The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-08-13

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"A son and heir to the Russian throne
has been born. The empress and the
child are doing well. The accouche.
mont occurred at 1890 o'clock thIs
afternoon.
The child VIII be chrIstened Alexis
The birth 10 greatly wished for. that
of an heir to the Russian crown. oc-
CURED not In the great palace al
Peterhof but In the Alexandra villa
one Of a group Of four small palaces d
secluded corner Of the magnificent
Peterhof park. In one Of these build
ings the empress had been living for
weeks. The other three are occupied
by members OF the imperial family
gathered there IN expectation Of today's
event. including the empress mother
his majesty's two sisters. the Grand
Duchess Xenia and Olga his brother,
Grand Duke Michael, and other rela-
tiyes.
The Alexandra villa Is a much more
private spot than the grand palace. The
wafm. brown tinted buildings. In the
center Of which rises tall square
watch tower. are set in thick forest
OF oaks, blrches and lIndens, hiding
them from view. except toward the
gulf of cAnland, whose waters almost
70 ~ founaalien of the nearest
shoreward building. From shis section
OF the park the public had been ex-
cluded for days past, while short mile
down the coast children romped and
shouted under the deserted windows OF
the big Peterhof palace. and crowds
Or visitors gathered each afternoon to
watch the marvellous fountains. second
only IN all Europe to those OF ver-
sailles.
The birth of the heir to the throne
was attended with all the ceremonial
ordained by imperial tradition. In ac-
,ordance with the Russian law, there
we're present besides the emperor.
Baron Fredericks. the master OF cere-
monies, and Prince Dolgorouky, the
grand marshal Of the court, and DR..
aott, the emperors physician Dr.
Iiruch was the surgeon In attendance.
Dr. Rott announced the birth Of the
leir to the imperial family. A formal
will be published in the
)fIicial Messenger.
An imperial salute OF l0l guns was
fired. first from Peterhof,
nd II was then reepated from ali The
Drts around st. Petersburg.
The christening Of the heir win take
lace In fortnight. 1t win be cere-
,ony Of the most elaborate sort. In
ccordance with Russian imperial GUS
,m 1t will be performed in the Inn
erial chapel of the Peterhof palace,
'edlted with being the most magnifi-
INT chapel In Russia.
AT the chapel of Alexandra villa the ,
nperor and the imperial family at
nded te deum. II
The formal announcement will! be !
ade BY the metropolitans OF St.Il
etersburg, Moscow and Kieff, at SOL
nm masses tomorrow. In the various
inistrles this afternoon the ofiicials
ere cOnvoked to hear the announce
ent.
The hearts Of the Russian people are
rely to be more deeply touched by the !,
od fortune of the imperial family :
an by dozen victories or defeats inI
e far east, and the superstitious Rus /
IN character win read in It an auguryI !,
a better time.
st. Seraphim, who was canonized !,
It summer by the emperor at Saraf-
has now become a fayorite patron !,
Int as the birth of the heir is az
buted chiefly to his interposition. !
e emperor viii slgnalize the event
some gracious act, like the remis-
n Of arrearages of taxes and am N
sty and for the next two weeks,
I'll the christening, there win be r
iday and public fetes Of All kinds
There is already revival of the talk
It with the succession to the throne pI