The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-09-17
u.ondon Tit-Bitsl


Moscow is the heart OF Russia and
The Kremlin is the heart of Moscow "
is an old Russian saying. and 1t is 10
the Kremlfn we must go 10 see the
truly oriental opulcnce OF the Russian
imperial house. Few Englishmen have
been privileged 10 gaze on the magnlli-
cent crown Jewels OF the RomanoHs
safely housed in the imperial treas
ury adjoining the great palace OF the
Kremlin. The writer by special per-
mission was recently allowed 10 cx-
anime the priceless treasures-jeweis
without number. wonderful specimens
of the goldsmith's art, gems of fabulous
value, rubies, diamonds, sapphires. efil-
eralds, clustered together in masses OF
most exquisite workmanship.
Lest the incredulOus should smile, 1t
may be stated at the outset that the
Russian state is one of the greatest
economic units on the face of the
earth; that 1t draws an annual net
profit Of $4,000 600 from its forests,
mines and agricultural property; that
1t receives annually eS,0e0.0 900 from its
communities Of ex-serfs; that 1t owns
"A, 900 miles of railway; that the car
is certainly one of the richest men liv-
ing, having an official annual income
of nearly Il 900 900 sterling and pri-
vate annual income of from four 70
five times this amount.
On entering the imperial treasury the
duly accredited visitor is received by
court officials of charming manners
and dignified courtesy, whose grace
and versatility at once reveal Russia's
cultured nobility. The first room con-
tains all kinds Of ancient and modern
weapons, armour for men and horses,
with explanatory notes and dates.
Near by is the gorgeous baldachino I'M
der which the emperor walked at his
coronation. 1t is constructed of ebony
and mOther-of-pearl. covered with vel
vet and cloth OF gold, surmounted by
plumes Of ostrich feathers in three coll
ors-black, white and yellow.
An immense room full of thrones,
each representing a fOrtunel Single
thrones. double thrones, and even
triple ones. Specially quaint is the
double throne made for Ivan and Peter.
with an opening behind, through which
the young mOnarchS could be secretly
advised by their sister Sophia. Here
also Is the throne of Alexis, studded
with 1,22S rubles. SIC diamonds, and
other precious stones; the throne Of
Boris, presented to him by the shah of
Persia. ornamented with hundreds Of
large pearls and turquOis; the magni-
stantinOple by Sophia on her marriage
with Ivan the Great in 1472, and many
others Of imposing design and great
historic associations.
The array of crowns is bewildering
in number and brilliancy. Among the
fifty-tWo titles of the ear of all the
Russias are-czar of Kazan, of Astra-
kan. of Poland of Siberia, of Kherson;
and the crowns of these once separate
Kingdoms now repose in the Russian
treasury.
The crown of the Crimea is a plain
gold circlet-a modest violet among the
sunflowers. The crown Of Vladimir
MOnomachus is of special interest, as
that monarch married the daughter Of
our own King Harold, succeeding to
the throne Of Kieff In 1113. Ii is of rare
gold filigree work on sable, surmounted
by a plain cross set with pearls. 4
topaz. a sapphire and a ruby adorn
the dome. and the lower part is en-