New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-20
THE PETERHOF FETES.
RESIDENCES AND THE ANOMALIES
OF RUSSIAN DIPLOMACY.

I
city where, according to all principles Of sanitary
science and modern engineering, one ought never
to have been built. for the site selected by Peter
the Great was a swamp below the level OF the
Gulf Of Finland. and sixty feet lower than Lake
Ladoga. of which the Neva was the outlet To
this day the city Is in danger Of inundation
whenever the lake is flooded in the autumn or
/ strong wind sets back the waters OF the gull
into the lower Neva: and millions have been
added to the cost OF great structures like ST.
Isaacs. Kazan Cathedral. the Winter Palace
and the Admiralty. owing to the necessity Of In
derleying the foundations with vast forests OF
piles.
The swamp was chosen as the site al OF
a capital and a port. but when Cronstadt was
fortified az a naval stronghold the engineers
discovered that ST. Petersburg was without
deep harbor as the bar at the mouth OF the
Neva carried depth OF only eight feet OF water.
costly ship canal from the bar to Cronstadt
Roads was required In order To convert st. Pc
tersburg into port which could he entered by
vessels of heavy tonnage. 1t has been construct
ed and IL kept open with continuous dredging:
but the anchorage ground for vessels OF deep
draught is small and the harbor a poor one.
although vast sums have been expended upon
engineering works Peter the Great, with Inn
against rather than with nature and 1t has been
with endless labor and at high cost that the
great city Of the North has been Transformed
into splendid capital and toerable port
The era OF anomalies has not ended with these
marvels OF mlscalculated energy and imperial
pride. Russian diplomacy is as inscrutable and as
capricous az the window Peter the Great framed
for looking out upon Europe. The alliance with
France, to which toasts will be pledged this wee0
in palace and barrack. is an unnatural anon
alous coalition. for II IL n working partnership
between the most autocratc despotism and the
one progressive democratic republic In Europe.
1t Is a diplomatic combination which Is opposed
to the traditional policy OF Russia in the East.
for It brings Roman Catholic country into
rivalry with the Orthodox Greek Church rs the
future custodian OF the Holy Land. IL Russia
and France remain in defensive alliance. each
will expect To support the others claims when
the Turkish Empire is brought to an end and
the Sultan's estates are divided among European
Powers and Syria will be the portion naturally
allotted to the Republic In return for its good
Offices In enabling the Northern Power 70 occupy
Constan,inople. Holy Russia however. covets
Jerusalem every whit as strongly as IL does Con
s,antinople. and viii recoil with Intense religious
feeling agaIns, It's conversion into Roman
Catholic possession.
The mysteries and Inconsistencies OF Russian
diplomacy may be what they may. but there Is
no other Court in Europe which can welcome
the coming and speed the parting guest with
such stateliness and splendor may he Wit
messed here Cronstadt. with its long lines OF
for,rcsses. armor plated batteries. sunken dams
and warships at anchor In dock. IL an i'm
posing harbor for the exchange 81 salutos and
courtesies when an lllustrous guest arrives ar
departs on the mainland. within easy distance
OF the naval harbor. Is Pet"rhof the Russian
Versailles and in ST. Petersburg is the most
luxurious palace In Europe. with the Hermitage.
another Louvre. near by. An army OF one nun
dred thousand soldiers can easily be massed for
a military review. and the most sumptuous en-
tertainmcnts and the most brilliant open-air
fftes can he ordered at the Winter and summer
palaces Paris and Vienna the artistic cap
itals of the Continent. matches in beauty and
grace but ST Petersburg surpasses each in rich
ness Of effect and in the pomp and glory OF
power.
FOUR SUMMER PALACES.
The Emperor has four summer residences near
St Petersburg The nearest on" is a beautiful
white chateau on Yela7in Island, at the mouth
OF the Neva II commands fine Views Of the
CAPITAL with ts glittcrng domes and golden
spires and also of the tawny waters OF the CUR
OF Finland and IL lies on the edge Of broad
belt Of wooded islands and suburban parks.
dotted with picturesque residences and ornate
cottages great ball Is given In this palace
once wear but otherwise It IL neglected 10y the
imperial family The Islands as far ms the
Point. near which the chateau stands. have been
abandoned the PROSPEROUS merchants OF -.
Petersburg who spend their summers in their
d,Iv
over roads az good as the best English roads.
The other summer palaces are close together al
Gatchins Krasnoh Se6 and Peterhof. To the
east OF St Petersburg and distant not more than
half an hours Journey by railway. Gatchina.
where Alexander III lived in retirement OPP
pressed with melancholy forebodings. Is a palace
with 600 rooms adorned with pictures and mar
bles. KrasnOe Sel6 marks the site Of a cottage
and hothouses belonging 10 Peter the Great.
and was the chief residence of the three great
expresses. Catherine |, Elizabeth and Catherine
II. and the favorite home OF Alexander l. Here
Is the old goldleaf palace OF Catherine ~. with
It's famous amber and lapis-azuli rooms, and
near by. opening out OF the smaller garden. Is
the Alexander Palace where Alexander |. for
/ whom It was built preferred to live. Not far
away on the coast, overlooking Cronstadt. Is
Peterhof where the guests OF the imperial house
are entertained with splendid fetes.
Peterhof is a beautiful spot. consecrated to the
memory Of Peter the Great Here is Marty. the
modest cottage from which he could see his fleet
lying al anchor off Cronstadt. His bed coverlet
and dressing gown in tho house. and also ~
table made by him and the works OF watch
which he took TO pieces; and in front OF the
cottage is the fish pond where. according to his
own direction, earn are still fed with rye bread
when a large bell Is rung. II the suspicious tour
list cannot the fish. ne can AT least hear the
bell and pay a few copecks for the privilege.
Near BY Is Monplaisr. Dutch summer house.
where the Empress Elizabeth used to cook her
own dinner and wher, Peters bed. night cap.
dressing gown and slippers are to be seen. Close
at hand also Is the Hermitage. where the inge-