New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-17

q common level OF equality as O race born 10 the
purple. The cathedral walls are Respondent with
God ard covered with trophies OF war-nags.
shields battle-axes and keys Of fortresses; and
icons cleaning with precious stones and gold
keep guard over the stately sleep OF the dead in
this magnificent mausoleum. Not the pictured
MaGonnas and saints alone. bat armed soldiers
VOL protect the emperors in death as in life,
trampne with heavy steps UP and down the
marble pavement.
The chu-ca Is always open. and beggars Ike
70 go IN ard say their prayers there. creeping
close to some imperial tomb. crossing them
selves and Kissing tho white marble, or an icon.
If there be one close at hand. Wcakness and
misery shelter themselves beside these last
seats OF the mighty. Around the tomb OF Alex
andcr II. the victim Of Nlhilism there IS always
a group Of pious worshippers. knceng IN silent
prayer. Sick men touch the sarcophagus
though some healing virtue might come out Of Il.
A strange fascination this Russian Autocracy
exerts over the imagnations and superstitons
of men, Even in death 1t has power TO draw
poverty and disease toward It's own poor dust
and to inspire something akin TO edoration.
Not far from the fortress cathedral and the
little chapel where Peter the Great used 10 say
his prayers is the famous cottage where he lived
when he was overseeing the building OF ST.
Petersburg and ir II is the icon which he carried
IN his battles with Tartars. Poles, Swedes and
Turks. 1t Is sad-featured face Of the Re
deemer framed In gold and diamonds From
dawn until midnight there is procession OF
pious pilgrims through the low, narrow room
where the icon is kept. They buy their tapers
and lighting them, place them before the sacred
picture; and then they repeatedly cross them
selves and touch the pavement with their fore
heads. II is dark place, and the absent
minded tourist must lie careful where he treads.
for the floor is Uttered with shabby bundles of
rags, with hearts beating somewhere inside and
with fingers mechanically dotting of the sign
Of the cross. The chapel was once the bedroom
Of the great Emperor and he also took his meals
there. and probably drank heavily, "a was his
habit and. good mechanic az he was he was NJ
saint but a. brutal savage who ordered hundreds
OF political suspects to be executed under his
sisters window, drove his VIE into a convent
In order TO be free to marry his mistress. and
treacherousy murdered his unhappy son. Alexis.
The mrace-wOrkng icon is accepted as IN
tainted by the crimes Of the sovereign who
crossed himself before II, and the room which
witnessed his drinking bouts has become a sane
tua-y.
ORIENTAL MYSTICISM.
As Peter the Great had his icon 20 help him
ambitious policies, 50 the humhles; Russian has
his gilded picture in place Of honor where he
dwclls. and because one is sure 10 30 there III"
stranger must uncover his head Whenever he
enters house or shop. Only few coperks may
have been paid for the icon. but wherever it is
there is place Of honor T. be rever"uced as
shrine. The diamond woddlng-ring If Alexander
J adorns the icon near his marble sarcol hagus.
and every pictured Redecmer. Madonna or saint
in palace or howell has is sparkling gems cr IFS
thin sheet of godeaf. The poorest church IS a
shrine which cannot be passed without feeling
OF reverence and tapers are ever burning before
the icons The gold and jewels in Russian
churches and mOnasteries are 10 be reCkonrd as
the greatest store q treasure in the modern
world. Holy Russia Is the realm o. religious
shrincs The supreme ambition Of every pious
Russian is to be buried IN some consecrated
ground sanctifed by the presence 81 holy dust "r
by constant services in 1nOr Of patron saint.
Russia is the one country in Europe whose re-
Hgion is deeply tinced with Oriental mysticism
Il not only has ambitious projects for the ex-
pansion Of it's empire southwark but it also Is
in sympathetic touch with the religious l!fe Of
the unchanging East OF fanaticism ana super
stltion |; has that Instructive reverence for
holy places and shrines which once inspired the
arlor and proves Of the Western crusaders.
No other nation is so deeply concerned in the ul-
innate fate Of Jerusalem, Bethlehem and The
historic shrines Of Christianity. Holy Russia
coveted the possession Of these holy places be-
fore the Crnlea. and she cares for them stln.
and Will not readily sign them TO the most
useful Of allies. even France. Constantinop.e
may be the goal Of Imperial ambition. but Jeru-
salem is .he shrine which Greek Christianity VIII
never willingly surrender TO a rival church. 1t Is
the jewelled icon Of the future empire
/ n T.