The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-05-29
RUSSIA'S GREAT DAY
Brilliant Closing Of the Festivities
at Moscow.
GROWING OF THE CAR AND CZARINA

imposing ceremonies, MagniHcenG SiSnts
and Touching Scenes at the Cathe-
dral of the AssumptiOn-Ameri-
cans Who Were Present.
Moscow, May 27.-Nicolas Alexan-
drovitch was yesterday crowned en-
peror of all the Russias with the most
gorgeous ceremonies the world has
ever seen. In the Cathedral of As
sumption the church was a blaze OF
gold and silver. The ornate richness
of the cathedral, the splendor of the
uniforms, the CLEAN of jewels, the as
sembled beauty of the empire, the glo-
ries of the vestmentS, the magnifcent
singing, and the clouds of incense bear
ing heavenward the many prayers, in
delibly impressed the minds of those
present that they were witnessing the
most splendid of worldly functions.
The thrones of the czar and czarina
were in the center of the church. The
czar's throne was the ancient throne
of Michael Feodorowitch. 1t was COW
cred with purple velvet and set with
rubies and turquoises. The back was
of gold. That of the czarina was the
famous ivory throne,
American Representatives Present.
The most gorgeously attired of all
those present was the shakur of Gondal
and his wife, the maharonse of Con-
dal, who wore Indian costumes of
green and red silk splangled with
gems and gold and silver ornaments.
They presented a scene of barbaric
magnificence such as western eyes have
seldom seen. At o'clock the royal
doors in the icohostas were opened and
the metropolitans emerged. The en-
trance was lined with bishops and
priests. AS the procession moved a
choir of bass voices and a single high
soprano began singing a Te Deum.
The cathedral was filed at $50 o'clock.
All the diplomats and their wives were
present, except the Turkish ambassa-
dor, who, being Moslem, was not per-
mitted by the tenets of his faith to
enter a Christian church. The
Hon. Clifton R. Breckenridge, the
American minister, wore a full court
suit. Gen. McCook, special representa-
tive of the American government, and
OSl1IlIlSO WCIO III OAAO AuAA
dress uniform of their rank.
Arrival of the Czar and Czarina.
At Q:lO o'clock loud shouts were
heard ouuside the kremlin and band
began to play the national anthem.
This announced the approach of the
mother of the czar. A long line OF
gentlemen of the chamber preceded
the metropolitans and priests and es-
oorted her to the throne. She wore a
court dress, over which was an ermine
robe, and on her head was diamond
crown. The metroplitans then ap-
preached the southern door and blessed
the insignia, which, borne in state,
were placed on embroidered cushions
on a table near the throneS Shortly
afterwards shouts again reMt tho air
outside the cathedral, mingled with
the booming of guns, the pealing of
bells, and the swelling tones of the ma
tional anthem, all announcing the ap-
proach of the czar and czarina. At 10
o'clock their majesties entered the
church, and as they did so the guards
about the dais and on the steps salu-
ted with their swords.
A Charming Scene.
The car was in the uniform of the
Preobra jansky regiment. The cLarina
was attired in silver-corded gown,
with a red sash across her breast.
Their majesties were preceded by the
metropolitans bearing a cross, holy
water and sacred icon. Both ascend
ed the steps of the iconostas unattend-
ed and kissed the sacred icons on either
side of the royal doors. Then, attend
ed by brilliant throng of generals,
they turned from the iconostas and
mounted the dais, where they stood in
front of the thrones. The czarina was
bare headed, and two curls fell upon
her neck. Her cheeks were flushed with
excitement and she looked charmingly
beautiful. The scene was one that
would have delighted an artist. Every
thing was in absolute harmony and
the effect was magnificent. The gor-
geous cathedral, the red covered tri-
bunes filled with uniformed men on
one side and ladies in gowns of blue,
red, green and yellow on the other, the
gold and purple dais, the rich balda-
chin under which the ear and czarina
stood facing the picture laden iconos-
tas, crowded before which in golden.
robes and jeweled mitres were the
clergy, made a scene that will never
be forgotten by those who witnessed it.
Recited the Greed.
The metropolitan then held the
praver book while his ma jeSty in a
voice that was everywhere audible in
the church recited the creed, all those
present crossing themselves as he did
SO. The metropolitan of ST. Peters
burg then blessed the czar and czarina,
both humbly bowling their heads.
After the blessing the metropolitan,
who is an old white-bearded ecclesias-
tic. read an epistle from the Gospels in
a feeble voice. Two metropolitans and
their aides then assisted the car to
adorn the imperial mantle. His majesty
then assumed the gorgeous diamond
collar of the sovereign of the order OF
St. Andrew, as he did so the aged
metropolitan said: I'm the name OF the
Father, Son and Holy Ghost, amen"
Autocrat of All the Russias.
The metropolitan of st. Petersburg
then blessed the crown and handed it