Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-06-13
CORONATION SCENES.
Glowing Pictures by the Only Cor
respondent Allowed to Witness
the Proceedings.
From the Cathedral Of the AS
sumption 10 the State Re
ceptiOn.

description by the correspondent O
the London Times, the only English
correspondent admitted to the Cathe1
drai of the Assumption, of the coro
nation OF the Gear:
How, in a few words, shall | best
describe the ordinary appearance Of
the interior Of the Cathedral of the
Assumption Look where he will on
entering-on the pillars, the walls,
the roof. the lofty dome-the visitor
sees nothing but plates of gold and
glaring colors, conveying a very gen
eral impression rather of rude lavish
ness than of refined and correct taste,
rather of an Indian temple than of a
western church. There is not a single
inch of space above and around which
is not coated with precious metals and
stones or plastered with frescoes and
portraits Of the Martyrs, the Saints,
the Patriarchs, the Prophets, the
Angels, the Apostles, the Evangelists,
the Virgin, the Holy Trinity, and the
Eternal Father. Even lell-the hell,
moreover, of Burns and not Of Milton
lis graphically represented on the
walls, which, in one word, are a COM
plete pictorial record of the history of
the Christian faith.
The diplomatic body is thus de-
scribed
Again lull, aud now, at quarter
to 8, enter the diplomatic body aud
the special ENJOYS, headed by the
Doyen, General SchWeinitz, of genial
German visage, aud dry Sir Edward
Thornton, and behind him are seen
the solid, venerable head of the Min
lister Of the United States, and the
striking figure of Mrs. Hunt. and tie
Anglo>Sax0n countenance of NJ. Wad-
dington, and crowd OF others. The
space given to the diplomatic body.
opposite the tribune OF the court of
ladies. is very small, there being no
room for their stats, but they make a
rich and picturesque group, and the
sumptuous dresses of their danes, who
are obliged to drop their trains over
the balustrade in front Of them, drape
their gallery with purple velvet and
gold. u A
The scene alter the Emperor and
Empress have taken their stand in
front of the altar is thus pictured:
The Empress is arrayed in a sweep
ing robe of silver, while the Emperor
wears the dark green and gold EN-.
broidered uniform Of General with
high riding boots, and the chain OF St.
Andrew sparkles on his breast. Slight
Iy bald, but taller by a good head
than any of his great officers of State
around, is Alexander III, while his
shoulders are broad, bis chest deep,
his limbs long. ard he looks as if he
could with ease bear heavy armor
Such countenance and such a her.
culean frame certainly do not betoken
the vacillating will with which he has
been credited, and when scanning his
tall figure one is less ipclined to com~
pare him with Alexander II, than
with Nicholas. Alexander III looks
every inch OF him the Emperor which
the Church to-day has made him
Scene the first of the solemn spec
taole may be said to have
been complete when their
Majesties took their stand
in front OF the altar, the Emperor on
the left, and waited for the approach
Of the servants of the Almighty. The
blaze of geld and silver, the richness
Of the various uniforms, the sparkling
of the precions gems, the clouds Of
floating incense, the solemn sweetness
OF the singing. the assembled beauty
aud valor, and rank and station Of all
Russia, and the representative pres
ence of all the chief States and coun-
tries of the world-all made the scene
one which those who witnessed it can
never possibly forget.
OF the Cars jewels, the CORES.
pondent says:
He wears a crown Of gold, enriched
with pearls and diamonds and sur
mounted by a very large ruby-a crown
of flashing, sparkling light, worthy to
be worn by the ruler whose dominions
are spanned by half the circle Of the
sun; and rarely did the sun lend his
rays to such gem as that which gilt
ters in the sOepter Of Alexander Ill.
The companion Of the great Kohl
Moor brilliant now in the possession
Of Queen Victoria, this priceless jewel
found its way, after strange vicissi,
tudes, from the eye Of a golden idol
at Delhi into the scepter Of the Cars
OF Russia.
The scenes in the evening was q
| brilliant one:
Without pen OF fire, dipped in
rainbow colors, it would be impossible
TO give you an idea OF the appearance
Of Moscow Tonight, as illuminated in
honor Of the coronation. Moscow i:
again burning-that is the only ex.
preston for it--every private house
every public building, looks like q
frame Of rainbow fireworks. Never
was anything so complete, so fairylike
Viewed from the wallsof the Kremlir
the aspect Of the city Is grand; and
viewed from the city the Kremlin it
self looks more than magnificent, with
its towers and dOmes and steeplel
standing out not like structures o.
stone, but like balls, and pillars, ant
crowns and pyramids Of variegatet
IRE.
4 The same correspondent, writing o
the State reception on the day ate
the coronation, says
! have just returned from the Pal
ace in the KTemlin, which Vbs th
scene this evening OF one of the mos
: brilliant aud magnificent spectacle
! that it is in the power Of even tn
Russiap court to present. Thei
newly crowned Majesties gave a gran
reception and opened up the gorgeou
hRlls of their Imperial Pslace to al
The elits of rank and position no.
Q assembled Ia h0scoy. Thousands q
+ the most distinguished persons i