The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-06-19
TEE GEAR AT HOME.
Among the Magnincent Palaces Of the Russian
f Capital.

the absence OF the Imperial family, is
the Winter Palace, and this seen, the
traveller begins to believe that the
churches Of St. Petersburg have not ex-
hausted the wealth of the Empire, but
area fitting introduction TO the magnifi- :
cence OF its palaces. The Winter Pal
/ ace, with its front seven hundred feet
long, directly faces the great Neva at
| the point OF its greatest width. The
| Neya, before emptyiAg into the gulf OF
Finland, divides into several branches,
known as the Great NeYa and the Little
| Neya. s.' fur
We, however, entered at one side,
where long and lofty arch OF elaborate
and curious sculpture and designs led
| us under q semi-clrcnlar wall into an
immense open space lying between the
semi circular building and the palace.
In the center OF this open space rises the
remarkable monument erected to Alex.
ander l. This is OF red granite, ana its
shaft is one single piece Of stone eighty
our feet in height. Ii is surrounded by
an angel and cross, and the whole, from
base 10 pinnacle, measures over one hum,
dred and lilly teet in height. 1t is
guarded night and day by grenadiers
who have distinguished themselves by
some mi itary exploit. Within the pal
ace one become SO confused by it's ex-
| tent, the immense number of rooms and
| the brilliant magnifcence, that he car
ries away but an uncertain picture OF
marble halls, ceilings covered with won
stones, with gilded base and capital,
| walls hung with the richest damasks-
| all making a royal and titLing abode for
| the ruler Of the greatest Empire in the
world.
The hall called the Saloon of Nicholas
is large enough to contain fifteen hum
dred persons, and is lighted by twelve
| immense chandeliers OF crystal, which
on iete occasions blaze with five thou
| sand candles. At the end are buffets
reaching to the ceiling, on which are ar
ranged gold and silver plates, some as
much as two feet in diameter, and ali
displaying marvellous skill of workman
ship. In this hall each sovereign, alLer
| mis- coronation, receives deputations
| from the various provinces, who come
to express their fealty, aud as an en-
| blem thereof each presents HIM with q
| piece OF black bread and pincn of salt,
offered upon these rich golden and sill
yer salvers, brought by Them and left
here. Adjoining is another smaller hall
ornamented win statues. La this the
Emperor at Easter receives presents
from delegates from near and lar, who
have been selected by all the peasants
of certain district and sent to con-
gratulate their ruler. Here the mighty
potentate receives them, embracing and
kissing them.
In the Saloon of Peter the most re-
markable thing is a large painting be-
hind the throne. 1t represents the dream
of Peter the night before the battle Of
Pultowa. Peter is sleeping, and the
angel of victory is seen descending to-
ward him, bearing in her hand wreath
and crown. The room has its walls cov-
cred with crimson velvet, embroidered
in gold thread with the imperial escut-
cheon, surrounded bya wreath of laurel.
Below the velvet q white marble dado
extends around the room. At the side
OF the room opposite the throne are two
tables of solid silver. Around the room
stand six high silver candelabra: six
more are fastened to the walls, anu
chandeliers Of silver are suspended from
the ceiling.
The Saloon of Esculchias has it's ceil-
ing supported by one hundred and four
gilded pillars; a gilded gallery surrounds
IL and is lighted by twelve gllded cham
deliers. The Hail OF st. George has
similar decorations of marble and gild-
ing; the throne is of solid gilt, and ten
immense chandeliers OF CRYSTAL light the |
banqueting hall where the Grand Dukes
always celebrate their coming OF age.
The Golden Saloon has Its doors and
all its woodwork covered with solid |
gilt, and its walls and ceiling are heav-
lily ornamented with gliding. over the |
mantel ls inserted long panel of mosa- |
ic mork, representing an Italian land |
scape. This ,panef has o valuation of
$50 1000. The rooms are furnished with |
crimson draperies, and contain mosaic
tables, vases, several leet high, OF mala-
chite, jasper, &C.; beautiful fire-screen,
consisting OF one large plate OF crimson
glass standing in a gilt bronze frame;
marble statues and caIldelabFa of lapis
lazuli, and much other elegant furniture.
This, l believe, was the saloon of the
late Empress, mother OF the present
Emperor. .H O. f,. \
the Maachite Hall has its wall orna.
mented with sixteen malaehite pillars.
reaching from hoor TO ceiling, two mala-
chite marble mantel-pieces and mala-
chite vases, The doors and trimmings
OF tse room are OF solid gilt. One room
has remarkable doors, each of which, we
are told, cost 1000 rubles-equal to So
900. They are ol rosewood, inIaid with
The wood OF the palm Tree, and the pam
els are ornamenLed with paintings on
porcelain. Another room mMunicates
with the adjoining apartments by sever
al setso1 toidlng' doors OF tortoise shells, |
inlaid with fine pattern in gold, and
each pair of these doors cost $4,000. |.
In still another room each panel
OF the doors bears large oval medal
lion, either of wrought cameo or an imi.
tation OF it, made at the manuiactory oil
Sevres china, near Paris. In one room
is marble mantel, with panels of mo-
sale, bordered with lapis laZuli; another 1
has mantel OF white marble and lapis L
lazuli, equal surfaces OF each. A very /
mosaic table, its top represent
ing eight separate Italian landscapes,
was, we are told, the gift OF Garibaldi to
one of the Grand Duciessess A massive
silver manLel set, OF clock and vases, L
curiously and heavily wrought, together
with the chandelier in the room, we i
were also told, were presented by the \
City of London t0 the Emperor OF i
Russia, at cost oil $4,000. Hall after /
hall and gallery alter gallery is filled /
with paintings Of historical import, Il
the gallery of the Field Marshals,
with battle-scenes and lulLlepgth life.
size portraits Of great Russian Gener-
ais; elsewhere other pictures, perpetu-
ating the memory Of remarkable and mo-
ment0us incidents OF war. The Ro.
manof Gallery contains the portraits o. /
all the Soyereigns of the present ruling II