The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-04-07
Russi n Court Life.
THE PECULIAR CUSTOMS AND oBsERvANCEs AT
ST. PETERSBURG.


THE PECULIAR CUSTOMS AND oBsERvANcEs AT
ST. PETERSBURG.
Lieut.. Greene gives some interesting details
of life in the court circles at St. Petersburg
THE whole tenor of official life is essentially
military, and the Emperor, as the actual head
Of the army, devotes no small portion of his
time to his duties as communicative chief; tnis
sets the tone of his court, of society and of
the governing classes, and it would hardly be
saying too much to affirm that the country is
than the army being maintained for the bene-
fit of the country" In the spring and au-
tumn the Emperor holds his reviews of the
army on the Champ de Mars, near the Winter
Palace, and about twenty acres in extent
About 10000 men can be assembled there.
During the winter the Emperor holds weekly
inspection Of one regiment at a time in the
great riding school, building covering over
three acres, and well heated by enormous brick
stoves.
12and 1 o'clock every Sunday, after church and
forms one of the principal events of the week.
1t is attended by the Emperor, all his broth
ers and sons, in their various capacities as
commanding Officers of different grades, by
all the generals of the guard, and by the mill
tary attaches of the various embassies aid le-
cations. Every one is in full uniform, tae men
are dressed in their best, their arms are bright,
the horses shoes even are polished like MIR
rors 1t is altogether pretty sight. The
Emperor, minister of war, aide-de-camp on
duty, and the foreign officers are mounted
Altogether there are about $4,000 troops in
and near the city Each regiment is also re-
viewed at the riding school ON the occasion OF
its annual fete day; one of these fetes oc-
cur, on an average, once week, through the
winter
The honors paid to the memory of the dead
take up great amount of time. When eel
eorated general dies the Emperor attends on
his funeral on the anniversary of his death
the Emperor and the chief officers of the army
attend mass in the chapel of the palace fol
the repose OF his soul. There is similar So
lemnity on the anniversary of the late Empe-
ror's birthday, of the death of the Emperor's
eldest son and other members of his family
On st. Alexander's day the court and the
diplomatic corps attend long service at the
church of st. Alexander Nevski, on St
Isaac's day at the Isaac's cathedral, and so on
These forms Of religious ceremonial al have 8
strong military flavor, are attended in full
uniform and form part Of the daily life. TIL.
best part of the day, from to 8 o'clock, ii
given up to one or the other of them about
four days of every week. These ceremonies
| naturally eliminate in celebrating the grea
events of life-birth, marriage death.
A CHRISTENING AT COURT.
Lieut. Greene gives an interesting descrip
! ton of the christening OF the youngest son O
| the heir to the throne which he attended. TIL,
Grand Duke Michael Alexandroyitch wal
born in the night preceding grand review
and at the review the next day battery wal
halted in marching past and informed by th'
Emperor that it had new chief in the person 0
this Grand Duke, an announcement which wa
received with loud cheering. The little fellow
was honorary colonel of regiment OF iEfan
try, another of cavalry, and a battery Of arti
lery before he was dozen honrs old. Tw
weeks later be was christened in the chaps
| Of the Winter Palace At the palace, besid
the Emperor and other members of the Imp,
rial family, there were the diplomatic corp