South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-03-14

with "A special permit. The tourists 4
I lucky enough 10 obtain one were
ushered into a vast hall, whence an
elevator took them 10 the upper
story. where stood side by side the
beautiful coaches Of the Russian
emperors.
The most noticeable among them
dated from the time of the Empress
Elizabeth. who had il built in
France. and was supposed to be
worth more than 100000 rubies.
IL was entirely gilded. and the pan
els ornamented with diamonds and
rubies. these precious stones also
composing the huge imperial crown
which surmounted il. The inside
was lined with crimson velvet. That, I
however. at the time of the corona
ton OF Alexander III. was replaced
for the occasion, and only for IL. by
white, at the special desire Of the
Empress Marie, who did not like
the bright red shade. which she
though was not favorable 70 her
complexion. But Immediately after
the festivities were over, the orig
inal lining was again put in its
place out Of respect for old tradi-
tions.
This special coach was used once
more by the Dowager empress on
the occasion Of the entry of Nicho-
las III into Moscow. when he was
crowned there in 1896. and she rode
IN II alone, in front of the carriage
in which sat her daughter-in-law.
who, owing 20 the fact that she had
not yet assumed the imperial dia-
dem. was not supposed 70 have the
right to drive i'm one that was sur
mounted with this insign. AIexan-
dra did not like this and protested.
invoking the precedent of her
mother-in-law. who had used the
conveyance before her coronation.
but h was shown a special order
of Alexander III. authorizing his
wife 10 do so, but saying thai this
ought not be considered a prec-
edent for the thing TO be repeated,
his reason for allowing her TO do 1t
being based on the fact that there
was no empress dowager alive at
the time. who might have claimed
the privilege.
other Carriages.
This carriage was the cOstliest of
the whole collection. but there were
others of exquisite French work
manship, which were mostly order
ed by the Empress Catherine, with
wonderful panels Of Vernis Martin,
all lined with the crimson velvet.
and ornamented with the imperial
eagle and coat of arms. Then,
again, come smaller vehicles. des-
tined TO be used by foreign princess
es when they happened to be in
Russia for some great court festi-
vity, as well as by Russian grand
cGchesses, which if the other did
not exist would have been cOnsid-
cred something quite wonderful.
There were also open victorias and
phaetons, all gold and crimson vel
vet, in which sat masters of the
ceremonies and chamberlains, and
other coaches which were never
taken out. being considered too old
20 be used. In all, there were pre-
served in the old building set aside
for this purpose over - state car
riages. all gilded and painted. They
constituted an almost unique col
lection.
There were also to be seen there
the harness used together with
these wonderful coaches. which
! were just as beautiful and magnih-
cent. one was shown beside the
sledge of Peter the Great. another
long sledge in which his daughter. /
the Empress Elizabeth used TO Jour
ney from 81. Petersburg TO Mos
COW; "a small and low phaeton that
had been sent by Queen Elizabeth
of England to Car Ivan the Ter
rible. and the pony carriage bought
by the Empress Catherine for her
grandchildren. in which the latter
used 10 drive themselves in the
parks of Tzarskoie Selo and Peter
hof. And one vas also asked TO no.
tice the country cart in which that
same Empress Catherine had her
self driven TO the barracks of the
Preobragensky regiment on that ia
nous night which saw her husband.
Car Peter III. dethroned and her
self proclaimed sovereign in his
place.
\ Wrecked Car.
But apart from these relics of a
past age. there was another con-
v~eyance which was pointed out TO
the visitor. with something like awe
10y the impreal servant in charge of
the place. IL IA a large and some
what clumsy landau. the back Of
which was entirely shattered. while
the inside cushions were quite torn
and ragged. II was the carriage in
which Alexander II was riding on
that eventful March morning which
saw him fall under a NihiIist bomb.
The emperor was on his way back
20 the winter palace from the house
OF his cousin, the Grand Duchess
Catherine. where ne had been lunch
ms, when "a young man called
Ryslakon. who was standing on the
ice on the canal lining the street
through which the car was driving.
threw the hrst bomb at him. The
~ escaped unhurt. though his
landau was quite smashed. He got