The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-02
A MAGNIFICENT WEDDING.
RUssIA's IMPERIAL FAMILY SEEN IN
ALL ITS GRANDEUR.
Diamonds nearly ms Large as RObins'
Eggs-Iines Of Care ON the Fmper or :
Pace-The Duke Alexis Grown stout
since He Left Us.
Boston kdvertlser.l

Michael, the third brother of the Emperor,
was married to the heir to the Grand Duchy
OF Mecklenburg- Schwerin Among the
guests at the Winter Palace, who came to be
present at the wedding, were the father and
mother OF the bridegroom, and Prince Ar
nu'ph OF Bavaria, cousin of the reigning
King. Including guests and servants, the
palace now contains 6000 people. The bride
groom arrived only q few days before the
marriage, as the climate Of Petersburg al
ways dlsagrees with him. The ceremony
took place at half-past IL In the large chapel
Of the palace. The first persons to enter the
church were the members of the diplomatic |
corps, all In grand uniform Except the Amer
lean Minister and the ladies In court trains /
and low dresses. The court trains are rather |
useless appendages, as they are always car |
rled over one arm, but on such occasions 1t is |
not etiquette to present ones-self at court |
without them. The grand duchesses have |
bearers to carry their trains, but ordinary |
mortals are obliged to carry their own, and |
very heavy they seem to be, some of them.
The diplomatic corps was large, and took |
up good deal OF room. The priests and the |
metropolitan were dressed In gold brocade. |
They advanced to meet the imperial party as
\
ters Of ceremonies and gentlemen Of the
household, in uniforms Of dark cloth, covered
with gold lace. The Emperor came In with
the mother of the bridegroom (the Grand
Duchess of Necklenburg- SchweriD) He
kissed the leone which the metropolitan held,
and stood there while the Grand Duke en-
tered and did the same. The bridegrooms
mother was dressed ID cream-co ored satin,
"A. 4..-e. n,.yIr \.
gold embroidery. Her train, like that OF all
the grand duchesses, was borne by two young
pages On her head she wore the Russian
tiara of red velvet studded with diamonds
and rubbies and long veil of rich old lace.
The Czarna came in with the Czarowttch,
and was followed by her two eldest boys, one
eight and the other six, who were dressed III
full-dress uniform, and looked like miniature
officers. The Czarina's dress, as well as the
Grand Duchess Vladimir's, was white satin,
with dark red velvet train and tiara, thckly
sewn with diamonds. She had innumerable
strings of pearls and diamonds Oh her neck.
The Grand Duchess Constantine wore q train
of cloth of gold, trimmed all around with
sable Her earrings were diamonds, nearly
as large as a robins egg. Her dress under
the trHfn was gray SAITH, anti hhd jewels
emeralds, rubies, pearls and diamonds
strewn all over the front. from the neck 70
III
back OF her tiara, Of old yellow lace.
The bride entered the chapel last with the
bridegroom. She Is tall and fine looking,
with smooth dark hair and dark eyes. Sne
wore on her head a small crown Of diamonds
and rubies, and lace veil. The dress was
cloth of silver and the train was of crimson
velvet, lined and trimmed with ermine. 1t
was several yards long and seemed to be
enormously heavy. Four chamberlains car
ried 1t on their shoulders and the end was
carried by the master of ceremonies OF the
Grand Duke MchaerS court. The bridegroom
was dressed In uniform. He Is rather hand
some but looks delicate. The Grand Duchess
Michael, mother of the bride, was dressed In
cloth of silver, with diamonds and emeraldS
on her head and pearls ON the neck. Ihe
Jewels OF the bride we're the most magnificent
1 ever saw She wore a necklace Of two rows
OF enormous diamonds. The jewels In her
crown were beautiful, and the front OF the
waist OF her dress was covered with dlamonds
OF wonderful lustre and size.
The marriage ceremony lasted about an
hour and half. After the Imperial family
had taken their places near s :, The altar .ns
the church, all In Russian costume, and
stood behind the diplomatic c rps. Inc outer
halls were filed with troops OF the Guard, all
IN full dress uniform. The Empress Is very
delicate this winter, and was not able to be
present. His Royal Highness, my Lord the
Grand Duke hereditary. Frederic OF NECK
MISUNDERSTANDING, as the bridegroom
called In the programme for the days pro
ceedlngs, is q Lutheran, so after the Greek
service the guests were taken into the hall OF
st. Alexander, where there were three priests
In black gowns-the greatest possible con
trast to the gold brocade and splendid vest
ments OF the Russian priests. Here secono
ceremony was performed In German. The
priest pronounced quite long discourse
The service lasted nearly an hour; AIter i
was ended the bride and groom kissed tht
Emperor and all the family, and then leit TN
hall. The guests followed. Al. $50 there
was dinner at court, attended by the higf
dignatarieS OF the court and their wives
Toasts were drunk to the Emperor and En-
press and all OF the Imperial family, tht
newly married couple, the family 0f IN
bridegroom, all the guests, and finAlly I'M
clergy and all faithful subjects OF the En-
peror. While these were being drunk TN
guns of the fortress OF st. Peter and 81 Paul
on tho opposite side of the river from tn
palace, fired continually. During dinner ther,
the best artists in ST. Petersburg assisting
The Emperor was present, but not the En-
press.
BY far the most interesting event Of the da,
was the ball, which took place In the grea
throne-roOm OF St George ut 80 In the even
ing. 1t was small affair." the invitation
only including certain number OF those wh
were present in the morning. The great hal
was lighted by innumerabIe chandeliers. 1t /
a little longer than the width, and has a ROY
of white columns on each side. There Is ga
iery running all around It, the ceiling is archie
and frescoed, and the walls are succeed a
thew can do 1t only In Russia. They hav
brought the art Of stuccong to perfcctio
here. In this hall the stucco looks like the mos
beautiful carving At one end Of the CALLER
was the orchestra. Opposite that under To
gallery. is a raised dais covered with red cot
and with a red canopy over it. On this dais
the throne. Imagine this beautiful hall: bri
liantly lighted, filled with gorgeous uniform
ladies wore dazzled ones eyes. The costume
were the same which had been worn in II
mornng-long court trains and the tiara Z
the head. Such toilets are niucn lh9 MI pgaut
berlains and gentlemen Of the chamber wo
white silk stockings and white breeches dan
coats trimmed heavily with gold lace, and N, ca ca,
ried black cooked hats trimmed VIII , Roiu c,d
masters of ceremonies carried long goldt
STICKS lrjsi' or r. wands. At 9 O'Clock the baI
struck up the polonaise from Russian opei
which is very popular here called 4. -. Ii