New-York tribune., 1897-08-29
BEAUTIES OF PETERHOF.
CZAR IS ENTERTAINING THE
FRENCH PRESIDENT

President Of the French Republic. may be de-
scribed as the Russian Versailles. having been
Duiit on the same plans by ar Italian architect,
Count Charles Restrelli. Its situation is. how
ever. much more picturesque than the famous
palace OF King Louis XIV. For il stands on an
eminence commanding a superb view OF the Fin
nish coast, at a distance OF about sixteen miles
from the capital, on the shore Of the Gulf Of
Finland. Although it dates from the reign OK
Peter the Great every succeeding Car and
CZarna has made additions and improvements
until the tout ensemble surrasses in beauty
wengh every other imperial abode in Eu-
rope. The main building. which is three stories
in height, is constructed Of marble ard of gran
ite, the latter being red, which contrasts with
the whiteness Of the former, while the roof and
nnumcrablc domcs OF iron. richly gilded.
host of minor palaces. chapes and villas sur
round it and rye to adorn the gardens which
are the great feature of the place. The are
many terraces sloping away the sea and
every turn reveals some lovely bit Of scenery,
lakes, then what might seem nook OF some
medieval forest. and just beyond succession OF
rushing, roaring cataracts foaming and falling
from rocks that apparently have been in their
present condition as long as the world has been
But finer even than the gardens are the water
works and fountains. Directly in front OF the
palace is the :dr-famcd Samson fountain. con-
sisting OF colossal bronze figure Of Samson
tearing open the jaws Of a monster lion, from
which rushes a huge jet Of water over one hum
dred feet high innumerable trtons, wild beasts
ana vases surround the central figure each
squirting forth water horizontally or vertically,
While the entire volume flows down a succession
Of immense marble slabs toward the sea nearly
half a mile distant. Scarcely less remarkable
are the so-called Adam and Eve fountains
The Golden Cascade is so-caled from the fact
that the immense flight OF steps down which the
water flows is richly gded When all these
fountains. cascades and waterfalls are um-
mated at night by electricity. as they are during
President Faures visit. the entire scene can only
be compared 10 Faryland
The latter, too is suggested by the basement
OF the main palace which was arranged by EN-
press Elizabeth as a species OF grotto Of cxqui-
sitely tinted she.. The rooms above are sump-
tuously decorated and furnished in the style Of
the last century, and the entire edhoe is
crammsd with costly pictures. tapestry porce-
lain. maachite. lapis lazu and curios Of every
Kind. The entrance hall i. surrounded by marble
columns, and from it asoends the famous
Golden Staircase, with its heavy gilt Renais-
sance balustrade. The Red Room Of
those assigned to President Faure contains over
eight hundred portraits Of beautiful women from
every part OF Russia all painted FOR Empress
Catherine II by tn. Italian artist Rotari during
4 journey that he made for the purpose through
the fifty provinces of Russia. The women are
depicted in every variety of picturesque attitude
and national costume, and one cannot but admire
the inventive genius of the artist in giving differ
ent po ositions and expressions 30 so many faces
One Aretty girl is knitting, another cmbrode ring,
a third peeps archly from behind curtain a
fourth gaZes expectantly from a window. a fifth
leans over a chair as if listening to her lover and
throughout the eight hundred pictures. not
feature.
The Pctcrh0f Palace comprises. besides.
enormous theatre and Byzantine church,
which literally glitters with jewels. The candle
sticks. the communion plate and the icons are all
Of solid gold incrusted with diamonds and emer-
aids. while the christening font is a huge affair
cut from a solid block Of maachite.
In describing the gardens it nest not be for
gotten that there is the so-caled Empress
Island situated in one OF the artificial lakes. an
enormous OAK tree which owes its origin to an
acorn taken from the oak which overshadows
the tomb Of George Washington AZ Mount Yer.
non. \ plat. the tree records the fac
that the acorn was presented TO Emperor Mich
oas | in 1S.tS by Charles Summers brother
George on the occasion Of his visit 10 St Peters
burg.