Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-03-29

Potemkin assembled all tie troops OF
the empire along the route her majesty
WAS to travel He ordered great public
works 10 be commenced, at which the
workers tOiled day and night; he repair
ed the dilapidated mansions o. the
nobility at the places she WAS to sleep.
garnishing them at his own expense with
the richest furniture, and even present
ing their owners with plate and linen,
that Catherine might be impressed with
the wealth and prosperity of the domin-
ions under his care. Crowds of people
were deported from the outlying pro-
vincss and brought to line the route and
hurrah as Catherine drove past; there
after they were hurried forward to greet
her with a similar welcome at later
stage of the journey. II thought, said
she, that was coming to desert, but
here l find the true springs OF my en-
pire In all their vigor and activity" By
fetes, pyrotechnic displays, each one OF
which cost 40. 900 roubles, splesdid
hospitalities such as only the imagina-
ton OF Potemkin could coniure, he turn
ed the royal progress which was to work
his discontinue into a series of tri-
umphs. At Kief her majesty embarked
to sail down the Dnieper as far as Kay
dak, where the thirteen cataracts begin,
rendering navigation impossible for
space of SIXTY versts. The distance her
majesty had to sail was $50 versts: and
the bed of this part of the river Potem-
kin had leyelled at an enormous outlay
of mone. A magnificent fleet of fifty
galleys, the rooms of which were hung
with silk, each ship having on board an
orchestra of twelve musicians. carried
Catherine and her suite down the river.
The banks of the Dnieper were dotted
with cities, towns, villages and hamlets,
which had grown up as Jonah's gourd
to disappear as quickly. In many cases
the distant buildings were simply sham
fronts facing the river. The wharves of
the towns were Uttered with huge bales
labelled Silk" etc., but which, when
pierced, were found to contain straw;
shopkespers iu bona fde townships
were ordered to pack up their stock-ln-
trade and build it round the doors. At
haydak, where size disembarked, Pote,n-
kin conducted the czarina to a large
mansion which had Just been built; be-
hind it lay an English garden, into
which, says Ssgur, ''the magic Prince
Po,emkin he'd caused trees Of extraor-
binary size to be planted cheering
prospect, varied by wood, waters and
iowers." Here her majesty reviewed
the troops - forty-ivs squadrons of
cavalry and numerous body of infantry
ali newly armed and equipped. From
the town, also, the de.uded lady wrote
to her ministers in st. Petersburg, e1-
pressing her satisfaction with the condi- |
ton and prosperity Of Potemkin 3 Gov
ernment, adding, 81 beg you will tell |
this to the unbelievers, and make use of |
my letter to put an end to the cayils Of |
the i'll disposed. 1t is high time that
entire justice should be done to those |
who devote themselves to my service |
and that of the State with SO much zeal |
and success" After visiting the Crimea,
where the theatrical genius OF Potemkin |
devised new surprises Mt every halting-
place, her majesty began her homeward |
journey. The curtain fell at Pultawa,
where mimic repetition of the great \
battle fought there in 1903 by Charles
XII. and Peter the Great was produced |
for GATHERINGS delectation. The coup
dc theatre was over; Potemkin returned
to his Government loaded with presents;
the csarina, welcomed, feted, hymned,
made her way via Moscow the capitol,
after the most wonderful royal progress
the world has ever seen. She left st.
Petersburg on the 14th of January, 1887;
she entered it again on the 22d of July.
Recalling the narvels and romance OF
the journey, the French ambassador
speaks of Effects suddenly created;
squadrons of Cossacks and Tartars
coming from the remots parts of Asia;
Illuminated roads; mountains on fire;
enchanted palaces; gardens raised in
night; temples of Diana; delightful
harems; wandering tribes; dromedaries
and camels; dethroned princes of the
Caucasus and Georgia paying their
homage and addressing their prayers"
to the Light of the North, as her fiatter-
ers called her. Remembering that one
mind planned it all and attended to
every detail Of the comedy, We are
forced to confess that whatever we may
find Potemkin's qualities as statesman
or soldier to be, he was at least born to
be courtier or q Snowman.