Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-04-18

| its roof to rear their families and feed,
their goats upon the grass which over
ran this imperial building. The roof
now supports garden with large
trees.
The winter Palace is the center of
the imperial social life. being used for
balls. receptions. concerts operas and
other ceremonials The state en-
trance lis by the ambassadors stairs,
which are OF pure Carrara marble and
rise from a vcstibuic rich In siaiuary
and golden ornaments. Within the
| palace are more than a score of large
| halls with corresponding suites OF
apartments. and all connected by cor
ridors and galleries. The court balls
take place In Nicholas hall II Ia
| spacious chamber facing the Neva, all
| ~ white and garnished with four co
and silver plate during the grand fnnc-
iions st Georges halt, ii0 by 50
| feet In size ia adorned with white
marble columns with gilt bases and
capi,s.s,. ..:aetaas ten ...=:;;..sy tandel-
abra. Here In an imperial throne.
before which It has been wont to re.
| ceive knights OF the order The walls.
ceiling and furniture OF the golden
| room are covered with gold, and It's
| chimney is surrounded with exquisite
mosnios. The walls of Peters throne
room are hung with soft red velvet
embroidered IN golden eagles. The
white hail. all IN creamy white and
| gold. has many marble statues anu
costly collections of gold and silver
| dishes. on which bread and salt have
been presented to the czarH by loyal
cities and towns of Russia. Each
new monarch receives many gifts OF
| this kind. which so bcautiry their pal.
aces. Scattered through seven OF
| the great halls are pictures depicting
russian battle scenes Bring into
these halls great palms from the con
| seryatory. MI them with the nobility
| Of st Petersburg and the notabilities
| of the diplomatic world. and the result
Is a brilliant spectacle OF laees and
lights and jewels and decorations un
surpassed anywhere else In the world,
/ dazzling picture of color. In which
he black ana white OF the nmbassa
ior OF the United States becomes a
| distinction.
Connected with the winter palace by
bridge is the Hermitage Palace, al
10 buiit by Catharine, and larger than
tn companion. Within It's walls are
stored the statues and paintings Of
The ozars ON the third floor may be
seen the crowns and diadems of form.
,r rulers OF Russia The imperial
irown is IKE mittcr with large
ross oil iivc large diamonds supported
~ q ruby. Baid to be the largest In
| thc world. other precious stones
give value of miliiop dollars TO
he bauDlc which Nicholas set upon
nis head In the church of the Assump.
tion at MOSCOW
TIN a tablet are inscribed n set OF
rules made by the great Catherine
o curb the impnisiyeness of her semi
civilized nobles and lead them Into
ways OF western habits. Here are
some OF them;
Leave your rank outside as well as
your hats, ANA especially your swords.
1nik moderately and not very loud,
so as not TO make the ears and heads
| pI othfIa acne,
iSat whatever Ia sweet and sayory,
| Dut drink with moderation 30 that
each may iind his legs on leaving the
| room.
But there is another side TO the pie
urc OF these palaces. All is no, glory
md gutter, MI Is not peace and hap.
pincss. There are rooms set aside
l ats.l.4 Ia
me of them may bo seen the camp
hedstcad. military cloak. helmet and
sword of Nichons l., who died of dis.
ensc contracted In the Crmean war.
Another has collection OF objects
>nce belonging to Alexander H., and
he sight OF these, even their near
proximity must have been a gloomy
reminder of the young car OF today
of the terrible vengeance of the nihi,
lists when aroused to fury. Here
,ro the clothes and other objects be.
longing to the iibcrator when torn
INTO bleeding piece OF humanity by
an assasslns bomb. Even the un-
finished cigarette the emperor was
smoking has been carefully preserved
Alexander H. had liberated 20.00o,.
pVu IN 1861. He was man of liberal
ideas and was On the point OF secur-
ing constitutional government ior
his people when the nihiilist bomb
cut short his career and swept away
the constitution he had prepared, HI
tie WIS To celebrate ON March .. 1880
the twcnty.hfth anniversary of his
accession TO the throne. but two weeks
before that date thore was an OK
plosion In the Winter palace that at
once spread terror and death Thc
he emperor luckily escaped, but the
niililists announced another attempt
for the day OF celebration, That at
tair passed safely. but u year latei
the car met his fate at the hands OF
the eonspirators.
lie had been to visit cousin on
March lS, 1881. and was riding back
TO the palace In a closed carriage. He
he'd gone but short distance when an
explosion occurred. bomb had
| been thrown under the imporaII cnt.