Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-10-17
THE WINTER PALACE.
The Magnificent Home Of the Gear Of
ALI the Russiass

St. Petersburg Correspondence San Francisco Chronicle
The winter palace is a huge building Of brown
stone and covers large area, each of the
sides Git is nearly square) measuring some 45C
feet; but it is not more than ninety feet high,
and 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
by way of the roof. so jumbled up are they with
the chimneys. The general effect OF the build
ing. which only dates from 1889 would be
poor were it not for its size. which, to some
eXtene makes up for want of architectural
grandeur. The interior is also devoid of any
special architectural features, and there ia
no grand staircase. 1t is simply a huge
square box, divided up into rooms, but some OF
these are truly magnificent, and when filled
with the flower of Russian society," as they are
at state receptions during the winter season
must look grand Indeed. Peters throne-rOom,
with silver chandeliers. red-tinted walls and
highly -decorated dome; Union hail, with gilded
columns; the throne-room, with its massive iron
pillars and gold chandeliers and trophies of gold
and silyer-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 i'm
posing. although the painting of battle scenes,
where carnage and rapine are depicted in all
their horrors with mOnotony that becomes
almost nauseating, seem to be hardly adapted
for the exclusive adornment Of rooms intended
Tor gay assembiageS. and they must form q
CHASTITY 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 q
fresh attendant attired in gorgeous imperial
livery. The palace, which at present is quite un-
thn ENVnn af fhor
palace some distance up the Newski prospect
fairly swarms with servants. who are well
dressed and courteous, and extremely idle, hav-
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 q superior officer.
In full uniform. evidently in charge of some part
OF Tie building, and at one point We suddenly
came upon two COssack sentinels. armed
to the teeth and standing motionless on
trance 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 OBJ.
jects of interest. which stood near the walls. and
two central stands, but when the cloths which
covered them were removed the sight was daz-
cling. In the side cases was q collection OF
tiaras and aigrettes and pendants, in brilliants
and rubies and pearls. The central stands bore
the crown regalia. The emperor's crown, q
huge mass of diamonds of the purest water,
surmOunted by an extraordinary uncut ruby;
the empress crown, somewhat smaller. if posi-
ble more brilliant and the scepter bearing on its
top the celebrated LaZardoff diamond of which
the story is told that it was stolen from an In
dian temple and carried off concealed IN a cut In
the leg OF its purloiner. Compared with these
MuscOvite gems all others that have ever looked
or are dull and small. One thing in the picture
gallery OF the palace was remarkable. and that
is the absence of peculiarly Russian worthless
whose portraits 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, so diff.
race. They have, many of them. fine features
and noble forms.