The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-12-18

40 ANAL that it could only contain all that
was representative in MOSCOW narrowed
down to irreducihle Dimensions, INCLUDING
only one member of the press of each coun-
try.
| Moscow from every quarter OF the globe,
but the Analo-Saxon world was only on
ab!ed to witness the actual browning OF she
czrr through the eyes of " observers, tne
correspondent of q New York newspaper
and the present writer. who represented VIC
leading journal OF London. For Alexander
Ill, though not as u rule particularly par
tial to the press, had on this occasion
frankly recognized its utility ana power,
and accorded its ambassadors place anu
precedent before his throne beside sne spa
cial ENJOYS Of mightiest monarcns.
Coated with gold aud silver aud r reoious
stones-one emerald alone, in an i'm age OF
the Virgin, being valued at ~elo,00O-rich IN
costly ehrines. sanctitied by the bones ana
ashes of tho venerated dead. cohtainihR
numerous Oh istian relics OF awe-lnsplrlng
origin. endered sacred by religious traai-
ton and enaeared to the national heat py
some of the most prominent incidents In
Russian history, the Cathedral of the AS
| sumption was we'll calculated to be the
| scene of the august ceremony by Whioh, IN
the name of the king OF kings, Alexander
of Kussia, with his Danish consort, Marie
Feodorovna, received formal Enumeration o.
lA ClhitlS " hC u "a 1AAe -
more than a hundred millions OF his fellow
men.
The air was balmy with the breath OF the
approaching summer, and his majesty. the
sun. who had sulkily yelled his face almost
ever since the emperor made his triumphai
entry into his ancient capital, now outst
through the clouds, deluging the siided
walls, the frescoes. pillars and the storiea
nave with u glorious flood of light. Glori-
Gus light. and glorious sound from the
magnificent voices of the ohorlstess. VINO
take the place OF organs IN the GfeeR
chutch. But the chanting OK the,r hSmns
was almost drowned by the
murmurs of the vast G owds outside, for
the court yards Of the X emlin presented
one surging sea Of human beings who naa
come to catch a glimpse, II possible;
of the new-crowned czar. And they had
hours to wait. for the ceremony was long
and elaborate.
How porpeouslv picturesque looked ths
group of the imperial family and their IL
lustrious guests as they stood ranked up
near the throne-for no one may SIT IN the
Greek church. There. among Others. stood
the duke of Edinburgh. the czar's brother
in-law; the tall and soldierly hgure OF
Prince Albert, OF Prussia. every lncn OF
him a fighting son of the Hohenzollerns;
the aristocratic looking duke of Aosta; the
picturesque highlander, Prime of Monte
negro, and the bearded Prince Alexander,
of Bulgaria, with Il decided touch OF the old
Teutonic knight about him, and not yet In
the bad books of his cousin, the czar; there.
also, Lord Wo.seley, the recent capturer OF
| Telel- Kebir, and not very far off the hand
some Gen. Skobeleff, the hero OF the Plevna
| and the Shipka pass, and the conqueror OF
khiva.
The empress was arrayed In a sweeping
robe Of silver. SO heavy as to fatigue ner,
| while the emperor wore the dark-green anu
~ -. ,-ifnr,p If n phnnrQJ with
! riding boots, and the chain Of 81. Andrew.
| the patron saint alike of Scotland snd Rus.
sia. sparkled on his breast. Slightly bald,
| but taller by q good head than any Of his
great officers OF state around him, was
Alexander Ill, while his shoulders were
broad, his chest deep, his limbs long, and
he looked as if he could with ease bear
heavy armor, altogether a moet
and impressive figure.
Scene the first of that solemn specta ole
may be said to have been completed when
their imperial majsstits took their stand in
front OF the altar to await the approach of
the servants of the almighty. The blaze
of gold and silver. the richness of the
various uniforms, the sparkling of the
gems, the cloud of floating incense, the
assembled beauty, valor, rank and station
of all Russia and of all the chief states
and countries of the world. all this made
the scene at once most impressive and
memorable hUGu6 luNithLiOH Oh Uu6 ulSbfC-
politan of Novgorod, the emperor recited
the orthodox creed in q clear, firm voice,
though not of that depth and s~onorousness
which one would have expected to come
from SO deep and broad q chest.
Assisted by his two brothers, the Grand
Dukes Vladimir and Alexis, as we'll as by the
~metropolitans of Kietf and Novgorod, the
czar now donned the gorgeous imperial
mantle that was presented to him on two
sum ptuous cushions. Cloth of gold WAS the
stuff of this majestic robe. with u border OF
ermine. and, after being arrayed in it, the
imperial wearsr bowed his head before one
of the prelates, who crossed his hands in
mystic rite upon his majesty's head and
uttered q fervent PRAYER.
From the hand of Monsigneur Novgorod
the emperor now received his crown, which
he himself. mark that! placed AEON his OWE
head. Then taking the sceptre in his right
hand and the globe of empire in his left. hs
seated himself on the throne. 1t was q
most impressive moment; the gazing as
sembly was hushed. n even the severe
representatives of transformations republics
could not but feel the sublime significance
of the scene.
Invested with all the symbolism of hil
mighty power. there now sat the accredited
master of 40 many millions of his fellow
creatures. and never was solomon in ali his
glory more gorgeously arrayad. OF daz.
zling majesty was his crown of gold. en-
riched with earls and diamonds and sur
mounted by a very large ruby-a crown o
flashing, sparkling light, worthy to be wotr
by the ruler whose dominions ara spanneC
by half the circuit of the sun; and rarely
has sun lent it's rays to such a gem a
sparkled in the sceptre of Alexander III
The companion of the great Koh-i-Nool
br illiant. now in the possession of Queer
Victoria, this priceless jewel found its way
after arrange vicissitudes, from the eye o
golden idol at Delhi into the sceptse of thu
czarg.
After occupying his throne for a few sec
onds the emperor took off his crown an,
touched with it the forehead of his con
sort, who knelt before him on a crimson
velvet cushion; after which he placed upol
her head her own crown. topped by q larg
and lovely sapphire. Then the empires
and with the collar of St. Andrew, whicI
completed the lnvestlture of both thei
majestles.
Meanwhile the cannon and the bell
without had been minGling their accents o
announcements and felicitation, ard tn
tedious hour wore on, with their hym'
chantings. their performance of high mass
their prayer, and their amounting of thei
majesties with the c~onsecfatel oil.
AT last, arrayed in all their imperia
pomp, their majestles emerged from til
cathedral by u door different from that b
which they entered. and passing along /
another church under q gorgeous canop,
Alexander III. showed himself TO a might
concourse of his acclaiIniug subjects a
their crowned and cousecrated ruler, EN-
peror and autocrat of all the Russians, b
inheritance. by divine right, and by heav