Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-10-03
anTmnerlal Pageant In Russia.


rrcm the description of the coronation scene al
Asoscow, we extract the following graphic pen-pic
t,ra of the pageantry which accompanied the Empe
roT's entrance of the city:
r. would be as difficult to describe this dazzling pa
.oont as il would be to give accurate account O
s~rand spectacle at the hrealre In all its compo
~snt parts it was magnificent and effective The
Taoth of a vast empire was poured out with a pro
fus.neSs almost barbarc, and displayed with taste
tornded on Oriental traditions and modified by Euro
nean civilization. Instead of narrow stage, the
cene was laid in the ancient metropolis Of the larg
os empire the world has seen instead of tinse
and mock fnery, gold and silver and diamonds flash
ed in the real sunlight.
The whole breadth of the street was now occupied
by gIittering mass OF pennons, armor, plumes
sieel, and bright colours; the air filled with the
sounds of popular delight the champing of bits and
blinking of weapons, the ourshing of trumpets, and,
above all, the loud voices of the be- Close behind
the Circassian escort and the world Bashkrs, comes
squadron of the Division of the Black Sea Cossacks
If The Guard, in large fat black sbeepskin caps,
with red skull pieces, long lances, The snafs painted
red and the pennons-of colored blue, while and RED;
their Jackets of scarlet; their horses small handsome:
and full of spirit. Here may be seen the costum OF
every age at one view and all as rich as wealth, ola
family treasures boarded plumber, and modern taste
csn make it. Bashkirs and Bircassians, Tcherkess,
Abassians in coats of mail and surcoats of fine chain
armor Calmucks, Tartars of KanZan and the Cnmea,
Mingrelans Karapapaks, Dagh'sanhIs' Armenians'
the people of Gourie and Georgia, the inhabitants
of the borders OF the Daspan' KurdS' people OF AS
trakban. Samoiedes, wild mounlaneers from distant
ranges to which the speculate ms of even the Hert
fordshire Incumbent have never wandered, Chinese
from the Siberian fontiers Mougols, and strange
beings like CaIiban in court dress. Some of them
had their uncovered hair plated curiously with gold
coins; others wore on their head only small fiat
Mate of precious meta Just the forehead others
sheepskn head dresses studded with jewels: old
matchlocks that night have rung on the baitlefelds
of Ivan Veiki, battle axes lances and scImetars and
daggers of every FORM were borne by this gaudy
throng. whose mode of riding offered every possible
variety of the way in which man sit on a
horse Some rode without stirrups loose and grace
full as the Greek warriors who live the trezes of
the Parthenon others sat in a sort Of Iegless arm
chair with their knees drawn up after the manner
of saoral equesrians Every sort of bit, bride,
saddle, and horserippng which has been used since
horses were subjugated TO man, were to be seen
here. Some of the saddle cloths and holsters were
of surprising richness and splendor.
This cavalcade of the "peuplades soumaSes a Ia
RuSSle to strangers the Interesting part of
the procession but II PASSED too quickly by for the
eye decompose lis Ingredients What stores of the
greatness and magnfcence of Russia will those peo-
pie take back to their remote tribes They went by
bright, shifting and ndstnct as dream of the Ara-
6tan Nights In gilt CasqueS 0f beautiful form and
workmanship, surmounted by crest eagles of silver
backplates, approach the giant of the first squadron
oil the Chevaliers Cards of His Majesty the Empe-
ror, each on charger fit for commander in battle.
The tremendous cheering of the people and the hur-
Tahs of the soldiers the doed hats and the reyeren-
ces ofthe crowd the waving of handkerchiefs and
the clash of presenting that the g Gar
of All the Russias of the Kingdom of Poland, and of
the Grand Duchy of Finland, which are inseparable
from them,' is at hand, and Alexander Ncolavitch
is before us. His Majesty is tall and we'll formed,
although he does not in stature, or in grandure of
person. come near TO his father. His Majesty is
dressed in the uniform of general officer, and seems
quite simply attred, after all the splsndo which has
gone past. He wears Furnished casque with a
long plume of white, orange and cocks feathers, a
close fitting green tunic with aiguletes, and orders,
and red rowsers and he guides his charges-a per-
feet model of symmetry-with ease and gracefulness.
His features are full of emotion as he returns with
military salute on all sides the mad congratulations
of his people, who really acts though the Deity
was incarnate before them.