The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-08-25
The Heir to the Russian
Throne Christened.
THE PEOPLE REJOICE
Barbarlc Pomp Characterizes the Ger
emony, and Poor Humanity Bows
Once More Before the Shows
and Idols Its Own Powers
Have Fashioned.
BY the Associated Press.)

st. Petersburg, Aug. PA wave OF
rejoicing and festivity swept over Rus
sia with the rising of the sun on the
christening day of the heir to the RUS
sian throne, eliminating when the TIE
Deum was softly chanted in the beau
tiful little church of the Peterhof
palace, announced that the ceremony
was accomplished ana the news was
heralded to the world without by the
crash of cannon and the Ginning or
innumerable church bells echoing from
the Baltic to the Black Sea, and from
the frontiers of Poland to the confines
Of the Farthest East. Notwithstanding
the momentouS events passing at the
front the whole population turned
gladly for the time being from more
serious considerations to participating
in the day of glittering ceremonial
and pageantry at Peterhof. where the
tiny successor of the Great White
Car received at the hands OF the
church the name of Alexis Nicholae-
witch. from which he is destined to
pass to pass in course of time to the
dignity and responsibility of autocrat
of all the Russians.
St Petersburg awoke to the f1utter
of flags from every house front. Even
the street cars flew pennons, like
those of battleshipS under way ana
the droskys were nearly all decorated
with flags.
Within the royal part of the Peter
holf pralace, from the moment the
cortege issued from the gates of the
Alexandra villa to the instant the
glasses were clinked around the i'm
perial table in the great palace, the
scene was one of magnlflcence anC
brilliancy almost touching the bar
barrie and possible nowhere in the
world save where the West meets the
East in the court of the Little RAIN
er of the Russia's.
over perfect roads. beneath Stately
overhanging trees, the ~processlon
moved through the royal park, beau
tifully composed, slowly changing PIC
ture. perfect to it's smallest detaii. Lt
was headed by the master of the I'M
perial household, his uniform mass
of gold and decoration. He was sur
rounded by a retinue of officials only
a little less brilliant.
The Tiny CynOseure.
The center of interest of course,
was the golden, state carriage, drawn
nv g milk-white horses, with outrld-
ers and walking grooms in which sas
tbe Princess Galatzin, mistress OF the
Tmnress' household. with the imperial
bair AT the door of the coach on one
si5e rode the grand query or the
court. Lieutenant General Hess, poth
sunerblv mounted and uniformed nhe
rIittering equestrian statues. foiloWliis
the coach came an armed escort W. W.
noised lances, of the famous plue
Coccacks of the Don. of Wh1ch the
tabv heir is now Ataman. or conlfnan-
der-in-c chief. Each man ana morse Vi
This picturesque guard was grooill,eu I,
TO perfection, the very loeai oI tli
wild light cavalry or the ITusslt' /. :
Stenpes. The procession passGo
through the palace to the ciiuI1ii'
rrb.sra was another picture IN the
,;tirg rooms. The royal saloons
49, Glled with a most brilliant as
sambIaee. the ladies of the court ali
in sparkling jewels, the ofncer re-
sn1endent in the gorgeous UNIFORM VI
the empire Mingling with the nloue.Il
throno were many persons III qoallie :
on1 curious national costumes, sun :
Of them ante-dating the foulloiLs oi
the Northern caplldl oh
stock at the NeVa.
,1r,, I,n,neror. his face wreahed IN
o;iac and with the DoWager Ell
,ne,s. on his arm. led the PROCESSION H.
rII~yred bv the other members OF the
;n,narial family-the Grano Ouhe e'i.u
H,and Duchess in the order OF neil
Ink the baby bringing UP III .li''
rear the youngest " al. ~
iestv was met at the door OF tne
nh,,rch bv the Metropolitan o. o.'
petersburg, with raised cross bul' ,I
i,ora the emperor retired, as tle
,,,ias of the orthodox church give MN
- ,,laca in the ceremony, IN winch
H. habv was presented by his spifl-
t,ioI narents to the Heavenly Father.
Inside the chapel were assempleu
\, Pobedonostseff, procurator general
of fha Holy synod the members Oh
Tho Holy Synod. the diplomatic CORPS
.,,;tb whom was Ambassador McCor-
,',iclx and imperial guests from every
court in Europe
The christening party gathered at
the iewel-crusted font.
The Royal Baby Yells.
THE baby was carried by Princess
c,aiatzin and the cushion on Whlch
- ,,ras horne was supported by Gen
,.aI Reichter and Prince DolgorouKs,
.;dac-de-camp to the Emperor Inc
a,cors represented an Emperor ana
sp Eronress. two kings. one princess
@ I'D four grand duchesses. The DaDy
stra ,tlae co shrouded in flmN lace. dainty
aanneIs and a purple silk overmantle
roa4 n was almost impossible to DIS
..i,,a,,isb the form that lay so still and
,iet ms as the Metropolitan of st.
patersburg annointed its hands'
tooet and forehead with the nysti-
III boIv oil. compounded for the puf-
$50 in solemn secrecy at the krehliil.
bit when the moment came to COM