The evening times., 1899-04-03
GREETED BY THE CzAR.
Magnificent Ceremonies Attending
Ambassador Towers Reception.


Ambassadors Towers Reception.
New York. April "a ST. Petersburg
letter received in this city, dated March
20, gives the following description of the
reception by the Czar OF Charlemagns
Tower, the recently appointed American
Ambassador to Russia:
Charlemagne Tower, late Minister 10
Austria Hungary, recently promoted 10
succeed Ethan Allen Hitchcock as Ambas-
sador Extraordinary and Minister Pienipo-
tentiary to Russia, arrived in st. T, ters-
burg on March l6, and was met at the sta
ton by the charge d'affaires, MIR. Pierce;
Secretary Hagerman. Consul General Hol-
| ioway and Vice Consul General Heydecker,
who escorted him to the Hotel d'Europe,
where he has taken apartments Until he
can find suitable residence. He was en-
tertained at dinner the same evening by
the Charge dAffaires and Mrs. Fierce,
where he met his official staff.
Yesterday the ambassador was informed
that the Emperor would receive him at 2
O'Clock on Sunday. The Russian Sunday is
Saturday night at the Winter Palace. Tn Z
ceremony attending this presentation is
exceedingly formal, and is regarded very
seriously by the Russian court, by reason
OF the fact that an ambassador from the
United States represents the person of tn :
President OF the United States as we!l as
the people To him are accorded the same
honors as would be bestowed on the ru er
OF great nation and he is surrounded by
more dignity and unusual solemnity and
| there Is more pageantry than at any other
function at this court. which is the most
brilliant and exacting in Europe
| Al the appointed hour three court car
! riages appeared before the ambassador s
! residence, the first being drawn by four
| coal-black stations. the second by six
! grays, and the third by four bays. These
! were followed by an open vehicle called a
| lineas, low platform with seats that re-
semb!e two sofas with their backs together,
/ after the style of an Irish jaunting-car
with seat for the driver. and handsomely
upholstered, and intended TO hold twelve
| or fourteen persons. These cars were pop
ular in the time of Peter the Great. The
! carriages are elaborately finished with gold
mountings. the imperial arms showing on
! the doors, the skirts On the drivers seat
! being full and of the brightest of red, trim
med with three rows OF yellow braid cover
ed with double headed black eagles. The
| Russian seal, embroidered in gold thread
| appears on the sides, and there are c
| springs, like the oid-fashioned stage coach
1
! two stalwart footmen in the imperial iy-
cry stand. This livery consists of long
| red coat, with heavy cape trimmed with
! three rows of the yellow braid stamped
| with the black e-headed eagle of Rus
| sia. top boots, and Napoleonic chapeau
| covered with gold lace and a cockade
A groom rode the left leader of each team
while a driver held the reins over the
| rear horses. all being dressed in court
/ hos ar'- .,.ac
! escorted by twelve Cossacks in full uni
| form mounted on gray horses.
! The first carriage contained two officers
| Of the court in full dress. The ambassa-
dor rode in the second carriage. which had
! been made in Paris by order of the French
| government for the ues of their special
representative at the coronation of the
present Emperor. Nicholas III, in Moscow.
/ in 1895. The Emperor and Empress We're
! so much pleased with il that they induced
| the French government 10 sell it to them.
| The third carriage contained First Secre-
! tary Pierce and Second Secretary Hager-
man, while the lineas. which was filled
with police officials, brought up the rear.
! The procession. headed by a squadron of
/ Cossacks, left the Hotel d'Europe at ,
o'clock. and passed down the Neyski Pros
! pect. St Petersburgs principal Street,
| with great dignity. All the horses in the
I PEtICSSitu were OElOh SldlliOHS. lHetI
| heavy tails extending to within few
inches of the ground and their flowing
! names waving in the stronge breeze that
came from the Neya River. The strong
contrast in color as presented by the black
| white. gray. and bay horses, in their gaudy
! and elaborately Ornamented harness; the
scarlet livery of the grooms and drivers,
| with Cossacks and mounted officers in full
uniform. presented a magnificent spectacle
fs,.l,r
one grateful to the eyes of the Russians.
who are adopts in the art of producing
scenes OF Oriental splendor.
The procession duly arrived at the Winter
| Palace. which is situated on the left bank
of the Neva River, and is by far the larg-
est and finest in Europe. and was driven
into the court and the guests received n:
the door by high court official. The am
bassador and his suite were escorted up
the ambassadors private stairway. being
met at the landing by additional court
officials and escorted to a large saloon
! where they were taken in charge by addi-
tiopal officers of the court, and awaited
the summons Of the Emperor. After few
moments conversation with high officials
! the ambassador was taken to the throne
| room. where he was presented to the En-
peror, received a cordial greeting, and
| spent some time in conversation with his
iAlptiiii hdJtslS. lUeSe eTSdtlODS are
very informal. and such as usually pass
| between gentlemen when introduced re-
lating to matters of no general interest tc
the public.
This ceremony ended. the procession re-
turned to the Hotel d'Europe with as muct
dignity as was maintained in going TO the
| Winter Palace, and was viewed by an I'M
| mense number of people who lined the wide
| streets through which it passed
I.-l,. IL ~
an attractive social side to his character
that has won for him the friendship Of
every person he has met since his arriya
in st. Petersburg. The Americans here ar;
enthusiastic over his cordial manner ant
declare him TO be a worthy successor II
Mr.. Hitchcock.