The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-24
AN IMPERIAL WEDDING IN 1899.
A Brilliant spectacle.

aunt of the bride OF yesterday, married
less than thifty-nve years ago to the
Duke de Leuchtenberg, son OF Eugene de
Beauharnais and grandson OF tue Empress
Josephine. They were united In the chapel OF the
Winter Palace, az the nuptias of the Duke Of
Edinburgh were soiemnized. The Marquis de Gus
tine, who was present on the OCCASION states that
the walls and the roof OF the chapel, the habit.
ments OF the priests and their attendants all gilt
tered with gold and Jewels. "rhere are riches
enough here" ne says, ito astonsh the least
poetica Imagination. The spectacle vies with the
most fanciful description in the Arabian Nights
1t Is ike the poetry Of Lalla Ro0kh' or the mar
veilous lamp that Oriental poetry In which sensa-
ton prevails over sentiment and thought The
chapel was filled with the representatives of all
the Soveregns OF Europe and almost OF ASIA; by
strangers. like myself admitted in the suite OF the
diplomatic corps; by the wives OF the Ampassa-
doris and by the great officers Of the Court. A
balustrade separated from the circular enclosure
within which the altar was raised. The altar Ia
Ike low. square table. Places in the choir were
reserved for the Imperial family. 1 have seen few
things" continues the Marquis, "that could COM
pare with the magnfcence and soiemnity which
attended the entrance of the Emperor into the
chapel"
bLAhiNG WITH GUILD AND JEWELS
he appeared. advancing with the Empress and
followed by the Court retinue. All eyes were I'M
mediateiy fixed upon him and his family. among
whom the betrothed pair shone conspicu0usy. A
marriage OF inclination celebrated in broidered
hablllments and in place so pOmpOus, was
novelty which crowned the interest of the scene
Although the Court was numerous and the chapel
small there was confusion. The first ladies Of
the Russian Court and the wives OF the Ambassa-
doris of the other courts graced with their presence
the circumference of the chapel At the lower end,
which terminated in brilliantly painted rotunda,
were ranged the whole of the Imperial family. The
glded ceiling. rejecting the ardent rays OF the sun,
| formed species OF crown around the heads of the
soverelgns ana their children.
THE ATTIRE AND DIAMONDS OF THE LADIES
shone with magic splendOr In the midst of all the
treasures OF Asia which beamed upon the walls
OF the sanctuary, where royal magnincence
seemed to challenge the majesty Of God. whom 1t
honored without forgetting its own. All this
gorgeous display is wonderful, especially to u.s. II
We recall the time when marriage Of a daughter
of the Gear would have been scarcely heard OF In
Europe and when Peter the Great declared that he
had right to leave hts crown to whomsOever he
pleased. During the mass at q Greek marriage
there Is moment when the betr0thed drink to-
gether out Of the same cup. Afterwards, accom-
panied by the officiating priest, they pass three
times around the altar, hand In hand 20 signify
the conjugal union and the fidelity which should
attend their walk through life. These ceremonies
being ended crown was next held for consider
able time the head OF each OF the newly married
| pair-the crown Of the Grand Duchess by her
| brother the Hereditary Grand Duke, the position
of which the Emperor himself (once more leaving
his prayer desk took care to adjust, with q mix.
ture of good nature and minute attention that it
nnId sTV.o
| Duke was held by the Russian Ambassador at
| Paris. When the officiating bishop presented the
| married pair to their august parents the latter
embraced them with q warmth that was affecting.
| The moment afterwards the Empress threw her.
self into the arms OF her husband-''an efusiOn OF
| tenderness" remarks the Marquis de Custine.
(which would have better suited chamber than
| chapel" Before the benediction, according to
| custom,
TWO DOVES WERE LET LOOSE IN THE CHAPEL;
! they quickly settled on q giided cOrnce which
jutted out directly over the heads OF the welded
pair, and there they never ceased billing and
cooling during the whole mass.
THE BRIDE AND BRIDEGROOM.
The Grand Duchess Marie was Just the same age
when married as her niece, the Duchess of Edin-
burgh, is at this moment. In the month Of June,
1885, when her nuptals took place, she is described
as having been extremely graceful; her eyes blue.
and her lair compile xion possessed all the delicate
freshness OF early youth Openness and intelligence
united formed the predominant expression of her
face. The Princess ana her sister, the Grand
Duchess Olga, were the most beautiful persons
then at the Russian Court The bridegroom.
Macmillan Eugene Napoleon, Duke dc Leuchten-
berg, had nothing dfsttng,e in his features. He
looked more like smart sub-lieutenant than a
prince. During the mass he appeared singuarly
impatient to be alone with his wife, and the eyes
of the whole assembly were directed by kind OF
spontaneous sympathy towards the two pigeons
perched above the altar. The priests and choir
CHANTED THE TIE DEUM
and discharges of artillery outside announced the
conservation of the marriage in the city, The effect
OF this exquisite music, mingled with the thunder
OF the cannon, the ringing OF bells and the distant
acclamations OF the people, was ineXpressibly
grand. During the 'Te Deum " at the moment when
the two choirs were responding to each other, the
tabernacle opened aud the priests were seen, their
heads adorned with sparkling tiaras of pearls, and
their bodies clothed In robes of gold, over which
their silver boards fell majesically; Of their
boards reach as far as the waist. The religious
ceremony in the Greek chapel was followed by a
second nuptial benedictiOn by a Catholic priest
which took place in one of the halls Of the palace.
After these two marriages the bride and BRIDE
groom and their family met at table, The festivi-
ties in the evening were on magnificent scale.
THE ROMANOFF DYNASTY.
The Romanon dynasty, Of which the present i'm
peral family Of Russia is the chief representative
is said to have derived Its origin from Lithuanian
prince Of the fourth century; but however this may
be, 1t Is certain that the family did not make its
appearance In Russia until the fourteenth century,
when Andrew Kalyla emigrated from Prussia to
Moscow in 1884, and entered the service Of the then
Grand Duke Simeon the Fierce Andrews de-
scendants became Bojars in the fifteenth century.
The Gear ROmanvitch Jurevitch, the fifth direct de-
scendant from Andrew, died in 1543, leaving son
and daughter, the latter OF whom became
Czarins by marriage with Ivan the Terrible. The
former, NiKita R0manvitch lnrtef, by his nuptals
with the Princess Susdal-a direct descendant
from brother OF Alexander Neveskoi-was also
allied to the royal race Of Rurik. Nikita was one