The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1870-03-04
NEW NORTH WEST.
DEER LODGE CITY, FRIDAY, MARCH 1.
The Moatc Palace.

In tho year l7So the Empress Anne, niece
Of Peter the Great, reigned In Russia. Her
court was gay one, with the kind Of half
barbarous splendor which u shown In the
palaces Of the czars q that period. Tho
brief autumn of those extreme northern 70.
eions was rapidly passing sway, ard while
statesmen were knitting their brows over
political stra.agcms, or military campaigns,
for the new year, the coEltiers were eagerly
planning smuscmeu!1 70 enliven the heavy
gloom Of the long winter, already drawing
near. Balls, masquerades, concerts, and
other entertainments of the usual oourt!y
routine, were lightly talked over. But of
these the proud gallsnts and jewcled danes
were very weary. Honest labor knows Of
no fatigue 20 cxhsusting - the safety of
idle pleasure. County gayeties often be,
come exceedingly dull and wearisome-a
heavy burden, in fsct-to the most frequent
~ taking part in them. There was q cry
fur novelty. Something original WAS need
ed to throw fresh intcrcet into the usual
amuscments. Suddenly most brilliant and
novel suggestion was mace.
"Ict 10 set winter at de6ancei" exclaimr
ed the noble Alix Daniclowitch Tatschc'
hew. LET frost and snow and ice conf
bine to build Magic Palace for the Auto
crat of the North"
The suggestion was received with secla'
nation. The plan was hid before the En-
press. She graciously smiled, and declared
herself charmed with the idea Lucky Al
cxis! The Imperial Exchequer was order.
ed 10 provide the necessary funds, and the
work began.
Some years earlier, In tho year 1882, .
grand military spectacle, on IN imposing
scale, had been held, during the severest
frost of the year, on the Ncva, then covered
with ice several feet in thickness. The EN-.
press Anne had held review of military
corps Of many thousands of men on the
river. On that OCCASION . urge foztressof
snow and ice had been built, attacked, and
defended, according to regular military tac-
tics; artillery hal been drawn over the Ice.
canncns and mortars of heavy calibre had
been discharged, and the vast icy field held
firm under all this mockcry of war. 1t was
now proposed to build the Magic Palace OF
Alix Daniclowitch in the same way, over
the frozen waters of tho Neva.
The sight was chosen, and the workmen
began their lsboys. The purest and most
transparent ico of tho Nova was chosen for
the quarry; large blocks were then cut, and
squared by rule and compass, then carved
with ornamental designs, - carefully and
skilfully as if they had been 90 much mar.
bic. Ere the walls had been raised many
feet, however. the alarm was given; the
leo beneath had cracked, the foundation
WAS breaking away! The noble Alexis
Tatischchcw threw on bis robes Of fur,
and drove to the spot in his slcagc. He
found the report correct; the Neya refused
to bear the weight of his palace. The for-
trcss of 1882 had probably been built chief.
ly of snow. The difficulty was laid before
the Empress. She ordered her new palace
TO be built on the land, and pointed out .
spot between her winter. palace and the ad-
mirslty, sufficiently near the Neva 70 facili.
tate the transportation Of the novet building
material.
On this more favorable ground the work
began anew. Still greater care Vas taken
In preparing the blocks flee, which, q In
the first instance, were ill quarTied from
the Ncva After they had been cut and
carved, with the greatest accuracy, each
block was raised by crauc and pulley. At
the very moment of lowering it 10 its des'
tined position, Z small quantity OF water
was thrown on the block below. The pre-
else quantity of water was regukted - If II
had been so much mortar; If too much were
used, the symmetry Of the work would be
injured. As the water froze, the different
rows of blocks became 20 closely connected
together, that when completed, the whole
building became ono compact mass, looking
y if it were chisclled entire from one icy
The dimensions of this palace
we're not large; Il was indeed . sort Of PETE
7rianon. The front was fifty feet in length,
simple in character, and divided into seven
BY pilasterA In ak Of these
were largo windows, the |
of which was painted to initiate |!
green marble. The leo took the paint per. |
fcctly. The psnes were thin sheets Of Ice,
smooth and transparent - the
most costly glass. Tho central division
projected, to represent doorway, sur.
by Roman arch and appropriate |
ornamental On either side Of |
he door stood statue Of Ice, on . high
PEDESTAL, and in front was an approach Of
'overal steps. This apparent door Wa In
cality, however, b ut another and larger |
window, level with the noor. An orna.
mental balustrado surmounted the front,
With IN architectural ornament rising In
he centre, shove the doorway and the win.
low on either side Of It. Tho roof was
looping, and marked in lines, 70 represent
;iles; there wers Glso ehiuaneys, IN h ics.
Tho height Of the building Va twenty one
let; it, depth was eighteen fset .z Il
But the ralace itself va not tho only
wonder; the accessories wore very COM
,lete. and al 20 much jrost.work. A hand.
ono balustrads, apparently Of marble,
With statues and architectural ornaznents,
~