New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-16

THE BIER-REPoRTED ENGAGEMENT OF THE
CzARRwITCH TO A DAUGHTER OF FRED
ERICK Iu-THE DowAGrR EMPRESS
SEES HER SON FOR THU FIRST
TINE TEN MONTHS.
IBy CABLE TO TkIBUSEt
Sspurieht :.lsSs: gv The Neic- York Tribune.
BERLIN. March 15.-Berlin to-day, much OF
II as lies between the Cathedral and the Branden-
burg Gate, is the scene of feVerish activity. The
preparations for to-morrows ceremony seem strange
" behndhand Unter den Linden is but one long
ycaffolding. Hardly one Of the many tlbunes
Arches or improvsed monuments is finished. The
west porch of the Cathedral lis wholly in the hands
Of workmen, who are gliding the pillars and
erecting a structure through which the procession
will emerge. The pedment of the porch, hereto
fore bare, is filed with gildcd palms
and other foliage With few exceptions,
the symbols of mourning are simple, and
often meagre. There is not one building in the
whole length of Unter den Linden that is treated
in really striking way. Roscttes and festoons
of Grape are the rule, sometimes hanging over
one range of windows and sometimes appearing
over two or three stories The best effect is OBJ
tanned where the masses Of black are the great
est White to relieve black is seldom used.
Flags at half-mast are everywhere seen, but gem
orally only on the roofs. The palaces OF the
late and present Emperor are entirely undraped
looking precisely as usual but for the Imperial
standard at half mast and the blinds drawn down
in the rooms the Emperor once occupied.
The procession will move along the central
avenue of the three which together compose this
spacious street. Cloth bordered with evergreen
stretches from pillar to pillar. Hardly anywhere
is the CLEAN Of colors visible against the cold gray
stucco which covers nearly every facade The
shop windows which tomorrow will be closed,
disnla Hffle hut N
In this central avenue 1t is that the greatest
efforts are making Lofty arches thrown over
II at two points. A column of equal height rises
not far from the Palace, while at intervals of 300
yards monuments are building, to be covered with
Grape One is finished. 1t is twenty feet
high and Of good design. Another seems meant
as a chapel. Here and there are windows devoted
TO dressing bags portfolios cigar cases and other
gOods-aIl black. If other cOlors are shown a veil
of black gauze is over them. Busts and photographs
Of the late Emperor are everywhere, always in
laurel or Grape. The whole population of Berlin,
men and women alike, are in black,
the soldiers excepted, whose innumerable
uniforms offer the only contrast to the prevailing
gloom. No woman can appear In brilliant tints
except at the risk of being followed and almost
mobbed.
Every approach to the Cathedral is still
throngcd Inter den Linden is thronged. Car
riages are few and mostly those devoted to
ROYALTIES. The pavements and Sidewalks are
equally in possession Of foot passengers. Inc
shops are empty, little business proceeding, all
being aware that the sole object Of the Berl1ners
is mourning for the dead Emperor. Not much
of the city puts on house mourning except near
the palaces of the Linden Friedrichstrasse ana
Wilhelmstrasse. The French Embassy shows
darker front than any other but the Austrian.
M NJ ha EmbaSsV
stare you in the face, as usual The American
Legation has the Stars and Stripes droop-
ing with black streamer.
So full is the city that the police affirm that
literally no rooms can be had by arriving
strangers. Royalties long since announced have
come with punctual poltencss. Kings, princes
grand dukes are reckoned by scores; the Prince
of Wales, not the least conspicuous, driving
about all day in the uniform Of the /
Blucher regiment, which he will exchange to-
morrow for the English field maIshaPs which ne
wears as the representative Of the Queen. Un-
ending is the procession which winds lts SLOW
way TO the Cathedral TO see the Emperor IN state.
The number who had entered down TO last night /
was 224, ,0O0 Officials compute that 100000
will have passed through before the doors close |
tonight judge that none wait less than TWO
hours outside Admirable patience is shown,
great open places about the Cathedral. The |
soldiers and police on duty all day and all night
in the Lustgarten and adjacent streets must num-
ber thousands Whole companies are In line and /
1t varius points battalions massed, and soldiers
IRE allowed to fall out. Not less strong is the
discipline than If the Eperors eye could still see
hose who form this mpenetrable guard about
ais body
Driving late last night to the Cathedral, in
company with an officer Of the palace, we were
Tour times challenged in crossing the 90 yards
which separate the old Schloss from the Cathedral
entrance / thought the scene inside more I'M
)ressve, more picturesque II / may use such
word. than on Monday. Many Of the arran ngements
iad been altered. Daylight then poured into the
.hurch: now by day well as by night the
nave is illuminated with gas. Wieaths fl
he whole space beyond the choir where the
Kaiser lies. His body guard is more numerous and
Varied The whole scene is as spendid as
II Is solemn. The south transept has become
a guard-room crowded with great OH
,ers. brilliantly uniformed all on duty
many waiting their torn to take their
assigned posts by the EmperoTs side. Not loud
word is spoken Orders pass IN whispers saw
more than once beneath plumed helmets OF goId
and steel. stern gray faces streaming with tears
b. far the most striking news OF the day IS the
reported engagement OF the hussIa" Nio"n iii'0
10 the daughter of the German Emperor. can
not say whether not this IS true. Ii has not yet
appeared in print in Berlin. 1t reaches
me fIom a banker. to whom IL came
by telegraph from st. Petersburg. Ii
true, such alliance emphasizes the recent ap-
proaches OF the German and Russian Courts. The
immediate political effect not likely to be
important, yet such an alliance is regarded
as distinct step toward a renewal of the tra-
ditIoral friendship between the TWO Emperors.
"Will it," asked. arouse Austrian jealousy y"
cit ought not" was the Germans answer "Our
DolItcal alliance with Austria is far too close. too
,ody based on common interests to be disturbed
BIZ merely family compact. Even as family
,omuact It's influence all depends On the Ksisers
lifeD