AN ELABORATE PALACE.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 298, 18 December 1886, Page 5

AN ELABORATE PALACE.

The Czar's Winter Quarters at Gatshina,

Active preparations are beicg made at Gatshina for the arrival of the Czar, who is to go intc winter quarters there. The great palace not only provides accommodation for the Emperor and Empress and their suites, but for the Emperor's brothers and tho imperial household in its entirety. A number of apartments are also preserved for state occasions. The rooms inhabited by tho Emperor Nicholas and tba Empress are Still kept in thnir original Condition, Portraits of the Prussian royal family, and g-ifta from the same, are to ba seen on every eido. The " play h/ill " is a unique room, offering uiciliLie.n for all kinds of amusements in tho vrintor. Tliore is a stage, Oil which grand dukea and lauies of tho court often play. There are slopes down which imperial and other high per sonages elide on cushions ; there are swings, climbing poles, ball games, and in fact nn endless vaiiety of amu~omontf. The Emperor and Empress pwa tho winter hero in quiot with their family. The castle, however, give? tho impression of a strongly fortified retreat. In front thoro is a deep moat, which Ciin be filled any moment with water, whilo tho approaches, dofondod by cannon, ca sbo isolated by the drawing up of the bridges. Tho castle v protected by moits on rhr-'s eidon, these certainly lending to the chirm of tho park. AH workpeople belonging to tho paluco wear distinctive marks, nnd before entering or leaving they are examined. The palace of Gutehina is only one of a numD9r of residence* which the Emperor poJeecsea in tho neighbourhood of St. IVttTibnrg, and the majority of which ho never visits. Ono of them. Taiy/i, h;i* a puotiliar history It bolongod to nno Demidoff, who was n man of fortune. Ho gave brilliant banquets and maintained his own company of musician?, some of whom were clever artirtft, who hud studied in Paris This wealthy man often showed vory foolish^ extravagance, while at times his conduct partook of eccentricity. His daughter wns betrothed to a noble-nun, and thii day of the mirriiifjo was tixod, but instead of attending iho wedding 'he lather soot a leflor in which ho expressed rogret at not being present, and asked that a representative tio sent' might bo courteous-ly reeoivpd. Tho rop resentative was driven up in a richlyequipped carriage, with gnyly-drt?»ifed coachman and attendants, and i^ proved to be a dend pig. which was stuffed with gold pieces nnd precious stones tho paternal wedding-gift. O:i another oc^ision Demldoff bought r.n estate and invited the Into owner to his palace Haro ha made him dnul drunk and then font him homo in a coilin, having fii>t informed his family i that ho was abcolutely doivi Tin: relatives received tho coffined man with tours ; but what was their surpriso to find tho dead mai. coming to his sonso« and the vacant space in tho coffin rilled with gold pieces ? This palace at Tuizi is now in complete disorder.