The Sunday herald., 1886-12-26
A TALE OF ST. PETERSBURG.
The Apparition In the Throne.R Room

The ApparitiOn In the Throne.ROon.
Translated from the German 10y A. WI
1t is a well-known fact that st. Petersburg owes
several OF Its most magnificent cdiices to the Em-
press Elizabeth, daughter OF Peter the Great and
Catharine the First. She prevailed upon
Count Rastrelli, the first architect OF the
eighteenth century, TO come TO st. Peters,
burg; and under his direction the Winter Pal
ace the Escurlal OF the North, was built. About the
same time Rastrel also built the Pagcncorps' ior-
merly the Palace Gernltschei, superb edince; the
Palace StroganoH, AMI the Church of the
Smo'na Monastur constructed In style as noble as
II is beautiful. The Palace ACKNOWLEDGMENT,
now called Kotschube, also owes Its origin TO Ras-
trell 1t was restored and ornamented with balco-
MES of beautiful design by the Russian architect
who had also erected numerous
palaces.
While the Winter Palace was in process OF con-
struction Elizabeth occupied small palace-Bol-
schoi .Morskoi In the broad avenue border
ing on the sea. This building exists no longer. IL
once stood on the identical spota fact which Is not
known even to all Petersburgians- s-wheret the French
man Jacot has now built his immense house.
When the Winter Palace was finished the Eni-
press appointed a day for taking possession of 1t;
and the Elite of the Guards, corps which was COM
posed entirely of nobemen, mounted guard In the
new castle. Along dark corridor leads to the middle
door of the white or throne-r0om. In the corridor
two young noblemen wereposted. TWAS approach
ing 10 O'Clock and the arrival Of the Empress was
momentarlly expected. Suddenly the attention OF
the young men was attracted by bright streak OF
light, which seemed to glide between them into the
dark passage. Their eyes followed the light and
they saw that 1t streamed through the key-hoie OF
the throne room. Who could have any business,
at such an unusual hour, IN room which was de-
signed only for the reception of foreign ambassa-
dors? One OF the young men considered IL his duty
to investigate the matter, and approached the door
for that purpose; hut. as soon ns he hau glanced
through the key hole he called to his conrade In
whisper to come nearer
..The Empress has already arrived whispered
he ''ahe Is seated on the throne, Directly opposite 10
the door,"
The other also looked through the aperture, and
soon verified this 10 he fact The Empress was
seated In tranquil dignity on the elevated golden
stool, under the red velvet canopy richly adorned
with the imperial arms of Russia, the double eagle,
The room was brilliantly lighted; but 1t was impos
sble to ascertain II any other persons were present
as the thickness of the door.lock allowed no side
view of the apartment. The young men returned to
their posts, and waited. Not long after one OF the
higher officers appeared and said:
.sWe can all now retire; the Empresswili notGome
tonight"
"But her Majesty is already here"
"What? Who?"
"Her Majesty Is In the throne-room. +"
"Imposslble."
"You eau see for yourself"
The officer looked, Immediately recognized the
Empress, end said wonderingly:
81 cannot understand what the marshal means
He has lust arrived ana ordered that all the guards
be withdrawn; the Empress has changed her mind
and vii! not arrive tonight. Nevertheless see
that she is here. Could she have come secretly
AT all events will ascertain what new orders the
marshal has Issued Meanwhile do you remain here
as the Empress may pass this way" TIE marshai
PrSee Euratin, was fortunately still in the Palace
and az 50 IN as be heard of the mysterious report
nastened to the cassidQr, and peeped In his turr
through the key-hols.
uBy God! 1t istho Empress. He, Majesty her
self! What can it meant" exclaimed he "hoN
can this he possible, when have Just left her pres
encel she was dressed In her usual everyday attire
and now see her arrayed in all her royal robes an'
jewels There must be some mystery behind TINS
Let aiI the entrances to the throne-room be guarded
Let no one be allowed to go In or out! VIII master
to report" The distance Esigeep the TWO mouse
being quite short. the marshal soeH ifScneu IN
small palace, temporarily occupied by the Impress
"Where is the Empress7"
.'In her sleeping apartment"
The Prince looked at the lady of honor with sus
piciea, qnd said sharply:
"Are you s@ro that the Empress is here?"
"of course; she Is preparing to retire"
"Inform her instantly thai en- here"
| In few minutes Prince KuratI, much eXoted
| was conducted into the Rmpresss chamber. IN
| Empress stood before him In night negilge.
| Knratin turned pale
SWELL" said the Empress, "you look as II you ha
| seen gaesl. What In Heavens name Ia the matte
1 wifi y0uY is tneIe any news from the army?"
| ~ f,,yspliv sIaied Wh1f he had
.It IA a knaysh trlck,p cyleq iAita3eib; "we wi
take a nearer look at these cDI8eeiaps. Hii go
your sleigh, Kuratin; you eau mount ben!n'
| Hurry!'
| Arrived at the Winter Palace, the castelar, wa
4 ordered to bring the key of the throne-room' 81
| QreSadiers were commanded to load their guns, AM
led by the Empress, the llli!e troop beiook then
| selves to the corridor.
The light shOne as before through tue i;ey-loi
The door was cautiously opened and food OF ligl
nlled the corridor. The Empress stepped With
the room. followed by her guards. VINO placed then
selves around her. The room was brilliantly illun
! mated, but eWpty. ON the throne was seated
shape, the counterpart OF Elizabeth, arrayed IN pn
| ple and ermlne, coyessa With diamonds, al
| crowned with the royal dadem. Hpo iDs'ant Eliz
beth gazed steadfastly at her double; thsa move
| forward few steps. simultaneously, ihe appar
ton stood up, stepped down from the tarone, al
tnen TeInuIutu s'uhuihk 40 hh"''""', "'' 80" ~
| Empress.
II was a thrilling moment
"firelp cried the Empress
The guards raiaed their guns, and all six aim,
| directly al the esOsby ylsitant. The trlgPe
snapped. AT the same iBstsnt the figure clapped
hands together, aud the room Was suddenly plnng,
into Intense darkness. Then followed great cor
motion and confusion, while the Empress called;
"Brlng lghts!"
was thoroughly searched; hut absolutely nothll
| could be found to elucdate the mystery. Eve
dooy was locked ana guarded. The guards had SCI
no one leave the palace. The Empress ordered
more thorough search 10 he made, but In VAIN we
all efforts made to discover the perpetraor OF II
trick, II trick II Were.
The occurrence had made q deeper impfessi
upon Elizabeth than she would admit. Eight wee
| afterward she died.
| The Emperor Nicolas once heard this strange c
eurrence related, with the supplement that 1t W
inscribed in the "Fourlr Books.n Since the reign
Peter the First there exisis the regulation III
\ these very serviceable books should contain
| accurate account OF all events that take place
court.
Everything that tas Emperors dli, ordered. all G
pediti0ns, audiences, even, II possible, every o
| command anu every utieranee Of any iwportan'
, was written In these books; which custom havl
existed during a hundred aud seventy years, thu
| books form well prepared library, ana preclo
mine for history.
The Emperor Nicolas ordered that this remal
able story should he searched for IN these bool
hut nothing relating TO II was found lnscrb
therein.
a Mixed DRINK.
A sepseylat scientific composiiion may be p
pared OF cd and coiiee, the alliance OF wh
| balancing admlrQtly their virtue and excellen
| partly corrects theiI VIE the iirst belng ratl
heavy the other more lrrllable, THIS was hrsi
| vented by NJ. he v0llare, who GoIASnHy for
breakfast partook OF half C0fe-dii ldH snu y
!. chocolate, which were served at the same lme
geparae vessels In boiling state. and poured fr