The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1866-10-10

ground for Russians only, in which the
monuments are in the same style of 0ri-
entail splendor, some of them having cost
immense sums of money, There isoone
of Russian General, where there is a
space left for his widow, and a chair
stands on it, where she comes and sits
every Saturday of the year Another is
of Russian General stiIl alive, who is
experimenting the erection of his own
monument, intending to have everything
ready, when he may need it, although he
is rather vigorous old man yet, in spite
of his exposure in the ficl
The inside of this CIR chapel is in
style of most exquisite auty. There
is not outside or inside particle of
stucco or plaster. The outside is all of
cream colored sandstone, and the inside
of marble of different coIors, arranged
with the most perfect tasi.. The interi-
or is in the shape of Cock cross. In
the left hand transept is e tomb of the
Duchess, and an eiigy OF nef in a sleep
ing posture, executed in marble by Haf-
garten, that is very beautiful work of
art. From the door in the right hand
transept view is given of Wiesbaden,
Mayence, and the Rhine, through the
tinted glass of the door that is very strik-
ing. The walls and dome are covered
with exquisite pictures on gilded ground,
the central one over the chancel, being a
Last Supper, The chancel is rallied off
from the body of the chapel and the al
tar is in a yet more interior chamber, COM
municating with the chancel, by gilded
double door of open work In the chan
eel are two tall banners on each side, two
reading desks inside, and two stands like
desks with gilded cases on them, on the
outside, and large candlestands both with
in and without it, with large wax tapers
burning in them, and circle of small
cups around each one to receive vOtive
candles from the worshippers. The floor
was mosaic of black and white marble,
with mating over part of it, and large
squares Of crimson velvet laid around on
which the worshippers might kneel.
There were a few chairs for ladies and
feeble men, but no provision for the audi
ence generally, who were expected Ito
stand. Just before the service began,
the wax tapers were lit, and the statue of
the Duchess covered, and the general ef-
ficacy Of the service illustrated by the
CASTELAR, telling us a downright false
hood for no reason we could imagine than
his desire to finger his fee. The service
began by reader at the desk inside of
the chancel, who had no ecclesiastical
costume of any kind, reading the liturgy,
| suppose in Russian. During this time,
and indeed during the whole service, the
worshippers were going through their
motions and genuAections. | watched
them with no little interest, as they were
the first body of Russians l had seen.
[ wondered whether ~ y of these stern
looking men had ever been engaged in
causing order to reign in Poland, or if
any of these really fine looking women
had ever heard of Siberia, or even be
slowed thought on its miserable exiles
as they bowed and gestured toward the
altar Their modes of bowing, &C., we're
very oriental. There seemed to be no
uniformity in the matter, each one bow
ing when and how it seemed good, ac-
cording to circumstances. Some only
crossed themselves, some merely bent
the head, some bowed until the body and
limbs made ri ght angle, some still low
er, until the face came near the floor,
whilst few of the most devout always
touched the floor with their foreheads in
their prostrations. But no two bowed
exactly alike. l noticed one man in a
corner who had all the enthusiasm of
dervish in his prayers and prostrations,
and who took his place afar off, near the
door, and a lady in mourning, who, 1
thought, might be the old generals widow,
who stood near the altar, and exhibited
a very touching spectacle of devoutness.
There was also something sad in the
sight of little children going through this
same process of deryish prostration,
touching their little heads to the floor,
though hardly able to walk. At the door
was desk with candles for sale, and sew
eral of the worshippers bought them, the
men and boys going into the chancel and
lighting them and placing them in the
places left for them in the candelabra,
while the seller of them did this office for
the ladies. The ladies, and some of the
gentlemen, seemed to be persons of high
rank, and interested me greatly as | tried
to imagine their home life, and past life,
in that dark and stern despotism of the
North. After the reader had gone on in
his recitation, somewhat after the man
ner of a modern high church curate in
England, curtain behind the door that
separated the chancel and the altar was
drawn, and we saw through the open
work the form of the priest, and heard
his voice engaging in the responsive
parts of the service. Then the doors
we're opened, and we saw the priest
dressed in yellow satin cloak, gorge
ously gilt, with purple cap, whose
shape was that of truncated cone, about
16 inches high, the smaller end down
ward, and without anything like a rim,
and from this point the service was
taken up by him and the choir, which was
composed of few magnificent voices
from the Opera troupe. The inner chan
eel or sanctum had the altar on which
was seven branched candlestick, some
what like that of the Jewish temple on
the arch of Titus, in Rome, except that