The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1870-03-04


entrance, Of : lie peeparsd tx shells u
eighty pounds. In advance Of these NOR
tan stood two nsauy-oasved do.ehins On
pedestalL Still farther IN slvanoe, two
pyramids, nearly ~ high IS the chimueys,
had been erected Or cared pedestalA Each
was surmounteS by IN ornamental globe,
and had 40 oval window In the centre.
TO TIE left Of the palace stood N ele.
phsnt, large - life; on his back wss man
In . Pcssisn dress, while two similar icy
figures, one bearing alance, stood near the
animal Thus it was that the approach 70
the Magic Palace was guarded by other
magic wonders.
Such was tho aspect Of the famous palace
Of ice, when carly in the winter, thu EN-.
press and her court came to admire the
work of that enchanter, the noble Alexis
Tatischchew. The Court itself muet have
been very curious spectacle to foreign
eyes. 90 quaint and 30 gorgeous were the
peculiar costumes collected there from DIFF.
ferent regions Of the Empire. In no other
country Of Europe was there pomp 70
Asiatic In the lavish display Of gems and
jewels, Of the richest fun and the costliest
manufactures. The effect was most bril-
liant The palace itself shone like one vast
gem Of opal, 20 perfect was the transparen.
cy, and 50 peculiar the blue tint of the fab
ric. Every part Of the building, the stat.
ues, tie dolphins, tho elephant, every leaf,
flower and bird, ay, the solid pyramids, the
very cannon, were gkttering with the ever
changing brilliancy Of the many.oolored
prism, with ito crimson, green, golden
lights. ..s-...t e.
As the Empress approached, wonders In.
creased. A salute was fired from the icy
cannons, and the mortazs threw tlcir shells
high in the Arl Yes, zeal fire and smoks
issued from tho magical artillery; and 1t
the same moment the marblc.liko elephant
threw up . wstesy tpr.E higher than the
roof of the palace .-..g
The enchanted portal opened, and the EN-.
press entered . handsome vestibulc, whence
appeared . lofty room, on either sida In
the drawing.room stood table, apparently
of marble, supporting handsome clock,
whose icy wheels, daintily cut, were seen
beneath the transparent case Large stat
ues filled the corners Of the room. Scttees
aud sofas, handsomely carved, stood on Ell.
ther side; nor were chairs, footstools, and
and other smaller pieces of furniture want.
ing. The sleeping-room, or what appeared
such, on the opposite side Of the vestibulc,
was even still more luxusiantly furnished.
There was grand state bcadstcad, with its
appropriate bed, pillows, counterpart, aud,
above oil, hnely-woven curtains, apparent
" Of lace! There was . dresslns-table
with its mirror, and many nicknacks, jan
and bottles for powders and perfumes, with
cups and boxes for trinkcts. This table
was supported by little caryatides. On the
right was an elegantly carved chimney.
piece, and ON the hearth were laid logs Of
wood, ready 70 kindle! Hero and there
wreaths Of icy flowers hung In fcstoonA
Conceive the delight Of tho Empress and
her Court at the magical beauty of their
toy. There was no happier man that day In
st. Petersburg than the successful archi.
tect, the noble. Alexis Tatischchew. And
still the euchantmont increased. At her n.
rival the Empress had been received with 4
salute. Ather departure another salute was
fired, with still greater effect In the irst
instance ball of hard tow had been well
rammcd into the cannons but the impe.
rial lady now desired that iron balls should
DO tried. Tho experiment was made, and
he artillery Of tho Magic Palace was actu.
lily fired with Z charge Of powder of . /
quarter OF pound, and with iron balls. |
The salute wac entirely successful, the balls
piercing = strong plank two inches thick, 1t
distance of sixty PAGES; and the cannons
uninjured.
An evening visit followed. BY night the
.nchantmont appeared still greater. All the
windows were illuminated with oolorei
and nothing could exceed
he beautiful effects of the light which fill
ID not only the windows, but the transpa-
ent walls of tho building itself, with del.
cate, pearly glow, even more beautiful
han the opal tint by day. The pyramids
we're also illuminated with revolving trans.
,arencies ct the oval windows. The Gle.
'ha1t was now ssen spouting 4 stream Of
'urning naptha, . fro Ike spray, high in
he air, while man concealed within the |
follow body Of the creature, by blow.
ng pipes, succeeded in initiating the roar
lst,,lsl TO the animal Within the palace
he icy candles, smeared with naptha, were
lighted, without melting, and the icy logs
d the fireplace were kindled in the same
vay!
4 beautiful moonlight view, on still IN.
ther occasion, was most charming, from
ho chrystal-like character of the palace,
nd it, garden rejecting thousand silvery
ays. Then again, fresh falls Of snow !
ave new charm to tho spectacle, q every
ornament, every twig and Leaf,
'as dainuly marked BY the soft feathGy
axes, ct white even moro pure than that
( the ics on which they fell g4o,.-#
Through the long winter OF st. Petsrs-
urg, from JsnuaEy 70 ths equinoctial days
{ March, that isy wonder stood On the