Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 259, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 November 1917 — SCENE OF ROMANCE [ARTICLE]

SCENE OF ROMANCE

Gatchina Palace Built By Catherine 11. for Gregory Orloff. Former Grand Duke Michael and Paul Alexandrovitch Held There After Discovery of Counter Revolt. Gatchina, where the former Russian Grand Duke Michael Alexandrovitch and Paul Alexandrovitch were held iolldwlhgthedlscbverycffa’cbutiTeF revolutionary plo v t, is described in the war geography bulletin, issued by the National Geographic society, as follows: “Built upon flat, marshy lands on the shores of two small lakes—the White and the Black—the attractive town of Gatchina lies, 28 miles south of Petrograd. Its resident population numbers between 15,000 and 18,000, but in peace times it is a popular summer resort for the wealthy classes of thecapitad. ————- — “Gatchina’s only claim to Industrial distinction is a porcelain factory, but its ‘place in the sun’ of history is assured by the magnificent imperial palace with its 600 rooms, surrounded by a beautiful park, a quarter of a mile from the Baltic railroad station of the town. “Many Americans have visited this palace, which under the old regime was open to visitors during the absence of the dowager empress, who made it her residence. “The erection of the palace, which dates from 1770, recalls one of the most dramatic periods in the history of any European royal family. It was built by Catherine 11. as a present to Gregory Orloff, the young artillery officer who caught the fancy of the future famous empress while she was still merely the consort of the half Imbecile Peter HL It was Gregory Orloff, aided by his two brothers, who effected the sensational coup d’etat pt July, 1762, in which Peter was seized and spirited away *to the chateau of Ropsha, where he was eventually murdered. Thus Catherine IL acquired supreme power upon the throne. “The grateful and infatuated Catherine rewarded Orloff not only with the palace of Gatchina, but with the title of count, a commission as adju-tant-general. then -director-general and finally general-in-chief of. the Russian forces. He might even have succeeded in marrying the great stateswoman had it not been for the interference of Panin, the governor and tutor of Paul, Catherine’s son. “When he,ascended the throne upon the death of his mother, Paul chose the Gatchina palace as his favorite summer residence and bestowed upon the town municipal rights in 1797. “The palace is a three-storied structure with one-story wings connected with the main building by long colonnades. It contains a famous art gallery, a theater and" three throne rooms. “Gregory Orloff did not bring his days to a close in Gatchina. Upon his return to the capital after an unsuccessful diplomatic mission he found a new favorite installed in the winter palace. Subsequently he lost his mind and died in Moscow. His brother, Alexis, the actual slayer of Peter 111., became a horse breeder near Moscow after winning honors in the war against the Turks. He left an immense estate valued at 5,000-000 rubles and 30,000 serfs.”