BERLIN AND POTSDAM. 161 
grounds and park, the Hauptweg, or Grand Avenue to the New 
Palace, was crossed, and the route lay through the spacious park, 
where many stately specimens of trees were seen standing singly 
on the greensward, or tastefully grouped in clumps and groves 
with charming effect. Passing the Sea-Horse Fountain, the 
Japanese House, the Roman Bath-House, and many other 
notable objects, Charlottenhof is reached, a handsome villa in 
the Italian style, standing in the midst of beautiful gardens 
and pleasure-grounds, in which the choicest kinds of conifers 
are an effective and pleasing feature. Here is preserved the 
celebrated chair made of steel and silver by Peter the Great 
of Russia. 
Bearing to the right, the route passes the Hippodrome, now 
tastefully laid out with charming avenues, grass walks, and 
alleys; and on through a wide stretch of lovely park scenery 
till the New Palace is reached, standing on a fine site at the end 
of the Grand Avenue, which runs eastward for about a mile and 
a half to the Great Obelisk, at the main entrance to Sans-Souci. 
The prospect from the grand entrance, abutting on the spacious 
esplanade in front of the stately edifice, is extensive, beautifully 
varied, and harmonious. The palace was erected by Frederick 
the Great, at a cost, it is said, of £450,000, and is elaborately 
decorated with sculpture, statuary, and other works of art, while 
the interior contains two hundred apartments, many of them 
richly adorned, in a somewhat florid style of decorative art, and 
containing numerous celebrated paintings by the most famous 
masters. Among the largest and most attractive of the rooms 
are the Marble Saloon or Concert Room, the Theatre, and the 
Ball Room, each over 100 feet long and about 60 feet wide; and 
the gorgeous Shell Saloon, the walls, roof, and floor of which are 
richly inlaid with the rarest and most beautiful shells, precious 
stones, and minerals. The rooms formerly occupied by Frederick 
the Great remain intact, and contain many interesting relics of 
that distinguished monarch. The palace was the favourite 
residence of the late Emperor Frederick III., who died here in 
1888; and is now occupied by the reigning Emperor, William 
IL., and his family. 
Returning through the Brandenburg suburb to the town, a 
glimpse was got, in passing the Royal castle, of the famous 
lime tree, now carefully protected, at which petitioners were 
wont to station themselves, in order to attract the attention 
of Frederick the Great. Crossing the Lange Briiche, or Long 
Bridge, a substantial stone erection, with artistic groups of 
statuary decorating the piers, beautiful views were obtained of 
the wide expanse of the Havel, dotted with umbrageous islands, 
and oerhung by the sylvan heights of Brauhausberg in front, 
