St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-07-03
THE CARS CORONATION.
The Great Event Described bya Russian Lady
Who Was an Eye Witness to the Ceremonies.
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Inc great eVeDt, auoul WHICH 81
much has been said and written, and
for which the preparations began
almost a year ago, has just taken
place, and is rapidly becoming a
thing OF the past. Nicolai ii and
Alexandra Fedorovna, his wife, have
been crowned in Moscow according
to the old custom of Russian emper-
ors. This was the most magnificent
coronation of any that has ever
taken place.
The people of Moscow felt that
they knew their young Emperor
very little, that they had had no
chance OF showing him their loyalty.
His father, Alexander III, had visited
Moscow several times while heir to
throne. His marriage to the Danish
princess Dagmar had been celebrated
with great pomp, and as bride and
bridegroom they made their entry
into Moscow, which was followed
by balls and festivities OF all kinds.
Then came the coronation in 1888,
with great display again. Nicolai
Alexandrovich kept himself very
much in the background during his
fathers life. His ascension to the
throne was not made thing of re-
joicing; everyone was too deeply
shocked by the sad death of his
father. His marriage, which in ac-
cordance with his fathers wish, was
celebrated almost Immediately after,
was a very quiet ceremony. The
young Car made a very favorable
impression by giving orders, that as
soon as those connected with the
ceremony were in the church, the
doors should be thrown open to all
who wished to witness it. He wants
his people to feel that they can at all
times come to him, and he likes to
have them take part and be present
in all that concerns him. Owing to
these circumstances, the people felt
that they must this time make I'D to
him for lost opportunities, and they
gave him reception that has proba-
bly, never been equalled. The twenty
days of his stay in Moscow were full
OF historic events, of ceremonies of
church and state. Every hour of
each day was planned and marked
out for the young emperor and his
charming bride. The imperial train,
a marvel of comfort and luxury, ar
rived in Moscow in pouring rain.
And yet the station, the square in
front of it and all the road from the
station to Petroffsky Palace,
country palace about three miles
outside of Moscow, were crowded
with eager people, awaiting their
Gar and Czaricza. Many had gone
along the railroad track and stood |
there waiting to see the imperial
train pass. The Emperor and EN-
press were cheered by crowds for
several miles before entering the
Moscow station.
A touching friendship exists be-
tween the young couple and the
Cars sister Xenia and her husband.
Each couple has baby girl. They
all live in the same palace in st.
Petersburg and they Travelled to
Moscow together. In the Petrofsky
Palace the Imperial family remained
until May 9th (21st), the day of the
entry into Moscow. The entry was
the first great ceremony. 1t was
pronounced by everyone to be the
most gorgeous cortege ever witness,
ed. 1t took the procession over an
hour to pass given point. The
display of uniforms and horses was
The police master and
twelve mounted gems d'armes opened
the procession. Next came the
Emperor's life-guard, consisting of
one hundred Cossacks in scarlet uni
form, on horseback-one of the most
sights of all. Then came
the representatives of all Asiatic
tribes in Russia and her dependencies.
The contrast of these faces and cos
tunes with the others was very
Some Of them wore what
seemed to be bright colored dressing
gowns Of rich material and turbans,
and it seemed as if they ought to be
sitting cross-legged on low divans
instead of on horseback. Then came
representatives of nobility, court
1ignitaries of all kinds, deputies from
other Cossack tribes, all on horse
back. Sixty court lackays in full
livery and four court negroes walked
behind these. Coaches of gold bore
and dignitaries of all kinds.
\ squadron of her Majesty's regi-
nent followed and then as No, 20