The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-03-12
THE WINTER PALACE.

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THE WINTER PALACE.
Description OF the Gorgeous Home of tn
Russian Cxars.
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
sta. dis the grand column of Alexander.
According TO Theophile Gautier, the
place presented the following aspect of
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-
tion."
1t Is an immense structure of four
stories in height, with 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 frontage of 500 feet. 1t
is said that 5000 people live within its
walls, and tales are told that sheep, and
even COWS, are kept on the roof. The
principal entrance is from the river, by
stately flight 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 a magnificent
apartment, 140x60 feet in size. The
Field Mershals 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 1Sl3-'l4. In
the Alexander hal are many battle pic
lures of the Russian army and navy. In
one room are the crown jewt Is. Among
the treasure it contains is the great Or
loft diamond, 1881 carats. 1t receives
it's name from Count Orloff, who pre-
sented it to Catherine ii. 1t is set in
the top of the imperial scepter. 1t 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 respondent with jewels of immense
value.
The drawing-room of the Empress is
a 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 luxurl-
ant tropical vegetation; the air is filed
with fragrance of rare flowers and the
music of FLASHING fountains.
Above, in the third story, are the
apartments of the Emperor, very COM
fortably but plainly furnished. Here
he treasures his most cherished tro-
phies and keepsakes, mementoes of his
frequent visits to the capitals of West
ern Europe. On the ground floor Of
the palace, in the northeast corner. is a
little vaulted room, where the father of
the present Gear, the great Nicholas,
lived, and where he died of broken
heart because of the disastrous result of
the war brought on by his will. The
room has been religiously left as the
Emperor last saw it. Here is his little
iron camp bed, with the same sheets,
the coarse Persian shawl and the cloak
with which he cover ed himself. All the
little toilet articles, books and maps of
Sebastopol lie unchanged; even the old
time slippers which he wore twenty
eight years, and were repeatedly mend
ed. The almanac, which was set every
day, marks the day of his death.