New-York tribune., 1896-05-16
BEFORE THE CORONATION.
ALREADY MOSCOW IS REsPLENDENT IN
LIGHT. COLOR AND GOLD.
GENT CAPITAL ABI.AzE WITH MAGNIFI-
cENCE - FORECAST OF THE

FETES AND CEREMONIES.
Moscow. May 15-Moscow has practically been
hard at work all the winter. but it canno:
now be said to be ready 10 welcome the Car
with fitting ceremonies to his ancient capital.
For weeks the city has been in gala costume.
Venetian masts have been erected In various
streets. carpets, tapestries and bunting have
been flung out to the wind. triumphal arches
have been erected. and the facades of all the
great buildings decorated but much still re-
mains TO be done. owing to the fact that heavy
rains have retarded the completion Of the work.
Nevertheless the decorations are profuse,
though not as bcwildering they are intended
TO be- The weather to-day Is cold, and despite
the fact that the sun Is shining brightly. every
body Is wrapped in winter clothing. To-day the
domes in the Kremlin and the images In the
Iberian chapel were regilded. and many other
works Of decoration were completed.
Everything Is resplendent with light and color.
and the whole city presents extremely garish
appearance Thousands Of persons flock
Ing TO the cathedrals to-day, comprising all
classes of people, peasants In sheepskin coats
jostlng the elegantly attired aristocrats. ana
Enthusiastically attred Asiatics struggling TOT
places beside the Parisian- -garbed European.
The object Of these crowds is to behold the mag
nncence Of the decorations OF the places OF
sumption. which has been beautihed almost De-
yond the power of description.
In the Kremlin and over the route which the
imperial procession will take next Thursday
in making the trumphal entry into Moscow
bewildering magnifcence is being made for the
coronation of the Car and Czarina.
BEAUTY AND LIGHT OF THE KREMLlN.
The last time this great city was decorated
was at the obsequies of Alexander III, when
buildings and streets were hung with fune-
real black and white; when people moved
slowly and solemn hush brooded over tho
city Now everything is alive and busthng'
everywhere a panorama OF color and brightness
"a TO be seen and the streets are filled with
throngs OF people Perhaps the most wonderrui
object is the Kremlin and the buildings within'
The battlements and walls. in their entire circum-
ference are outlined with heavy iron gaspipes'
dotted with thousands of burners which VIII
be used in the general illumination on the TWO
nights succeeding the coronation. lhs'oe 'he
Kremlin the newly renovated cathedrais anu
ancient buildings CLEAN in the Drlhah' ou"
shine with golden domes and dazzihs ""''o
walls The lofty Ivan tower. at the 1901 y.
which rests the famous great bell IS outi'heu
with electric lights, carried on delicate eAe'e
ton of wood The Arsenal. the treasury anu
other buildings are treated In the same man.
ner and will, the nights or the hiui"'''"
ton. afford a most dazzling spectacle
The Kremlin wall. between the Nlcho'as anu
spasky Gates, alongside OF the Red square' op-
nos.,e the vast modern bazaar is one continuous
erandstand while inside the Spasky Gate III INC
great bell square extending from the gate 10 'he
Arc,aroe, Cathedral is a large stand. capable or
holding thousands OF persons. This VIII be occn-
p,ed by invited guests on the day OF the S'a'e en-
try and again on the coronation day Itself All '"e
Government, buildings and hundreds OF private
houses have been prepared FOR the Illumination
by being covered with little fairy lamps IN various
colors hung on wooden frames forming various
devices often In the shape OF the savonic letters
forming the initials Of Nicholas and Alexahura'
AROUND THE MIRACULOUS IMAGE
Leaving N. Kreml!n by the Nicholas Gate and
,a..,rg on, of',he Kitai Ciorod. or Chinese town.
hy the Resurrection Gate, one finds ones seit I'M
r,sdia,eIv IN a vast crowd OF people pressing
around the Iberian Chapel. where Is KEPT
miraculous image OF the Virgin. which IL Vehe-
ra ted "a a most sacred relic in Russia. Here arc
~ bo seen people from all parts Of Russia ana the
,rovinc~s Fresh arrivals come 10 pay their ue-
yotions iostling with the Muscovite who per
haps is making his daily pilgrimage 10 the chspe"
Passing by this gorgeous shrine. one enters t'e
old University Square. every bulldins OF WIN"
l., ,,os, e,,horatelv decorated From this square
s,re,ches Tyer-st almost straight for three miles
10 the Petronsky Palace. the summer p"u0o
whers the Car will go upon his arrival on Mon
day next The route thus indicated from the
pa,acA N the Kremlin through the Spasky CATE
will be the via triumphalis or Thursday "eA"
Along this street most OF the temporary embassies
- tho foreign Powers are situated. each vying
fr.nT oh
oasi,v taking the palm Not building along
tbese three miles OF route Is without decora'ioh
venetian masts brave with colors, have been
placed at short distances along the pa'e"e"'
On hotb s,d.s Of the streets and the whole street
seems a moving mass of color ana peauty
PROGRAMME OF THE FETEs.
The following Is the programme or the ap-
nroaching festivities In detail:
on May the Emperor and nmRreIs % T aFsHi nd
a,ll u proceed TO the Peroffsky Palace without en-
tering the city proper Ihe ar the paace
TheSr IStS Nj Maiesiies will remain here until May a.
May trr ru%MPhnl fn,ry VIII T' be present at @
=. 1Ie Dem at the Cathedral Of the Assumption IN
the K.mn AteT the Te Mshns Rsum they the w
and the Annuncaton: The latter Is The ca'hedra
which the e1dy sna of Emprss ais ~ the
,nnbs NJ their ancestors. and venerate the .kons
and relics They VIII then pTocccu tic
S'no an Paiac. which lies across the Moskva River
on the opposite side q the city yn, from Ma re'T9nsky
on May 22 and % the Emperor and Empress VII VIII
receive the congratulations Of foreign AmDassadors
In The throne room thall of st. Andrew IN the
great palace OF the Kremlin: , , -,
on May 23 "a and % heralds In various PARTS OF
the city Will proclaim the approaching coronation
on the same date the Car and Czariha VIII per-
form their devotions twice daily. ,,
on Nav "a a review will take place OF the lsmai-
ovskv reg ments and battalions OF sappers, Followed
hy the conservation OF the Imperial s'ahuaro III 'e
IA in fhe
on May 25 the regalia will be solemn!y trans. ms
forred from the treasury the throne room IN the
nalace on this day the imperial couple VIII leave
he Alexandrna Palace and take up their quarters
in The evening In all the churches Of Moscow
THE DAY OF THE CORONATION.
- A., nc 81. coronation will take place fol-