Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-03-23
GENERAL TOPICS OF INTEREST
ABROAD.
sALA's DESCRIPTION

Ofth Scene at the Funeral of Alexander
II.
New YORK, March 22.-The following
continuation OF Geo. Augustus Sala' 8
description OF the removal of the Gar s
body from the Winter Palace to the
Cathedral OF st. Peter and st Paul,
was prevented from coming yesterday,
owing to the dsarrangemsnt OF the
cable: The centre OF the nave Of the
Cathedral was filled with a huge cata-
falque, with its cloth OF gold lined with
ermine
Rising to the Very Roof Of tho Edifiee.
Beneath this was Dais with three
grades covered with crimson velvet,
while surrounding the pillars OF the cats.
falque shroud, alternately, were drapery
OF cloth OF gold and cloth OF silver, bear.
ing the monogram OF the amented Car.
In accordance with the Russian custom
black draperies are but scantily employ
ed in the interior OF the churches. At
length the head OF the cOrtege, consist
ing of personal escort, his late Males
tvs brilliant band, the Cuirassers, with
white tuncs and silver helmets, mount.
ed on superb black charges, appeared at
lvanarskiva Gate.
Foreign Ambassadors, Ambassa.
dresses, Ministers Plenipotentiary
and consorts, with the members of the
respective legations, ladies in waiting,
maids of honor of the late Empress,
Senators and such high Russian officials
whose rank entities them to place in
the church, ranged themselves around
the steps OF the catafalque, anxiously
watching for the bringing in OF the illus.
trious dead. Bishops, priests and deac-
ons in capets OF sable velvet,
Stiff with Silver Embroidery:
choristers and acolytes in cossacks OF
black serge, stood in readiness, expect
ant and iMObile in dead silence. Then
mutely filed into the church the great
body OF officers OF superior rank, bear
ing on cushions the decorations, crosses,
crowns, sCep,res and diadems, all inter.
mingling in such glistening confusion
that the scene could only be likened 10
some swollen river filed with gold and
silver and flowing into the sea oi
Lapsis Laguli and diamonds.
These stood Around the Head of the
Coffin
in a semi-circle. The regalia was ar.
ranged on either side OF the Imperial
standard. To the left lay a shield and
sword and on the right lay an orband
sceptre clustered with briliants and
surmounted, one by matchless sapphire.
ard the other by the celebrated OrloT
Adjoining these were the
crowns OF all the kingdoms and princi.
palities which, together, make up the
empire Of all the Russias in delicate
oriental work and uncut precious stones.
Greater than all these was the
Imperial Crown Itself.
in beauty, shining resplend.
ent in its jewelled lustre. Then fol-
lowed the body OF the deceased Car in
a sumpluous gilt coffin, borne by the
Grand Dukes Constantine, Nicholas,
Vladimir, Paul and Sergius and the
Duke of Edinburgh. II was reveren.
tialy placed exactly beneath the dome
of the catafaluue. The Emperor and his
brother removed the lid from the bier,
and the
Upper Part OF the Body Of the Dead Car.
attred in uniform, was exposed to view.
The Emperor, Alexander ILL.,, placed
himself, with the Empress and the Im.
perial children, at the head Of the coffin.
The priests and chorIsters intoned the
drges Of the Russian funeral service,
while the Metropolitan handed each
person present lighted taper, and the
Deacons asperged the church with holy
water.
The Scene was One Of Great Splendor
At the Lechterne stood the black
robed priests reading words of gospel.
At the four corners OF the cataialque
stood as many aidsde.camp Of the gen.
erals. On the steps OF the DAis were a
guard of military cedets. lnthe midst
OF all this splendor lay the murdered
sovereign, with a ghastly upturned face
and folded hands. The lower part vi
the body was completely hidden under
a heap OF fresh flowers, deposited by
loving hands. When the service was
concluded, Alexander ILL, kneeling on
one knee,
Kissed the Hand Of Bis Dead Father.
The Empress followed his example.
Then, bowlng to the persons
in their immediate vicinity,
the Imperial couple Left the cathedral.
The Duchess OF Edinburg and Grand
Dnchcsses were successively conducted
10 the coffin 10 pay the last tribute OF
love 10 the murdered sovereign. Then
followed all the Imperial mourners,
foreign princes. and members OF the
dip!omatique. They gazei awhile At
the features which although altered,
were easily recognizable. Then stoop-
inc. they kissed reverently the hand
that signed the Liberation OF I0OO,OOO
serfs. The corpse will lie in state I'll
saturday in the shadow OF the clustered
columns that stand about the plain top
ped tombs OF white marble. Beside the
tomb of the late Empress is a vacant
space, where according to his expressed
wish. will repose the remains OF Alex.
ander III forever.