The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-04-30
FOREIGN ambassadors. ambassadresses,

foreign ambassadors, ambassadresseS,
ministers plenipotentiary and consorts,
with members of the respective lega-
lions, ladies-in-waiting, the maids Of
honor of the late Empress, Senators
and such high Russian officials whose
rank entities them to places in the
Church, ranged themselves around the
steps of the catafalque, anxiously watch
ing for the bringing in of the illustrious
dead. Bishops, priests and deacons,
in copes of sable velvet, stiff
with silver embroidery; choristers,
acolytes in cassocks of black serge,
stood in readiness, expectant and inn
mobile in dead silence. Then mutely
filed into the church agreat body of Off
GERS of superior rank, bearing on cush-
ions decorations, crosses, badges,
crowns, scepters and diadems, all in
termiugled in such glittering, glistening
confusion that the scene could only be
likened to some swollen river full OF
gold and silver, fresh flowing into sea
of lapis 5azuH and diamonds. These
stood around the head of the coffin in a
semicircle. The regalia were arranged
on either side of the imperial standard.
To the left lay the shield and sword,
and on the right were the orb and scep-
ter crusted with brilliants and surmount-
ed, one by a matches sapphire and the
other by the celebrated Orloff diamond.
Adjoining these were the crowns of all
the kingdoms and principalities which
together make up the empire of all the
Russias. In delicate Oriental metal
work and uncut precious stones, greater
than all these, was the imperial crown
itself, matchless in beauty, shining re-
splendent in jeweled luster. Then fol-
lowed the body of the deceased Gar in
a sumptuous gilt coffin born by Grand
Dukes Constantine, Nicholas, Vladimir,
Paul, Sergius and the Duke of Edin-
burgh. 1t was reverently placed ex-
actly beneath the center dome of the
catafalque. The Emperor and his broth
er removed the lid from the bier, and
the upper part of the body of the
Gar, attired in the green uniform
of the Preobrajinski Guard Regi-
ment, with massive epaulettes of gold
bullion, was exposed to view. The En-
peror Alexander III. placed himself
with the Empress and the imperial chill
dren at the head of the coffin. The
priests and choristers intoned the dirges
of the Russian funeral service, while the
Metropolitan handed each person pres
ent lighted taper, and the deacons as
perged the church with holy water. The
scene was one of great splendor. At
the lactern stood a black-robed priest
reading the words of the gospel in the
sonorous Slayonian Russian Liturgy. AT
the four corners of the catafalque stood
as many aides-de-camp general. Mo,
tionless on the steps of the dais were the
guard of military cadets. In the midst
of all this splendor lay the murdered
sovereign, with CHASTITY, upturned face
and folded hands. The lower part OF
the body was completely hidden under a
heap of fresh flowers, deposited by low
ing hands. When the service was con-
cluded, Alexander ILL.,, kneeling on one
knee, kissed the hand of his dead father.
The Empress followed his example.
Then, bowling slightly to persons in the
immediate vicinity, the imperial couple
left the cathedral. The Duchess OF
Edinburgh and grand duchesses present
were successfully conducted to the coffin
to pay the last tribute of love and rev.
erence to the murdered sovereign. Then
followed all the imperial royal mourn
ers, foreign princes and members of the
corps diplomatique.