The Portland daily press., 1874-01-26
The ROYAL Wedding.

Tree return ClcketS over the ralroaQS by the
Executive Committee at the meeting.
The Royal Wedding.
A st. Petersburg despatch gives the full par
ticulars of the marriage ceremony of the Duke
of Edinburgh and the Princess Marie, which
commenced at noon in the presence of a vast
assemblage of guests, in the Winter Palace.
The various galleries were filled with ladies
sumptuously attirei. The prevailing costumes
were peculiarly Russian ones, the ladies being
mainly in velvet and diamonds, and the men in
uniform with the exception of the American
diplomatist.
THE WEDDING CORTEGE.
After assembling procession was formed
with grand equerries and the chamberlains, Of.
fcers of the Court leading Then came the
Emperor, Empress, Imperial Prince and Pr:n-
cess, Prince of Wales Princess Imperial of
Germany and Denmark, and Prince Arthur.
Then the bride and bridegroom, the latter wear
ing the Russian naval uniform.
The bride was splendidly appareled in long
crimson velvet mantle, trimmed with ermine,
and wore diamond coronet. Her train was
borne by four pages. Then followed an i'm.
mense procession, comprising the Imperial fam
ily-Princess, Princesses and court officials
the Imperial Russian Prince wearing the uni
form of the Cuiarssiers, the Prince of Wales in
scarlet Ia British uniformly, and the Prussian
Prince Imperial in that of Russian Colonel,
all decorated with Russian orders of st. An
drew. The Princess of Wales was dressed in
dark crimson velvet, with a diamond corOnet
and collar, and pearl necklace. The Imperial
sv,f hx1c or
The Russian Princess dress was of blue velvet
and gold. Prince Arthur was in the uniform
of the Rifle brigade, acting as groomsman. All
wore silver wedding favors.
The procession on reaching the Russian
church was received by the metropolitan head
of the Russian church, the Holy Synod, bear
ing crosses and sacred vessels of holy water.
The Emperor conducted the bride and BRIDE
groom to the middle of the church, assuming
his station, with the Empress Immediately be-
hind. Around the bridegroom stood Prince
Arthur and the Grand Dukes. Wedding rings
borne on golden salvers were deposited on the
altar temporarily by the Imperial Confessor,
until placed on the fingers of the bride and
bridegroom. The magnificent chapel was IL
Illuminated with wax candies. The floor was
covered with velvet crimson and gold carpet
and the pillars and altar with gold.
UNIQUE NUPTIAL CEREMONY.
The Greek marriage ceremony was unique.
In the absence of music, chants and intonsd
prayers were given during the service. Crowns
were held suspended over the heads of the roy
al pair, Prince Arthur holding the crown over
the Duke of Edinburgh and Grand Duke Ser
gus that over the BRIDE The In perial Comics
sor then said: sThou servant of God, Alfred
Ernest Edward, art crowned for this hand
maiden of God, Maria Alexandrovna, in the
name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost"
Prince Arthur becoming tired holding the heavy
crown was relieved. Then the Epistle to the
Ephesians, fifth chapter. and twentieth to the
twenty third verses was read. After the read
ing of the epistle was concluded the Gospel of
the marriage at Cana of Galilee was read.
Then the crowns were removed and the mar
ried couple walked thrice around the raised dais
holding to the tip of the Confessor's robe with
one hand and q candle in the other. At the
conclusion of this ceremony the sacramental
cuu was brought forward, blessed and partaken
of by the bridal pair, the confessor presenting
the cross which both kissed. The Deacon gave
an eloquent admonition on the marriage duties.
Afterwards the chant was sung by the choir,
''Glory to Thee, Oh Godr concluding with the
benediction. Thus ended The Greek service.
THE ANGLICAN SERVICE.
The procession then slowly formed, proceed
ing to the Hall of Alexander foe the Anglican
service. Dean Stanley of Westminster Abbey
oficiated. The hall was rather snall The
walls were decorated with battle pictures.
Dean Stanley, who during the Greek service,
wore his Episcopal Doctor of Divinity hood
and gown, now appeared at the altar wearing
his Episcopal surplice with jewelled collar of
the Order of Bath around his neck. He was
assisted by two resident English cIergymen.
The members of the English colony, including
bankers and merchants gathered at the left of
the altar. Conspicuous among them were
Governor Jewell, the American Minister Lord
LOTUS, the English Minister, and the Corps
Diplomatic. Many of the British wore scarlet
uniforms Especially noticeable was Prince
Gortschakeff for his venerable appearance,
surrounded by the leading members of the
Russian nobility gathered on the right side of
the altar.
The Episcopal chants we're sung by the Rus
sian chorister lads in long crimson dresses.
When the marriage procession entered, the
bride WAS between her father and the bride
groom, with Prince Arthur behind. The SER
vice being concluded, Dean Stanley warmly
congratulated the couple. Several Roman
Catholic dignitaries were present.
THE AFTER SCENES.
When the crowd dispersed there was fright
ful rush on the stairways. There was WON
der1ui mass of color and decorations composed
OF uniforms, turbans, Asiatic flowing robes
from Bokhara and Samarkand, Big Cuirassier
Guards with silver helmets surmounted bv COL
den eagles, and Chamberlains and Eouerries
Much attention was paid by the Russian dipni-
taries to Governor Jewell and family, who are
extremely popular. Criticism was made on
the appearance of the bridegroom. His re-
served and solemn manner created an unfavor-
able impression. The Prince and Princess of
Wales affability was chcered on their coming
on the street. The police were engaged in driv-
ing back the crowd and the Cossack horsemen
charged to and fro, clearing the way for distin-
guished personages The magnificent st. Pc
tersburg church bell was pealed during thefday
and salvos of artillery of 101 guns were fired in
conslusion of the Greek service, all forming ex-
traordlnary combination of ceremony, wealth.
pomp and splendor.
FESTIVITIES.
After the marriage ceremony a banquet was
given at the Palace, Madame Patti singing,
Subsequently ball was given at st. Georges
Hall, the Emperor being present During the
day the weather was sunny and warm. There
was but limited display of popular enthusiasm
at the illumination in the public squares. The
city in general presented scene Of splendid
festivity.
1t is claimed that Utah has $4,000 white in
habitants besides about 5000 colored mep,