The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1867-02-05
The Dwarf's Wedding.

such great solidity as to retain in cold
countries any desired shape for long
time; and houses have been constructed
of il (which have resisted the elements, not
only through the winter, bat far into the
succeeding summer, and in some instan-
ices, even during several years. In illus.
tration of this fact, the Courier des Etats
Unis tells the following story;
| Peter the Great of Russia had in his
service buffoon, named Nickolieff, a
dwarf in size, and particularly ugly in
appearance, but possessed of mind full
of intelligence and overfowing with wit
and sarcasm, in tho exercise Of which
even the sacred majesty Of the Gzar was
not always respected. He one day ap.
preached his master and requested per-
mission to marry
'sAnd who do you suppose would mar
Try you ?" demanded the Gar.
"Catharine Italivaski," replied the
dwarf. Z
"Catharine Italiyaskil that majestic,
beautiful creature, attached as file de
chambre to one of the Empress ladies in
waiting Impossible, my poor Nicko-
lief! She is young and beautiful, and
you are old and ugly"
"She loves me!' said Nickoleif, swell
ling with offended pride. ''Every body
does not look upon me with the unfavor-
able 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 buffoon, with Gym
ical smile. II know of one far more rich
and more powerful than l am, who has
thought himself loved for himself alone,
instead of for his piles Of yellow gold,
and was SO plainly deceived that he alone
was unsuspicious of the true object"
The Emperor turned pale with anger,
and bit his lip until the blood fow-
ed, for the bufoon alluded to love
adventure Of the monarch we'll known at
court, but of which none had dared to
speak above whisper.
Every well,' said he, controlling his
rage by violent effort, "since you de-
sire to marry Catherine italivaski, you
shall do So l charge myself with the
whole expense 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 be-
ing made acquainted with the knout, in
comparison with which the blows Of my
wife, which have often made your shoul.
1 ders ache, are mere love caresses. =
Fifteen days after, the day Of Janu-
ary, 1870, the buffoon was awakened at
day break by the sounds of music at the
door of the chamber which served him
as prison. A number Of the servants
of the Car entered, clothed him in mag
4 nifcent suit Of garments. then placed
him on sledge, to which were attached
four Of the most beautiful horses in the
stables, and surrounded by cortege com
posed of the greatest lords and ladies Of
the imperial court, conducted him to the
cathedral Notre Dame de Kazan, where
the nuptial ceremony was celebrated with
a splendor and extravaganza which not
only reassured, but delighted the proud
/ Nickolieff.
! The nuptial benediction pronounced,
the happy couple were placed upor
the sledges, and conducted to an isolated
!, place, short distance from the city, OF
the banks of the Neva, where had beer
builta palace the like of which never ex
listed, except in fairy tales, The palace
i, which seemed to be constructed of crys
tai, and which reflected in thousands o
luminous rays the blazing torches of tn,
corteee, was built of massive blocks O
ice, cut outa if from stone aud fastened
with water in place Of cement. Ths
: dwarf and his wife were introduced intt
en- immense hall, the furniture Of which
tables, chairs, chandeliers, everything
was made Of ice, and were served, in th,
Epresence of the Emperor and his attend
ants, and with feast Of regal sumptu-
business. The choicest and most delicat
wines were served in abundance, and tht
goblets of Nickolieff and Catharine--alst
7 carved from blocks of iee-Yere KEEP
constantly filed, until, at signal from
Peter, the spouses, stupifed with wine
were carried to the nuptiai chamber ant
placed upon bed of solid ice, richly
carved and guided, and then left, withou
fire or other clothing, in the frigid tenn
perature of Russian winter. The door
ofthe chamber and palace were then seal
ed by pouring water over them, whicl
: Immediately CONCEALED, rendering then
equally solid with the walls themselves
AS the cortege withdrew, the cruel Cza
renal ked, ta
e "Behold a nuptial night such as wa
never witnessed before.'1
Eight months after the fatal night
says the historian Levequc-that is, a
t the close of the month of August--thi
palace and tomb of ice still existed, ant
] in almost perfect state. Certain portion
of the exterior only had yielded to tn
q Influence of the warm winds and sun, and
e melting, had formed about species o
!, iopaoue stalactites. The monument itsel
! gradually lost its transparency, aud be
came dirty. furnished mass, throug
J which it was no longer possible, thank
: to God, to distinguish the bodies of tn
: frozen lovers, of which the very feature
y had been SO long visible. Another win
e ter passed, consolidating the fearful tom
anew, SO that, two years later. under tn
lcombination of frost, hail, snow, dus
sun and rain, this fairy palace was com
|, pletely transformed into little hillocE
U tla ol .,5 hidaaus IN behold u