Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-05-14
WHOLE OFFICIAL WORLD PRE-
PAIRING FOR THE EVENT.
VERY IMPOSING CEREMONIES
They viii Last for Several Days-The
Young CZarina to be Attired in
Gorgeous 100000 Robe-Coronatio
Moscow Scene of Great Activity.

March, 1881, he locked himself I'D in
palace at Gatschina, as in a prison.
The coronation was first set for 1882,
but in the spring of that year there
was plenty of evidence that the
Nlhilists were aiming at his life. A
mine was discovered under the Moscow
cathedral, where he was to be crowned
and pot to blow up the kremlin was
also detected. So the coronation was
postponed for year, and the date was
carefully concealed. Not until short
time before the ceremony was it
known exactly when it would take
place.
1t is in happier circumstances that
Nicholas H., son of Alexander Ill, ex-
poets to assume the crown. He was
proclaimed emperor at Livadia, on Nov.
2, 1894, the day following the death of
his father, and he will be crowned at
Moscow on Tuesday, May 26. The
date is openly announced, and popular
enthusiasm is not chilled by such far
reaching and conspicuous precautions
as prevailed Is years ago. Still, it is
goes without saying.
st. Petersburg is the capital of Rus
STA, the residence of the car. the seat
of government. Why will the corona
ton be held in Moscow? Because the
czars Of Russia have been crowned
there since the fourteenth century; be-
cause it is a holy city; finally, in spite
of the fact that St. Petersburg has been
the capital since 1712, because Moscow
is still = the first city of the empire in
the estimation of the Russian people.
Moscow is the Rome of Muscovy, and
it is natural that the chief of the ma
ton and the head of the church should
go there to assume his crown
Many Russian cities have kremlins.
The word kremlin means citadel or
fortress, and is applied to a walled en-
closure with towers at the corners,
standing on high ground near the cen
ter of the city, and originally intended
for place If refuge in case of attack
by marauding Tartars. But the great
est of kremlins, the one known
throughout the world as the" krem-
lin, is the kremlin of Moscow. Unlike
most citadels of it's kind, it is not a
square but a triangle, IL miles in cir
cult, and surrounded by a red, battle
mented wall pierced by five gates
From the wall project cylindrical and
square towers, many of them termin-
ating in spires. Within the kremlin
are cathedralS, converts, arsenals, and
palaces, the domes of the churches bril-
liant with gold and colors. Among
the buildings are the great palace, the
cathedrals of the Assumption, the
Archangel Michael and the Annuncia-
ton, the Miracle monastery, the Ascen-
sion convent, and the famous great
bell or Kolokol, which weighs 448,000
pounds, and stands on a pedestal close
to the tower of Ivan Veliki. In the
cathedral of the Assumption all the
CZars are crowned. 1t is there that the
coronation of Nicholas II. will be held
Moscow is in wonderful scene of
activity just now with the preparations
for the coronation. At the gate where
the sovereigns are to enter the city a
splendid imperial pavilion is being
constructed, while a similar building is
rising opposite Peter the Greats palace
on the KodynskOe square. Close by
will be all kinds of popular amuse-
ments-four open-a1r theaters, a circus,
10 band stands, the big swings in
which the Russian people delight,
merry go-rounds, restaurants and
sheds where beer and various drinks
will be served out free. The illumina-
tions at the Kremlin promise to be a
magnificent sight. The buildings will
be outlined with colored glow lamps,
Bengal fires will flash from every pin
nacle and electric lights will illume
the cathedral of the Assumption.
In conformance with old custom, the
ceremonies will extend over many days.
According to the official program, they
will begin with the sending of the i'm
perial regalia and the gold-and-g glass
state coaches from the winter palace in
st. Petersburg to Moscow about
May Is.
The car and czarina will arrive at
the Petrovsky palace, near Moscow, On
May IS, the cars birthday, which will
be celebrated at the palace, where their
majesties are to stay for three days.
They will make triumphal entry into
Moscow on May 81, attend TIE Deum
at the Uspensky cathedral visit the
Archangel and Blagovestchensk cathe-
,drals, venerate there the relics and
icons and pray at the tomb of their i'm
perial ancestors. Then the car and
czarina will go to the AleXandrinsky
palace, where they will stay until
May 25.
Foreign ambassadors will make their
congratulations in the throne room of
the Alexandrinsky palace on May %
and %. HeraIds will proclaim to the
people the date of the coronation on
May %, "a and %. Their majesties
will attend mass and prayers on May
%, "a, % and 26. There will be a re-
view of the Ismailovsky regiments
and Of the battalion of sappers, and a
conservation of the imperial flag at the
Novaya Oruzheinaya palace within the
kremlin on May "a. The imperial
regalia will be transferred with great
solemnity to the throne room on May
%. Then their majesties will go to
the Grand Kremlin palace.
The coronation will take place at
the cathedral Of the Assumption A
grand festival will follow. A state din
grand festival will follow. A state din
ner will be given to ecclesiastics of