Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-20
dates that embrace his career in letters Of
bronze.
The "Narodny DOM"

The "Narodny DOM"
The new building was called 1.-THE Peo-
pies House Of Nicholas H." but is familiar
ly known as the "Narodny Dom" (The Peo-
pies Dome), because the central rotunda
is covered with a dome that il conspicuous
from every direction.
The park includes about thirty acres. 1t
is surrounded by a wall, and fee of 2h
cents is charged for admission. That gives
the people who pay it the consciousness OF
right to be there. 1t takes away the odor
Of charity and gives them free access to a
large grove, the privilege of listening to
several bands and witnessing numerous
operas. farces. pantomimes, sleight- Of hand
performances, Punch and Judy shows, con-
certs. stereopticon exhibitions. etc, etc.
get reserved seats at any of the perform
ances by the payment Of a trihe-from TO
20 cents in our money. There are merry
bowling alleys and other athletic entertain
ments, for which a nominal fee Is also
charged. Nothing is given away Every
thing has to be paid FOR, but the price Is
insignificant For cents you can hire a
rowboat for an hour, and for one-half
cent you can ride in a merry-go-round.
the ana usea
are given several evenings IN the week:
The galleries are free to all corners: ana
for hours before the performances oegln
seize
bringing their dinners with them. We wit
messed the presentation Of the most popular
Of all the native operas by an excellent
company, some Of whom are members OF
the regular staff Of the Imperial Opera
House. The orchestra was unusually fine
We paid 40 cents each for the best seats IN
the house. We could have obtained nearly
as good places for 20 cents, and the rear
addition to the regular admission fee Of 21a
cents.
The standard of the performances given
here is high. 1t Is equal to that In any
ances are varied by vaudeville programs,
concerts and pantonimes. People VINO
want to hear classical music can do so Dy
the payment of few cents. Those VINO
prefer popular music can get 1t for nothing
outside.
Grand Duke Often There.
At the other end Of the building is one Of
the largest restaurants in the world, where
twelve or fifteen hundred people can be
seated and served. The kitchen is the larg-
est and the finest in Russia. One hundred
and fifty cooks are on duty every Sunday
and an equal number of mattresses in neat
liveries and long white aprons. There are
several outdoor restaurants IN dlHerent
parts of the garden, to which the food is
conducted from the kitchen by overhead
trolley lines similar to those used In the
depaf lment stores of the United States
for Carrying purchases to the wrapping
tables and money to the cashiers desk
You write your order on a blank and nan0
it to the waitress, she puts it in little
wire ball and starts it along to the kitchen.
After a while your luncheon or dinner be-
gins to come over the same route in wire
baskets.
Tea is served in forty or fifty different
places. The Russians are great tea drink
ers and for three-quarters of cent IN our
money they can get a large glass OF excel
lent tea with piece of lemon floating In IT,
The expenditure Of quarter OF a cent
more will procure them a little round cake
made of sweetened -four or a large hunk OF
black bread
The menu is limited. No fancy dishes are
served but only ordinary Russian food,
such as is eaten daily in the homes of the
wage-earners; but It is always wholesome
and we'll cooked and comes In large por-
lions. One order is enough for whole
family and the cost is not more than ~ or
Is cents for a dinner.
At the beginning no beer was served. but
the rule has been modified for some reason
since 1 was last in st. Petersburg and now
adays light brew, made especially TOT the
Peoples Palace is sold 1t Is claimed to be
as nearly non-alcoholic as possible.
The general manager, chief inspector, pro-
moter and captain Of the crew Is tau man
with bronzed and smiling face who al
ways wears the fatigue uniform Of major
general with aiguillettes of silver braid and
cord, which indicate that he is attached to
the staff Of the emperor. the people can
him affectionately Alexander Georgevich,
as Alexander, Duke of Aldenberg. member
of the privy council major general OF the
staff, aid-de-camp to the car OF al the
Russias. He has no particular time dor
visiting the Narodny Dom, but Is likely 70
appear there any moment, day or night. He
comes and goes without ceremony. OF osteh-
tstion and very often the Grand Duchess
olga, the sister Of the car. Is with him.