The union Democrat., 1870-04-23
A Palace Of dee.

palace of ice that was once built for the graf
ifcation of the Empress Anne of Russia. A
" ritter in Ratnam's Magazine thus tells how
it was built and how il looked;
| The pnrest and most transparent ice of the
lNeva was chosen for the quarry; large blocks
were then cut. and squared by rule and COM
pass, then carved with ornamental designs,
as carefully and skillfully as If they had been
60 much marble. After they had been cut
aud carved with the greatest accuracy, each
block was raised by crane and pully. AT
| the very moment of lowering it to lis destin-
ed position, small quantity of water was
thrown on the block below. The precise
quantity of water was regulated as if it 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 os
blocks became SO closely connected together,
that when completed, the whole building be-
came one compact mass, looking as il it were
chiseled entire from one lev mound. The d.
mensions of this palace were not large. The
front was fifty feet in length, simple in char
acter. and divided into seven compartments
by pilasters. In six Of these compartments
we're large windows, the frame work of which
was painted to initiate green marble. The
ice took the paint perfectly. Tie panes were
thin sheets of ice. beautifully smooth, and
transparent as the most costly glass. The
central division projected, SO as to represent
door way, surmounted by Roman arch
and appropriate architectural ornaments.
On either side of the door stood stat
Ute of ice, on high pedestal, and in front,
was an approach of several steps. This
apparent door was in reality, however.
but another and larger window, level
with the floor. An ornamental balustrade
surmounted the front, with an architectural
ornament rising in the centre, above the
doorway and the window on either side
Of it. The roof was sloping. and marked in
lines, to represent tiles there were also
chimneys all in ice. The height of the build
ing was twenty-one feet; its depth was eight
| eeen feet.
But the palace itself was not the only won
der; the accessories were very complete, and
all so much frost-work. A handsome balus-
trade, apparently of marble, with statutes
and architectural ornaments, completely SUR
rounded tbs palace, being eighty-seven feet
in length, and thirty-six in width, enclosing
a sort of garden. or court, with two handsome
gateways in the rear. 1t was through these
gateways that the building was approached.
Orange trees, nearly as high as tine building,
bearing fruit and flowers, with birds on the
branches, also adorned the court or garden
tree, flower. fruit, leaf. and bird being all
deicately chiseled out of the same magic mar
bic as the palace itself.
| The front approach was guarded by six
| cannons. regularly turned and bored they
stood before the balustrades. three on either
side of the doorway. These were also of ice.
They were of the cnlibre which usually re-
ceives charge of three pounds Of powder.
In addition to these cannons there was also a
large mortar, on each side of the entrance, of
a size prepared for shells of eighty pounds.
In advance of these mOrtars stood two neatly
carved do!phns on pedestals. To the left of
J the palace stood an elephant. large as life
on his back was q man in Persian dress,
while two similar lev figures, one bearing a
lance. stood near the animal. Thus it was
that the approach TO the Magic Palace was
guarded by other magic wonders.
Such was the aspect of the famous palace
of ice, when, early in the winter, the En-
press and her Court came to admire it. The
effect was most brilliant. The palace itself
shone like one vast gem of opal, 40 perfect was
the transparency, and so peculiar the blue
tint of the fabric. Every part of the building.
the statutes, the dolphns, the elephant, eve-
ry leaf, flower and bird, ay. the very cannon.
were glitterng with the very changing bril-
liancy of the many colored prism, with its
crimson, green, golden lights.
! As the Empress approached, wonders In
creased. A salute was fired from the icy
cannons, and the mortars threw their shells
high into the airl Yes, real fire and smoke
issued from the magical artillery; and at the
same moment the marble like elephant threw
no watery spray, higher than the roof Of
the palace.
The enchanted portal opened, and the EN-
press entered handsome vesitibnle, whence
appeared lofty room, on either side. In
the drawing. room stood table apparently of
marble. supporting handsome clock. whose
icy wheels, daintily cut. were seen beneath
the transparent case. Large statutes filed
the corners cf the large room. Settees and
sofas, handsomely carved, stood on either
side. nor were chairs. footstools, and other
smaller pieces Of furniture wanting. The
sleeping room, or what appeared as such, on
the opposite side of the vestibuIe, was even
more luxurioulv furnished. There was q
grand state hedstead, with it's appropriate
he'd, pillows, counterpane, and, above all,
finely wove curtains, apparently of lace
There was dressing table with its mirror,
and many knick-kaacks, jars and bottles for
powders and perfumes. with cups and boxes
for trinkets. This table was supported BY
pretty little caryatides. On the right was an
elegantly carved chimney piece, and on the
hearth were laid logs of wood, ready to kin
die Here and there wreaths Of icy flowers
hung in festoons.
By night the enchantment appeared still
greater. AL. the windows were Illuminated
with colored transparencies and nothing
could exceed the beautiful effects of the light
which filed, not only the windows, hrt the
transparent walls of the building itself with
delicate. pearly glow, even more beautiful
than the opal .int by day. The elephant was
now seen spouting stream Of burning nap
tha, firelike spray, high in the air. while a
man concealed within the hollow body of the
creature, by blowing pipes succeded in imi-
tating the roar natural to the animal. With
in the palace the icy candles. smeared with
1aptha. were lighted, without melring. and
the icy logs in the fireplace were kindlcd in
the same way
A beautiful moonlight view. on still another
occasion. was most charming, from the crys-
tai-like character of the palace, and its gar
/ dem reffncfinO n fhouso M silx erv r8vs Then.