, 1875-02-18
A RUSSIAN FETE.


Tho correspondent OF tho London Times,
st. Petersburg, writing Oh tho 19tll Of Janua.y.
rRys:
Yesterday wns \ great day In Tho 1.,ss.,
lh, old .kslc, tho least Of the Epintlany, and liz
waters were blcsscd in overy place where sct.
ltolo1' Christians reside. From tho frou.et,
Of Prussia to kan,1chatka, and from Arknngets
TAshfetd, tho wfrfa OF ItllsHla waH oCcilpledyes
tertlay in at opon.atr coro'no!ly.. which IL, pe,.
in tic Eastern Church. In bt. Petersburg, III,
proHencs Of tho Emperor and OF tho inpett
family naturally addH much to the grandeur ii
tho proceedings. md it Ia no oxaRgoration 10 II,
tlAt one-.ln!f Of tho population Of the city h.$
crowded together on tho 1uaya, the bridges, Id
tho Iruxen river, to hayo even distant sight d
tic imposing crremonia!.
"Worlnon have been busy for the Inst WEE.
erecting I. wooden temple OIL the leo OF the Nc,,
Just In front Of tho principal ontrance Of tat
Winter paIacs; tue dome had been PAINTED
lovely hluc, and golden stars woro to be aeon %
it at llrst, but hnow again covorcu it, and yeeter
day only that rido OH which the eun ahon,
showed Its bright colors. Tho cold was great
thought viii. 1iHnny Of tho Emperor exposing
himself to1t, with barod head. during tlc con-
secration OF tho water. The advice of wise ply.
siciails prevailed; a portion OF tho service vi,
rcrforsaed ~ tho ci'urch OF tho palace, and %
tho Ice itself Ills Majesty waa relroaentea by th.
CzArowitrll and the other ufand Dukes Of ,ht
imperial family. Tho church i1lsido tl.
Wintar Palace il OF considerable Hlze; 1t ranki
AR q Cathedral Rtnoug Russian churches, mud
HUMOROUS chapter md stntf of priests arc At.
taclled to it. Whnn outercu it yesterday ths
service lad alreatiy con.lnehced, tho bln nj,
a,,uing brilliantly on tile golden arcleH AMI pl.
lars, aud tho whoic space waa iilod by crosd
of officers i'll full t'reas aud Court otticiala u
1noHt gorgeous costumes, The singing waAteal,
lovely III TO other ltusaau church eau tho haf.
1n0ny Of the Crock Liturgy bo heard to hucl PEI.
lection al Aaro-tho be*t te1lnrH and bass voices
in the Empire selected for this choir, aud tbs
training is under tho diEcctson OF e.ntueui
musicians. From tho church VIC procccded
up randy to be ruviawoa by the EMrnrJs, to I
side safOun, whore wo waited till tic progression
lad formed aud was raa'ly TO loayo tl,c l'alsa
nuu proceed to tho shiino OIL thu Neva
AZ VIC ware shown from this room 10 TIE
Nicholas Hall, which looks OH the riyes, 81
again pAsnetl through the different drtael'ncnl
of tic regiments Of tho Guard ranged along tia
walIs OF the innlonse halls OF 'bt George o
the MarsLN!a' nnt Of Arms These wure, o
course, picked men, bnt still tho number nal
large, aud except among ollr own guards, |
know Of no other European arnly whore such su
array Of giants could be found. From tho Nn'
dows Of tho Nicholas Hall capital vlnw conll :,
obtained of the ccrc1uany OIL the Ncva. IM
| Gxaruwitcl1, The Grand Dnkea, tlpusa,NlA nj o.
iiccra, al, barolloadetl, and without claakH IF fun
hiding tltelr full, ,droBs uniforms, dlcd lt 'ec1
| plo on the leo and the surrounding nla.tufu.
Tho Metropolitan, assisted b.. numerous =
| Of priests In glttolinG robes bleHaed tho ctI
| Of tho tho 1toEimeats Of tue Guard, and
| winters OF the N.ya, md, Under Ealvoe Of 81,
lery, tho processiun roturned to the Palace,
s'In tile meantima the ioora ot. adjoining RI
looms had been opened, and erowda OF eeryaa
wero soon busiiy arranging tablos for deiciae
Somebody whispered to INC not to so nwaY %
ANY account till altar lunchoou, AZ there wouG
bo somo Of the celebrated cavlaye Of the Dou
Coasaolsa, This caviare is made eRpocially tN
this occasion by tho Cosaacks Of tho Lou from
tho roc Of tho sterlet, not, like other cayia1e,
! from that Of tho sturgeon. It ~ made with e1.
trome cnro, nnd thon sent to the E1nporoE fot
this feast as the choicest production Of The Den.
| before the guests aat down the Emperor himself
appeared, spoke few words 70 tho Am6as..;;
dors, aud tloa passed on, followed by tho Grant
| served its reputation, and the deieuacr which
followed was worthy Of tho palace. But amoas
nil tl.oso thousands OF officers thare wers only
three la1iea.-tho wives Of two Administrations aua
tho daughter Of thlrd. How tho accne would
havo boon improved ii there had ,beon a proEs'
adnllxture OF the fair scx!"