The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-20
EUGENE AT MASS


EUGENE AT MASS
From the ~ Y. World.
One of the most interesting incidents of the
visit of the Empress Eugene to Constanti-
nople was the scene which occurred when her
Majesty went to high mass at the Armeno-
Catholic Church of st. Marie. The cores
pondents SAY that, of all the striking sights
that have been witnessed since her Maiesty's
arrival, this was the most gorgeous and singu-
lar. The church is not large, but for this
occasion 1t had been very richly decorated.
On the right of the altar throne had been
erected for the Empress under a canopv of
crimson velvet; on the other side were two
smaller thrones for the Patriarch and the dele
gate of the Holy See in Constantinople. In
the nave was q magnificent piece of tapestry
presented by the Empress to this church.
which cost 250,0O0f. There were present
large number of bishops and archbishops from
all parts of the Turkish empire, who had
come to Constantinople to consider matters
concerning the Armeno-Ca Catholic Church in
Turkey before proceeding to Rome for the
Gcumenical Council; two Greek Catholic
bishops, a Bulgarian Catholic archimandrite
and two Mekhitarist archbishops-o from
Vienna, the other from Venice. Her Majesty,
on entering the vestibule, passed between a
double line of twenty-five bishops, in gor-
geous mitres and vestments, and she was then
met by eight Armenian notables, who pre-
with rare and sweet perfumes" The language
used in the mass was ancient Armenian-the
Catholic, Syrian, Chaldean, Maronite
and Melchite branches of the Roman Church
having always retained the privilege of using
their own language in their sacramental SER
vices. The mass was choral one, intoned
throughout; 'but the only instrumental
music employed was an accompaniment of
two reed flutes, the tones of which were of a
ctr or,I 1oin A
pondent thus describes the more solemn por-
tion of the mass:-
'Whe the priest was engaged in the conservation
of the elements, massive blue curtain, covered
with silver stars, was drawn between him and the
rest of the Church, electually shutting him from
the view of all eyes but those OF his cOnrereS who
were assisting him; the idea of this being entire
disconnection with the outer world at such holy
and solemn moment. When this curtain was again
withdrawn, and while the elements were further
being prepared fOr in the Catholic Church
mony is for the clergy and another for the people,
again curtain was let fall. nominaly not cutting
Off the officiating clergy this time for the separating
folds were of the most delicate white gauze inter-
woven with gold, merely meant as being symbolical
which one observed the priests gave peculiarly
solemn and mythical appearance to that part of the
ceremony"
After the mass the Empress left her throne,
approached the Patriarch, and, kneeling,
kissed his ring; ''then, completely prostrating
herself, asked the blessing of his eminence,
which was given"
u.
THE ANNEXATION OF ST. DOMINGO.
From the NJ Y. Herald ~
The letter which we published on Thursday
from our Washington correspondent indicates
that the st. Domingo question, both in the
hands of the United States Government and
in the administration of Baez at the head of
affairs in the Dominican republic, is in a fair
| way towards speedy and practical solution.
| The project of annexation has long been en-
,a1 AlNn ,kn,,1
| that republic and the small faction of Cabral
| revolutionists who oppose it would doubtless
| favor it, as they favored it when in power a
| few years ago, if they were now in power.
| The people generally are reported to be well
| disposed to the step. President Baez was
assured during last summer that the inhabit-
ants of Porto Plata, Santiago, Levega, and
Cotuy are agreed on this point. Baez, of
course, could not with propriety initiate this
annexation any more than he could consent
to the leasing of the Bay of Sanama or to the
plan OF protectorate to be exercised by
the United States Government, unless
that Government, as well as his
own people, were unquestionably willing
and ready to accomplish it. Without enter
ing into the details of the preliminary nego-
tiations which have from time to time been
informally conducted between the two inde-
| pendent Governments since 1865, when the
annexation was on the eve of completion, we
may express the opinion that it is now highly
probable the project of annexing to the
United States both the yellow republic of
Dominica and the black republic of Hayti,
which now divide the entire island between
them, will come up early at the next session
of the United States Congress, and that mea-
sures looking towards its realization will be
promptly adopted and acted upon. The aboli-
ton of slavery in the United States and the
establishment of civil and political equality
have removed certain objections which used
to stand in the way of annexation, and there
will be no difficulty on this score in governing
Dominica and Hayti as territories until they
shall have ripened into States. 1t will not be
long before American capital, which has
already turned its eye towards the incalcula-
BILE, undeveloped resources of this beautiful
and fertile island, and American enterprise,
which has taken time by the forelock and
established Dominican banking, railway and
steamship companies-in fact, actually laying
the egg out of which annexation seems about
to be hatched-and in due time. emigration
from the United States, from Europe, and
perhaps from China will redeem the island
OF st. Domingo from revolutionary chaos and
open multiplied markets to it's increased pro
ductions. Moreover, not the least important
consideration involved in the annexation OF
st. Domingo is the fact that Cuba is within
but few hours sail of the waters in which
a really formidable American fleet is now
being gathered Whatever may be the upsho
of the Cuban insurrectionary movement, this
fact is eminently noteworthy and significant
How long will it be before all the West Indit
islands shall form the encircling belt of the
| nf I1o1ra &c kbaT -.