Birmingham age-herald., 1894-11-27
A RAY OF SUNSHINE Pierced the Dull and Lowering
 Clouds as the MARRIAGE RITES ENDED Giving to Russia New Queen and Cz 1T NIchola3
 a Wife.

ST. PETERSBURG, Nov. fj.-The we'd E ding day broke clou1y and cheeress. Troops, headed by bands of music, were on the march from all directions at an early hour and occupied all the avenues of access to the winter palace, massiug in a strong force in Alexander F P,atis and on Palace Tuay, in 1T mt of Inc palace, where the marriage of Czlr Nicholas III and Princess A.ix of Hesse-Dirmstad was to take place.
 Long before dawn people began hocklng to the Palace Tuay. which was soon densely packed. By So'c!ock the streets were thronged with the populace in gala attire. Along Newski Prospect from Auit- choff palace to the great Morscai leading to Alevander Platis the roadways were lined with people closely packed, awaiting the passage Of the ezar ard Prince of Wales with their suites from Auitchoff pllace.
 IA salute of twenty guns ann ounced that the groom had started from Auitchoff pal
 ace and some dcZen closed carriage whirled swiftly along tne route to the winter pal ace amid the incessant cheers of the popu-
 lace. The ear and attendants arrived there at 10 o'clock. In St Geprge's hall were assem bled council of he empr T. of the foreign ambassadors and i'm perial ministers and their wives. Ia the concert hall were the grand mis- tress of the court and the ladies of honor. The ladies of honor assisted Princess Alix in pleting her toilette before the final assembling il The c)ucert hall.
 The bride, with the cZariua, had driven without ceremony from the palace of Grand Duke Sergius, where tue czarina had been staying since the funeral of her husband.
 At Il 80 Prince Dolgorodki, grand masier of ceremonies, and Count Vorontzoff Dach koH, minister of the imperial
 court, announced to Emperor Nicholas all was ready, and Princess Alix, her tram
 borne oy four court dlgnilarles, two on each side, aud the exrsmity of the gar
 ment held by the grand cham berain, en-
 tered the hall. She wore a jeweled crown | and robe of white brocaded silk, with a
 mantle of strawberry coloroa velvet, trimmed with double row of ermine. As the procession to the cathedral was being
 formed flty-one guns were fired from the fortress. The spectacle was one O! utmost brilliancy. AS the procession filed from the gor- geous Malachit hall trAversed the con- cert hall, Nicholas, field marshal and
 armorlal halls through the entire length and breadth of the palace. When the pro- cession reached the cal heGral it was met at the entrance by the metropolitan of St.
 Petersburg, the holy synod and the court clergy, bearing crosses, holy water and
 sacred books. The metropolitan conducted
 the czar to his position upon the das in the center of the chancel As the emperor
 took his place the czarina led Princess Alik to him and placed her at his left hand. The czarina took her place at the right of tie dais and the marriage service
 in the orthodox church was begun. The ceremony was of the most impressive char aeter and lasted nearly two hours.
 At the conclusion of the congratulations the dismissal was pronounced and the bride and groom and wedding guests re- turned to the winter palace. 1he cannons of the fortress fired a salute of thirty one guns as the ceremony was concluded. AS the bridal party came out Of the cathe- dral the sun broke through the clouds and
 shone for the first time during the day. The weather had grown much colder, but the sunshine had completely re- moved the dnllness which had per.
 vaded everything out of doors since daybreak. The yellow standards foated out on the stiff breeze from the palace, and in the fortress and around the palace the gaily dressed crowds presented moving mass of color.
 There was no procession in the streets. The crowds were most orderly, and the troops to keep order were without arms.
 Services were held in all the churches during the marriage ceremony, and the church bells were rung throughout the day.