Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-08-26

st. Petersburg, Aug. 24.-From early
Monday morning there has been
scene of great animation here and
steady flow of people to meet Presi-
dent Faure at Cronstadt. Final prep
arations at PeterhOff Palace were
completed Monday morning. The
magnificent park between the palace
and sea is gloriously decorated with
the flags of Russia and France. Con-
trary TO Russian custom the people
were allowed to enter the park and
line the route followed by President
Faure and other high personages. The
scene was rendered more animated by
the fact that among the crowds were
countless men and women wearing tri-
color cockades and thousands of
children waving little French and
Russian flags. Shortly after 9 o'clock
the car emerged from Peterhoff pal
ace, entered a carriage and was driven
to the landing stage. Grouped at the
landing stage were high court dig
nitaries and the Russian minister of
foreign affairs, Count Muravioff; the
French ambassador to Russia, Count
LanOsn de Montebelle; General Bois-
daffere, chief of the French general
staff, who is to replace De Montebelle
at St. Petersburg; and Baron Won
Morenheim, Russian ambassador to
France. The imperial party embarked
on board the Alexandria. Grand Duke
ho h;rrI ol,, Dp
uncle of the car, on board the Hiss
trola, proceeded ahead. Grand Duke
Alexis ran alongside the Pothua, on
board which was the French pres
1dent, and welcomed the latter to
Russia in the name of the car. The
large fleet of pleasure steamers had
by that time assembled and the most
intense enthusiasm WIS manifested
when Grand Duke Alexis and President
Faure left the Pothua and preceded to
the Alexandria. The car awaited the
president at the top of the gangway
and the moment Faure set foot on the
deck of the imperial yacht warm en-
braces were exchanged between the
ear and the president which were the
signal for a storm of cheering and
waving of handkerchiefs and other
marks of popular and enthusiastic de-
light. The sailors who manned the
ship at the same time gave the
regulation cheers for the car and his
guest His majesty then invited the
president to the aft deck of the Alex
andria and offered him cigars. There
upon they both lighted cigars and en-
gagged in a cordial conversation. The
Alexandria soon arrived at the land
ing stage where the high court digni-
taries were grouped to receive the
car and his guest. The French pres
ident was the first to land and the
band of the imperial guard struck up
the "Marseillaise " The czar followed
A procession OF twelve victorias and
four landaus was then formed. The
car and President Faure were seated
I'M the first carriage and the four car
riages that Immediately followed were
occupied by the grand dukes. The
route to the palace was lined with
troops and behind the soldiers were
massed enthusiastic crowds of people
Upon arriving at the palace the car
presented President Faure to the vari-
Gus court officials and then re-enter-
ing the victoria his majesty drove
along to Alexandria palace, the resi-
dence of the czarina. A few minutes
later President Faure emerged from
Peterhof palace accompanied by Gen
eral Bildering and drove to Alexandria
palace in order TO offer homage to the
czarina. A private luncheon at Alex
andria palace followed. During the
afternoon the French president visited
the Russian grand dukes