The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-06-02 00:00:00

THE KREMLIN DESCRIBED.

The Special Correspondent of the Daily News gives
the following description of the Kremlin :

For those who have no certain idea of the Kremlin,
it will be as well to give at least a superficial picture
of its situation and characteristics. The Kremlin,
then, is a blending of palaces, arsenals, and churches,
all enclosed by a triangle of lofty crenellated walls, at
the angles of which riee colossal towers' crowned with
Burmese-like spires, while each mural line is broken
at intervals with red turrets, which on the south
hang over the Moskwa, whose wavelets reflect the
white walls above.

The palaces are not remarkable for beauty. Their
size, however, makes them remarkable. The steeple-
headed gateways, with their hundred eyelets, brave
with gilt icons, and bristling with lamps; the many
cupolas of the seven churches dazzling in gold and
silver with their green and blue spires, above which
are the Russian crosses of the most delicate filagree
iron, gracefully joined with jewelled chains, form a
striking picture against the clear northern sky. In
the centre of all stands the Ivan Veliki, or Bell Tower,
some fifty feet above the surrounding domes. The
golden plates on its turban seem more radiant, more
dazzling, than all the rest.
Close by is the Church of the Assumption, in which
the ceremony of the coronation takes place. This
cathedral may be called of a Lombardy-Byzantine
character. The roof is supported by four circular
columns between which in the centre rises the dome
supporting the principal cupola, while at each corner
one of four smaller domes carries its metal ball and
cross outside. The windows are few and narrow
which give light to the interior, butthe walls, columns,
roof and screen are glowing with beaten gold, on
which images of saints, heroes and warriors alive with
colour, and gems a. and out, row above row, and fade
in rich metallic browns into thedarkened recesses. The
whole fane in its lustre and gleam seem some precious
work by Maestro Gubbio. Soft halos of reds and
orange flicker through the mysterious shades. Here
the rays are arrested by some group of hanging lamps.
There shines out a more certain brilliancy through a
silver or golden chandelier, which hangs suspended by
an unseen thread. Its graceful branches and sconces
rise in diminished circles, topped by the double eagle
spread in mid-air. Around at lower points huge
perforated metal standards, on which some saint or
ancestor is limned, framed in light golden lacework,
rest in rings against the column; while shrine and
saint, candelabra and holy vase, flash among the
tombs of the patriarchs, until it seems impossible to
add any accessory to the imposing sight.
There still remains, however, more to describe, for
it is here, on a doable platform' edged with a golden
balustrade, and covered with crimson velvet and
gold-fringed borders, that the actual crowning is about
to take place. I say double platform, for in the
middle of the first, which fills the floor between the
four columns, rises yet another within and above,
on which are seen the thrones of the Czars Michel
Feodoravitch and Alexis Mikailovitch. This last is
covered with more than 2,300 precious stones, of which
nearly 1,000 are large diamonds. Overhead is a
costly canopy of crimson velvet and gold cut out in
Renaissance festoons. with fringes, cords, and tassels
of gold, silver' and black silk. The cornice is
enriched with Imperial crowns eagles, and mono-
grams, and the whole is adorned with innumerable
ostrich plumes of black, yellow, and white, and borne
by netted chainwork carried to the roof by a knotted
golden rope. Beneath, on the interior ceiling of this
canopy, is worked in relief the black eagle, with the
arms of the Empire, and the shields of the kingdoms
of Kann, Astrakhan, Poland, Siberia, the Tauric
Chersonesus, Georgia, and the Grand Duchies of
Kief, Vladimir, Novgorod, and Finland. Twelve
steps, in three flights of four, covered with red
velvet, lead from this estrade to the pavement
in front of the sanctuary, and at the head and
foot of each balustrade stands a gilt pedestal,
supporting a golden eagle. On the left of
the throne stands a table placed there to receive the
Imperial insignia. This is covered in crimson velvet,
and surmounted by a cloth of gold. An imperial
faldstool beneath a rich dais, near the left column,
awaits the arrival of the Empress, and over all the
Order of St. Andrew surrounds the Imperial cyphers,
while countless eagles soar in braids of gold, and
silver on every banner, canopy, and cloth. The
Ikonostas, or screen which rises to the roof, is one
sh3et of repouss6 gold work, spotted, with the faces,
hands, and feet of the original paintings left visible
through openings in the metal.
On tha right of the doors of the sanctuary is the
Ikon of the Smolensk Virgin, supposed to have been
painted by Saint Luke. The metal is solid gold, and
the emerald on the Virgin's brow is worth £3,000 ster-
ling.

THE CEREMONY IN THE CATHEDRAL.
The Special Correspondent of The Times, who was
privileged to witness the ceremonial within the Cathe-
dral, gives a graphic description of the solemnity,
from which we make the following extracts :

I enter the cathedral at a quarter to eight and am
placed on the platform opposite the high altar and
behind the two thrones, at a point commanding a
complete view of the whole church. The tribune on
my left is allotted to the ladies of the Court, of whom
a few are already present, in sparkling toilettes, with
the old Russian headgear of their sex, which on great
occasions is always seen. About 300 clergymen of
every grade, all arrayed in their auriferous robes, are
on the steps of the icortostasis and inside the shrine on
the other side of it. We can see them lighting their
tapers and preparing their costly cups, jewelled
crosses, and golden censers. After about half an
hour the great bell of Ivan Veliki, right overhead,
begins to boom with a sound like that of Big Ben,
when heard at night, during a debate in the Council.
hail of the Commons of England, and the crimson.
coated choristers intone a low chant. The torrents of
rain of yesterday and of the past night have ceased,
the air is soft and balmy with the breath of approach.
ing June, and His Majesty the Sun, who has sulkily
veiled his face almost ever since the Emperor made
his triumphal entry into his ancient capital now bursts
through the dull encompassing clouds, and is deluging
the gilded walls, the frescoes, pillars, and the storied
nave with glorious floods of light. Ah ! What magni-
ficent voises these choristers and there clergy have
Can it be possible that those are the notes of a human
voice, and not of a flnely•strung musical instrument?
They are chanting the sweet and solemn strains of
" Christ is risen," sueh as are heard on Easter morn.

We wait, and watch, and look, and listen, and hear
the murmurs of the vast crowd outside, sounding like
the billows of the distant ocean. For all Moscow has
come to catch a glimpse, if possible, of the new-
crowned Czar; and the courtyards of the Kremlin
present one surging sea of human faces. It is now
nine o'clock, and suddenly the kettle-drums begin
to roll, and the bands to play ; while a deafening
clangour of multitudinous bells startles the city.
We look to the southern door, and see the priests
waiting, with their ritualistic paraphernalia of
welcome. But who is coming? Louder and louder
grow the hoarse hurrahs, and in a few seconds, as if
borne in on a wave of cheers, in comes the boy Czare-
witch, with his suite, followed by all the members of
the Imperial Family, and by their princely guests.
All these rank up—for no one may sit in a Greek
church—within an enclosure on the right of the throne
dais ; and the group is a dazzling one, with its
gorgeous toilettes and varied uniforms. There stands
the Duke of Edinburgh ; there is the tall and soldierly
figure of Prince Albert of Prussia, who looks every
inch a fighting son of the House of Hohenzollern, and
there is the aristocratic head of the Duke of Aosta,
and the picturesque Highlander Prince of Montenegro,
and the bearded Prince of Bulgaria, with a decided
touch of the old Teutonic knight about him,
Another pause of a quarter of an hour, and again
the air is rent by a sudden burst of cheering and the
roll of drums and the deafening roar of the multitudi.
none bells. Enter now all the great Peers of State,
with the Imperial insignia and regalia and the
coronation robes, which they deposit on richly.
worked cushions, upon a side table, on the throne
platform. The sword and flag of State are displayed
on each side of the short flight of steps leading up
from the altar to the throne dais, and these steps are
guarded by four Cuirassier officers of noble rank and of
giant height with drawn swords, Yet another short
pause, during which our own gallery is filled up by
a crowd of representative dignitaries from the pro-
vinces—men of decidedly rustic appearance—and
during the climax of frenzied acclamation without
their Majesties arrive at the Cathedral door and are
received by the Metropolitans of Moscow, Kieff, and

Novgorod, who present them with the Cross and holy
water. After bowing thrice before the altar and kiss-
ing the sacred images, their Majesties then ascend the
steps, and take their stand in front of the altar, with
their backs to the thrones.

The Empress is arrayed in a sweeping robe of silver,
while the Emperor wears the dark green and gold
embroidered uniform of a .general with high riding
boots, and the chain of St. Andrew sparkles on his
breast. Slightly bald, but taller by a good head than
any of his great officers of State around, is Alexander
111., while his shoulders are broad, his chest deep, his
limbs long, and he looks as if he could with ease bear
heavy armour. Alexander 111. looks every inch of him
the Emperor which the Church to-day has made him.
Scene the first of the solemn spectacle may be Paid to
have been complete when their Majesties took their
stand in frontof the altar, the Emperor on the left, and
waited for the approach of the servants of the Almighty.
The blaze of gold and silver, the richness of the various
uniforms, the sparkling of the precious gems, the
clouds of floating incense, the solemn sweetness of the
singing, the assembled beauty, and valour, and rank,
and station of all Russia, and the representative pre.
sence of all the chief states and countries of the world
all made the scene one which those who witnessed it
can never possibly forget.
The Metropolitan of Novgorod approaches and re-
quires the Emperor to read aloud the Orthodox Creed,
and his Majesty does this in a clear, firm voice, but
not of that depth and sonorousness which one would
have expected to come from so deep and broad a
cheat. Assisted by his two brothers, the Grand Dukes
Vladimir and Alexis and by the Metropolitans of Kieff
and Novgorod, the Czar now dons the gorgeous
Imperial mantle, which is presented to him
on two sumptous cushions. Cloth of gold is
the stuff of thid majestic robe, with a border
of ermine, and after being arrayed in it, the
Imperial wearer bows his head befora one of the
prelates, who crosses his hands in mystic rite
upon his Majesty's head, and utters some fervent
prayers. From the hands of Monseigneur of Nov.
gorod the Emperor now receives his crown which he
himself places on his head, and it fits well. Then,
taking his sceptre in his right hand and the globe of
empire in his left, he seats himself on his throne, his
consort still standing. It is a most impressive moment;
the gazing assembly is hushed, and even the severe
representatives of unostentatious Republics cannot
but feel the sublime significance of the act. Invested
with all the symbolism of his mighty power, there now
sits the monarch in whose hands are the destinies of
more than 90 millions of his fellow-crea.tnres, and
never was sovereign in all his glory more gorgeously
arrayed.
He wears a crown of gold, enriched with pearls and
diamonds, and surmounted by a very large ruby—a
crown of flashing, sparkling light, worthy to be worn
by the ruler whose dominions are spanned by halt toe
circuit of the sun; and rarely did the sun lend his rays
to such a gem as that which glitters in the sceptre of
Alexander 111.

What touching grace and devotion there are in the
congratulations of the Emperor's family; what evi•
dent sympathy with him on the part of all others, who
thus behold him on the threshold of his high and
responsible career I The thunder of the cannon
ceases, and the Emperor solemnly kneels to read
aloud a prayer appropriate to the occasion prepared
by the Metropolitan of Novgorod. Then this prelate
likewise kneels to pray, and every soul in the Cathe-
dral imitates his example except the Emperor, who
stands erect, without his crown, as the subject of this
universal supplication. Fearlessly, modestly, and
well, Monseigneur cf Novgorod, a portly prelate, but
of no great stature, now makes a short address to the
Czar on the importance and duties of his office ; and
then, in notes which really seem to be not of this
earth, the choir intones the Te Deum,, and the belle of
the Kremlin again ring out.

We have been more than three hours in the Cathe•
dral, standing all the while, and the physical strain is
plainly making itself felt, on none more so than on the
tall and stalwart Commander of the Chevalier
Guards, who, with his heavy casque in one hand and
a drawn sword in the other, keeps guard behind the
Throne. We have also three quarters of an hour or
more to wait until Mass is said, and we listen with
wonder and admiration to the deep, leopine tones of
the officiating prelate. But at last the Imperial pair
are invited to descend to the altar, the way to which
has meanwhile been covered with a cloth of crimson
velvet, edged with gold brocade. In almost as short
a space of time as it tikes to tell it their Majesties,
followed in ceremonious order by the Great Officers,
with the insignia &c., had performed their religious
devotions ; and the renewed ringing of the bells and
the thunder of a Royal salute, readily understood by
the multitude, which now begins to cheer, announced
that the Emperor has been numbered among the
Lord's Annointed.

After thus occupying his throne for a few seconds
the Emperor takes off his crown, and touches with it
the forehead of his Consort, who kneels before him on
crimson velvet cushion : after which he places on her
head her own crown, topped by a large and lovely
sapphire. Then the Empress is deftly robed with her
own cloth of gold and ermine bordered mantle, and
with the collar of St. Andrew, which completes the
investiture of both their Majesties. And now the
deep-toned clergy and choir invoke "Long life and
happiness for the Imperial couple," while the clanging
bells again break out—and hark! there are the swiftly.
served and earth-shaking cannon, proclaiming the
great event, and thundering forth their good wishes,

With a twig of gold the Metropolitan of Novgorod
sprinkles the forehead, the eyelids, the nostrils, the
lips, the ears, the breast, and the hands of the Emperor
with the consecrated oil, another prelate wiping the
above-mentioned parts, while only the forehead of the
Empress is touchei. Going then into the sanctuary,
the clergy bearing his train, His Majesty took the
Communion, performed the requi.ite devotions, and
then returned to the throne dale with his consort, where
the long, elaborate, and solemn ceremony was concluded
by their kissing the Cross. Arrayed in all their
Imperial pomp, their Majesties now emerged from
the cathedral by a different door; but how shall I
describe the incidents and feelings of the few minutes
during which in his passage under a gorgeous canopy
from cne church to another, Alexander 111. showed
himself to a mighty concourse of his acclaiming sub-
jects as their crowned and consecrated ruler, Emperor
and Autocrat of All the Russias by inheritance, by
Divine right, and by Heavenly unction? The solemn
and majestic strains of the National Anthem, the joyful
pealing of the bells, the thunder of cannon, the surging
sea of spectators, and their loud and long-continued
cheers, the gilded domes of the glorious city, seen
glittering through the battery smoke, and the cloud.
encompassed sun, struggling thrcrogh to saffuse the
scene with its encouraging smile—all produeed a seri-
sation which it was little less than rapture to experi-
ence, and a picture which can never fade from the
recollection of those who beheld it. In every respect
to-day's ceremony was grand, worthy, and imposing.
It was, indeed, an historical event, but one of which
only a dim and imperfect impression can be conveyed
by pen and ink.

The Special Correspondent of the Daily Telegraph
says : _ _ .

The spectacle presented when the Emperor and
Empress, having concluded their stations of devotions
at the different cathedrals, re-appeared in the open
was most magniticent. Among the prodigious bevy
of grande4s, military and civil, immediately pre-
ceding the Imperial cortege, it would be almost
impossible to particularise any specially salient
uniform or costume. It was in fact, one gloiiously
iridescent galaxy of brocade, embroidery, decora-
tions glistening with gold, enamels and precious
stones, aiguillettes and aigrettes, plumes, flashing
sabres, and gleaming casques. It rather swept
than marched along the platform, like to a whirl-
wind of diamond dust, that sparkled as it rushed by.
Of all the shows and pageants I have seen in this
world of pomps and vanities—and I have witnessed
the chiefest of their number during the past five-and-
thirty years—the spectacle which culminated in the
advent of the Czar and Czarina, crowned and robed
under the canopy or baldachin of State was undeniably
the most imposing and the most splendid. The Em-
peror's figure was thoroughly discernible in his long
flowing coronation robe of cloth of gold and ermine
cape with the crown of diamonds flashing on his
head. The Empress was less distinctly visible, as not
only her four ladies of honour, but the military officers
of the Household, who bore the staves and cordons of
the canopy, clustered closely around her. It could
be seen, however, that her Imperial Majesty wore a
Princesse robe of satin and her crown. The ladies of
honour and the demoiselles d'hormeur à portrait, so
called because they wear a portrait of the Emperor
painted on a broad bend of silk, were arrayed in the
historic national Russian costume and the peculiar
circular headdress of crimson silk called the Kako-
scheick.