The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1875-03-11
4 RussIrn Fete.

The correspondent OF the London
Times at ST. Petersburg, writing OF
the 18th of January, says:
Yesterday was great day in the
Russian empire. It was the 9th oi
January, according To the Gil styIe.
the Feast of the Epiphany, and the
waters were blessed in every place
whera orthodox Christians reside.
From the frontiers of Prussia tn Kam-
schatka, and irJm Archangei to Tash-
kend, the whole OF Russia was oc-
cupied yesterday in an open air cere-
mOny, which is, perhaps the most
picturesque of those cust1m ary in the
Eastern church. In St. Petersburg,
the presence OF tie Emperor and OF
the imperial family naturally adds
much to the grandeur Of the proceed
ings, aud it is no exaggeratiOn tn say
that one-half OF the population OF the
city had crowded together on the
quays, the bridges, and the frOZ an
river, to have even q distant sight of
the impressive ceremonial.
"WOrkmen have been busy for the
last weez erecting a wooden temple
on the ice of the Neva just in front Of
the principal entrances of the Winter
Palace the dome had been painted a
lovely blue, and golden stars were to
be seen on it at first, but snow again
covered it, aud yesterday only that
side on which the sun shOne
showed its bright cOlOrs. The
cold was great-20' below zero,
centigrade-and many people thought
with dismay of the Emperor
exposing himself to it. with Dared
head, during the cOnseccetion Of the
water. The advice of wise physicians
prevailed; q portion Of this service
was performed in the church OF the
palace, and on the ice itself His Mai
esty was represented by the Caro-
witch and thu other Graud Dukes Of
the imperial family. Ths church in-
side the Winter Palace is OF consider
able size; it ranks as a cathedral
among Russian Churches, and num-
erOus chapter aud staff OF priests are
attached to it. When I entered it
yesterday the service had already
commenced, the sun was shining
brilliantly on the golden arches aud
pillars. and the whole space was filed
by crowd of officials IN most gur-
geOus costumes. The singing was
really lovely; in no other Russian
church cal the harmony of ths Greek
Liturgy be hear to sucn perfection as
here-the best tenOrs and bass voices
in the Empire are selected for this
choir, and the training is under the
direction of eminent musicians.
From the church We proceeded
through several halls, where troops
were drawn up ready to be reviewed
hWrk h.a -. 81.
where We waited till the procession
had formed and was ready to leave
the ialace AMI proceed to the shrine
on the Neva. As We were shown
from this room to the Nicholas Hall
which iDOks on the river, we again
passed through the different detach-
ments OF the Regiments of the Gurad
ranged along the walls o. the i'm
meuse halls of St George OF tue
'Msrshals,' and of Arms These
were Of course picked men, but still
the number was large, and, except
among our own Guards, know o: no
other European army where such
an array Of giants could b. found.
From the windows OF Mich
Olas Hall capital view ciuld
be obtained OF the ceTem my on the
NeVa. The CzIrowltch, the Grand
Dukes, thousands of officers, all bare
headed ami without clOaks or furs hid
ing their full dress uniforms, filed the
temple on the ice and the surround
ing platforms. The Metropolitan, as
sisted by q numerous staff of priests in
glitteriUg robes, blessed the colOrJ of
the regiments of the Guards, and the
water of the Neva, and, under salvOs
of artillery, the procession returned to
the Palace. 'In the mean time the
doors of adjJininy saloons had been
opened, and crowds of servants were
seen busiIy arranging tables for
a dejeIner. S)-nebOdy whispered to
me not to go away on any account
till after luncheon, as there would be
some OF the celebrated caviare Of the
Don CDs5ackS. This cayiare is made
especially for this occasion by the
Cossacks Of the Don from the roe
of the sterlet, not like other caviare,
from that of the sturgeon. 1t
is made with extreme care, aud
then sent to the Emperor for this
feast as the choicest production of the
Don. Before the guests sat down the
Emperor himself appeared, spoke a
few words to the Ambassadors, and
chen passed on. followed by the Grand
Dukes aud numerous staff. TIE
caviare deserved its reputation, and
the dejeIHer which fOllwed was
worthy Of the pallce. But among all
those thousand of officers there were
only three ladIes-the wives of two
Ambassadors and the daughter of a
third. How the scene would have
been improved if there had bsen a
proper aimixture Of the fair sexw