Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1901-04-20
CARS SAFE REFUGE
SANCTUARY OF SAFETY FOR
RUSSlA'S RULER.
Palace of Gatschiua IL Kept Confirm.
ally Under the strictcst of Guard and
Protection - Restricted and Uuat-
trsctive, but Convenient Domain.

The palace of Gatschina cannot be
compared with such castles as Yer.
sailles, San.souci or Schocubrun. Ii has
nothing of the artistic establishment
of the one. the historical memories of
the other. or the landscape beauty and
comfort of the third situated in the
middle of wide and desert plain. 1t
has no pretty surroundings, and built
without luxury its exterior does not
make an imposing impression. Cats.
china lies between Tsarskoje-Selo and
krasnoje Selo and the roads from each
Of these places to the imperial palace,
which have private court railway sta
lions. are placed under particular super
vision. and may not be used except by
the court \ high wall incloses the
park. in the center of which is the pal
ace. and this wall is protectec by
patrols. which never leave the outer
circle nor the park itself for one mo-
ment 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
nre not. and must not be, aware of IT,
Their pleasures and comforts are not
impaired by it, and all the amusements
that could be agreeable to the emperor
and his family-drives, hunts, riding
and rowing. evening parties. theat-
rical representations. etc.-can be par
taken Of. Adjoining the well-tended
park is an extensive wood-like the
park. surrounded by a wall and guard.
ed. In the park itself are two lake.like
basins of water; the palace contains
splendid saloons, ana two colonnadcs
which afford agreeable promenades In
bad weather; all this aids in preventing
the inhabitants from feeling anything
Of the anxious and never-tring super.
vision held over them. and the want of
more charming surroundings.
Sometimes the royal family inhabit
PeterhOf. but always return to Cats
china. Peterhof Is more magnificent.
Oranienbaum prettier. but Gatschina Is
considered safer and quieter. For
many years before the accession of
Alexander ILL.,, the palace had been
unused: he caused II TO be restored and
comfortably furnished. 1t has been
seldom spoken Of and scarcely more
was known Of 1t than that the imperial
hounds We're kept there. The Cats.
china race was celebrated, and n dog
from the imperial pack was very valu.
able. but people cared little for the
castle and park.
Still Gatschina has It's history. Peter
the Great made gift of 1t to his favo-
rite sister, Natalie: Catherine II. gave
IL to her favorite Orloff. who furnished
II at great expense, and built additional
edifices, by which, after the plans OF
the Italian architect Rinaldi, 1t receiv.
al quite different form. After Or.
Ions death the empress rebought Il
from his family. and gave 1t to the
Archduke Paul. who inhabited It for
some length of time. The palace forms
long square. at each corner of which
II stately tower. The dwelling rooms
are In three stories. The colonnades
run along the sides, and the pillars are
OF Finland marble. The rooms are no.
INTELLECTUALLY beautiful, but are adorn
ed with valuable pictures and sculp.
ture from the imperial hermitage In St
Petersburg, from the Anitschkow pal
ace. and from the winter palace. The
Views are limited by the park and
wood. which, however, have been beau
tifully laid out 10y the celebrated st
Petersburg landscape gardener-Lon,
don Daily News.