The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-03-19
Two of Them Are Married With Un-
usual Pomp and Extrava-
giant Display.
Only Members of the Court Treat.
ed by Alexander III. as Per-
Ell sonal Friends.
Lavish DECORATIONS That Cost Fabulous
s~ums-Present of Great Ma&niflccnce
Given the Noble Couple.

ST.. PETERsRuR7, Mafch le.--1he mar
riare of Count Dimitri Sergieyitch Gherem-
etieff to the Countess Irene l~llsrinovna
Dachkow made \ brief interval
of dazzling brightness amid tho deep
gloom which has overshadowed the coart
of Russia ever since the death of the duke
of Clarence, who was the czarina's fsvoflte
nephew. OF all the members of the i'm
perial coutt, Count and Countess Ghereme-
tieff are the only ones who are treated by
the czar and cznrina as personal friends
and relatives. They always have access to
the monarch and his consort, and enjoy
absolute freedom when in the presence OF
their sovereigns. They are indebted for
their exceptional positions not alone to
affection and sympathy, but also to tho
fact that the countess il a daughter OF the
emperor's aunt, the Grand Duchess Marie,
and of her second husband, Count stroga-
noff. Moreover. the count himself Is the
son of a natural daughter of Gar Ale1an-
dor /. He ia grand huutsmsn OF the en-
pirs and enormously wealthy.
The wedding was celebrated with IN
usual pomp AT the private chapel OF the
Cheremetieff palace. The salons ware dec
Grated with a wealth Of flowers, which at
this season cost an absolutely fabulous
quantity of rubles. The great hall, and
the two-branched staircase were garlanded
With white wistaria blossoms, white feather
and white double ~yiolets, intermingled
. with feathery fronds Of cape ferns. A
double row Of latgs sqnare boxes Of nevres
porcelain containing snowy azaleas IN full
bloom ;linsd the wallis. The first drawing
room, which is hung with cloth Of silver OF
tho fifteenth century, was filled with lemon
and orange blossoms, white camelllas and
opening INTO one another were trans
formed into bowers Of white lilac,
tea roses and golden-hued mimosas,
while all the mirrors and picture
frames were wreathed with thick ropes OF
Indian ivy. knottsd with pink and silver
cord. The czar, czarina and over 500 per-
sonages belonging to the highest ranks OF
court society were invited to witness the
Her majesty wore a robe of soft
white velvet, trimmed with silver fox fur
and exquisitely embroidered around the
train with crystal and silve", the only bit
of color about her being the light blue
ribbon of the order of St. Andrew. which
and about her neck were strings OF gigantic
diamonds mounted in the new invisible
fashion, which made them look like a
shower of fairy dewdrops. Tho ozar was
arrayed in the somewhat barbaric-looklng
but extremely gorgeous costume of the Cos
sacks Of the Guard, which seemed to make
him appear even taller than usual. The
czarewitch and Grand Duke Alexander Mi
chaelowitch were the gareons d'honnsur
or "bridesmen'' Of the bride, while Crane
Duke SerRius Mlchaelovitch was best maj
to the bridegroom. The bride is I very
lovely girl, and looked like the embodiment
of o poets dream when the cZar conducted
hnw - Tho n1tur HnH rnyEo VUNH ~ ada an
tirely Of priceless Point d'Alsncon, and he;
court mantle of silver brooade was edged
with a treble founce OF the Same costly
fabric. On her graceful head was the Rus.
sian kakochnick, or red velvet diadeu
studded with sparkling gems which thu
ladies of the court of st. Petersburg wsal
at all official functions. A long veil o:
Point d'Alencon fell from beneath thiI
original %coiffure to the very end of thu
train. At the close of the mon thu
czar gave her the paternal blessing cueto
mary in the Greek rite, and saluted her OF
both cheeks, while the ezarina in like man.
ner blessed the bridegroom.
The wedding presents were, as we'll may
be supposed, of exceptional magnifcencs
The emperor and empress gave the bride
tiara and necklace of enormous sapphire
and diamonds: the c%zarewitch, a Russia1
cross. over five inches in length, made o
eneralds and br%illiants; the Grand Duke
Alexander ana beTRluS METEOROLOGICAL,
parure of pink pearls of matchless beauty
The blidegroom's gifts included 3 gol'
dressing case with diamond and turquoi
monographs and corOnets. q tiara and neck
lace of diamonds and rubies. Il large arr o,
of rubies, sapDhires and diamonds, a set 0
blue fox furs valued at $4,000 rubles, q SO
of silver fox almost as costly, four splcndi
black horses of the Ukraine, and a rim
formed of one immense pink damon
which was presented to one of his ancestor
by Gear Nicholas.