The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-04-21
The Winter Palace.

In the great square Of Alexander, on,
the left bank of the Neva, facing the
river, stands the Winter Palace, one Of
the most spacious and imposing,of the
royal residences in Europe. In front
stands the grand column Of Alexander.
According to Theophile Gautier, the
place presented the following aspect Of
Q winter evening: "The trees Of the
Admiralty, diamonded with frost. had
the appearance of great white plumes
fixed in the ground, and the red granite
of the triumphal column was coated
with ice. The moon, rising pure and
clear, flooded with its pale radiance all
this wilderness of the night, gave blue
tint to the shadows, and made the mo-
tionless equipages- whose ice-covered
lanterns, like polar glow-worms dotted
with points of yellow, light the immense
expanse- suggest the figures of phan-
tasmagoria. In the background the
colossal Winter Palace famed through
all its windows, like mountain pierced
with holes, and ignited by interior igni.
ton"
It Is an immense structure of four
stories in height, with 9 frontage of $50
feet. The Erimitage, the palace built by
the Empress ,Catharine, and containing
the magnificent art galleries, is con-
nected with the Winter Palace by ar
cades, so that the imperial residence al
together has a frontage of 800 feet. It
is said that 5000 people live witnln it's
walls, and tales are told that sheep, and
even COWS, are kept on the roof. The
principal entrance is from the river, by
stately fight of marble steps. The
chief state apartments are the throne
room of Peter l., the Hall of St. George,
the White hall, the Alexander hall, and
the gallery of the Field Marshals. The
Hall Of st. George is magnificent
apartment, 140x60 feet in size. The
Field Marshals' hall contains portraits
of the Russian Field Marshals and
Generals who distinguished themselves
in the war between the allied powers
and France in the war of 1914. In
the Alexander hall are many battle pic
lures of the Russian army and navy, In
one room are the crown jewels. Among
the treasure it contains is the great Or
loft diamond, 1884 carats. It receives
its name from Count OrlofL, who pre-
sented it to Catherine II. It is set in
the top of the imperial soepter. It is
the largest of the crown diamonds of
Europe, and is perfect, with the excep-
ton of two slight flaws. The imperial
crown and the coronet of the Empress
are resplendent with jewels Of immense
value. ....... ...........
The drawing-room Of the Empress is
gorgeous apartment with gilded walls
and ceiling. The effect is most striking
when lighted at night with hundreds Of
wax tapers. The rooms inhabited by
the imperial family face the Neva and
the Admiralty square, and are very
beautiful. Gen. Moltke, who visited
st. Petersburg to attend the coronation
of the Gar, wrote to friend that the
painting and sculpture were the most
costly productions of all countries. The
large windows command magnificent
view. The suite of apartments termi-
mates in the famous Winter Garden,
which, while Arctic SHOWS are piled
without, enchants the eye with luxuri-
ant tropical vegetation; the air is filed
with fragrance of rare flowers and the
music of plashing fountains. i