Evening star., 1896-06-27
MOST TYPICAL OF RUSSIA.
Dinner at Which Many Ancient
Customs Were Revived.

A Dinner at Which Many Ancient
Customs Were Revived.
Moscow Letter in the London Standard
After describing the wonderful spectacle
in the cathedral. had no time to do more
than give a brief account Of the singular
scene In the banQueting hall known as the
Trapeza- 1 can now supplement it. how
ever. with particulars of this most purely
Russian. or, rather. Muscovite, Of all the
ceremonies OF the coronation.
At this banquet. held in the oldest hall Of
the great palace OF the Kremlin. the Grano
vitaja palace even more than at any other
function Of the Russian coronation. are
preserved the ancient customs which take
one back to the days when Russia was a
power unknown to the peoples of the west
Peter the Great revised the whole ritual of
the coronation and imported into the an
cient ceremony. which was chiefly Byzantine.
some Of his formalities and conveniences
OF western habits. But in the imperial Ira
peza the Gar OF all the Russias Is still seen
in the character of an oriental potentate,
and on this one occasion OF his life drops
the west and the half-forgotten usages Of
the Byzantfum and stands forth before his
people a true lord of old-world Muscovy.
The hall itself Is a perfect specimen OF
the ancient palaces of the czars. and grand
princes Of the Russia Of five centuries ago.
In shape 1t Is a square, about so feet either
way. and In the center stands huge squat
rectangular column, which supports the
groined vaulting OF the roof. The door
from the sacred vestibule (which leads on
to the outer gallery and the grand STAIR
is In the west wall near the center. To the
left on entering. in the corner. is a curious
estrada of very ancient black oak. on which
the court minstrels stand
Away in the further corner. diagonally
across the hall. is placed the canopy of the
throne. also of ancient black oak, now part
ly concealed by rich crimson plush and the
hal n cchi nf GOLD do ,lv,o
embroidered with the arms of the car and
the principalities. This estrade is raised
three steps above the floor. which is car
peted with a marveousy patterned cloth
of many colors, apparently patch-worked
together. and in good keeping with the an
cient paintings of Biblical subjects which
cover the walls and vaulted roof.
Round three sides of the central column
are ranged. in three rows. narrow tenn
porary tables, on trestles, groaning with
the weight of gold and silver plate, huge
salt cellars in the form of dragons, cocks
and castles. fagons of portentous capacity
and, in short. a full collection Of the table
furniture of the car OF three or four CEN
turtles ago. The central column is likewise
loaded with similar display. the whole in
perfect keeping with the antiquity of the
chamber.
Even the time appointed for the imperial
banquet g p.m.) is a reversion to ancient
days No foreigners taste food in the pres
ence of the car in this old hail. another
relic of the exclusive customs Of the naughty
potentates of the east. The foreign princes
and other illustrious guests were enter
tanned apart. and only admitted for a brief
moment to see the spectacle of a Russian
cZar banQueting in state.
When their majesties had ascended the
crimson plush-covered dais and occupied
their thrones, eight masters of the cere-
monies placed before them a long, narrow
table. similarly covered. which had hither-
to stood on the floor of the chamber against
the south wall The dishes were served by
nff1carq n G n fa nj, hoir Inn ~,
according to ancient custom. demanded
drink, signal for the company to take
their seats The foreigners were politely
ushered out. and the banquet continued to
the music OF cantata specially composed
for the occasion.
have had an opportunity Of hearing this
cantata. which is the work of M. Glazunov
of st. Petersburg. 1t was performed BIZ
choir and orchestra from the Imperial The
ater. the women all arrayed in simple white
dresses. 1t opened with q symphony and
chorus in true Wagnerian style, hailing the
day of solemn joy, wherein all Russia is
united In one glowing sentiment of loyalty
and the voice of a nations prayer goes up
to the throne of God that He may strength
en- the empire of our youthful monarch and
send down upon him strength. happiness
and honor" After this a tuneful treble solo
welcomed him in the name of the south
and manly bass in auSterer melody gave
voice to the sentiments of the north Two
female voices represented the east and west,
and all points Of the compass Joined in a
general chorus. The author of the libretto.
with true Muscovite patriotism, had put the
finale into the form of an address to Mos
cow, bidding 1.-The heart Of Russia's life"
all hail and telling her that she may well
hold up her head among the cities in the
pride of the great solemnity performed
within her walls. Then the chorus sang:
Moscow, golden-headed glory to thee:
Glory to the land of Muscovy:
Glory-let our voices ring afar
Glory to our Provoslavniy Car.
And the finale. working its way through q
maze of contrapuntal variations ended in