The morning times., 1896-05-17
MOSCOW IN GAlA DRESS
Old City Will Give Magnificent
Welcome TO the Car.
CORONATION WILL BE A FETE
Description of Splendid Preparations
ar Russiu's Old CapitaI-Bewiider-
ing Mass of Color Along the Route
OF the Triumphal Entry-Kremlin
Is Al Conspicuous Object.

Moscow, May 16.-Moscow has practI-
cally been hard at work all the winter, but
it cannot now be said 10 he ready to wei
come the ear with fitting ceremonies to
his ancient capital.
For weeks the city has been in gala
costume. Venetian masts have been
erected in various streets, carpets, tapes
tries, and bunting have been flung out 10
the wind, triumphal arches have been
erected and the facadcS Of all the great
buildings decorated but much still remains
10 be done owing to the fact that heavy
rains have retarded the completion OF the
work. Nevertheless, the decorations, con
sisting of flags, bunting, designs, lamps,
etc, are profuse, though not as Dewiiderlng
as they are intended TO be.
FLoCKING TO THE CATHEDRAL.
The dome in the Kremlin and the images
in the Iberian Chapel have been regilded
and many other works OF decoration COM
peted. Everything is respcndent with
light and color, and the whole city pre-
sents an extremely garish appearance.
Thousands of persons are flocking TO the
catliedrals, comprising all classes of peo-
pie, peasants, In Sleeps kin coats, JoStllng
the elegantly attired aristocrat and fan
tasticaliy attired A Asiatics, struggling Tor
Southern Russian and similarly garbed
German, Frenchman, Englishman, etc.
The object OF these crowds is to behold the
magnlficence of the decorations OF these
places OF worship, especially the cathedral
of the sumption, which has been beaut-
fled almost beyond the power OF de-
scription.
In the kremlln and over the route which
the imperial procession will take next
Thursday In making the triumphal entry
into Moscow, a bewildering magnficence
Is being made for the coronation OF the
cZar and CZarina. The last time this
great city was decora ted was at the Oh
sequies of Alexander III, when buildings
ana streets were hung with funereal black
aud white; when people moved slowly and
solemn hush brooded over the city.
Now everything is alive and busting,
everywhere a panorama Of color and bright
ness IS 10 be seen, and the streets are
filled with throngs Of people.
THAT WONDERFUL KREMLIN
Perhaps the most wonderful object is
the kremlIn and the buildings within. The
bait leIneuted walls within their entire Cir
conference are outlined with heavy iron
gas pipes. dotted with thousands OF burn
ers. which VIII be used IN the general il
Elimination on the two nights succeeding
the coronation. Inside the Kremlin, the
newly renovated cathedrals and ancient
buildings CLEAN in the brilliant sunshine,
with golden domes and dazzling white
walls. Tie lofty Ivan tower, at the foot
OF which rests the famous great bell,
is outlined with electric lights, carried on
delicate skeleton Of wood. The arsenal
the treasury and other buildings are treated
in the same manner, and Will on the
nights of the Illumination afford most
dazzling spectacle.
The KrcmIin wall between the Nicholas
and SpaSky gates, alongside OF the red
square. opposite the vast modern bazaar
is one continuous grand stand, While in-
/ side the SpaSky gate, in the great bell
| square. extending from the gate to the
Archangel Cathedral, is a large stand Ca
pab!e OF holding thousands CT people. This
| will be occupied by invited guests on the
! day of the state entry, and again on the
| coronation day itself. All the govern
ment buildings and hundreds OF private
| houses have been prepared for the illumina-
| ton by being covered with little fairy
| lamps in various cOlOrS, hung on wooden
! frames forming various devices, often III
| the shape of the Slavonic letters forming the
! initials OF Nicholas and Alexandra.
AT THE HER1AN CHAPEL.
Leaving the Kremlin by the Nicholas gate
| and passing out OF the kitai GOrOd of
! Chinese town. by the resurrection gate, one
| or people pressing around the IberiaD
! Chapel. where is kept Il miraculous image
| OF the virgin which is venerated
| most sacred relic in Russia. Here are to
he seen people from all parts OF Russia and
| the provinces. Fresh arrivals come to
| pay their deyUtiOns: jostlinC with the Mus
| euyite. who, perhaps. is making his daily
piIgrimage 10 the chapel. Passing by this
! gorgeous shrine, one enters the old Uni
! versity square. every building OF which is
| most elahCrat<iy decorated. From this
| square stretches Tyer street, almost straight
| for three miles. to the Petroffsky palace,
! the summer palace where the cZar will
! 90 upon his arrival on Monday next
The route thus indicated from the pal
ace to the Kremln through the SpaSk!s
gate viii he the via triumphalis'' of Thurs
| day next. Along this street most Of the
temporary embassies of the foreign powers
are located. each vieing with the Others
in brilIiancy. the French embassy easily
taking the palm. Not a building along
these three miles OF route is without decor
alton Venetian masts, brave with colors,
have been placed at short distances along
the pavement on both sides of the street,
| and the whole street seems a moving mass
of color and beauty.
GREAT POPULAR FETE.
Immense preparations are being made
for the popular fete. which is to be held
on the Hodynsky Plain on the 30th. This
large plain is opposite the Petroffsky pal
ace. and has been the scene of the fete
for the people that has always marked
! caronatiOns. Flanked on two SideS by the
exhibition buildings and the race course
il stretches away indefinitely into the cOun
try, 1t was here that Napoleon massed
his troops before marching into the city
OF MOSCOW. Russian troops, drafted here
from the various gaTrisonS for the fes
tivities now occupy large portion of the
PLAIN which resembles n vast camp, and
the life incident TO an encampment of
| 100000 soldier is exhibited in all its
! phases.
Stretching away for more than mile
are the snow white tents of the army corp
| of grenadiers, the guards from st. Peters
| burg, and detachments from various quar-
tiers of the empire. Not all have yet ar
rived, but it is learned before he emperor
arrival there will be in this encampment
including the soldiers on duty at the
various palaces and fortresseS in and abou
! Moscow, eighty-three battaliOnS of in
fantry, thirty squadrons OF cavalry, sever
sothiaS of COssacks, and fourteen bat
teries. OF these vast forces the Crane
Duke Vladimir holds the command. 1t i
on this plain where they are now encampet
that this mighty force will parade befor
the enlpeTor on the last day Of the festivities
June Z.
BurgIarized at Daybreak.