The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-05-26 00:00:00

STATE ENTRY OF THE CZAR.

The Emperor and Empress of Russia made
their State entry into Moscow on Tuesday, the
early hours of • which were occupied by the
public in flocking to the route along which their
Majesties afterwards passed. The procession started
at noon from the Petroffsky Palace. The Em-
peror, who wore a General's uniform, rode on horse-
back, followed at a little distance by the Cesarewitch,
the Grand Dukes, Princes, Ministers and others. Next
came the Empress, in a carriage drawn by eight horses,
followed by the Grand Duchesses, amongst whom
was the Duchess of Edinburgh. Their Majesties were
enthusiastically cheered by the multitudes that were
packed in the streets, and by those who crowded the
windows of the houses all along the route to the
Kremlin, the way being kept by a double line of
troops.—The Special Correspondent of the Daily News
gives a very graphic account of the grand procession,
from which we make the following extracts :
At 2.15 the cannon is fired from the Kremlin, and
the clergy issue from the neighbouring churches in
new yellow and gold vestments, dalnaatics, copes, and
chasubles, with their sacred " ikon" and their in-
cense. Their metal standards pierce the clouds of
smoke from the censers. The very bells seem to clang
out in metallic gutturals to the vibrating choruses of
the Cossacks.

As the cortdge approaches the bells grow louder,
the censers swing in the air, the drums roll, and the
bangs strike up. Here cline the Cossack Guard of
the Emperor, in their scarlet Circassian frocks, with
their shapkas of black Astrakan, and their facings of
orange cloth, and their rifles carried on the hip. The
white shirt peeps out over the hips, and the little
horses caracole beneath their riders. After these
come two squadrons of Don Cossacks in scarlet, and
two squadrons of the Dragoon Guards of Moscow.
When these have passed, a novel sight appears to the
European eye.
Delegates from all the Asiatic tributary tribes
approach, two and two. Kirghize warriors in cloth of
gold and purple; Mongols, with yellow faces and dark.
blue g wn •' Georgians, Kalmucks, Tartars of every
grade, in silks, satins, and turbans, or caps 01 every shape
and colour in fur, lambskin, and brocade. These have
scarcely passed, when the sight is dazzled by a long
serpentine line of gold, which resolves itPelf into
a multitude of Imperial lacqueys of the house-
hold. Their white silk stockings and crimson-
satin breeches scarcely temper the mass of gold with
which their liveries are adorned. Here and there a
bit of a black cat and a flight of little black eagles
veils the sweep of brilliancy. Behind these, four run-
ning footmen, in the old Grenadier's hat and feathers,
carry large canes. Then came four giant negroes in
full Oriental suits ; chasseurs without end, in scarlet,
green, and gold, precede the first rank of State car-
riages. Six white horses, caparisoned like those that
draw the State coach, glitter with bullion in
relief. The postilions are in three-cornered hats.
There are grooms by each horse, and running footmen
by each wheel. Six creams draw the next. Six black
horses are attached to the next carriage, through
whose glass sides all the inmates in their orders and
crosses are 'plainly visible. Still four more State
coaches, each more elaborate in ornament and wealth
of accessory, appear. Here and there is an open caleche
drawn by six greys, in which a Grand Master of the
Ceremonies or a Lord High Marshal sits alone
in his state ; but the greater attractions of the
gorgeous Chevalier Guard drive o ber wonders out of
ken, in their white tunics, cid cuirasses, and polished
casques, on which dazzling silver eagles with the two
heads open their brilliant wings. The front rank of
each section bear lances on which red and white
pennons flutter. The rear carry sloped swords. These
splendid cavaliers, 300 in number, precede the Em-
peror, who now approaches.
He was received with the deafening shouts of the
worshipping crowds, and looked very noble and what
is more, happy and satisfied. The Emperor was
dressed in the dark green uniform of a Cossack
general, with the black wool cap on his head. He
salutes the shouting people, or crosses himself, as he
passes the holy pictures, and with his young Princes
near him, and our own Duke of Edinburgh, in scarlet
and a white plume, a little to the left, he passes on,
followed by a staff of some 200 of every regiment, nation,
and uniform it is possible to imagine. General Lord
Wolieley was conspicuous from his British uniform
among the blue, green, and black military costumes
which crowded the road.

Eight white horses veiled in cascades of gold fringe,
and ridden by postillions who might have been dipped
in Paotolus, now draw up the splendid vehicle in
which the handsome young Empress is seated. She is
in her Imperial robes and wears the Russian tiara.
The carriage is wortby of note, not only for its detail
and lavish decoration, with its crimson velvet roof and
painted panels, but because it was one built for the
Great Catherine and used at her coronation.
The State coach which bears the Duchess of Edin-
burgh is nearly as fine, adorned with nymphs and
cupids of gold. In each of the equipages, behind the
seat of the white-wigged coachman, sit two young
pages, facing the ladies of honour seated within.
More coaches, more chafing steels, more gold, more
splendour. It is almost too much, and when at last
the thousands of mounted Guards, Hussars, Cossalke,
Lancers, and bandsmen file past, with their bands and
standards and lances, their clashing swords, clanking
scabbards, restless chargers, and floating plumes, the
eye, in sheer glut of wealth and splendour, half
closes, to receive only on the retina a blinding vision
of all the rainbows and lustres known, in one bewil-
dering spectrum.
The pageant was a magnificent success. It filed
slowly through the double portal of the Voskre-sensky
Gate, and past the north-eastern face of the Kremlin,
adorned with heraldic shields of cities, provinces, and
nationalities. The most curious of these devices was
the emblem of the Tartar country of Kazan, repre-
senting a black cock with huge spurs and fiery forked
tongue, issuing from its open beak, and a coiled ser-
pent for a tail ; altogetner a weird fowl.
The gorgeous procession passed along the face of
the grand stand, containing upwards of ten thousand
persons, and in the front of the renowned church of
St. Basil, with its extracrdinary cluster of towers and
domes, and near that spot it entered the Kremlin.

Another account says ::—At the entrance to the city
their Majesties were received by the municipal autho-
rities, and further on by the representatives of the
Zemstvo of Moscow. At the Gate of the Resur-
rection the Emperor received the respects of another
group of ffickals, and again spoke a few appro-
priate words in response. His Majesty then dis-
mounted, and the Empress alighted from her carriage,
and both knelt and fervently prayed for some
moments before the shrine of Our Lady of Tver, one
specially venerated in Russia. These devotions con-
cluded, the procession resumed its way. Near the
church of St. Saviour the Commandant of Moscow
and his officers were in waiting ; arid near
the Cathedral of the Assumption their Majesties
received the homage of the Senate. As each church
was passed the clergy emerged from its portals bearing
crosses and holy icons. At the Red Staircase
their Majesties alighted and went into the Cathe-
dral of the Assumption, where a solemn " Te Deum "
was sung, in thanksgiving for their safe and happy
entry into their capital. The choir then sung
the hymn for Palm Sunday, and the fact of
their Majesties entry into the cathedral was an-
nounced by a salute of eighty-five guns. After pro-
strating themselves before the sacred icons, the Im-
perial pair were conducted to the Cathedral of the
Archangel Michael, where repose the remains of so
many Czars. Here their Majesties were received by
the Metropolitan of Tver, and thence conducted to
the Cathedral of the Annunciation, where all
Imperial baptisms and marriages were formerly
celebrated. Prayers of thanksgiving were offered
up in each cathedral. These various and com-
plicated ceremonies necessarily con,umed a con-
siderable amount of time, at,d it was therefore
just upon half-past four when their Majesties entered
the Palace of the Kremlin, where they were received
by the clergy with crosses and holy water, and were

presented by the Court officials with bread and salt on
a silver kilt plate. This was the final ceremony, and
their Majesties then retired to their private apart-
ments; the bells pealed forth, and a salute of one hun-
dred and one guns was fired.