The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-03-22
THE DEAD CAR.
Count Moltke's Account of
his Coronation.
Scenes at Moscow at the Time
of her Greatest Pageant.

A brilliant picture of the beginning of
the reign of the great Emperor who now
lies dead-overtaken at last by the very
fate the dread of which has haunted him
and saddened bis whole imperial life-is
given in Count Motke's letters from
Russia. whittier he went as attendant OF
the present Crown Prince of Germany at
the coronation festivities on September 7,
1856, at Moscow. Moltke gives a glowing
description of the entree 30yeuse. Ito which
gentlemen and ladies drive mile In full
dress 10 glass coaches or on horseback. a
half million spectators wait on tribunes and
In the streets. the clergy in full vestments,
bearing the holy vessels and crosses, and
100000 soldiers on parade" The corona.
ton took place on Sunday, the interven-
ing time having been filed out with grand
festivities. The ceremonies came off in
the Church OF the Ascension, or Uspenski
Sabor.
| Moltke then pictured the starting of the
procession from the Kremlin, headed by
the Empress mother, who was supported
by her two youngest sons, and followed by
the imperial family aud the guests: "Upon
the krasnoi krytzow, the great outside
steps, covered with scarlet cloth, that lead
from the old palace Of the Cars into the
Court of Relics, baldachin Of gold bro
cade was awaiting the Empress. It was
supported by eight poles borne by cham
berlains and adjutant- general. 1t was a
| beautiful sight In the sun. Behind the
| troops stood the bearded populace. with
heads uncovered. close together, bat with
out crowding. The court is surrounded by
| three principal churches the Ascension,
| Archangel and AnnunciRtion churches :;
| then of Ivan Veliki and high railing. The
| tribunes for the spectators rose nearly to
the height Of the building, where were
| seated ladies and gentlemen in their best
| clothes. All the innumerable bells of Mos
COW were ringing; but the roaring of the
great w estchewoi 1.-THE giant bell of Now
gorodl. the clashing of the trumpets. and
the endless reioicings of the multitude. in.
side and outside of the court, pre-
vented US from hearing them. The
Emperor was invested with the coronation
mantle, consisting OF the richest gold bro
cade, lined with ermine. He bowed his
head, and remained in this position while
the metropolite laid bis hands on his head
and gave two long beuedictions. Then the
Emperor called for the crown, placed il
himself upon his head, took the sceptre in
his right hand. the imperial globe in his
left, and seated himself upon the throne.
Tbereupon the Empress stood before him
ana kneis down. Inc emperor takes the
crown from his head and touches the En-
press with it, after which she is also invest
ed with mantle and crown. and seats her
self on the throne to the left OF her spouse. |
Then the monarch divests himself OF his !
imperial robes. descends from the throne, |
and knees to pray After he has risen, all |
present kDeel or bow their shegds to pray |
for the welfare Of the new Emperor. No
mortal man has such power In his hands |
as the absolute monarch of the tenth part |
of all the inhabitants of the earth. whose |
sceptre reaches over four quarters of the |
globe. and who rules over Christians AID |
Jews, Mussumans and Psgans Why |
should not one pray to God heartily to
enlighten the man whose will is law to
$50, 900 600 of people. whose word CON-
mands from sthe Chinese wall to the
Weichel from the Arctic Ooean to Mt. |
Ararat; for whose call 100000 soldiers
wait. and who has just given peace TO
Europe? May he be successful in the
innumerable conq2ests still TO be made in
the Interior OF this great empire.
and may he always remain a
strong supporter Of lawful regulations!