The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-01-30
The Dwarf's Wedding.

which have resisted the elements, not
only through the winter, but far into the
succeeding summer, and in some instances
even during several years. In illustration
of this fact, the Courier des Etat Unis
tells the following story:
Peter the Great Of Russia had in his
service a buffoon named Nicklieff, a dwarf
in size, and particularly ugly in appearance,
but possessed of a mind fail of Intelligence,
and OVERLOOKING with an sarcasm, in the
exercise Of which even the car was not al
ways respected He one day approached
his master and requested permission to
marry,
And who do you suppose would marry
you 2 demanded the car.
'Catharine Italivaski,' replied the dwarf.
'Catharine Italivaski that majestic,
beautiful creature, attached as fille-de-
chamber to one of the empress's ladies-in-
waiting! Impossible, my poor Nickolieff!
She is young and beautiful, and you are
old and ugly
She loves me said NickolieG. swelling
with offended pride Everybody does not
look upon me with the unfavorable eyes Of
your majesty
You must be very rich, then or she
would not love you, said the car.
ALLOWING that to be, should not be the
first one who has been loved for his wealth !
replied the butfoon, with a cynical smile.
4 know of one far more richer and more
powerful than Lam, who has thought him
self loved for himself alone instead of his
piles of yellow gold, and was so plainly de-
ceived that he alone was unsuspicious Of
the true object
The emperor turned pale with anger
and bit his lips until the blood flowed, for the
buffoon alluded to love adventure Of the
monarch well known at court, but Of which
none had dared to speak above whisper.
very WE'LL said he, controlling his rage
by violent effort, since you desire to
marry Catharine Italivaski. you shall do
so. I change myself with the whole ex-
pense of the nuptials, and you will receive
from me the palace, which you will occupy
with your charming bride. Meantime
you are forbidden to leave your chamber,
under penalty of being made acquainted
with the knout, in comparison with which
the blows Of my wife, which have often
made your shoulders ache, are mere love
caresses.
Fifteen days after, on 18th of January,
1920, the bufoon was awakened at day
break by the sounds Of music at the door
of the chamber which served him as a
prison. A number of the servants Of
the car entered clothed him in magnif-
cent suit of garments. then placed him on
sledee. to which were attached four Of
the most beautiful horses in the imperial
stables, and surrounded by cortege com
posed Of the greatest lords and ladies of
the imperial court, conducted him to the
cathedalNotre Dame de Kazan, where the
nuptial ceremony was celebrated with
splendor and extravaganza which not only
treasured, but delighted the proud Nick
olieff.
The nuptal benediction pronounced, the
happy couple were placed upon sledges,
and conducted to an isolated place, short
distance from the city, on the banks Of
the Neva, where he had built palace, the
like of which never existed except in
fairy tales.-The palace, which reflected
in thousands of luminous rays blazing
torches of the cortege, was built of mas
sive blocks Of ice, cut out as if from stone,
and fastened with water in place Of cement.
The dwarf and his wife were introduced
into an immense hall, the furniture of
which, tables, chairs, chandeliers, every
thing was made Of ice, and were served,
in the presence of the emperor and his at
tendants, with a fast Of regal sumptuous-
ness.
The choicest and most delicate wines
were served in abundance, and the goblets
of Nckleff and Catharine-also carved
from blocks Of ice-were kept constantly
filed, until at signal from Peter, the
spouses, stupefed with wine, were carried
to the nuptial chamber, and placed upon
a bed of solid ice, richly carved and gil
ded, and there left without fire, or other
clothing in the frised temperature Of a
Russian winter The doors of the cham
Der and places were then sealed by pour
ing water over them, when they immedi-
ately CONCEALED, rendering them equally
solid with the walls themselves. AS the
coyteye withdrew, the cruel czar remarked:
Behold a nuptal night such as was never
witnessed before"
Eight months after the fatal night, says
the historian Leveque-that is, at the
close Of the month Of August-this pal
ace and tomb of ice still existed, and in
an almost perfect state. Certain portions
Of the exterior only had yielded to the
influence Of the warm winds and sun, and,
melting, had formed about it species OF
opaque stalactlties The monument itself
gradually lost its transparency, and be-
came a dirty, furnished mass, through
which it was no longer possible thanks
to God-to distinguish the bodies Of the
frozen lovers, which the very features had
been SO long visible. Another winter
passed, consolidating the fearful tomb a.
new, so that two years later, under the
combination of frost, hail, snow, dust, sun
and rain. this fairy palace was completely
transformed into little hillock, black and
hideous to behold
When at last Peter the Great gave or
ders to demolish the frightfui witness to
his barbarity, the pickaxe and bar were
found insufficient for the purpose, and re-
course to blasting was necessary to relieve
the shores of the beautiful Neva from the
villainous object which recalled so dis
graceful history.
A., Tr;cb,oan From, R.4+lo HrooJ- NIL,