The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-05-15
THE FIRST ICE.PALACE.


the Neva, 1870.
In tho construction of this work the
simplest means were used. First, the
purest and most transparent leo was
selected. This was cut into large
blocks, squared with rule and compass,
and carved with all the regular arch
itectural embellishments. No cement
was usSd. Each block when ready was
raised TO its destined place by cranes
and pulleys, and just before it was let
down upon the block which was to sup
port it, woter was poured between the
two; the upper block wa' Immediately
lowered, aud as the water froZe almost
instantly, in that intensely cold climate,
the two blocks became literally one. In
f,ct, the whole building appeared to be,
and really was, o single mass of ice.
The effect it produ Cd must have been
infinitely more beautiful than if 1t had
been of the most costly marble-its
t; ansparency aud blush tint giving IL
rather the appearance of a precious
stone.
In dimensions, the structure was fifty
six feet long, eighteen feet wide,
twenty-one feet high, and with walls
three feet in thickness. At each corner
of the palace was pyramid of the same
height as the root of course built of
ice, and around the whole was low
palisade OF the same material. The ac-
tual length of the front view, including
the pyramids, was one hundred and
fourteen feet.
The palace was built in the usual
style of Russian architecture. The
facade was plain, being merely divided
into compartments by pilasters. There
was a window in each division, which
was painted in imitation Of green mar
bic. The window-panes were formed
of slabs of ice, as transparent and
smooth as sheets of plate-glass. At
night, when the palace was lighted, the
windows were curtained by canvas
| screens, on which grotesaue figures
were painted. Owing to the trans
parency of the whole material, the gen.
eral effect of the illumination must have
been fine, the whole palace seemingly
being filled with delicate pearly light.
The central division projected, and APP.
peared to be door, but was, in fact, a
large window, and was illuminated like
| Viz JULIUS. tuC vi
the building was an ornamental balus-
trade, and at each end of the slipping
roof was huge chimney. The en-
trance was at the rear. At each side OF
the door stood ice-imitations Of orange
trees, in leaf and flower, with ice-birds
perched on the branches.
The inside of this great "plaything
was more wonderful than the exterior.
One of the apartments was the royal
chamber. In it was dressing-table
fully set out with looking-glass and
oil sorts of powder and essence boxes,
jars. bottles, watch, and pair OF
candlcs.cks and candles, all fashioned
OF Ice. In the evening these candles
were smeared with naphtha and set in
q blaze without melting. A great ice
mirror was hung against the wall. Or
the other side of the room was the bed
stead, with bed, pillows, Counterpart,
and curtains, deity wrought in ice.
large fireplace was on the right; with
an elegantly carved mantel, and within
it, upon the curious andirons, were
placed logs Of ice which were occasion
ally smeared with naphtha and ignited
The other principal room was al
ternately termed the dining-room and
the drawing-room. An deliberately con
structed ice-table extended through the
apartment. On each side were settees
or sofas handsomely carved. In three
of the corners were large statues; in
the other was a handsome time-piect
provided with wheels of ice, which Were
visible through the transparent case
All the other parts of the palace were
fitted up in corresponding manner
"The Piaything Of an Empress, b!
H. Maria George, IN 81. Nicholas.