The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-11-27
HOW A CAR Is CROWNED.

Tho Mess Gorgeous Cer~uaqny KNOWN 20
Modern Times
The coronation Of a loxar is perhaps tho
most gpIpS4 soiis dBreinopyknown I'd n odern
times. We may call II barharic add child
ish, but-ft certainly ID splendid In tfIB high
est degree.
It always takes place in Moscow-else-
Yhere 1t wonldenot be isKNf-and for days
beforehand the city wears u holiday appear
ance. An old law, ,stflI u~nrvvoked, requires
each house to receive three coats of white
paint in honor Of the occasion, and the in
habitants vie with each other In the mag
niflcence OF their decorations.
The grand procession, with which the
ceremonies open, IL first formed at the cav
airy barracks. Sixty heralds mounted up
on cream colored horses range themselves
20 abreast before the door and sound their
trumpets. The commands ant appears and
asks, us II surprised, what they will with
him, to which the master OF the ceremonies
replies:
1.-THE car commands 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, where the
judges are assembled, and next to the
M pIi Va tlAu ! llODkc6y AON-
ernors, Populations 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
trumpets again sound, and.the commander
of the garrison inquiries what the people
want.
''The car, slthey cry.i !
"What fort" asks the officer.
crow 2, him most tl powerful q the
Upon which the gaates r7pinung op.ea;aund
they all pass iii. sHIt + No.
They next proceed to the palace, where
In response to their demaz1d they are Joined
by the car in a colonel's uniform, accom-.
panied by the czarina in the dress Of a Rus.
sian peasant.
Thence they go over a path strewn with
bay leaves to the cathedral of the Holy As.
sumption, within which, beneath a scarlet
canopy embroidered with gold, stands the
famous throne Of Vladimir Monomaque.
Beside it Is a smaller throne for the car.
ina, and before 1t o table upon which lie a
crown, q scepter and = 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 kaZan then repeats three times q formula
requiring any one who knows a reason why
the coronation should not take place ia
come forward aud declare it.
No answer being made, the czar kneels
and'the ermine mantle is placed upon his
shoulders by the archbishop of Moscow,
who says as he does SO:
Cover and protect thy people as this
robe covers and protects thee"
To which the car replies,,.I will. I will,
I will" thrice kissing the prelate's hand.
He is then invested with the crown and
scepter, after which he himself crowns bis
wife, holding the crown above her head
while both remain in silent prayer. At last
they rise, all present kneel. shouting,
''Long live the czarr"
The mobiles approach to swear allegiance
and receive their swords from his hand.
He is then anointed within the inner sane.
tuary, and next, upon leaving the cathe-
dral, passes with the great procession
though the chief streets of the city, the i'm.
perial carriage, In accordance with ancient
custom, being escorted by a guard of 100
young girls Of high rank, armed with huge
bouquets.-Waverly Magazine.