Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-05-11

staircase and paSseu 'iie -
the Great, whose red Vei'el val, a.
studded with golden Russian easie'.
In the gold decorated music ,oUil'
the field marshals' and Araplc MANS,
tho Pompeiian gallery the nan Vi
columns etc, gathered the suites VI
the various grand dukes anu srdiiu
duchesses, the procurator general vi
the HOLY Synod, the members OF the
Holy SYNOD, the generals OF hlgh RANK
admirals. aide de- camps, etc, While the
Immediate suites of the Emperor and
two Expresses remained in the
Romanoff gallery. The LADIES ana
maids Of honor of the courts. arrayed
lin ancient Russian costumes of deep
purple broidered with pearls ana
wearing sugar-loaf headdresses SINH
larly adorned. presented a charming
appearance.
In the concert room a force of veter-
an grenadiers mounted guard before
the insignia of the Emperor's sover-
eighty, the imperial crown, sceptre,
globe, sword standard and seal of the
empire, representing the most valuable
collection of jewels in the world. The
sceptre alone is valued at 100000. 1t
| is surnlounted by the celebrated Orlor
diamond, Of 1855 carats, a mate of the
| Kohinoor. which together formed tn"
eyes of the golden lion before the tenn
| pie of the Grand Mogul at Delhi. The
romantic, bloody history Of these two
| jewels, stolen by Sepoys is well known.
The crown is surInOuntcd by Il cross
of five splendid diamonds, set upon u
priceless ruby, the whole resting on u
golden circle studded with pearls, Civ
ing it the appearance of q mitre and
thus making it emblamatic not only of
sovereign but of supreme authority
over the Russian church. The globe
also is surmountcd by diamond cross
jresting on an immense sapphire.
| shortly before | o'clock, IN obedience
to signals. the guests began to move
toward the great st. Georges hall. Al
each door Of the series of salons stood
two foot soldiers at the Russian pre-
sent arms" while along the walls were
ranged dctachment3 of guard regiments
so that the march of the members OF
IParlia ment to the throne hall was al
most like Il review of the lmperla
Guard. At the entrance of st. Georges
hall was a guard of honor composed 81
veteran palace grenadierS. II of wnon
are survivors of the reign of Emperor
Nicholas l.
II st. Georges hall is an apartment 10
feet long by 60 feet wide and il given
| stately appearance by a double row
: | Of Corinthian columns, while through
its 10 windows today streamcd a floot
| Of brilliant sunshine. III tie centre o
the Marquetry floor stood an altar 81
; which We're burning candles. At tn
: end Of the hall, on Il dais was Z gildet
| throne, in . corner of which was funi
; with studied carelessness the ermin
, mantle of state. Behind the thron
, which was surmounted by canop
3 bearing the mathematical ostricl
( plumes We're the imperial arms worke
( on a great velvet tapestry.
From the gallery, where the journal
r lists We're placed the correspondent "
The Associated Press commanded
r view of the brilliant scene below as
: vista of the endless succession of hall
= through which the human tide advanc
ed. The first to appear were the cour
tiers. generals admirals and uniforme
: ldigntaries of state who drifted forwar
, in haphaZard order, their vari-colore
! uniformse forming a shifting maze G
2 color. They engaged i'll careless con
6 versation while awaiting the advent c
|. the Emperor.