The daily gazette., 1880-03-03
FIRST EDITION.
Latest Cable NesOs.
CELEBRATING THE CZAR's FETE AT
ST. PETERSBURG.

ST. PETERsBURG, March 2.
With the first shaft of dawn that fell
on tin FURNISHED dome of The Cathedral
OF st. Isaac the Russian capital awoke to
It's holiday. The'city was gay with flags.
There were flags OIL the buildings of the
Admiralty and the columns of the Sum-
mer Gardens; flags on the long line of
palaces along the Russian Quai; flags
over parapets of granite aud monuments
Of stone, over barracks, academies, for
tresses and churches, and from every
window on the Nevsky Prospekt floated
banners and decorations innumerable.
The people were stirring betimes, and
the streets were soon thronged with the
multlfarious life, the infinity OF street
types that have no existence elsewhere
than In Russia. Military parades we're
succeeded by priestly professions, squad
rens Of cavalry by a miscellaneous
swarm of field marshals and peasants,
governors and shopkeepers, bishops and
judges, metropolitan Senators aud cour-
tiers, all fastening toward the column
of red Finland granite thai stands in The
centre Of the Winter Palace.
IN THE ANTECHAMBER.
Noon was the hour fixed for the i'm
perial reception. Long before that
hour scoresfof four-horse carriages had
been depositing their burdens at the
constantly occupied in keeping back
the crowd that swarmed around them.
Temporary galleries had been con-
structed over the portals and carpets
were laid from the street to the foot of
the broad staircase of Carrara marble,
lined with lackeys in powdered peri
wigs and gaudy liveries. Grenadiers
were stationed at the doorways in
snow white uniforms and golden breast
plates. Hussars in fur jackets stood
beside lancers in embroidered coats.
Every species of Russian nationality
was represented in the throng. Per-
slams and Circassians, Georgians and
Greeks filed the palace with the
strange barbaric hues of their attire.
Ladies went by with sweeping trains
and cleaning figures; court chamber
lains met them in white knee breeches
and silk stockings, and officers of
every grade and in every variety of
uniform, with stars orders and cordons
glittering about them, chatted and
lounged in the corners. Tropical
plants bloomed on all sides. Wallets in
black cap and feather assembled the
marble staircase beyond the gate of
the Ambassadors, ushering. the visi-
tors from room to room, from the hall
of Alexander to the hall of st. George,
where the diplomatic corps were
ranged before the throne and the
Emperor was momentarily expected.
BEFORE THE PEOPLE.
As soon as the last couple had made
their bow the Czar ordered a window
fronting the Neva to be thrown open,
and Immediately stepped out on the bal.
eony. Beneath him, on the broad flag
stones, swarming over the parapets, W as
a dense mass of the populace in furs and
in sheepskins. As the Emperor appear
ed there rose a roar of applause, SWELL
ing louder ard louder, till the opposite
banks of the river caught it up and the
cannon from the Summer Islands drown
ed 1t in an overwhelming salute. The
Emperor stood In military posi- ure on the
balcony, his hand upon his bip, raising
il from time TO time to his helmet. He
afterward drove IN an open carriage
through the crowded streets with
light escort, anu was everywhere cheer
ed 10 the echo. In defiance of the Len
ten season the people observed the day
with the gayeties Of the carnival, with
shows and ice hills, with firing OF can
non and ringing of bells. DEGREES were
pub biished granting pardons to prisoners,
remitting arrears of taxes owing by the
rural population, and awarding orders
of distinction. The Official Messenger
printed letter from the Emperor
William, countersigned by Prince Bis
marck, congratulating the Car in terms
of warm and earnest friendship on the
twenty-fifth anniversary of his accession
to The throne, and on his escape from
injury by the recent exdlosIon in the
Winter Palace. 1t expressed gratifica-
tion that the friendship which united
their fathers had been maintained, and
confidence that 1t would continue un-
changed to the end. In the evening the
city was illuminated Soldiers, horse
and foot, mustered at nine o'clock round
Alexandel's STATUE. Cuirassiers and
Dragons, Polish lancers and Cossack
troopers, engineers and artillery, grena-
diers and the Chevalier guard assem-
blsd al the bugle sound, and as the
strains of Lvlofs hymn, "God Save the
Emperor rose into the night, aud the
or sp, cold air trembled with the emo
tion of those thousand hoarse voices, it
was hard for a by.stander. It o believe
that nihilism was anything but the dis
ordered fancy of a Court Chamberlain
and that Alexander III. had NOT firm
place In the hearts of his countrymen
and subjects.