THE HOME OF THE CZAR.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 138, 29 May 1880, Page 2

THE HOME OF THE CZAR.

On the quay facing the Great Neva, which divides the Eolsh Storona, or groat side of the Imperial city of Russia, from tho Petersburg side stands the " Winter Palace," tho chief residence of the Call's. This remarkable building, which has lately been the scene of another dastardly attempt on tho part, of the Nihilists to assassinate tho Emperor Alexander, is a most imposing structure. It immediately adjoins ami communicates by covered passages with the lordly Hermitage erected by the munificence of Catherine 11,, which is at bneo its library, drawing-room, and picture gallery, combined. Tho 'present Winter l'alaeeis not, however, the historic building whose grey vails heard tho intrigues and saw tho triumphs and the downfalls of the descendants of the Great I'eter, which was tho scene of the events that Voltaire has so graphically told in'his entrancing " Eloilo ilu Nord," of tho madness of Paul and the beneficence of his son. That building perished in a groat fire in 18:)/, and within two short years afterwards the present magnificent structure rose upon its ashes. It is in the form of a vast square, nearly corresponding to the cardinal [joints, and has a frontage on each side of 700 feet. It is thus the largest palace in the world, being one-third larger than the KaiscrlichcBurg belonging to the Emperor of Austria, and it, is surpassed in splendour by none, although its grandeur is somewhat barbaric. The situation of the palace is admirable. Its eastern front overlooks the vast Admiralty-square, with the Alexandra column in the centre, supporting on its summit the great bronze angel hearing on high the cross, which is supposed tosyinbolise the peculiar mission of Kilssh in all her wars. The western front overlooks the vast, gardens of the palace and the more distant building of the old Admiralty, with its graceful gilded spire. It is, however, from tho north front the most, remarkable view b to be obtained. There, gazing from the windows aero.-s the broad qtiav, the Autoera! of all tho Unssias nmv'look on the noble Neva spanned by 'its hundred bridge- stretching away far on either ■t i. unt-. 1 •'(, a lit ia the m sts ,i d-s----lanco. Mark theio looms also in his v ision the great fortress of St. Petersburg, casting its ominous .shadow over the bright parterres of tiro Jmp'rial gardens, lit emblem of tin- military despotism which the Czar holds in 'torrorcm over his Mtnj.'.'ts. < i-stiug hia eves yet. inrthi r lie ma) see the domes of the Imperial mini where, the treasures of his empire are stored; and yet further off the wondrous heaven - pointing spire, do•egncd bv an Italian, architect, which ly.mnis tlio church of yt. |.W-r mnl Paul Lassiug in turough the grand entrance of the palace t.he visitor is almost bewildered ! oytbo rows of marble columns crowned .. with gilded capitals wiiich seem to stretch v into limitless sp,ee. All around also are s i ■ -..■-•> i miiicx, »hn;n oui-vc to augmon !, would U'.it only be u wearisome but i • >'••<•»" Ibe almost a Useless task to detai ■ ■ the vast number of the rooms, of wliiel - !l "re are i: -,i !•.•>., j•i: ■; i oil!) principn i. apartments; [j,.- «■:„>!,. pidaeo lieili; v ;-i' :i •'•" ' : nccmmr.odi.ting ten time ih.it number . f person:. ; we will there !! ' : !l ' ' > ',< to i'ii> t win hj. I'omi th ■' | -.:':•• a : ..o;„i.:.,:. The banqueting ball : I the nw wbi.-h ihe Nihilists sought |. : j'b.'-iroy, is a grand room, !! J feet ii i j : «i!gtu and [(;,) !'.-, : in height. Its roo i- issu|iport.il i)\ rows of finely propoftionei i j murine columns, and the wails aro artisti : willy urnam.-ul.id with gilding. It is ii s tuts ioi m that th.. imgi! minors upor t which the Czars of Russia hive so lorn | pridixl tbemselvesaro to be found. Next i. comes the so-called military gallery, tin , sight of the pictures on the walls of whin]; . is said to imluie the Russian youths with . military ardour. The apartment is a grand one. 1 Si! feet in length, with the same .spotless polished oak and giltcrowned marble columns as in tlie banqueting hall. The pictures are foi the most part not very good. Among the few distinguished foreign heroes, remarkable for bravery, to whose portraits the Czars of Russia have givuii admission into this national "W'alhalla, is the Duke of .Wellington. Conspicuous among the Russian portraits are those of the Ureal t'eteraud tho General Suwarrow. Next in size and importance is St. George's Hall, where l\w. chapters of that knighthood are held. This is a magnificent room. 150 feet long and 70 feet wide. grandly decorated, hut somewhat overloaded with ornament. Tho White Hall, or Salle Blanche as it is called, is fur the most chastely ornamented of tho apartments. It is used for all tho chief ceremonials of State, except that of the oath of fealty to the Czars, Here Russia's future Czars and their brothers and sisters aro baptised in watei from the sacred Jordan ; they are annointed with tho chrism of confirmation: here thovnro married, repose in their coffins before'they are carried to tho vault in the great church beyond the pirlaco gates. Tho corridors lead on to or rather open upon the gardens, all beautiful and redolent with flowers ; and in the view of recent events it is impossible not to be struck with the fact patent to all visitors, that with the oxa 'ptiou of the guard in tho court-yard not a sindc soldier protected tho Imperial palace until within the lust few months, and that any moujik might have penetrated unmolested even into the bedroom of the Czar had ho been so minded. The BiopiWl apartments open on to tho garden, and consist Hist of the golden anteroom, which is succeeded bv a series of beautiful decorated drawings furnished in tin' moil perfect modern tiwte, and pre-

sentingtvstrikiug contrast to the batli a |;, grandeur of the staterooms. Here an., if be found some very tiue portraits of i|! Imperial family. Beyond lies the ? bedroom, a niagnificent bed of state' i thecentre, surmounted by silken hanging emblazoned with gold, and at its foot : ! small iron camp bed, with a hard niorocf!' covered mattress and pillow, curiainle; and plainly sheeted, whereon nightly r,. poses, following the onstoin of his futlioK Alexander, by the favour of Heaven' Autocrat of all the Knssias.