The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1875-04-15

the uoor, ne was received by one
whom he knew to be a servant by his
not taking his hat off las servants
never do in Russia,) and conducted
through hall after hall, lined with
platoons Of soldiers with shouldered
arms, who gave no indication that
they recognized bis presence, and be-
ing transferred from attendant to at
tendant, each higher in rank, was
hnally received by a Prince, who
ushered him into the private
cabinet OF the Gar, who received him,
as he does every one, with an affabili-
ty which soon put him entirely at his
ease, and removed any apprehensions
as to his ability to 60 through with
the ordeal. Fhe ceremony over, he
passed out by the way he entered,
and the different demeanor of the SOL
dlers was very marked. Before, al
though accredited by his own country
as It's minister, lie had not been re-
cclyed ''y their lord and master, and,
therefore, was nothing to them; but
now, having been accepted and re-
celvci his ilnprimature, he had sud
denly Do",r1c a dignitary second in
imp Etal"c oi4! y to the royal family
it->.l., a3:'I Fcnec every platoon of sol
ller5 presented arms and every band
commenced to play as he reached and
passed them.
The royal banquets are magnif-
cent affairs, and seem to be gotten up
not only "regardless Of expense" but
with un effort to see how much money
can be spent "il them. At one which
, he attended, where the Emperor of
Austria sat on the right of the Gar
and the Prince Of Wales on his left,
there were 1000 guests, and though
some 600 had to take their supper
standing, the service for the whole l.
900 was Of solid silver, including
splendid apergnes, and fifty plates at
the head Of the table of solld gold.
The illumination of the salons requir-
ed some 10000 wax candles, as the
Russians never use gas except in the
halls, kitchen and inferior parts of
the house, considering it unhealthy.
To grace the feast, not oily beauti-
full flowers, but large palm trees, in
the tubs in which they grew, we're
brought from the royal greenhouses,
some FIVE or six miles distant and,
it being mid-winter, small houses
had to be built over them to protect
them on the journey. These green
houses contained 500 japonica trees,
of various hues, and palm trees over
sixty feet high.
In Russia, the government has all
| the rights and the people only what
| the government chooses to give them,
which, it will be observed, is the di-
rect opposite Of what is the case with
us. The Emperor makes what laws
he likes, consulting with, and SUBJ
mitting them to the approval Of the
Council of Empire, some twenty or
twenty-five in number; but, as they
are appointed by himself and remova-
BILE at his pleasure, their opposition to
any measure is hardly likely to be
very formidable. The Emperor
! spends about, 100000 rubles per
annum, six Governors of provinces
about 100000 each, but, as rule,
nobody spends much money. No
officer steals much, because punish.
ment is so speedy and certain. There
are no bank defalcations or fraudu-
| lent issues Of railroad stock, for if one
is detected in any such practices he
ra'I'ot rely on the laws delay and
the tricks Of the astute counsel or a
corrupt Judiciary to shield him. He
is arrested at once, tried and convicted
the 3;.Nt day, perhaps, and in less
5i::.. ,an would 'c consumed by the
;::>. '..:'::":rv processes Of an American
>'Jl...; ::,2 i. taking leave of his friends
for 1 lifelong residence i'll Siberia.
There are no State prisons, but all
convicts are packed off at once to
! Siberia, which is a vast country
whose great want is population.
| The Russian Treasury, like that Of
the [ nitc,l States, is in a state Of sus'
pension, there being no gold or pure
silver in circulation. But instead o.
fractional currency, they have silver
coins very largely alloyed, so as tc
keep them in circulation. The circu.
lation is only about one-third pei
capita Of that in the United States
and this is being gradually retired.
The Emperor is man of very pro-
gressive ideas. He is also very hui
manc, and if, when walking in the
Summer Garden (so-called, apparent
", because it is never used in sum.
mer,) woman can throw herself in
his way and petition him to pardon
some convicted relative, she is pretty
sure to gain her cause, for, like Pres
ident Grant, he finds it very difficult
to resist woman's prayer.
! Society is rigidly divided into castes
or grades, and there is very little
chance for those of the lower to rise
into a higher one. Only three per
sons who have ever been engaged in
trade are ever invited to the palace
and they are wealthy bankers. 1t is
the rule for gentlemen to bow first on
meeting lady, and ignorance of this
rule caused him much embarrassment
for some time. Men take the lead in
| eon; ot,, nronorallr 1rh;nh ho oonsidar