The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1867-01-31


It 10 we'll known that ice is capable Of
such great solidity - TO retain in cold
countries any desired shape Tor long
time; and houses have been constructed
Of it which have rssistsd the elements,
not only through the winter, busfbr iaso
the. succeeding summer, and IN scns
instances even during several years. In
illustration Of this fact, the Courier des
Etats Unis tells the following story
Peter the Great Of Russia had In his
service q buffoon named Nickolie6 .
dwarf in size, and particularly ugly IN
appearance, but possessed Of . mind full
of intelligence, and overdowing with wit
and sarcasm, in tho exercise Of which
even the car was not always respected.
He one day approached his master and
requested permission to marry.
And who do you suppose would marry
you?'' demanded the czar.
'Catharine Iealivaski," replied the
dwarf. - 1AasaaE
"Catharine Italivaski! that majestic,
beautiful creature, attached as fille de-
chambre to one of the empress's ladies
in waiting! Impossible, my poor Nicko-
lief! She is young and beautiful, and
you are old and ugly"
"She loves mel" said Nickolieff,
swelling with offended pride. EVERY
body 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 czar.
"Allowing that to be, should not be
the first one who has been loved for his
Wealth. replied the buffoon. with q
cynical smile. 81 know Of one far more
richer and more powerful than I am,
who has thought himself loved for him :
self alone, instead Of his piles of yellow
gold, and was so plainly deceived that
be 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 adven-
ture Of the monarch well known at court.
but of which none had dared to speak
above whisper. Every we'll, = said he,
controlling his rage by a violent effort,
'.since You desire to marry Catharine
Italivaski. you shall do so. charge
myself with the whole expense OF the
nuptfals, and you will receive from me
the palace, which you will occupy with
your charmfhg 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 the 18th of
january, 1720. the bn1oon was awaken
Cd at daybreak by the sounds of mnsic
at the door Of the chamber, which served
l. A 1&<s ~ r.
vants of the car entered, clothed him
in . magnificent suit of garments, then
placed him on sledge, to which were
attached four Of the most beautiful
horses in the imperial stables, and sur
rounded by a cortege composed Of the
greatest lords and ladies of the imperial
court, conducted him to the cathedral
Notre Dame de Kazan, where the nup-
tial ceremony was celebrated with .
splendor and extravagance which not
only re assured, but delighted the proud
Nickolieff .NxsM &Ew#a
The nuptial benediction pronounced,
the happy couple were placed upon sled
ges, and conducted to an isolated place,
q short distance from the city, on the
banks Of the Neva, where he had built q
palace, the like Of which never existed
except in fairy tales. The palace, which
seemed to be constructed of crystal, and
which reflected in thousands ofluminous
| rays the blazing torches of the corsege
was built of massive blocks of ice, cut
out as II from stone, and fastened with
water in place of cement. The dwari
and his wife were introduced into an
immense hall, the furniture Of which
tables, chairs, chandeliers, everything
was made Of ice, and were served in the
presence Of the emperor and his atten.
dants, with feast Of regal sumptuous.
| ness. sEas =-esasse=s
The choicest and most delicate wines
were served in abundance, and the COB
/ let's of Nickolieff and Catharine-als<
carved from blocks of ice-were KEEP
/ constantly filed. until at . signal from
Peter, the spouses, stupefied with wine
i were carried to the nuptial chamber, ane
placed upon . bed of solid ice, richly
carved and gilded, and there LETT withou
fire, or other clothing in the frigid tenn
perature Of q Russian winter. Th,
doors of the chamber and palace wer
then sealed by pouring water over them
when they Immediately CONCEALED, rem
dering them equally solid with the wall
themselves. As the corfege withdrew, tn
cruel car remarked: Behold q nuptia
night such As was never Witnessed be
fore" n
Eight months after the fatal night
says the historian Leveque-that is, q
the close Of the month of Angust-th
palace and tomb Of ice still existed, an,
in an almost perfect state. Certain por
tons Of the exterior only had yielded =
the influence OF the warm winds an,
sun. and, melting, had formed about it
4 species Of opaque stalactites. Tn
monument itself gradually lost its trans
iparency. and became . dirty, tarnishe
mass, through which it was NO longe
possible-thanks 20 God-to distinguis
the bodies of the frozen lovers, Of whic
the very features had been so long visible
Another winter passed, consolidatin,
the fearful tomb anew, 50 that two year
later, under the combination Of frosi
hail, snow, dust, sun and rain. this fair
palace was completely transfornned int
little hillock, black and hidso1s to b<
hold. 80