The party walked through the Alexander Palace built by Catharine for her grandson, and occupied by Nicholas, whose military tastes are apparent in the pictures, models, and other ornaments. From this they went to the Arsenal, in which there is a vast collection of ancient armor, arms, and Oriental trappings. In a glass case are a miniature drum and trumpet of silver, given by Catharine to Paul in his childhood. The grounds were very attractive to the students, for they are filled with towers, kiosks, Chinese pagodas and other odd structures. The mast of a frigate, full rigged, afforded the present High Admiral, the Grand Duke Constantine, the means of obtaining some experience aloft without going to sea. On one of the ponds there is a fleet of miniature vessels, which was used for the amusement of the same young gentleman. A Chinese village, an aerial flower garden, supported on an Ionic pillar, a marble bridge, columns erected by Catharine to her favorites, hermitages, ruins, Roman tombs, grottoes, and waterfalls add to the wonders of the place. On a small lake is a pavilion, in which the daughter of Nicholas, who died in 1844, used to feed her swims. Since her death, black swans have been kept in the pond. In the pavilion are a picture and a marble statue of the youthful Grand Duchess.
"I think I could pass a summer here very comfortably," said Lincoln, as he gazed with admiration upon the beautiful grounds and the many curious structures it contains.
"Perhaps you would alter your mind before the season closed," replied the doctor. "I was in Russia one year in August, and I think I wore an overcoat every day for a fortnight, not at night merely, but in the middle of the day. Still the weather is sometimes very warm here. On the whole, I think I should prefer to be here in the winter. St. Petersburg is very lively then, the court is in town, and there is a variety of amusements."
"I should like to see the fun for a while, and the strange sights which are to be seen only in winter, such as the sleigh-riding, skating, and frolics on the ice," added Lincoln.
"I think the want of ventilation in the houses must be one of the greatest evils of a residence here," continued Dr. Winstock, as the party left the palace gardens.