in such perfect taste as not to appear
uncomfortable nor glaring. The Emperor's
drawing-room is hung in white silk, with gold
mouldings, with inlaid doors, his crest and
initials in the centre formed Of diamonds; and
those of the Empress cabinet, which is hung
with red silk, corresponding; malachite pillars
separate this from an exquisite boudoir; there
are malachite mantie-pieces, beautiful crystal
vases, and China etogis built up pyramidally
for boquets, in hooks just where they will show
off to the best advantage. The cerdal aha, all
in glass, something like the beautiful Venetian
twisted glass. are peculiar to Russia. The state
bedroom, hung in wite brocade; niche for
the bed, separated by wndetts and pilastres
IN 0ertle antique, and adjoining bath room
in marble and mirrors Now what sweet ad-
vantages are offered royalty orsweet slumbers
and purified bodies. The sthrone-rocm -con-
tains the arms Of the thirty seven States or
provinces that compose. Russia; the walls are
hung with blue silk, the steps that lead to the
throne are spread with gold cloth, and the
golden chairs are canoped and draped about
with hangings of blue velvet lined with erminc.
The magnificent Hall of st. George, said to be
the finest in Europe-and certainly have seen
nothing that equals it in spleudor-is used
merely for promenading upon grand occasions;
the walls are of white marble; inscribed in gold
letters are the names of those who belong to
the order ofSt. George. The plate and china
was still spread out from a grand dinner the
Emperor had given the day before [ could
appreciate the truthfulness Of the Captains re-
mark, that when these rooms are lighted by
thousands OF Candles they are so brilliant as
to detract very much from the toilette of the
ladies-all they can do for effect, is to pile on
the diamonds
We will pause on the old hall of st. Valdi
mir, with its high grained root, and hangisgs
of black and red silk; this is only used on cor
onation occasions when the Emperor passes
through on his way to the cathedral, which is
not reached, however, without his making
few steps outside; from flight of steps at the
| end. Of the hall, the Friars of old allowed
the populace to see 1.-THE light of their eyes. -
! BY these same steps Napoleon and his train as
cended to take possession of the palace a rem
nant of which was saved from the flames that
| Tapped the heavens on that night, which saw
Moscow the ancient, the beautiful the idol of
every Russians heart, reduced to ashes The
| rooms are low and heavily grained, there are
| some interesting seals and documents, but not
| much to attract even the historical associations
| that cluster about it for three centuries Now
| for the Treasury that forms wing of the pal
ace, its windows closely barred, soldier on
guard at the outer and inner door, Every.
where am astonished by the boarded treasure
of Russia in the shape of precious stones,