Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1889-04-18
Helena Montana, Thursday, April IS, 1889.
JEWELLED GES.
The Costly Vehicles used by the
ROyaI Families of Russia.

The Costly Vehicles used by the
ROval Families of Russia.
The traveller who visits st. Petersburg
in the summer time, while the Emperor
and his court are absent at Peterhof, is
shown among other curiosities, the wonder
full collection of state carriages which is
used at the coronation of each of Russia's
rulers Most of them are relics of the
msgnifcerce of Empress Caths srine II, hut
every succeeding reign has added to the
barbaric splendors of the jeweled coaches
The first object that strikes the eye is a
plain but elegant carriage of modern con-
struction and style, painted dark blue, the
whole of the woodwork on the back shiv-
cred ard hanging loose, like the wooden
Stats of blind, while the interior is a mass
OF torn cushions This is the vehicle in
which the late Car was driving when the
first shell destined for his destruction burst
leaving him uniDjured, but SCATTERING his
equipage, 1t was not until he stepped out
into the street to ascertain the cause # the
disturbance that a second bomb annihil-
ated the autOcrat of all Russia and his as
sassin at the same moment. A chapel is
now in course of erection by his son, the
present Gar, to mark the spot where this
dread catastrophe occurred. The maDgled
remains of the imperial sufferer were
placed, with his ancestors, in the Church OF
SIS. Peter and Paul, ard TO this day his
tomb is always covered with fresh flowers,
generally violets-their perfumed breath
mingling with the burning of incense and
the smoke of the waxen tspers which sur
round the marble sarcophagus
The next object of interest is primitive
sledge, fashion ed by the prentice hand of
Peter the Great, the wOrshped hero of
Russia. 1t is wood, roughly constructed,
painted dark gray, with coarse woolen
cushions, and poorly lighted by small panes
of glass. Alongside of this much-prized
relic is the sumptuous sleigh, drawn by
mimic swans of white and gold, in which
once reclined The voluptuous figure ofCath-
crime the Great. The sedan chair of the
late Empress, who was for many years an
invalid, is another curiosity with its gild-
ed doors adorned by the jewelled mono
gram of its royal owner, and it's cushions
of rose colored silk. In the inner apart
ment the display of coaches is superb.
About a dozen of these are gorgeously
painted in red and glitter with varnish and
rich gliding, from the pole to the old fash.
ioned rocking springs i'll the rear. The
tops of some of them aIe surrounded by
ornamental borders, studded with jewels
and surmOunted by crown set with prec-
ious stones. Diamonds, rubies, sapphires
and emeralds outline the imperial mono
grams on the doors, and even the hubs of
the wheels and the curviDg supports of the
broad door steps are set with the same bril-
liant gems. 1t seems almost incredible,
says a writer in the Horological ReUieac, that
this vast quantity Of jewels should be gen
uine, but the uniformed cicerone gravely
assures his visitors that they are all real
stones of great value. The doors of one
coach were painted By Vatican and an
other by Boucher, precious pictures eva
more costly than old mine stones. Indeed
the guide affirmed, the British Government
has offered SIS, 900 for one small panel by
Ws tetau, which it wished to place in the
National Gallery. This offer, however, has
been refused, and the beauty of the coach,
thus splendidly adorned, is still inact. For
each coronation a new carriage is made.
and all, including many in Moscow, are
brought out for the grand pagneant.
The present Czarina selected for her use
at the late coronation q coach presented
by Frederick the Great of Russia to the
Empress Catherine II. 1t is beautifully
painted, richly jeweled, and cushiored in
embroidered satin, with magnificent ham
mer cloth and harness inlaid with gold.