Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-08-24

St Petersburg, Aug 24-The christ lening of the heir to the Russian Ithrone occurred this morning at the Echurch of the Peterhof palace with Imposing ceremony. A procession of Egilded coaches accompanied the in liant prince from the Alexandra v1l- fla to the church. After the metro ipolitan of St Petersburg had admins tered the sacrament to the heir the lemperor invested the latter with the Insignia with the order of St Andrew. Immediately thereafter the ringing of lchurch bells and the firing of sa- flute of 101 guns announced the com kpletion of the ceremony.
 Both Peterhof and St Petersburg Eare Iayishly decorated. There will be Examinations tonight The empress left her bed yesterday for the first time since the birth of her son. Both she and the infant are in excellent health The heir weighs about ten and one-half pounds.
 The manifesto isued by the czar ion the occasion of the christening of Itie heir to the throne, is introduced lby the following message to the peo- lple:
 By the will of God, the czar and autocrat of all the Russias, czar of
  announce to our faithful subjects that on this, the day of the christen- ing of our son and heir, the grand duke, Alexis Nicholaevitch, following the promptings of our heart, we turn to our great family of the empire and with the deepest and most heartfelt pleasure, even amidst these times of national struggle and difficulty, be- stow upon them some gifts of our royal favor for their greater enjoy ment in their daily lives"
 The various benefits bestowed on many classes are then enumerated at length. One of the most important provisions relates to the entire aboli- tion of corporal punishment among the rural classes and its curtatlment in the army and the navy.
 The manifesto remits land purchase arrears, which affects one of the larg- test classes of the population through out the empire, and it's benefits are also extended to estates in Poland.
 The general provisions of the man ifesto include an all around reduction Hn sentences for common law offences, Ia general amnesty for political of lenses. except in cases of murder. and the education of the children of of ficers and soldiers who have been vic-s fims of the war, as well as assistance for such families as need it whose breadwiners have fallen in the ser vice of their country. The sum of S1. 900 is set apart from the state fund for the benefit of landless peo- pie of Finland.
 All fines imposed on villages towns or communes of Finland Tor failure to elect representatives or to serve on the military recruiting board during the years 1902 and 1903 are remitted Permission is granted to Films who have left their country without the sanction of the authori- ties to return within year. Those returning who are liable to military service must immediately present themselves for service, but Films who have evaded military service will not be punished provided they pre- sent themselves within three months of the birth of the heir to the throne. Certain classes of offenses, excluding theft. violent robbery and embezzle- ment. are pardoned, and the governor general of Finland is directed to con- lsider what steps can be taken to al- leviate the lot of those forbidden to reside in Finland.
 Fines imposed upon the Jewish communes in the cases of Jews avoiding military service are Eenlit7 ted Persons arrested for offenses gun ishable by fines, Imprisonment or con- finement in fortress without loss of civil rights and who were still await ing sentence at the time of the birth of the heir of the throne, are pardon ed. Political prisoners who have distinguished themselves by good conduct may on the interposition of the minister of justice obtain the res fftution of their civil fights at the eX- piration of their sentences
 Persons guilty of political offenses committed within tie last fifteen wears who have remained unidenti- fed will no longer be subject to pros ecution. while political offenders who are now fugitives abroad may apply to the minister of the interior for permission to rteurn to Russia.
 The manifesto concludes: "Gsven at Peterhof on this eleventh day of August, 1904.
 (Signed "NlCHOLAs'