The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-01-28

= Repetition OF the Famous Russian Cere
monY.

4 Repetition OF the Famous Russian Cere-
monY.
The solemn state and religious festival of
the blessing OF the river Neya. q dispatch
from St. Petersburg says, took place yester-
day with the usual pomp and ceremonials.
Tie CZariun. who has iuily recovered from
her recent attack of niue 20. attended with
her husband the Car. All over Russia the
ancient custom was observed ANA 10 Is a
very ancient one. dating back TO Prince
Vladimir and his shaggy sportsman of hleh.
who. 800 years ago. ola ped themselves IN the
DnepOer at the call of Father sylvester. and
sw0re to be true 20 Christ and hls law. be
ceremony Is styled the 'hfes.tchenle VOC,
or christening 1 the waters. amt taxes place
on llussias tth oil January. the Greek cal
endar being twelve days Behind Che Catholic.
For one lav the peasants strive To forget
misery and Ina ger. and crowd o. witness the
great ceremonial.
Tie ceremony as wtue cd 40 ST. Peters
bur- assumes the proportions OF % national
pageant. and has beentnu5 escuOed. 'O.ose
20 tie che entrance OK the WINTER Palace a
small platform is run out from the granite
quay of the eva, supporting tluy pavilion
with blue dome-shaped roo. whence plank
star eads down % the frozen river. A mar
row passage Is kept zen between TINS pAVll-
ION and the palace gate by two gray walls
topped with steel, formed Dv the soldiers o.
the lmper al Guard in their long treze over
coats AN around lt the forest of yeIOwlsh-
brown turrets and pirLacles surnouutug the
Winter Palace. and tie golden lance ot tao
Admiralty Tower beyond tho boulevard AMI
the granite Tower o. Alexander ]. ll tho great
- mare between them look down upon SEA or
closely packed heads and shoulders. The
great p0ntoon bridge leading % lhe island oil
Vasii Ostr0h is crow led 90 the very Dalus-
D IfnHlf.f of TIIa silent
Aevait-ell is b.ackenlng with creeping sWaIma
"Ast.e sharp bang Of the midday gun
upaIsOu tie frosty AIR the great mass trcn-
b'e- wltha culver and Lum oil expectation.
Then the palace cate IS seen 10 SWING slowly
back and forth ST. Us s lsle u-ure. 10 may
be the Car himself Iut the mug " shout
..at rolls along tho zen Aev4 amt echoes
bark from the walls o. the letr .pauIOfsk
citadel like peal OF distant thunder shows
that the spell oi imperialism nas nor yet lost
IFS power ia Russia. hen the high priest
de.eeuds tie stair o. al opening prev "a y
cut in the ice aud. dlp Ding the cross u tAe
dark water beneath prom unces t. % words
% cOu.ec.atl0u. Aud g. tlev are spoken the
nal. 8learn ot sunlight. that Us VI The -uu does
Slime. ialIIn through tls cold gray sky d on
fha GORGEOUS ~ e- aui loWlI ha 0I the
solitary ugure that utters teen. seems IKE
tie ladug elOsy Of Russia past throw ~ rs
last .avs into the dcepenl. oarAAe7s Oh AeI
present. C...
According 90 ancient custom the Gar
drinks some of the river w1ler out OF a goblet
urnisled Ut tue occasion uy the city, I'D
r.furn frn Car was supposed q re-
turn the goblet % the c.le- magistrate Oh
nj pstersburl filed Co the bru with gO.d
nloces hur the custom Lad ITS ln. owen
fences That Qr < used O. 30 more to TIC
Emperor thal C.eopa'ra's ceie rated toast u