Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-22
THE TAUR|DE PALACE
Where the Russian Douna
Holds Its Sessions.
WAS BUILT BY CATHERINE
Was First Used by Her Fsvorite
Prince Potemkin.
FINEST OF LEGISLATIVE HALLS
Speeches Delivered From a Pulpit
Respect for the Gear, but His
Ministers Berated.
FINEST OF LEGISLATIVE HALLS
By WILLIAM f. CURTIS.
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald

Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
ST. PETERSBURG, July 9, 1906.
BY one of those strange freaks of history
the Tauride Palace. in which the douma
sits, happens to be of the most char
acteristc whims and extravagances of that
extraordinary woman Catherine the Great.
empress of autocrats, the Cleopatra of
modern time She built 1t In 1888 to be-
stow upon her moss enduring favorite and
lover. Prince Poternkin. He was an able
general. He subdued the Tartar Khan of
Crimea and added that beautiful peninsula
to the Russian empire, The territory was
then called "Tauride." and Catherine chris
tened the palace in honor of 1.-The hero of
the Tauride" when she gave it to him as
his reward with a fortune. as well as her
own robust but tickle affections.
With Potemkin her escort she made
journey from st. Petersburg to the Black
to inspect her new possessions, and in
order that she might be properly impressed
with the value of the conquest the prince
hurriedly built model villages along the
route. which she stopped to admire Some
of them have since become places of i'm
portance. and several. like Katerinoslav
and Kateripodar. were named in her honor.
An Extravagant Feast
temkin gave his empress one of the most
sumptuous entertainments ever contrived
by human extravaganza. He rivaled Bel
shazzar. Nero, Caligula and other ancients
in prodigality and splendor. He invited COO
guests and received them standing at the
side of the empress in uniform that was
almost covered with diamonds and other
jewels. 1t weighed as much as a coat of
mail. and his golden helmet studded with
gems was so heavy that 1t could not be
worn and an aid-Ge-camp carried il upon
a cushion at his masters side. The BAN
quet was served on dishes of gold, and in
the middle of the feast a ballet was danced
by the Grand Duke Alexander and Con-
stantine and 300 of the daughters of the
nobility and the most beautiful young wom-
en- of the court. That banquet occurred
and the ballet was danced in the very room
now occupied by the douma for its sittiugs.
Potemkfu lived in Tauride Palace for six
years, until his death, in 1871, when Gather
inc bought back the property from his heirs
at an extravagant price and occupied it
herself for time. When she died her
crazy son and successor. Paul, who hated
Potenlkin, had the place stripped OF its
decorations. dismantled and remodeled as
a stable for the horse guards. He had Po-
temkias remains taken from his tomb and
dumped upon a dung hill Alexander L re-
stored the palace, and for seventy-tive years
il was used for the entertainment of royal
guests and persons of distinction and finally
became an asylum for decayed land in
digent members Of the imperial family and
pensioners of the crown, like Kensington
Palace and Hampton Court In England. 1t
was restored and Observation-Disclosures in
the '9Os. so that when the government was
looking about for a suitable place for the
sessions Of the new parliament the Tauride
was practically prepared for that purpose.
Description of the Palace.
The architect was starof, Russian, who
s.Aefs sf,fzF 9th tba fraa1
buildings of St Petersburg under the pat
ronage of Catherine the Great. The facade
is Greek. with noble portico supported by
six immense menolithic pillars OF granite.
Upon this portico you can find, from morn
ing till night. a crowd OF curious looking
people, similar in appearance Except for
costumes) and purpose TO those that as
semble daily in the waiting room of the
House of Representatives at Washington.
They all want something or have sugges-
tons 10 urge upon the leaders: they have
sent In their cards to members of the
douma am are waiting patiently for the
replies or they hope TO catch the object of
their interest as he passes in or out. The
door is guarded by splendid specimen of
Russian soldier. a Goliath in stature. but
as gentle and courteous as any angel who
guards Il gate. The people who form the
waiting crowd furnish an interesting study,
and even stranger can classify them by
their manners and their faces. their ex-
pressions of anxiety or contentment, their
air OF humility or assurance and the quality
of their garments.
Behind the palace Is a large garden and
grove. beautified with fountains and stat
uary, which has been open TO the public for
half a century and is now used as a play
ground for the children OF the better
classes who live in the surrounding resi-
dences. one OF the most aristocratfc quar-
tiers OF the city. The American ambassa-
dor has rented a palace only two or three
of the imperial family reside In the neigh
borhood
Finest Of Legislative Halls.
The legislative hall, although erected for
an entirely different purpose, is altogether
| the finest. most convenient and appropriate
have ever seen 1t surpasses In every
| way our own hall of representatives, or
| the house of commons, or the German reich
| stag, and every other parliamentary cham
Der in Europe. 1t is twice as large as the
| hall of Representatives in Washington and
| has perfect light. ventilation and acoustics
| The only defect, but perhaps II may not be
| considered one. is lack OF accommoda-
] lions for the public The only place that
they can sit Is series Of boxes similar to
those of a theater, hanging between a row
| of pillars In the rear OF the members seats
II Is splendid square room OF perfect
| proportions. the ceiling between thirty-fye
and forty feet high and the corners round
| ed so as TO furnish sounding boards The
| roof Is supported by arched iron girders,
resting upon massive pillars OF succeed
brick. with simple Doric capitals, and the
walls and ceiling are perfectly white. At
| the end toward the garden Is large bay