Birmingham age-herald., 1895-02-17

patron saint. SlSEcu nlHlScll WILL Nd cross, prostratcd himself and knelt for some time in prayer. This was curi- ous, coming as it did from man who, I have before said, did not profess any strong religious principles.
 But to return to the Krcnlin. The treasury is full of beautiful and inter- esting objects. including the crown jewels, the crowns used. on all occa- sions in Russia. also the robes worn by the czar and empress at their corona tion. Frora the treasury you pass on to large museum containing gold and silver-plate of all nations, rare porce- lain, ancient carriages of state, and great accumulation of gifts presented by rulers of all ages and countries of tho cast and west to the czars of Russia. Among these there was Q wonderful chariot from Queen Elizabeth of Eng land, which shes sent to Emperor John tho Terrible when he invited her / to join with him in war against France, an invitation which she at the same time declined to accept. History says that she refused an offer of mar riagc from him at the same time.
 Then there was a fine collection of armor and weapons and other relics of the past, Peter the Greats bed, Ma poleon Is tent, left behind him in his hurried retreat, innumcrable relics of John the Terrible, and among them more gifts from Queen Elizabeth. We visited the cathedral where coronations take place also another where the collins of all the czars up to Peter the Great are arranged, and here we found two priests praying for the soul of John the Terrible. as there is q strong conviction that his soul must still be in purgatory, although he lived three centuries ago. Wherever one turns fresh instances of this cnperor's cru city appear; and in a gallery of mod ern paintings there is the most appall- ing portrait of this same sovereign lately painted by an artist named Ivan off, who rose in life from being butch CT to position of some eminence in Russia. So ghastly was this painting that one lady who had visited the gall lery a short time before we did had tainted at the sight of the picture. It represents John the Terrible beating his son in rage on discovering that he had intrigued against him, until he suddenly finds that he has killed his own offspring. The horror depicted on the parents countenance i9 marvellous ly realistic, so that one can hardly be- lieve it is a mere representation on canvas.
 One interesting national sight we witnessed was the sledge and troika races, which were going on in the neighborhood; but the extreme cold prevented our being able to remain long as spectators. Some of those who accompanied us told story of how when the prince of Wales had been present at them on the occasion of his visit to Russia for the duke of Coburg's marriage with Grand Duchess Marie, he had given great satisfaction to tho populace by riding in several of the racing sledges. It was pretty sight to see them glide by, the bells in the harness ringing out merrily in the keen frosty air, and the horses apparently as much excited as their drivers
 Prince Dolgorouloff took us to the Imperial theater, magnificent house, holding an audience of some three thousand people, reminding one rather of La Scala at Milan. A Russian opera was performed, the story of which was taken from the reign of John the Ter rible. During the evening tea was served in the usual style in the princc's room behind his box, together with quantities of bonbons and sweetmeats.
 Among our experiences must not forget to mention the Moscow restau- rants, which we found excellent, ale though the dishes are somewhat too substantial. remember on one occa- sion that we were invited to see the sturgeon which was going to be served for our dinner caught in large tank
 rkcb stood in the middle of the res
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