davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1896-05-24

his barred breast. and on both sides of his hands-each time uttering the words: .'The seal of the gift of the Holy Ghost,' while another metropolitan wipes off each arsointed spot with a piece of tissue paper that is forthwith burned on the altar. The anointment of the different parts of the cZar's body is meant to be the token of the grace of the Holy Ghost that is to strengthen all the faculties of the ezar, to enable him to bear the enormous responsibili- ties devolving on him as the autocrat ruler of 129, ,177,000 human beings be- longing to over 70 different tribes and nationalities.
 As Nicholas withdraws, taking his stand to the right of the altar before the image of the Saviour, the czaritza ap breaches and is also anointed; but she has the sign of the cross traced on her forehead alone. Immediately after this both take communion; she, in the form in which all the lay people take it; but the czar takes it as do the priests. He is led to the altar, where he kneels thrice before the exposed host, and then ad ministers communion to himself with his own hands-frst the body, and then the blood of Christ. This is the only time in his life when the czar is al- l lowed to do this; for it is to be remem- hered that the czar holds no ecclesiastic ! rank in the church whatever, any more than does Queen Victoria in the Church of England.
 A solemn thanksgiving Te Deum fol lows; then the royal pair leave the ca thedral, emerging from the northern door and proceed along the elevated walk outside, in plain view of the hun- dreds of thousands who throng the whole inclosure of the Kremlin. First, | they proceed to the Cathedral of the Archangel, and thence to the Cathedral of the Annuneiation, where they pray 1 for a little while at the piers of former 1 Russian rulers. of the Patriarchs of the l church. and at the shrines of several saints reposing within those walls. Nicholas II. and the Empress Alexan- l tlra return to the large Krelnlin palace l by the historic fred porch" on which 1 they stop. Here both the cztr and the czaritza, standing on the red earpeted stairs, bend their heads low before the people-those in front. and on the right, and on the left-amid the unceas- ing "hurrahs'' of the assembled popu- lace. And that the people are sincere in this profuse expression of their joy at the event is open to 10 doubt in the minds. of such as have any knowledge of the masses of the Russian people.
 Dr. KIopseh Meets the Czar.
 Having received, the day previous, a communication from the minister of the interior that the then eaesareyiteh, now
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furnished apartment before he;na moned in the presence of tba sun. witch. In the meantinSan elderly lssals. aa tleman of gentle demeanor. weas gen dazzling uniform, engaged me versation, in the course of wb;oh ~ con
 pressed great delight that his ;a ne eS highness was to have an opportna;. ,terla testing his knowledge of the By or language, and he hoped that [ slsa ,,ss have the goodness to note carosli "puld whether he used it correctly
 While this conversation wac
 ress, door leading to a library a p'og- and another military man annd, psned that his imperial highness desired tassd ta 1 Dr. Talmage. Thereverend penf,s see was not slow in acceding to the ree,,,a'l -aa and soon disappeared through the fass'' onas ing. Afteranotherw waitof 20 minntol prl' Talmage emerged and the miIitar,, tleman appearing again announced sSu, ttI' the caesarevitch would now see na' l@ Klopsch. My heart was in q ant. %r' but 1 hastened to obey the summons
 Tine room was finished in hard ,m, furnished after the fashion of wal ,1yVa' do gentleman's library, and was avi dently the crown princess worl,roo. ~
 In it were bookcases, a leather lonsl a mahogany desk, and some rn;a9a ss pieces. The window overlooked 4' Gulf of Findland. The caesareyifcb aAg entered, stood at the desk. He seemed to be about my stature, five feet s;s inches in height, with pleasing. intal ,H 1 ligent. frank countenanc. He ,yore
 mustache, and was just then indulgins in q months growth of full beard Al tired in q senli-military white dnck tunic, to which was attached the riehIa jeweled decoration of the Order :. Vladimir, he made an altogether nless ing impression; but his face lacLoa character and strength, largely due Do doubt, to his youthfulness. There wss nothing striking or commanding in bis appearance. and no one would have enc pected him to be the son of the tall broad-shouldered, sad-visaged emperor of all the Russias, whose throne he wac so sooh eo oSSupy- He extended his hand and cordially grasped mine, srpjl 1 ing pleasantly as I greeted him, and as. sured him that esteemed it an exalted privilege to be thus honored. He re. piled that he deeply appreciated the eommendable spirit of our visit to Rus. sia, and he hoped he would receive ia. vorableimpression during our stay. Hay. ing had an exceedingly enjoyable time, 1 could truthfully respond that his hope had already been fully realized We then branched off to the very pleasant and friendly relations that had always obtained between Russia and the United States, and he hoped that they would long continue. briefly related
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the emperor Nicholas IL desired to meet the commissioners who were visiting Russia on an errand of mercy in con nection with the Christian Herald steamship Leo" laden with bread stuffs and other supplies for the relief of the starving peasantry, pr. Talmage and 1 were waited OH, one delightful day in July, 1892, by Count Bobrinskoy, warm personal friend of the present czar, and a military attache of the enI- peror. We were driven down the Nev- sky Prospect-the Broadway of St, Petersburg-to the railway station, where a special train was in readiness to take us to Peterhof, the summer resi- dence of the imperial family.
 We had received instructions as to drcss-full dress suit, white tie, and white gloves, the right hand ungloyed- and thus attired and full of delightful anticipation we were whirled along through a charming country-Count Bobrinskoy meanwhile making innu- merable inquiries in regard to such American affairs as especially enlisted his interest
 "You will find the caesarevitch of quite retired disposition" said he, changing the subject, and. should there be lull in the conversation, please dc not eonstrue it as hint that the audi ence is ended. The caesarevitch is greatly interested in your country and its institutions, and you will find him q good listener; but he mistrusts his knowledge of English somewhat. and is therefore little deliberate when using that language"
 After about half an hour Peterhof was reached. At the station a company of soldiers in magnificent uniform were drawn up to receive us, and half a dozen gorgeous equipages, with drivers and footmen ill scarlet livery richly em- troidered with the imperial coat-of- arms, were ready to convey us to the palace, where the party was expected to lunch. Every hundred yards or so soldiers emerged from sentry boxes, presented arms and saluted us in mili- tary fashion. At the palace itself q veritable host of servants surrounded us, relieved us of coats, hats and gloves before we entered the dining-room. where bountiful lunch was quietly en- joyed, after which we again enter our carriages to be driven to a smaller pal ace, then occupied by the eaesarevitch. There again q small army of servants were in attendance, lowing obsequious- ly. An attendant led us and our escorts to the second story, where we waited about half an hour in | eumptuously
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The prayers ended, the metropolitan takes the crown and presents it to the ear, who himself places it upon his head, while the metropolitan pro- nounces the benediction. This crown is formed of circle that fits on the head, and is thickly set with large dia- Taonds and precious stones of the purest water, above this rise two gold bars, set crosswise and surmounted by a cross of diamonds that rests on an orb represented here by ruby of wonder ful color end purity and larger than a pigeons egg. The two parts joined by the ruby symbolic the eastern and western parts Of the Russian empire. The crown represents the value of $1,- 100000, and it contains no less than ?, 564 diamonds. Then the czar takes the scepter having the celebrated Orloff dia- uond set in it, and the orb surmounted by the cross, the symbol of the empire of Russia, while the metropolitan holds forth speech, explaining the signif- canoe of the regalia.
 Browning His Consort.
 ms terminates the coronation or the czar. Nicholas II. resumes his seat on the throne, and proceeds to share his new honors with his consort. The scene becomes very impressive here. Summoned by gesture, Czaritza Alex andra Theodorovna-but a short time ago the English Protestant Princess Alice, favorite granddaughter of Queen Victoria-advances and kneels before her husband. Nicholas lays aside scep- ter and orb, takes off his crown and after just touching the empress head with this, replaces 1.-the ceremony
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bers of the imperial family, and guests of blood royal, who mount the throne platform to present their congratula- tions.
 After this they also return to their places and remain standing; the sing ing of the choir ceases, and silence per vedes the sacred edifce. This is per haps the most impressive moment of the ceremony. Nicholas lays down the scepter and orb, but keeps the crown on his head, to accentuate the fact that it is a czar who is prostrated before the Almighty; and, kneeling on the platform, his face turned toward the altar, he recites aloud a prayer in which, like King Solomon of old, he bsgs the Lord to invest him with wis dom, so as to understand the will of God and carry it out in his rule.
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how the Christian people of America had been stirred by the reports Of famine from the affected provinces in Russia, how they had sent nearly sSe- eco to the Christian Herald in response to appeals published in that paper, and how that money had been expended ln the purchase of four and other ma. terial. The clesareVitch-wh by the way, was president of the Russian na- tional relief committee-was greatly interested and pleased, and begged me, on my return, to assure the Anerlean people of his unfeigned gratitude Then the converse tion Jagged somwhaf but remembering the friendly hin. which I had received, quickly revived it by telling him that I had enjoyed the honor of meeting the queen of Greece his aunt, at Athens, and the mention ol her name affected him very pleasantF indeed. On my telling him that pr' Talmage had also met her, he said to Ine half inquiringly: "Dr. Talmage IS great author" which l promptly ai' firmed, asking at the same time the privilege of sending him Dr. Talmages latest book. To this he replied ! shall be glad to receive it. and after : have read it, I will send to the queen or Greece" Looking out of the windoM'i remarked on the beauty of the location, and on the great width of the sheeVo1 water below.
 "Yes," he explained, that is the oaii of Finland and all vessels bound Y, Petersburg pass this way. The sLeo' with her cargo. passed here the olne' day. You will write about your yls'' to Russia when you return home n' added.
 "Yes, indeed" I responded. !,
 q should be glad to have you seu1 Tie some clippings, in fact anytplAS you may write about Russia :.
 Thanking him for honoring me W,'l this request, and for the deligh'iu' audience which l had so thoroughly sn. ioyed, l retired, cordial grasp oi 'as hand having ended the interview.
 True to the promise, I sent hlni ons s of pr. Talmage's books, richly Doup', for the occasion, and some clipPlnss 7. interest; and two months later "as delighted to receive, in a suitable eSss' bearing the imperial coat of arms, ,,s z photograph of the caesareviteh Wiz the autograph: "Nicolas to p,. klopsch, 1892.' The impression wll-sa he made on my mind was q most lasa able one, and feel quite conylnee'u TX in the present czar Rus ". peaceable, popular and progresssss's'ss 2 ssss 1uler. LoUIs KLoFsch'
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mantle, "porphira," and the diamond chain of the order that goes with it. The porrhira is brought forward by the metropolitans, and put on the emperor's shoulders. It is made Of gold cloth em- broidered with the imperial arms. is lined with snow-white ermine, and has clasps of large diamonds set in the shape of gritiins.
 The oldest metropolitan gives the czar his benediction: "In the name ot the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost!" He then puts both his pale, dried-up hands erosswise on the reverently bent head of the monarch, and recites two extremely touching prayers, in which he supplicates the King of Kings to shower His blessings on the earthly ruler who prayerfully bend his head before Him.
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His prayed ended, Czar Nicholas re- sumes his seat on the throne (the sym hol of his terrestrial elevation above all mem while the old metropolitan kneels in turn, all the Russians in the church doing likewise, and makes ! long and earnest supplication to God to watch over the monarch and invest him with all the qualities needful to a righteous ruler of men. This same prayer is to be read in all churches of the realm On the same day, and in all Russian churches, including those iatc= ly established in New York, Chicago, Scranton, Minneapolis, AlleghaHY. Bridgeport and other American cities.
 Then the solemn liturgy of the Rus sian church begins, the czar standing with his crown taken off, in token of his humility before the high presence The Anointment of Nicholas and His
 Consort.
 Toward the end of the Liturgy, just before the communion is administered two of the officiating bishops summon the czar to the middle doors leading to the altar. First unbuckling his sword and handing it over to one of his cham berlains, but retaining his long, trail ing mantle. the czar advances, preceded and followed by the master of cere- monies, the court marshals, the various chamberlains, gentlemen in waiting, and other functionaries, dressed in uni- forms of the utmost splendor.
 The courtiers range themselves on both sides of the doors of the altar; then Czaritza Alexandra advances, fol- lowed by her own and hardly less inn posing retinue of gentlemen and ladies i'll waiting.
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ing to the platform on which the ances- tral thrones are prepared for them, while the members of the imperial family, the courtiers and representatives of the no bility take their places around them. The throne platform is in the very mid dle of the cathedral, and rugs of the rar- est kind, mostly presents from eastern potentates, cover the path from the throne to the altar. On both sides of this path extend the two long rows of priests. Representatives of the lower classes of the people-the merchants and the peasants-are also present.. These representatives are stationed on the broad elevation running along the three sides of the cathedral. The ascent to- ward the wall is very gradual, forming a perfect amphitheater. The foremost places are given to the ambassador, special envoys and representatives of foreign rulers. Envoys and deputies. who, however, according to their GUS toms cannot enter the temple with heads uncovered-this being strict require ment in a consecrated Russian church. have special platform erected for their use outside, and here take their place such tributary rulers as the Ameer of Bullhara, the Khan of Khiva, deputa- tions of the peoples inhabiting the Turkestan, the Transcaspian lands and the Transcaucasus,a as well as the envoys of Turkey, Persia, Corea, China and the other Asiatic counties. Even so great Q parsonage as Iii Hung Chang takes his place on that outside platform, and sees nothing of the actual coronation.
 When everybody is in place, the peal of the church bells ceases and the serv- ices begin. The eldest of the metropoi- itans-a very old, white-haired monk, wearing a golden mitre studded with a great number of precious stones, as- cends supported by assistants, the steps leading to the throne. The czar and the czaritza rise to their feet and remain standing, while the old man ad- dresses short speech to the emperor, ending it with request that he recite the creed aloud-so that all present may hear and know that Nicholas II. follows the teachings of his church to the letter.
 In answer to the metropolitan's sol chm query: What is your belief?" Czar Nicholas stands up erect and recites the creed of the Eastern Catholic church in a voice distinctly heard in the remotest rceesses of the cathedral; at the end of which the metropolitan exclaims, ad- dressing the ear: "The blessing of the Holy Ghost be upon thee"
 The Coronation Proper.
 After the reading of the Gospel, the ear takes off the ordinary chain of the ofderAof St. Andrew, and calls on at tendant chamberlains for the imperial
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Dr. Louis Klopseh Gives an Interesting Account of
 His Reception by Nicholas H. WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON TUESDAY, NEXTH
Full Report in Advance Showing Far More Than Any American Visitor in Moscow Will Be Allowed to See -The Splendid and Impressive. Ceremonial
 Depicted and It's Significance Explained.
tCoPYRIGHT, 1see.)

l mantle on two gold-cloth cushions and the imperial regalia. The train of the empress is carried by five ladies in waiting; she wears white satin dress covered with gorgeous hand embroid- cry in silver and gold thread and her head is adorned with the regulation ''kokoshink," or diadem of velvet em- broidered in precious stones.
 The czar-a young man of 2s-is dressed in the uniform of q Russian general, and has the golden chain of St.. Andrew about his neck
 As the imperial couple enters the ca thedral by its southern door, they are met by the metropolitans, the archbish- ops and bishops, with the rest of the clergy who are to officiate at the core- nation, in all well-nigh 200 priests. As the imperial regalia are brought in, the eldest metropolitan sprinkles them with holy water; then he turns to the imperial family with a speech of wei come, during which they remain stand ing; he then offers to them the crucifiN to be kissed, and sprinkles holy water OH their bowed heads.
 The entrance of the couple into the temple is effected to the inspiring music of the Hundredth Psalm, depicting the acts of a wise rulers administration. From this point, the sovereign and Empress Alexandra have every move mapped out for them beforehand. First they proceed to the doors of the altar and after kneeling before them kiss the icons. Then they lneel before the shrines of the Christian martyrs, Peter end Jonas, whose relics repose in the cathedral, and ascend short steps lead-
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the ceremony, have been settled in ad- vance, and not the slightest deviation from the programme will be permitted The readers of this article have in eff feet a full and accurate report in ad- ,. vance.
 Hcralds Proclaiming the Coming Events.
 Early in the morning of May 23, 24 and 25 attachments of courtiers, clad in coats of gold cloth, white plumes waving from their broad-brimmed hats, mounted on gold-cloth covered steeds, file out of the five gates of the Kremlin wall. In parties of five or six, they gal lop off in all directions, stopping at all the street crossings and market places; the bugles ring out, the drums sound, and the populace hasten to the spot. Then the court officials, parading as medieval heralds, read the announce ment of the coming coronation from a parchment written in old Slayonic script with elaborate decorated bor- ders in three clors. They also distrib- ute printed copies to the people, who rush from all quarters, tumbling over one another in their haste, but few are able to secure a whole one. Of this proclamation we print q reduced fac simile.
 Preparing for the Ceremony.
 Early on Tuesday morning the bells of the kremlin churches will begin their coronation carol, taken up by the forty times forty" churches of white walled' Moscow; this is the signal for the clergy to assemble in the Cathedral of the Assumptions small antiquated structure, built in the fifteenth century.
 Amid the incessant ringing of church bells, the court, the imperial family, the visiting princes and foreign envoys assemble in the large halls of the Krem- lin palace and follow the sovereign to the doors, where the procession is formed. The imperial couple march under a dais of gold cloth, richly deco rated with the imperial arms-the two headed eagles-and finished with a heavy bullion fringe and gold tassels. This is held over their heads by court chamberlains and generals of the army. A raised and carpeted walk extends from the doors of the palace through tHc Wuoit clicult tnab tnelr maJeSUleS have to travel. The large inclosure within the walls of the kremlin is black with the populaee, and as soon as he shows himself the tens of thousands of 1 spectators and the brilliantly uni- formed soldiers shout Q mighty well come to their ruler--a shout that drowns the church bells and even the cannon that are fired continually dur ing the solemn march.
 The Procession Starts.
 First in the procession are the court chamberlains, who carry the imperial
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A considerable number of Americans sailed for Europe this spring in full eX- pectatien of seeing the czar crowned. Most of these good people are to-day eX- periencing sore disappointment. They may doubtless see the street pageants, the brilliant parade of troops, the won derful illumination of the city by cleo tric light arranged in the shape of garlands of flowers in their natural col ors; they may even get a glimpse of the czar and his consort as they make their entry into Moscow or pass from one building of the Kremlin into another. but of the coronation itself they will sec absolutely nothing, as any person ac- quainted with Russian customs might have told them. No amount of gold, however lavishly spent, can secure d place for an outsider in the Cathedral of the Assumption, in which the actual next Tuesday-and that, for the decisive reason that the old temple is so small that it hardly affords room enough for the active participants in the corona ton. the representatives of the differ cnt classes and people composing the Russian nation, and the visiting princes and the official representatives of the other rulers of nations.
 Even those who have made the jour ney to Moscow must. therefore, rest satisfied with the description of what takes place in the cathedral on the 26th; l; and for this, happily. one need not wait for the reports of the ten or twelve re- porters from the outside world that are to be admitted. The dates and every thing, even to the minutest details ot
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As the czar stands before the open doors, the eldest metropolitan brings out precious vessel containing the holy chrism with which to anoint the sovereign. This vessel i'm made of jasper, mounted in gold, and is known to have belonged to the Roman Elm peror Augustus Caesar; it was sent as q present to the Russian Grand Duke Vladimir Monomachus by one of the Greek emperors, just before the close of the tenth century. The metropolitan takes in his hand little stick, and im- mersing in the chrism, anoints Nich- olas II. by tracing cross on the lat ter's forehead, on his nostrils, his ears,
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signifying that henceforth he shares with her all his cares and dignities. Another smaller crown and an imperial mantle-the exact counterpart of the czar's-are then put on the czaritza, and her husband invests her with the insignia of the Order of St. Andrew.
 Congratulations and Giving Of Thanks.
 In mighty chorus, the hymn: Hong Live the Czar, and His Consort and the Whole Imperial Family arises from the choir; 1o1 guns are fired outside while those present congratulate the Imperial couple. ThisSis done by sim ply lowing the head thrice; no one moves from his place except the emem-