The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-21
THE PALACE OF GATsCHINA.
Sanctuary OF safety for the Csnr
Of All the Russiar,

The palace OF Gatschina canno, be COM
pared with such castles as Versailles
ni nsr - or schoenbrunn; 1t has moth
one. the historical memories OF the other
or the landscape beauty and comfort OF
ne thrd- situated in tho middle of a
vice ana desert plan. Il has no pretty
surroundings. and. built without h,xurv.
Its exterior does not make an imposing
impression. Gatsch.na lies between Tsar-
skoje-Seio and krasnoje-Seio. and tho
ROADS IRON each OF these places to the
imperial palace. which have private court
railway stations, are placed under partic-
uiar supervision, and may not he used ex-
cept by the court A high wall incloses
the park. in the center of which Is the
palace. and this wall is protected BY ma
trolls. which never leave the outer circle
nnor the park itself for one moment out
OF sight.
Entrance Is only permitted by special
order. Though the superintendent is so
strict. II Is said that the Inhabitants OF
the palace are not. and must no, be.
aware OF IL. Their pleasures and comforts
are not impaired by IL, and all the amuse-
ments that could be agreea bio TO the en-
reror and his family-drfves. hunts. riding
and rowing, evening parties theatrical
representations, etc.-can be partaken OF.
Adjoining the weil-tsnded park is an ex-
tefls.Se wood-iike tha park, surrounded
by wall and guarded. In the park itself
are txo lake-like basins Of water: the PAL
ace contains splendid saloons, and two
colonnades which afford agreeable prom
enades In bad weather: ali this aids IN
preventing tho Inhabitants from feeling
anything OF the anxious and never-tiring
supervision held over them and the want
OF more charming surroundings
Sometimes the royal family inhabit Pc
terhof but always return to Gstsch.na.
fsterhof is more magnificent Oranien-
baum prettier. but Gatschlna Is consider
"a safer and queter. For many years
before the accession OF Alexander Ill the
palace had been unused. He caused II TO
he restored and comfortably furnished.
II has been seldom spoken of and scarce
~ more was known Of Il than that the
imperial hounds were kept there. The
Gatschina race was celebrated, and 4 dog
from the imperial pack was very ya!ua-
bic. but people cared little for the castle
and park.
Stil Gatsch;aa has TIA history. Peter
the Great made gift 81 Il 10 h.s favorits
sister. Natalie: Catherine IL. gave II 10
her favorite oflo1, who furnished I, at
great expense and euilt additional esil-
ficss, by which. after the plans Of the
Italian architect. Rinaidi IL received
aalte Z difFe-en; form After Orloff's
death the empires Tehoughf IL from, his
family and gave u 70 the Archduke Paul
eho l00&b-tesi X 9oT some length CT time
THE palace forms a long square. at each
corner % wa.cA il stately tower The
dwelling rooms are n three stories. The
coluua2dss ran along The sides and the
pillars are OF Finland marble The rooms
are ret INTELLECTUALLY beautiful. but are
adorned NTH valua ole pictures and scGip-
iGYs from tse imperial hermitage II 81.
Petersburg. from the An-5scAkow palaces
ard from the winter palace. The views
are limited by the park and wood. whlch.
however. have been beautifully laid our
bV the celebrated ST Petersburg landscape
gardener.