The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-05-14

OFAtisn nuDAsseuof D Laughter Describes
the Coronation OF tho Late Car of
Russia.
Miss Mary Grace Thornton, daughter
Of Sir Edward Thornton, describes the
browning of car in The Century
for May. Miss Thornton writes as fol-
lows:
The service began with the emperor g
confession of faith, which was so like
our own that could follow it easily.
The metropolitan came forward to hear
him make it and responded at the end,
May the grace of the Holy Ghost abide
with thee. F" 1 understood comparative
ly little Of the rite, but they say that
the prayers are wonderfully beautiful.
From the first moment to the last the
emperor was the central figure IF one
looked away, it was only to see how
every one was watching him. His voice
certainly tembled when he began to
read, but 1t gained confidence as he
went on, and he looked Gas he always
does, to my mind, with or without a
crown) every inch an emperor. Through
cut the whole service he bore himself
worthy Of such an occasion.
After the creed and the reading of the
epistle and the gospel. he ordered the
imperial mantle to be brought, which
was clasped round his neck with the col
lar Of St Andrew, lifted the magnifi-
cent crown from the cushion ON which
it was presented and receiving the
benediction from the metropolitan, sin
the name Of the Father, and Of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost" placed 1t on
his head. and, holding the scepter in
his right hand and the globe in his left,
seated himself upon his throne, looking
very noble presentment of car of
all the Russias The empress seemed to
have caught something of his air, for
that day certain stateliness was add
ed to all her charm. She was very pale,
but thought that had never seen her
look more sympathetic She now left
her place and went to meel before her
husband on cushion which had been
placed for her at his feet by Prince
Waldemar.
The car lifted his own crown from
his head and placed it an instant on
hers before replacing it Then taking
her crown from its bearer, he held it in
place while the four danes d'honneur
fastened it securely to her head These
were Countess Adlerberg, Princess Via
semski, Princess Kotchoubey and one I
did not know-the oldest in rank in
Russia, believe; and they also helped
to fasten the imperial mantle Of cloth
of gold and ermine, Of great weight.
AS the czarina returned to her place she
turned q face full Of emotion to her
husband and held out her hand, and, he
taking it and stopping down, they kiss
ed each other. His majesty now receiv-
ed the scepter and glove again, and en-
peror and empress stood crowned before
their thrones and wearing the imperial
mantles, while the priests proclaimed
the titles Of the autocrat Of all the Rus
sias at full length, and the beautiful
chants that followed were drowned in a
changing OF bells and q noise that SEEM
ed loud enough to announce the corona
ton to the whole of Russia. During the
singing the imperial family left their
places to come and congratulate the en-
peror and empress, the little czarowitz
first There were much embracing and
plenty Of tears
1t was after this that, as the noise Of
the bells and cannon died away, the
emperor took the book from the metro
politan and knelt to pray, reading the
prescribed words, he alone kneeling,
while priests and congregation stood.
AS the emperor rose from his knees
we all knelt down, and then followed
the prayer of priests and congregation
for him, led by the metropolitan, the
emperor alone standing In the crowded
church. AS have said before, this was
the most impressive moment Of all.
The choirs now sang again-that
beautiful, unaccompanied singing of the
Greek church. though here it had an
accompaniment Of all the Kremlin bells
After magnificent "Te Deum" the mass
began, in which, before communicat.
ing, the car was to be anointed with
the holy chrism (the "seal of the pift of
the Holy Ghost on forehead. eyelids.
nostrils, lips, ears, breast and hands
The Oil for this amounting is prepared
by the priests with the greatest care in
vessels of silver, and they themselves
fast absolutely for I6 hours before n
coronation, spending the time in PRAYER
After the emperor the empress is
anointed at the holy doors, but only ON
the forehead. Also in the holy com.
munion she receives as an ordinary
member of the Greek church, but the
emperor on the day of his coronation.
''in view of the sovereignty that resides
in his person." receives as the priests
receive, in both kinds separately.
OF all this saw nothing because of
the intervening pillar But / did see
their majesties leave their thrones and
20 down the stems of the platfoyr, 20