The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-10-09
2 HE famed winter palace of the
Russian czar probably has seen
more romantic history in the
making than any other build

ing in Europe. The dramas
that have unfolded within its walls
would ~overshadow, If told, the most
highly colored imaginings of politi-
cal tictionists, and the huge building
appears worthy of all the fascinat-
ing memories which cling to it. For
generations Russia has reached out
from this home of the empire toward
aver more distant frontiers, toward
every compass point, building the
greatest of states. The winter palace.
a symbol of the empire, mayhap en-
dangered by the present Teutonic in
vasion, is described in the following
statement issued by the National Geo
graphic society.
Among the many palaces of Petro-
grad, a city wherein dukes, grand
dukes, diplomats and m~illionaires
dwell in abundance, the cars win
ter palace, a structure of truly impe-
rial immensely, stands out unapproach-
able. 1t is one of the worlds largest
and most imposing buildings. and the
air of it's rooms and corridors is sur
charged with the a of history.
During the capital seasons in peace
times, the most brilliant court in Eu-
rope could be seen here, when the
great rooms were ablaze with lights
and jewels, and filled with a splendid
display of gowns and uniforms.
Completed by Catherine.
The winter palace stands on the left
bank of the Neva, on a site bequeathed
to Peter the Great by his high admiral,
Count Apraxin. The Empress Anne
first made her residence in the ad-
miral's house, which was pulled down
in 1854 and the foundations of the
winter palace laid. The building was
crime the Great.
The whole interior of the palace
was destroyed by fire in December,
1887, when valuables estimated at
$40, 000, 900 were consumed. 1t was
restored on an even more elaborate
scale in 1889. The structure is four
stories high, or about so, feet. with a
frontage of 455 feet and a width OF
$50 feet. The principal entrance, the
"Perron des Ambassadeurs," is from
the Neva river. Connected with the
winter palace is the heritage of Cath
crime the Great, where the renowned
queen played first Bohemian in a Bo-
hemian throng.
There is a table hung on the walls
OF thu palace, draped with a green cur
tain, which contains Queen Cath
crimes bylaws for the Hermitage soci
cites. They\were:
Il. Leave your rank outside, as wei
as you hat, and especially your sword
2. Leave your right of precedence
your pride, and any similar feeling out
side the door. 3. Be gay, but do not
spoil anything; do not break or gnaw
anything. 4. Sit, stand, walk as yor
will, without reference to anybody
5. Talk moderately and not very loud
so as not to make the ears and heads
of others ache. 6. Argue without an
ger and without excitement. 7. Mel
Their sigh nor yawn, nor make any
body dull or heavy. s. In all innocent
games, whatever n proposes, lei
all Join. 8. Eat whatever Is sweet
and savory, but drink with modera
ton, so that each may find his legs
on leaving the DON 10. Tell nj
tales out of school; whatever goes In
at one ear must go out at the othel
before leaving the room"
Good rules all, but rules difficult fol
any but a queen to hold before hel
friends. The penalty for breaking the
rules was the drinking of a glass o.
cold water for every %offense. The
queen was most sever with those
who broke the tenth commandment
they were never again Omitted to the
hermitage. after being once founC
guilty OF tittle-tattle.