The morning call., 1892-10-09

church, there is first a dado OF Jasper.
Above this runs panel of white alabaster
and marbles of different colors succeed one
another until they lose themselves in q great
frieZe of carvings and frescoes by the most
noted of the Russian painters. Everywhere
there Is gold and gold carving. Golden
pictures hang upon the walls Twelve
hundred golden candelabra hold as many
candles under the cupolas, and all the yes
sells used by the priests are of solid gold.
Upon the walls are golden texts from the
Scriptures shining out Of the white marble.
and the church is lighted by thirty-six win.
dows of stained glass, each of which is
ninety feet high.
This church will accommodate 10 600
people, and when I entered il this SUNDAY
morning it was packed to bursting Upon
its steps were the usual number of dirtv
beggars, and found that of the 10. 900 wor.
shiuers az least 5000 were peasants. The
priests who conducted the service wore
clothes Of gold and silver cloth and the
chief priest had on a tiara set with dias
monds. The service was very impressive
and nearly every one in tho church partici-
pated In IL. The priest droned ont
sentence and these 10000 heads bowed
In unison. He uttered another and the
thousands kneIt upon the floor and pressed
their heads against tho marble. As the Gar
vice went on 10000 hands crossed 10,00o
breasts at the same time, and of the 10 ono
faces did not sea one that was not sober
and reverent. During it the music of a
great choir Of men and boys swelled mn
through the vaulted arches, and / could not
but feel the impressiveness of the ceremonv
nor wonder why its gorgeousness so appeals
TO these people. Religion Is the life of tho
Russian peasant. 1t enters into his everv
act. and though 1t may be TO large extent
matter of form, he devotes the greater
part OF ms ne TO u, ana II cannot but have
an influence upon his character.
RUSSIA Is mora land of tho OrIoo.
OF the Oecident. These people are as fnnS
OF gold and precious stones as ara tho Do
1ahs OF India or the priests of Siam. There
are 400 churches In Moscow, and nearly
holy buildings of the Kremlin are crownaS S
with gold. and there Is enough gold plating
in Russia to carpet Broadway or r. LII
the public buildings of Washington The
Car has palace just outside of st. paters
burg known as the Tsarskoe-S elo, which was
built by Catherine the Great. IT ia of vas,
extent and II was plated with gold. II toon
nearly million dollars worth of hullion IN
do the work, and when, owing to the damn
ness OF the climate. 1t began to peel off
Catherine ordered IL to be plated over w
Spectators wanted to scrape off the old
gold and melt it over again, and thev ~
fered Catharine $500, 600 for the iob She
sent them to prison for insulting her with
the proposition, and covered the nalaca
with yellow paint This palace has rooms
walled with amber. 1t has parlor coveraS
with lapus lazuli, and the walls and esilings
Of one drawing-room are of the finest tor
toise-shell. There are 500 apartments in
the palace, and the ballroom covers nearly
half an acre. Its floor is of wooden mosaic
and there are other rooms in which the fin
ishing is in ivory. bamboo and in bronza
The palace must have cost millions and =
is only one of dozen which belong to the
Car.
/ have written you of the wonderful
cathedrals OF st. Petersburg and of the
riches stored away within them. ST. Isaac's
cathedral cost $500 10000, and there is
columns within 1t cost $4,000, and The