Evening star., 1883-10-03
THE WINTER PALACE.
Ma gnificence Of the Home OF the Gear
of All the RusSias.

A letter to the San Francisco Chronicle from
st. Petersburg says: Scarce as money is and
poor as are the mass of the people, there is
enough to keep up certain style, especially in
the royal palaces and public buildings. Thanks
to the courtesy of G. NJ. Hutton, the United
States vice consul general, who was in charge Of
the consulate, We obtained permission to 90
over the winter palace, favor not ALWAYS
granted to strangers. It is huge building OF
brown stone and covers q large area each of the
sides ct is nearly square) measuring some 45O
the heavy cornice that forms an almost un-
broken line round the top still further detracts
from the height. Placed on this cOrnice is q
large number Of statues. which it requires no
great stretch of imagination to conceive to be
persons endeavoring to escape from destruction
the chimneys. The general effect Of the build
Ing, which only dates from 1889. would be Door
were 1t not tor it's size, which, to some extent,
makes up for want Of architectural grandeur.
The interior is also devoid Of any special archi-
tectural features, and there is no grand stair
case. 1t is simply huge square box, divided
up into rooms, but some Of these are truly mag
niticent, and when filed with the flower Of Rus
sian society. as they are at state receptions
during the winter season, must look grand In
deed. Peters throne-rOOm, with silver chande
liers, red tinted walls, and highly decorated
dome; Union hall with gilded columns; the
thrOne-rOOm, with its massive iron pillars and
gold chandeliers and trophies of gold and silver
plate against the walls and stands sloping up to
the very ceilings are all imperial apartments in
every sense. The succession Of reception rooms
and corridors Is also most imposing, although
the paintings of battle scenes where carnage
and rapne are depicted in all their horrors with
mOnOtOny that becomes almost nauseating
seem to be hardly adapted for the exclusive
adornment OF rooms, intended for gay assem-
blages, and they must form ghastly contrast
to bright toilets and glittering jewels. and fair
wOmanly FORMS
The visitor Is escorted through hall after hall
decorated with almost barbaric magnificence.
and at each one is taken under the charge of a
fresh attendant, attired In gorgeous imperial
livery. The palace, which at present is quite
unOccupied-as the emperor resides at another
palace some distance up the Newski prospect
fairly swarms with servants, who are we'll
dressed and courteous and extremely idle. hay-
Ing apparently nothing on earth to do except to
stand or walk about in the empty apartments,
which are seldom trodden by any other feet.
Here and there is to be seen superior officer,
in full uniform, evidently in charge of some part
OF the building, and at one point we suddenly
came upon two Cossack sentinels, armed to the
teeth and standing mOtiOniess on each side of q
doorway, This was the entrance to the room
containing the crown jewels. Our attendant
inserted key, two heavy iron doors swung
open, and we were ushered in. The room was
almost bare, with the exception Of some glass
topped cases, such as are used at museums for
manuscripts and objects Of interest, which stood
near the walls, and two central stands, but
when the cloths which covered them were re-
moved the sight was dazzling. In the side cases
was collection Of tiaras and agrettes and
pendants, In briliants and rubies and pearls.
The central stands bore the crown regatta. The
emper's crown, q huge mass Of diamonds of the
purest water, surmOunted by an extraordinary
h0 hat
smaller, II possible, more brilliant, and the
scepter. bearing on It's top the celebrated Laz-
ardon diamond. of which the story ia told that
IL was stolen from an Indian temple and car
!ieu on concealed In cut in the leg Of Its pur-
loiners Compared with these MuscOvite gems
all others that have ever looked on are dull
and small. One thing in the picture-galiery of
the palace was remarkable and that Is the alb
sence OF peculiarly Russian worthless whose Dor
traits covered the walls. There were faces of
strictly English type. Swedish faces in small
number, and German faces in any quantity. but
Russian faces none. and no one could guess
that he was surrounded BY the likenesses of the
men by whom the great northern power had
been built up. 1t Is very much the same to-
day. The leading men here are quite different
In appearance from the mass Of the people &c
different that they might well belong to another
race. They have, many Of them. fine features
and noble forms.
Four bicyclers, one Of them . clergyman
started from Providence. RI, the other day for
q trip to Portsmouth, N. II. The run to Boston
they made In six hours.