The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-01-25
Sights and Customs in st. Peters,
burg and Moscow.

Just beyond the Winter Palace at St.
Petersburg is the Hermitage" rich in
works of art of all kinds-Egyptian an
tiquities, rare porcelain, Siberian curl
osities, in which is seen coat of mail
of thirty pounds weight and solid gold,
early stone and iron instruments of the
Tartars; in fact it is a most luxurious
retreat. The picture gallery is rich in
works of Raphael A. Carried, Guido,
Murillo, Teniers, Rubens, Reinbrant,
Snyders, Titan, Velasquez and numer-
Gus others. The destruction of Sodom,
as portrayed by Russian artist, is one
of the most startling pictures to be
found in Russia. The meteorological
museum is one of the most interesting.
The museum is rich in minerals, such
as emeralds, amethysts, etc., block of
malachite, 1000 pounds in weight and
valued at nearly 100000, lump of
gold the weight of which is eighty
pounds, and one not much smaller,
being white gold. There are rows upon
rows of cases containing grand pearls
of different hues, some polished, some
in their natural state-one perfect
beauty, valued at 5000 roubles, and
another smaller one at 5000; many
fine and valuable crystals, one being
worth $4,000 roubles, dark olive col
Ored one, yet brilliant, called the Bas-
sile; a loaf of bread, with cuttings
which had changed to stone, and nu-
merous fishes in the same state. A
most peculiar thing is noticed inside
one of the crystals, consisting of lit
tie cross, apparently of stone or iron.
Now as the crystal is perfect, the query
is, How came it there?
From here to Moscow is Journey of
seventeen hours by post and twelve by
express, the distance being about 500
miles. The cars are the finest to be
found in Europe, with double windows
and doors and heated by steam, on the
American principle, inasmuch as one
may walk from end to end. Bedding and
pillows appeared throughout its length
and no one appeared to mind his or her
neighbor. In cities such as Petersburg,
Moscow, Odessa, ETC., only the hotels
provide bedding, so it is most every
day sight to see gentleman travelling
with large quantities of bedding, as you
would carry baggage, and in some
places tea and spirits have to be carried,
if one desires them. Moscow was
reached about nine in the morning, and
soon good quarters were found in Hotel
Dussau under the shadow of the walls
of the Kremlin. One of the first things
to attract the writer's attention there
was large sign in English characters,
" Fairbanks & Co." Entering, he was
most cordially greeted by the enter
prising and genial manager, Mr.. julius
Block. AS rule one first turns towards
the quaint, interesting old Kremlin. 1t
is situated on an elevation. In the
thirteenth century it was surrounded
by walls of oak, but these must have
given away for ones of more substan-
tial quality. They form an enclosure
two miles in circumference and contain
five gates, the principal one being the
"Spaski Vorota," or Redeemer's
gate" Over it is picture of the
Savior of Smolensk, before which a
candle is always burning. AS you pass
beneath it and through the gate, no
matter what your creed, you must re-
move your hat. Passing through the
square, you reach three cathedrals
and few churches are seen, among
which is St. Basils', having eleven
spires. But towering above all is the
tower of 6 John the Terrible" being
round in form, tending toward octa-
gonal and about 2.075 feet high. 1t
contains thirty-four bells, the largest
weighing siXty-four tons. AS one stands
upon the summit of this tower the
view around is doubtless one of the
finest in the world. There are nearly
400 churches in the city and nearly
every one has at least five domes, these
being generally gilded. Conspicuous
among them all is the large new cathe-
dral. 1t is sight not soon to be eff
faced from memory's mirror. The
tower itself contains few chapels, in
which are exhibited holy relics. AT
the base of it is the great bell or Tar
Kololsol. 1t is twenty feet high by
sixty feet in circumference, the weight
of it being 444 900 pounds, and the
value of the metal is estimated at 81,
100000. A huge piece is broken from
the side and leaves an opening large
enough to admit ten men abreast.
Nevertheless, it is held in much veneer
alton and one who fails to see it misses
much. The Cathedral of Assumption
is where the czars are crowned and the
interior is rich in gold and silver. Near
this is the Cathedral of st. Michael,
with many valuable treasures.
Passing on to the New Palace, a large
light-brown building is reached. 1t
contains handsome suites of rooms and
three large ones, each sixty-eight feet
broad and 200, 1903 and 100 feet long,
being dedicated to St. George the
white), VLADIMIR (the red) and st.
Andrew Ohe blue). In the building
are some old rooms said to have been
occupied by Napoleon for three days.
The banquet-room is also worthy of no.
tice, Biblical scenes being wrought upon
the wall in gold. Connected with the
palace is the treasury. Similar to the
Grungewolbe in Dresden in many re-
spects, it contains ancient armour, cos
tunes, royal coaches, etc. , and many pre-
cious jewels and gold ornaments, among
which is the throne of Alexis, with
1920 rubies, besides numerous other
turquoses, pearls and other precious
stones. In the wardrobe are the hand
some cloaks worn by the car and
, czarina at the coronation, magnificent
! ones of cold the collars being of a thick