The Evening critic., 1883-05-28
ALExANDER,s CORONATION.
Dynamite Does Not Interfere ana
the Gar OF All the Russias Pulls
Through Safely.

the Car OF All the Russias Pulls
Through Safely.
At o'clock yesterday morning the in
auguration Of the magnificent ceremonies |
attendant upon the coronation Of the En- |
peror and Empress Of the Russias was an
nounced by the ringing Of hundreds of bells |
and by the thunder Of artillery. Even at
that early hour the streets were animate
with tbrongs Of people, both residents and
visitors from abroad and from other parts
of the empire, who were striving to secure
eligible places from which to view the pro-
cession and such portions Of tho ceremony
itself as those not particularly favored
might be able to witness.
Those dignitaries of the realm who were
to take part in the actual ceremony Of coro-
nation assembled according to prearranged
plans at the Cathedral of the Holy Assump.
ton, within the walls of the Kremlin.
These functionaries entered tho magnif-
cent building at just 7:30 a. m. At about
s o'clock there followed in order the princes
offoreigD governments, the nobility of Rus
sia and other States of Europe, and the spe-
cial and regular ambassadors of foreign
countries residing in Russia. The utmost
care was exercised to prevent the admission
of any unauthorized or improper person,
each one as he appeared at the entrance be.
ing required to exhibit carefully prepared
ticket of admission, which was subjected to
the closest scrutiny.
This form was observed both at the gate
of the Kremlin and the doors of the ca
thedral. At the request of General Won
Schweinitz. Ambassador from Germany,
the eighty mombers comprising the diplo-
matte corps assembled at his mansion
and were conveyed thence to the Kremlin
in superbly equipped coaches, richly gilded
| as to their harness and coats-of-arms The
| remainder Of the diplomatic body. consist
| ing of the attaches Of the various legations,
| were assigned to positions in the tribune,
| just outside the cathedral proper, but inside
| the inclosure of the Krcmlin. When the
white walls of that wondrous place in
| closed all of the crowd that could be
| admitted, the choir of boys chanted
| the TIE Deum, and amidst profound
| silence outside the church as well
as in it the clergy, accompanied by acolytcs
| bearing the cross and a ever of holy water,
| proceeded to receive the Czarevitch. This
| scion of royalty, who was in the midst of
brilliant cortege, took place at the right
hand of the throne. When the imperial
| procession started, it was made known to
| those inside the cathedral by the renewed
ringing of bells, by sonorous music from
scores Of bands and by the shouts from
those outside. As the royal pair appeared
at the doors of the palace, the immense
multitude Immediately uncovered their
1
Even the women were bonnet-bare, and the
enthusiasm was as unaffected as it was
| spontaneous and hearty.
At the head of the royal procession,
which now entered the Kremlin, was the
master of ceremonies, tlanked by heralds
richly clad and mounted upon pure. white
horses. 1t was of immense length, and
comprised deputies from the Asiatic States
of the Empire, students of the university,
the clergy, judges, the nobility, and pre-
fects from every section of the empire.
When its front rank reached the doors of
the palace it was met by the Emperor,
wearing the white uniform Of colonel of
the Imperial Guards, and by the
Empress, dressed in the Russian ma
tional costume of black velvet
richly embroidered with diamonds,
her zone girdled with magnificent
belt of precious stones. The Empress leaned
on the arm of her royal consort. The pair
placed themselves beneath canopy richly
wrought in silk and gold, and borne by
thirty-two generals of high military rank.
They then took their place near the head of
the procession, being directly after the re-
gala. At this moment the entire body of
the clergy emerged from the cathedral in
order to meet the regalia, which they
sprinkled with holy water and perfumed
with incense. Upon entering the portals
of the cathedral the Emperor and Empress
were received by the Metropolitan of
| Moscow.
The ceremony of coronation was then
carried out as described in last Tuesdays
| CRITIC.
After the ceremony, the Emperor knelt
and recited o prayer, at the end of which
the clergy and all present knelt before the
Emperor. The Bishop of Moscow said
aloud, in behalf of the nation, fervent
prayer for the happiness Of their Maiesties.
| fo nf live fba Ern narnrv tban
rent tho cathedral, and were taken up by
thousands outside and carried from mouth
to mouth, until that part of the multitude
who were unable to get inside even the
ample acreage Of the Kremlin, caught the
sound and waved it in huge volume of
human graduation to the remotest parts Of
the city, where it was speedily known that
another Car of the Russias had been
crowned. .a.
The cathedral choir then sang the Te
Dcum, after which the Emperor ungirt his
sword, and, accompanied by the Empress
and numerous dignitaries, proceeded to the
gate of the sanctuary. There the Metro
politan of Novgorod anointed the En-
perors forehead, eyelids, nostrils, lips, ears,
ing, Behold the seal of the Holy Ghost
May it keep thee ever holy ~ The En-
|. press was anointed only on the forehead
Both partook of the sacrament and
| then left the cathedral, wearing
their crowns and mantles, the
Emperor also bearing the sceptre
, and the orb After praying in the
Cathedral of Michael the Archangel their
Majesties returned to the palace, escorted
by procession, which presented even a
.. more splendid sight than that which escort
ed them to the cathedral, being now aug
mented by the gorgeous state carriages OF
the Imperial family. Banners waived
from all points in the Kremlin, and the
whole route of the procession fairly glowed
with bright draperes and hangings.
Before their Majesties left the palace the
route to the cathedral was sprinkled with
holy water. heavy rain fell before theiI
Majesties started, but as they took theii
places under the canopy the sun shone
l brilliantly. In the cathedral it was noticed
: that when the Car knelt alone to utter the
prayer of intercession his eyes filed with
. tears and he sobbed audibly as he read. In
making the profession of faith the Cars
voice was grandly resonant. The Met
, ropolitan of Novogorod almost broke down
,, in delivering his allocution.
, The Emperor re-entered the palace by
r the celebrated red staircase, whence the
laws were anciently promulgated. There
he turned and saluted the people, who i'm
, mediately uncovered their heads, cheering
Al ~ 4. ,s..- NhaI fZpE