The Wichita daily eagle., 1893-11-04
HOW A GAR 8 CROWNED.
The Most Gorgeous Ceremony Known &c
Modern Times.

T.
Modern Times.
The coronation of czar is perhaps
the most gorgeous ceremony known to
modern times. We may call it barbaric
and childish, but it certainly is splen.
did in the highest degree.
1t always takes place in Moscow
elsewhere it would not be legal-and
for days beforehand the city wears q
holiday appearance. An old law. still
unrevoked, requires each house to re-
ceive three coats of white paint in hon
or of the occasion, and the inha bitants
vie with each other in the magnifccnce
of their decorations.
The grand procession, with which the
ceremonies open, is first formed at the
cavalry barracks. Sixty heralds, mount
ed upon cream colored horses, range
themselves twenty abreast before the
door and sound their trumpets. The
commandant appears and asks. as if
surprised, what they will with him, to
which the master of ceremonies replies:
1.-The czar command thee to follow
me-
The regiment then issues forth, and
marches, preceded by the heralds, to
the cathedral, where they are awaited
by the clergy, then to the law courts,
next to the headquarters of the various
mobiles, governors, deputations and
guilds, all of whom. after the same
formal question and answer, join the
procession.
Thus, continually increasing, it
passes on to the closed gate of the
Kremlin. The trumpcts again sound
and the commander OF the garrison in
quires what the people want.
The ear they cry.
''What for?" asks the officer.
$40 crown him most powerful Of the
powerful
Upon which the gates are flung open
and they all pass in.
They next proceed to the palace.
where. in response to their demand,
they are joined by the czar, in colonefs
uniform, accompanied by the czarina
in the dress of Russian peasant.
Thence they go, over path strewn
with bay leaves, to the cathedral of the
Holy Assumption, within which, be-
meath a scarlet canopy embroidered
with gold, stands the famous throne of
Vladimir Monomaque. Beside it is Il
smaller throne for the czarina and be-
fore it a table. upon which lie crown,
scepter and an ermine mantle
AS soon as the czar mounts the
throne he is surrounded by his mobiles,
who draw their swords and lay them
at his feet The bishop of kasan then
repeats three times formula requiring
any one who knows reason why the
cornation should not take place to
come forward and declare it
No answer being made. the czar
kneels and the erruine mantle is placed
upon his shoulders by the arch bishop
of Moscow. who says as he does SO:
Cover and protect thy people as
this robe covers and protects thee.
To which the czar replies: ii will,
will, | WILL" thrice kissing the pre-
late's hand He is then invested with
the crown and scepter. after which he
himself crowns mis- wife, holding the
crown above her head while both re-
main in silent prayer. At last they rise,
all present kneel, shouting: Long live
the czar,"
The MOBILES approach 70 swear allegi-
ance and receive their swords from his
hand. He is then anoin:ed within the
inner sanctuary, and next. upon leav-
ing the cathedral. passes with the
great procession through the chief
streets of the city. the imperial car
riage. in accordance with ancient Gus
tom. being escorted By guard Of one
hundred young girls of high rank.
armed with huge bouquets s-Wareriy
Magazine