Birmingham state herald., 1896-05-27
HE'S CLOTHED IN MAJESTY The Czar Nicholas Crowned
 With Great Pomp. THE PoPULACE' ACCLAIM And the Sinister Shadow of the Nhilist Was
 Not to Be Seen. MOSCOW LITERALLY A BLAZE OF GLORY As Sir Edwin Arnold Said, One Should Be Able to Write in Colors to Properly
 Depict the Scenes of Splendor.
 The Solemn Function.
 
MOSCOW LITERALLY A BLAZE OF GLORY

Moscow, May 26-Today was the chief
 | day of all those given up to the corona 1 tion ceremonies--the day up to which all
 l previous days have led-coronation day
 | The weather was fine and the sky cloud
 1 less. The Kremlin, which was the center
 | of attraction, was early surrounded by
 | waiting crowds, who had no possible
 l hope of getting inside, but were satisfied
 | to see what they could outside the walls. The troops headed by bands of music l began moving at o'clock in the morn | ing, marching to the Kremlin. At 2 o'clock salvo of twenty-one guns was | fired, and at 7:30 the bells of the cathe- dral began to ring.
 1 Just before 1t was time for the czar to appear at the top of the red square the broad spaces of the Kremlin were densely packed with perhaps 100000 people press ing closely up to the very fence of the inner square between the cathedrals of the Assumption, the Annunciation and the Archangel. The consecration ceremo- nies were solemnized in the small cathe- dral of the Assumption.
 At 8:15 numerous ladies and gentlemen of the court in brilliant dresses and uni forms entered and took their places. and at 8:30 the great bell in the Ivan tower began to boom, giving the signal to all other bells, which took up the peal which resounded throughout the city. A large number of bishops and priests In mag nificent vestments were in attendance. At 9 o'clock the sound of cheers and roars from the waiting throngs outside announced the fact that the royal party were approaching. All Moscow had come | to catch glimpse of the emperor and empress and the brilliant suites as they descended the red staircase from the Kremlin palace and crossed to the ca | thedral Shout after shout rose upon the air, the drums beat, the bells pealed and | the bands grouped in the great square | played the national anthem.
 At these sounds the metropolitans of | Moscow, St. Petersburg and Kieff and
 several of the higher clergy proceeded | to the southern entrance of the cathe- dral. In the throng were seen great dig nitaries of state, bearing insignia, re- galia and coronation robes, which they deposited upon richly worked cushions upon a table near the throne.
 Amid tumultuous shouts from the out side the emperor and empress appeared at the door. They were received by the clergy and escorted to the steps of the altar. The emperor was in the dark green and gold uniform of a general of the guards, with high boots. The em- press was dressed in a silver robe, with long train, which was borne by four pages. Arriving at the altar steps, the metropolitan of Moscow and the Grand Duke Sergius welcomed the emperor and empress to the holy building. The metro- politan of St. Petersburg presented the cross for them to kiss, and the metropol- | itan of Kieff presented them with the holy water. After lowing three times
 1 before the altar and kissing the sacred | images their majesties ascended steps and took their places in front of the altar, with their backs to the throne. The scene was one of great beauty as the i'm y,ar-iaJ ool1nIa St0nd awaiting tba service which was to proclaim them emperor and empress of all the Russians. The blaze of gold and silver, the brilliancy of. uni forms and orders, the richness of Russian court toiletts worn by the ladies, the sparkling and precious gems. the clouds of incense rising from behind ikonostas and pervading the church, the solemn sweetness of the singing, which now again began all contributed to the splen- dor of the occasion. -
 As the emperor and empress entered the cathedral the choir sang Psalm 101, Tibi, Domne." Some religious ceremo- nies then followed Immediately after these the czar received the crown from the metropolitan of St. Petersburg.
 Standing in full sight of all the people, and still before the altar, with both hands he placed the crown upon his head; then taking his scepter, in which blazed the famous Orliff diamond. in his right hand, and the globe of empire in his left, he ascended the dais and took his seat upon the throne, the empress still standing in her former place. This was the supreme
 moment of all, and when, gazing around | the church and seeing representatives from nearly every district of this mighty empire, and beholding the czar sitting on his throne in state with the symbols
 of power given to him by the highest au- | thority in the land, one had realizing
 sense of the great power wielded by the
 | man in whose honor this great function was held.