The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-02-04
CATHERINE TiIE SECOND.
Charles W. Seymour Lectures on the
Russian Empress Career.

Catherine H. of Russia" was the interest
ing subject of the second of the
series of lectures delivered at the
Park Congregational church last night
by Charles w. Seymour. of New York, under
the auspices of the New Century club the
Monday Art and History class, the Current
Topics class, the Thursday club and Mrs.
Backus' Study circle.
The lecture was enjoyed by audience
that filled the auditorium of the church. 1t
was not q dry recital of her history. but
rather a graphic pic orial description OF the
woman herself. her temperament, her tastes,
her weaknesses and her strength Her early
career from the lime of her marriage at the
age of i to the imbecile Peter III. until the
reinforcement and murder of her husband
was sketched briefly, the lecturer reserving
his efforts for the description CT the charac-
terstics Of the Empress az the height of her
supremacy and the recOunting of her famous
deeds.
Mr.. Seymour dwelt interestingly upon Cath
70 the advancement of Russia, not only as a
power, but as seat of art and learning.
Though a German born. she zealously OBJ
served The traditions CT Russia. She found
Russia half civilized country: she filled it
with schools and academies. Admitting the
polish and learning of the French court, she
modelled her court after it. She brought
scholars, poets and wis from that country.
Catherine fostered the commerce of her
country, built schools. colleges and libraries,
brought actors, singers and dancers 10 the
capital. In twenty years she had completely
transformed ST. Petersburg She superin-
ended the ccdifying of all the laws of Rus
STA, work universally pronounced model
of wisdcm.
Mr.. Seymour described in graphic Ian
guage that remarkable exploit effected in the
eighth year of her reign, when she COM
pletCd that monument Of extravaganza, the
rsarskoeselo palace, or royal village sit
uated ten miles from st. Petersburg. The
streets Of this village were of amber, mother
Of pearl, glass and precious woods. 1t was
illuminated with 10000 lights for the great
fete in honor of Henry of Prussia. the rep
resentative of Frederick the Great. The
empress and Henri rode from the capital
to the Illuminated slace- in a sledge OF glass
drawn by sixteen porses. Eight thousand
guests were in attendance and a gorgeous
presided with gracra and yivacity. Yet it
was under the cover of all these magnificent
festivities that Catherine arranged with
Henry of Prussia the final deals for the par
tition of Poland.
Catherine the lecturer pointed out COM
mitted her crimes solely to protect the crown
she wore SO magnificently.
Mr.. Seymour also dwelt interestingly upon
GATHERINGS fondness for Gregory Potemkin
union of all qualities most requisite for sue
cess in Russia-beauty. daring extravaganza
and ambition. Potemkn it who extern
ported make believe villages in tie province
of Crimea upon the occasion of GATHERINGS
visit to the province, of which she had ap-
pointed him governor-villages that Potem-
kin folded up in the night time and and sent
down the river to do duty at GATHERINGS
next stopping place
In conclusion, MI. Seymour paid an i'm
pressive tribute to the greatness of CATH