The morning times., 1896-04-19

Moscow, April 2.-on the 26th of May
the young Car Nicholas III will be crowned
ruler Of all the Russias. The ceremony of
crowning takes place in the little church
called Uspensh Sober. or Church of the
Assumption, where all the czars, from the
time of Ivan the Terrible, have put on their
imperial crowns for the first time.
The Uspenski Sober is the smallest church
world. IL stands in the middle of MOSCOW,
In what is called by visitors 1.-The old
fort" or Kremlin. The Kremlin is an in
closed hill right in the center of Moscow.
Many gates lead through the walls of the
KrenIlIn. and in the middle of the inclosure
stands the church.
When the czar is crowned he must jour
ney from Muskushnoi, or imperial palace,
10 The Kremlin, parade OF three miles
This procession and the grandeur attend
ing it and the parade hack again after the
coronation make the ceremony memorable
TO all who are in Moscow's confines.
of Nicholas, thirteen years ago, ana never
will j forget 1t.
FROM DAYBREAK.
Al daybreak on the morning of the coro-
nation the car is wakened and is given a
very light breakfast. For three days he
has been fasting in the palace, and has
seen no one. not even the empress.
After breakfast the crowds begin to
gather around the palace, and by 8
O'Clock, the hour OF setting forth, there
are many millions OF people in the
streets. All along the curb-stones stand
three double rows OF armed serfs 10 re-
enforce the soldiers in case OF On attack
upon the cZar along the line.
This guard of soldiers is six miles
long, and extends down all the side
streets as far as can be seen. If there
should be the slightest hostile demonstra-
Jion the offender will be torn to pieces
in a second. To remove all fears the
students of Moscow are given transport
tation 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 and wears her imperial crown.
Slowly she dcScends the steps, followed
by her mobiles, court dignitaries and ladies
and men in waiting.
Behind her comes a beautiful parade
of fifty pages, and behind them fifty
knights beautifully dressed. The crowd
watches the dowagcr empress seat her.
self in great carriage of state, and
Then turns its attention to the noble per-
sonages just coming in view.
II is the car! Behind him walk his
guards and 'courliers. Behind them come
the representatives OF all the powers
fn the world, all wearing their state
robes and carrying their national colors.
Following this cortege there is a 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 Roumania and all the
English cousins now so closely allied to
the Russian throne.
THE PROCESSION.
i, All these are seated upon platforms OF
In carriages and borne along in the pro-
oession. A salute OF 1O1 guns is fired,
and amid the greatest pandemonium OF
cheering the car proceeds on his way to
the Uspenski Sober. Through three miles
OF streets he parades, while there is a
continuous pealing from the Car Kclokol,
the crack king OF bells
When the gates OF the Kremlin have
been passed then comes the most brilliant
of all the scenes. Upon raised tribunes
leading TO the church sit the members OF
the countries paying tribute to the car.
Many OF these, like the Tartars, cannot
remove their hats, and consequently they
cannot enter the church to see the car
crowned. They are given seats OF honor
on these tribunes. There are the Khivans,
Bokharans, Armenians, Tcherke ssians q,
osdjaks, Samoyedes, Tartars, Mongols,
Tungries, Buriats, Yukays and Tschees,
all in their bright gowns
Straight through the door OF the church
the cars party proceeds. On entering
they divide. The czar, the czarina and
the relatives Of the family all mount upon
platform which stands in the middle of
the church. 1t is round platform raised
high, and it is intended for the coronation
ceremony Of emperors. 1t is big enough for
the archbishop of Moscow and all the
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 filling the church with
music. Upon platform at one side of the
church sit representatives of all the
foreign powers. Here Minister Breckin-
ridge VIII sit, with his brother ambassadors
from every country in the world, and Ii
Hung Chang along With them. On an
other platform are the delegates from the
Russian societies and the heads of the
Russian cities. and on another raised place
are the attaches OF the cars court This
fills the church full, for the little edifice
is strained if GOO enter it. On the floor
are a few invited guests and Russian
artists.
From the time OF entering the church
until going out again there is a cere-
mony six hours long. and, as no one can sit
in Russian church, the strength of the
ladies will be severely taxed, but corona
tion occurs only once in generation.
THE CROWNING.
The actual ceremony of putting on the
crown is a long one. The emperor is
seated and the music in the church is