Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1896-05-16

the citadel of Moscow, which occupies
the central part of the city, on the
north bank of the Moskva river. 1t is
surrounded by heavy stone walls sur
mounted with towers, and consists of
churches, palaces and public buildings.
Besides the palaces of the car, the
patriarch and the holy synod, the ar
senal with it's S75 cannons abandoned
by Napoleon in 1912, the imperial treas
nry and other offices, the Kremlin con-
tains the famous cathedral of the As
sumption, in which all the czars have
been crowned. This church was built
in the 14th century, and is gorgeously
decorated with porphyry and jasper.
Within Kremlin's walls are also the
cathedral of ST. Michael, in which the
czars preceding Peter the Great are
buried; the tower of Ivan Be1ili, 270
feet high, surmounted with gilded
dome 81 feet high, and containing 30
bells, and the Kololol, the largest bell
in the world, weighing 44S, 900 pounds,
is placed on a pedestal close by. This
great bell was cast in its present form
il, 1873, but four years later, owing to
a flaw or a fall, a large piece was broken
from the side. The rings on it's summit
are surmounted by a large ball and
cross. Its total height is &c 1-3 feet.
it's base circumference 67 feet IL inches,
and its greatest thickness two feet.
The walls surrounding the Kremlin
date from 1892, but the great palace is
a creation of modern architecture, it's
predecessors having frequently been
burned, the last one by the soldiers of
Napoleon. Among the notable features
of the new structure are the hall of st.
George, Alexander hall, the hall of ST.
Andrew and the throne room, all splen-
1v Will int inc lTpf1 1rf,
and other works of art, all 6s feet wide,
ranging from 100 to 200 feet in length,
and from So to 6S feet IN height. Sew
eral of the imperial chapels are also
noteworthy, well as the red stair
case The cathedral of the Assump-
ton was founded in 1926 and rebuilt in
the next century. 1t is small in size, but
as an example of the old Russian style
and for gorgeousness there is no more
interesting building Russia. Its
domes are supported by four great cylin-
drical pillars which are covered with
bands of frescoes on gold ground.
The coronation festivities will begin
MAY Is and continue without interrupt
ton till June Z, but the coronation
proper will occur May 20. The cere-
mony, it is stated by reliable authori
ties, will resemble in every detail that
of 1855, when the present cars father
was crowned. The car and the czarina
so says this authority, will start from
the famous red stairway" in the i'm
perial palace. accompanied by their
suites, and will proceed to the steps OF
the cathedral of the Assumption over a
rich carpet blessed with holy water
Above their heads sixteen grandees OF
the empire will hold canopy of cloth
of gold, embroidered with the imperial
arms and decorated with rare ostrich
plumes in yellow, black and white, the
national colors. The route, on each side
will be lined with soldiers of the highest
rank, most of them of noble birth.
At the door of the cathedral the i'm
perial train will be received by an array
of gorgeously-robed priests, and ITS
members will be seated, according x
their rank. by the master of ceremonies
Then the big bell on the tower of IvaI
Belil<i will ring, announcing to the
world the entrance of the car anG
his spouse. Making his way to the coro
nation stage, the car will stand facing
the beautiful altar, and the imperia
pair Will be met by the patriarch D
the Russian church. the metropolitan
of Moscow, who viii request him t.