New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-16
THE MARRIAGE AT ST. PETERSBURG

DESCRIPTION or TIE Observation-Disclosures OF
THE DUKE or RDINBl RGn AND The GRAND
DUCHESS MARIE.
tFRoH AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT or rnE 1RlBuNEl
81 PETERSBURG, Jan. 23.-The hierarchy OF off
oas at the Winter Palace rs perhaps the most perfect
In the world. OF the finest possible texture It's
sections are knit together like the links of chain,
go that flaw in place would apparently suspend
the entire machinery of court 1t was the fortune of
us journalists to become nvolvedn the mesheso1 TINS
formidable system The Count Adlerberg is Grand
Chamberlain, and so far as know, very worthy
person To one of his subordinates, a MIR. A, was
assigned the duty of receiving the correspondents,
listening to their grievances, and making arrange
ments for them at the wedding ceremony Mir. A.
met us at the appointed tme and referred us TO his
subordinate, Mr. b. This gentleman instead OF
escOrting us about as he had been instructed
10 do, assigned iOno OF his snOOrdinates,
aMr G, to the disagreeable duty and from Mr..
we were passed along to Mr.. ID and +, and 30 on
through the alphabet till we were lost IN wild con-
fusion of epauetes gold lace, and ushers rods. New
ertheless We accomplished our purpose, and reached
an eminence for which thousands OF bnght-eyed
girls and beardess sub-O1icers sighed IN vain. Ii
was eminence in fact as well as IN figure, the
gallery Of the HeTaldry Hall, looking down upon
the assembled Court beauties and dancng-mastcrs.
The scene was extremely solemn. Every lady 1elt
sense of individual responsibility, and there was an
expression of subdued grandeur even IN the lnnuets
OF the ChambeTlains. The ladies formed one col
umn, stretching across the length Of the
ball and the sun shOne now and
then through the windows dazzling light was re-
fiected from brilliant uniforms aud bare shoulders.
Court ladies in virtue of their position somewhat
patronizing. The relation of ali ambitious courtier
1. a. -. 4
epicure to the steward of his club and there was
show of oOndescensiOn in the stately bows
with which this lille of elderly beau
ties hOnored the Young officers. On
the opposite side of the hall was ranged mass of
palace officials whose dark garments served as an
admirable background to their assistants. The Crown
Princess Of Germany looks stout and matronly as
usual, and the two sisters, the Princess of Wales
and the CesaTeona are charming When the Duke
of Edinburgh appears escortIng the Grand Duchess,
there Is Of what the French call naourement
The silence which had prevailed UP TO
this time gave way to a buzz Of ejacula-
tory comment, Of which the bride was of
course the object. She wore crimson vel
vet robe trimmed with ernine, finishing with
long train, which was supported by four cham
berlaIns; and crown, sparkling with diamonds,
was percied well upon her chgnon. The Grand
duchess Is somewhat plain, but by no means
ugly. She has full, round face, not unlike
the Crown Princess of Germany, brown ewes like
her father, and figure which is well developed bnt
NOT em6onpOiat She was pale, but supported herself
well. The groom himself is stalwart fellow, who
appeared TO regard the whole proceeding with some
impauenec. Behind these personages followed a
grand family of mobiles, for whose names refer you
TO the Almanach de Gotha
The procession winds through halls and corridors
INTO the palace chapel This is an exquisite little
foon decorated perhaps too profusely i'll an artistic
sehse Out less so than most Greek churches and not
ohehsi'e' as many of them are The Prince of
wales seemed to regard the whole thing as rotba,
tedious Joke feel bound to saw, however that he
conducted himself with rather more ease I'd di;.,
than any OF his princey comrades and his rad coat
made decided impression sensitive ladies uo
followed the rehg0us ceremony with mannar If
deep personal interest Now and then ch,ttad 1,;.h
his sister, the German Crown Princess IT,
seemed to be either exchanging froto,nn1
opinions about the bearing of their brotbar
aiding each other to solve the mysteries 81
the Russian ritual. The Empress was Obliged TO be
seated during the proceedings, which were very
long. The officiating clergyman was the private
cOnfessor Of the Emperor, the Metropolitan of St. Pc
tersburg being monk, consequently celibate and
consequently disqualified TO marry people. royal OIL
otherwise. The music from chorus Of boys wa,
admirable, and echoed through the vaulted re
cesses OF the chapel in q strangely sweet
manner. The most painful duty was that assigned
70 two attendants to hold the required crowns ovel
The heads of the bridal pair. The Alexander Hall
being only temporarily fitted up for the Anglican
te wanted Of course. the solemn character of the
chapel think in ordinary times favored
people dance there. When arrived, the pro-
sos'on had not yet entered, but the clergy