Birmingham state herald., 1896-02-09

MT. E. Lesser, president of the Bir mingham Carnival society, is in receipt of the following cable from St. Peters burg:
 St. Petersburg, Russia, Feb. 8, 1896.
 The bells rang, the cannon boomed and the military saluted when his majesty Rex Vulcan I, stepped off his special train, decorated with the Grand Star of the Prince of Naples, conferred upon him by King Humbert I, and was re- ceived by the cZar, Nicholas II, and his retnue, including his imperial house. hold, all foreign diplomats and the high est officers of the military and navy. The meeting between the two sovereigns was most cordial. The king and czar imme- diately seated themselves among costly furs in the royal sleigh, drawn by six beautiful horses They, surrounded by mounted Cossacks, first took a ride through the city, which was en fete, the colors of Rex Vulcan I predominating everywhere in the decoration. The royal sleigh was followed by many high digni- taries in over 100 other sleighs. Upon their return the king lunched with the czar en famille.
 In the afternoon his majesty. accom- panied by the czar, the cZarina, the Grand Duke of Vladmar and the Grand Duke of Sergius, visited the grand ice- skating tournament arranged for the benefit of his majesty on the Neva. This was a most beautiful sight, 10000 of the most expert skaters of the czar's realm in the handsomest costumes of all na- tions being assembled there. The spec tacle being the first one of the kind evel visited by the king, was very much en- joyed-so much so that his majesty gave instructions to his grand keeper of the treasury to arrange for a similar enter tainment upon his return to Africa.
 But his majesty was to be more sur prised yet, for a grand state banquet had been arranged at the ice palace es- pecially constructed in his honor on the Neva This magnificent palace was 1000 feet long by 800 feet wide, with numerous turrets and was illuminated inside and out, land scintillated like millions of dia- monhs The banqueting hall was partic- ulariy Iavishly decorated, and the floors were covered with the most costly furs The cZar who was seated on the right of King Vulcan I, during the evening proposed toast in his honor, which was drunk standing.
 To the American ambassador, MT. c. R. Breckenridge, Rex Vulcan I expressed himself as being very anxious to get to America, as he has promised to visit his subjects at Birmingham on the 18th, and does not wish to disappofnt them.
 After the grand banquet the entire par ty proceeded to the czars, winter palace, where a bazaar Is now in progress under the patronage of the czarina. Rex Vul- can contributed 100. 900 rubles to the ba- zaar, and in addition thereto gave many costly anu Dedutilui pTeSentS WHICH ne had brought from Africa for that pur- pose, which donation will command fabu- lous prices at the sale.
 His majesty stopped at the winter pal ace. and this morning conferred upon the czar the Grand Star of Kongo, set in bril- liants: upon the czarina the grand pearl sash of Zanszibar, upon the young prin- cess the diamond of the Sparkling Sea of Saffola and upon the American ambassa- dor the Grand Eagle of Salaam, and the czar reciprocated by conferring upon Rex Vulcan I the Grand Golden Eagle of the Romanoffs. 5s..s.
 His majesty left this morning on a spe- cial train for Riga. where his private yacht Magic City. and his six men-of- war have been awaiting him, He em-