Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-03-25
MARVELLOUS SPLENDOR.
WONDERFUL SLEIGH RIDE OF
EMPRESS CATHERINE.
70 Honor Royal Neghbor-A Grand
Display That Cost Five Million
Dollars Representing
Volcanic Eruption.

moro than century ago OF such mag
nltude and splendor as to have been
deemed worthy of historic commemo-
ration. Russia's immortal historian.
karamsin, has devoted to it's record
several pages, says the Philadelphia
Telegraph
1t was the month of December,
1869. The celebrated empress Cath
crime H. was upon the throne. Fred =
eric OF Prussia and Catherine were
conspiring together for an attack
upon Poland that they might divide
that kingdom between them. Fred
eric sent his brother Henry to st.
Petersburg, ostensibly for friendly
visit but in reality to mature plans
for the treacherous invasion. During
Prince Henrys stay Catherine gave in
his honor moonlight sleigh ride.
The sleigh which conveyed Gather
inc and the Prussian prince was a
beautiful parlor. capacious and fur
nished with every luxury OF the time.
1t was covered and inclosed by double
glasses in large plates. so that every
object without could be distinctly seen,
Mirrors were also ingeniously arranged
so as to multiply and reflect all the
scenes through which they passed.
This imperial sledge, with its gorge.
GUS decorations, was drawn by sixteen
horses.
A retinue of two thousand sledges
of the nobility followed. They were
also constructed for the occasion, at a
vast expense and embellished in the
highest style of art. The great dig
nitaries of the empire. ladies and gen
, tlemen, in SNOWY costumes crowded
these vehicles, which were drawn by
four six or eight horses. Expense
seemed to be utterly disregarded in
the preparation of the pageant. Fv-
cry person except the empress and her
guest was dressed in fancy costume
and was masked.
Early in the evening, and with mil
itary precision. the brilliant pageant
swept from the palace through the
streets of St. Petersburg. When two
miles from the city the train passed
through a triumphal arch, blazing
with variegated light
Every mile OF the drive was thus
marked by some grand structure
which, with it's blaze of light. ont
shone the splendor of the moon, and
in the ingenuity of its devices, with
flames of every hue. extorted incessant
EXPLANATIONS o. wonder and delight.
There were shafts temples, pyramids
colonnades Illuminating the wintry
20
lures bathrooms were reared, the sides
composed OF double glass. SO that
everything within could be distinctly
seen. Here the peasantry were as
sembled in each one group of a few
hundred from some particular prov
inces OF the empire dressed in tho
gayest of their provincial garb and
engaged in their rustic games and
dances. The variety of costumes and
of sports was infinite, and often gro
tes1ue and amusing in the highest de-
gree. The sledges went slowly by
that all might witness the entertaining
spectacle. and then passed on to the
next theatric show.
Through such scenes, necessarily
repeated. the imperial party rode. I'M
til 2 high mountain rose before them
which was opened TO their view
through II broad avenue cut in the
forest. The mountain was arranged
by display of fireworks. to represent
Mount Hecla in one of the most vio-
lent of its eruptions. The earth
seemed to shake beneath the terrific
explosions Vast pillows of flames
ami fiery missiles of every form and
hue were elected from it's glowing
crater hundreds of feet into the air
descending upon the hillsides and roll
ing down the crags ia a shower of
fire. The spectacle was SO sublime as
to be almost APPALLING, In mite as
tonishment the pleasure party gazed
upon the wonderful phenomenon. in
which art seemed to outvie the most
mighty of the energies OF nature. The
region for leagues around was illumin-
ated with the lurid glare which sent
u thrill OF terror to the peasants far
away on the distant hillsides and in
the valleys
Again the horses were pushed on.
and, before the spectators had recoy.
cred from surprise the volcanic noun
tain had created, the train suddenly
entered Chinese village which had
been reared for the occasion upon the
exact model of one of the most mic.
ures1ue of Chinese towns. and inhab-
tied by crowds of men, women and
children in the garb. and engaged in
the traffic and sports of the Chinese
on festive day.
The train passed slowly through the
street and then found that it was only
tho majestic portal to the Imperial
Palace OF Tlarko Selo. The palace
was lighted with countless rumber
OF chandeliers and wax candles The
Imperial bands were there. and for
two hours the pleasure seekers forgot
Emo IN the mazes Of the coillou.
In the midst OF the exhilarating
the hDs.t