The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-04-02
PARLIAMENT IN
RUSSIAN PALACE
BUILDING THE SCENE or ALMOST
BARBARIC FEASTs UNDER
OWNERSHIP CATHERINE II.
AFFAIR RIvALLED NERO
Empress Favorite Lived in Regal
Splendor on Woman's Gold
Successor to Throne Vented
Spite on Bones.
Associated Press Correspondence.


ST. Petersburg, March tS-Curious-
ly enough Russia's first Parliament
will hold its sittings In the old Tauride
Palace, a building whose associations
are all connected with imperious and
absolute personal rule.
II was constructed by the autocriatic
Catherine II, and bestowed by her up
ON Prince Potemkin, who, throughout
her reign was her most enduring fa-
vorite, II was Potemkin who, after
many years of struggle. reduced Tar
and brought that beautiful peninsula.
now the Russian RIVERA, finally under
Russian sway.
Under the Princes escort she made
a journey to the region. then called the
Tauride, and upon her return she
bought the palace for the hero of the
Tauride," which palace during the lat
ter part of her reign was famous for
the almost barbarlc feats, on which
Potemkin lavished The Empress gold.
In the very hall in which the SEES
sions of the PARLIAMENT are 10 be
held the Prince gave, in honor of his
sovereign. the historic banquet whose
prodigality and splendor rivaled the
foasts of Nero and the Roman EN-
porors Potemkin received his royal
guests in uniform blazing with dia.
mondS, and a head dress so heavy
with gems and gold that It's weight had
10 be supported by an aide de camp.
Contemporary accounts of the ban.
quet. at which 600 guesta were served
in dishes Of gold, read like extracts
from the Tales of the Arabian
Nights" one of the features being a
ballet. in which tho Grand Dukes Alex.
ander and Constantin, with 200 of the
most beautiful ladies of the court and
nobility. danced before the Empress
and her fayorite.
Shortly afterwards Potemkin died
and the palace was repurchased by
Catherine from his heirs and served
as her residence much of the time
during the remainder of her life.
Her son and successor, Paul |. who
was destined to be killed like mad
dog a few years later, had held Potem.
kin In such hatred and contempt that
he caused her bones to be taken from
the tomb and buried in dunghill.
lie also dismantled the Tauride palace
and turned 1t over to the horse guards
for use as n stable
But after Paul's assassination Alex
ander | restored the palace and made
of il residence for visiting soyereigns
and his other distinguished guests.
Subsequently the pictures and furni.
ture were removed 10 The winter pal,
ace and the Hermitage Art Gallery.
and the place became home for aged
of the court
It fell into decay and was restored !
only in the last decade Of the Nine |
.eenth Century.
The hall of the Representative As. |
sembly in the palace is little more |
han half the size of the House of |
Representatives at Washington. The |
members are not provided with indi-
Iidual desks as is the American Con /
sress. but sit behind forms" built up
n continuous semi-circles.
The chairs OF the members are
screwed to the floor The precautions
hat have been taken TO have every
hing firmly fastened down is sufficient
violence that tumulmous scenes IN
he new Parliament are anticipated.
Special measures have been taken
o deaden the floor in order to prevent
b-tructi0nists from stopping the pro.
ceilings by stamping.
Among the paintings H. the hall J.
large portrait OF Emperor NichGlas
I. y hose picture ad0ns aii public
offices IN the Empire
The Qualifications. president sa-
lon quar- ors of the chanccllorics. etc. I
re IN the wings. and in these rooms
lc old Pompeiian decorations. friczos !
nd allegorical mural paintings have !
cen restored. The building also cor (
Inns a room for members of the press.
it'll a telegraph room adjoining; baths
! the basement. hospital for emcr. :
nncy uses. buffet. restaurant. &C.