The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-04-27
Tho Cztlr'B Tenants.

In the time Of Nicholas, tho father of the
present Gar, q number Of sentrics were
posted on the roof to guard against Gro or
foes. Finding tho climate up there not
altogether so comfort able as could be wished,
this permanent watch ut length contrived to
convey Oh to the roof tho materials for q
number of huts or cabins, which In course
| Of time they erected under the shelter of tho
chimney stacks. So snug and cozy did
they manage to mako themselves that it at
length occurred to tho married men among
them that, as thore was plenty Of room up
there, they might as well enlarge their
establishment. Accordingly wives and
families, ono after another, found their way
out Oh to tho imperial leads. Several of
tue single members of tho guard, finding
such tempting opportunity OF setting up
housekeeping economically, took wives to
themselves, and after Whl!o quite con-
siderable colony had sprung up. How far
the development might have gone on if tho
individuals composing this parasitic little
village had been reasonably cautious and
careful in their behavior it Is difficult to
guess; but tho establish hmcnt of families
among the chimneys of the palace led grad
ually TO tho accumulation of domestic ami.
mails. Fowls multiplyi amazingly, and
goats become numerous and flourish 80 well
In the bracipg atmospheric that at length it
was suggested that cow might convcn: :ent-
ly be added to the farm stock. How the
animal was elevated VIC, arc not informed,
but 1t Is stated as n fact that II was by some
means hoisted to tho roof, and was event
ually the ruin Of tho community. Tho
lowing of the COW came to certain official
ears, and led to IN investigation and the
total breaking up of the queer society.
Even at that time it Is said that tho Russian
emperor felt 80 little confidence in lis Der
sonal security that nobody ever knew in
Which bedroom he was going to sleep a
large number was always kept ready and
unoccupicd, and Mt bedtime the Gear would
quietly slip into one ofalcm selected at the
moment. The Winter Palace is described
as the largest palace In the world, being
one-tRird larger than that of the Emperor of
Austria, and unsurpassed in point of spIen-
dor. 1t Is the residence of the Car and his
court during the winter, and stands on tho
LETT bank OF the Ncva, On the site of q house,
which in tho reign of CPeter the Great be-
longcd to his high admiral, Count Apraxin,
who bcqucathcd ii to Emperor Peter ii.
1t was 50 completely destroyed by fire in
lo41 that 1t was necessary to rebuild it, and
one OF the not least remarkable facts con-
nccted with it is that its present form was
the work of two short years. Custine gives
terrible description of the rise of this
monstrous citadel. In order to complete
the task at the time appointed by tie Car,
the interior works were continued during
the great trosts; arid when tho thormomcter
outside was thirty deg. below zero of
Reaumur, 5000 workman were daily shut
up in halls heated to thirty deg. of Reaumur
IN order that the walls might dry the quick
CT; 80 that these poor ,wretchcs had to en-
duro difference ofesixty deg. Of tempera-
ture. No wonder considerable number
of them died daily; and it is said that those
who were engaged to paint tho interior of
tho most heated halls were obliged to place
ON their heads kind OF bonnet of leo in
order to preserve nse of their senses under
tho burning temperature.