The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-04-19
VTHE CORONATION PLATFORM.

After breakfast the crowds begin to
gather around the palace, and by .
O'Clock, the hour of setting forth, there
are many millions of people in the
streets. All along the curbstones stand
soldiers. shoulder to shoulder. with point
ed guns, and back of them stand three
double rows of armed serfs TO reinforce
the soldiers in case OF an attack upon
the Gar along the line.
This guard of soldiers is six miles long.
and extends down all the side streets as
far as can be seen. II there should be
the slightest hostile demonstration the
offender would be torn TO pieces in
second. To remove all fears the students
of Moscow are given transportation TO
their homes for fear Of pranks.
Soon, at the head Of the famous red
staircase of the palace, there appears
the Dowager Empress Dagmar, widow
OF the late Car. She Is in her royal
robes land wears her imperial crown.
Slowly she descends the steps, followed
by her nobes. court dignitaries and Ia
dies and men I'm waiting
Behind her comes Il beautiful parade
of fifty pages, and behind them fifty
knights beautifully dressed. The crowd
watches the Dowager Empress seat her
self In a great carriage OF state, and
then turns its attention 10 the noble per-
sonage just coming in view.
1t is the Czarl Behind him walk his
guards and courtiers. Behind them come
the representatives Of all the powers In
the world. all wearing their state robes
and carrying their national colors
Following this cortege there Is dele
cation of merchants. another Of doctors,
OF lawyers, the presidents of all the clubs
and associations in Moscow. and after
them all the members Of the royal family.
This includes the Prince OF Wales Carl
of Denmark the German Emperor. the
King and Queen OF Roumana and all
the English cousins now so closely allied
to the Russian throne
THE PROCESSION.
All these are seated upon platforms or
,n carriages and borne along in the pro-
cession. A salute of 10f guns is fired and
amid the greatest pandomonium of cheer
ing the Car proceeds on his way TO the
Uspenski Sober. Through three miles Of
streets he parades. while there is a con-
tinuous pealing from the Car kolokol,
the crack king OF bells.
When the gates Of the Krcmlin have
been passed then comes the most brill
liant of all the scenes. Upon raised tri-
bunes leading to the church sit the MEM
bers OF the countries paying tribute to
the Gar Many OF these like the Tar
tars. cannot remove their hats. and
consequently they cannot enter the church
10 SEQ the Gar crowned. They are given
seats OF honor on these tribunes. There
are the Khivans. BOkharans, Armenians,
Tcherkessians, Osdjaks, Samoyedes, Tar
tars, Mongols, Tungries, Buriats. Yukays
ana Tschees all In their bright gowns.
Straight through the door of the church
the Cars party proceeds. on entering
they divide. The Car, the Czarina and
the relatives OF the family all mount upon
a platform which stands In the middle
OF the church. IL Is a round platform
raised high and II is intended for the
coronation ceremony OF emperors. 1t is
big enough for the Archbishop OF Moscow
and all tho clergy officiating. Upon the
platform are the two throne chairs OF the
Car and Czarina
The bells OF Moscow are pealing now
and the choirs are filing the church
with music. Upon a platform at one
side OF the church sit representatives, OF
all The foreign .powers. Here Minister
breckenridge win sit with his brother
ambassadors from every country In the
world, and Ii Hung Chang along with
them on another platform are the dele
gates from the Russian societies and the
heads OF tho Russian cities, and on an
other raised place are the attaches Of
the Cars court. This tlls the church
INll. Tor the UNtlt tAil4Sc - oAA~lhfN II
coo enter Il. on the floor are few In
ylted guests and Russian artists.
From the time OF entering the church
until going out again there is cere-
mony elk hours long, and as no one can
ait In a Russian church the strength OF
the ladies viii be severely taxed. but
a coronation occurs only once In gen
Grafton.
THE GROWING.
The actual ceremony of putting on the
crown Is long one The Emperor Is
seated and the music IN the church Is
hushed. krhe Archbishop advances 10 him.
holds out a crown. and says:
III any CT you here present know any
fmpediments why Nicholas should not be
crowned Emperor and Autocrat OF all
the Russias. OF Moscow. OF KEN. OF Via
dimir, OF Novosorod; Car OF kazan.
Of Astrakhan, OF Poland. Of Liberia. OF
Kherson-Taurida. OF GrousL cosoudar
Of Pskon; Grand Duke OF smolensk, OF
Lithuanis, OF volbigina, Of Podolia and
~ Finland; Prince OF Esthonia. OF 1.-Two
- q cpurland. OF semigslias OF the