The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-05-11

throne room.
 As the strains of the national hymn played by an orchestra In far-om gallery annvunced the starting or tns imperial procession. three raps or the chamberlafn's slaves on the floor stilled 1 the assemriage into instant silence. The magnificent but to foreign eyes mi-barbaric pagent headed by two masters of ceremonies In gorgeous uni | forms stiff with gold, then appeared. Before them walked two groons and three court heralds with gold tipped wands. Then came a respiendent array or court diEnitaries and officials, the | grand marshal of the court. the lord | high chamberlain, the gentlemen or the l imperial chamber, the master or horse. | the master of the hounds. the master | of the hunt. the lord steward, the hfg n l cup bearer and the high carver. all with their breasts covered with decor ations. their places in the procession l being in inverse order of rank tfoi- lowing them escorted by twelve tall Grenadiers in bearskin shakos, upaer command of two guard officers wIth drawn sabres,. six high dignitaries pore l the emblem of the sovereignty or the house of Rolnanoff, the seal ot the Emperor, the imperial standa S1 tne e blade borne point up; the orp ana
 sceptre and the glittering impeEiai
 crown in the order named
 Enter the Cxar.
 Half a dozen paces in the rear the Emperor. walking alone advanced easi- Iy holding himself erect and eviaen.ry steeling himself for the ceremony form of a colonel of the PreopraJensky regiment of the Guards with n nall length boots and his only decoratiohs were the scarlet ribbon of the Alex ander Nevsky Order and the dlamohH
 star of the St. Andrew OFder. Then came the two E1presses' tnc place of honor being accorded 10 .ho
 Dowager Empress and the other mem
 bers of the imperial family with the exception of the baby heir 10 .ne throne. Grand Duke Alexis Ntcnoia- vietch ard the daughters or the E- a, peror headed by the Grand Duke , M, cbael brother of the Emperor, ioa ,o,ved in their order of succession to the throne. The Empresses were clad In court .ostut,,es the ancient Russian dress composed of a flowing long tralheo robe over a while silk skirt ana Wea ing on their heads the kokoshnik, U high Russian dress emproioeoeo w.t." pearls and diamonds. ,., s,,,, Tn inc train of the imperial family came the matrons of honor ana the courts of the Expresses In the same style of costumes. Behind these Ioi- lowed d long line of the wives ana daughters of the nobiest families or Russia. The Emperor halted in the centre oI the hall and Metropolitan AItonius ad- vanced to meet him and held out the cross which his majesty reverently kissed. Then bending forward the Em peror elasped the hand Of the Metro politan, raised 1t to his lips and Kissed 1t, the Metropolitan returning the sai' utation.
 The Expresses who had in the mean time advanced and taken their places on either side of the Emperor. greeted the sacred emblem and the representa- lives of the church in q similar man ner, after which the bearers of the ins
 signia of State had advanced to the
 steps of the throne, deposited the em- blems of sovereignty and cushions rest ing on the dais on eacl side of the
 throne and the imperial family and courtiers having fallen slightly back. the Emperor and the two Expresses
 were left standing in an isolated group
 during the celebration of the Te Deum, which followed.
 Choir sang Te Deum.
 This long and imposing ceremony was composed of prayers for health and safety of the sovereign and his family and the new legislators, accom- panied by the deep tones of the chant ing of the bishops, priests and deacons, aud the melodious voices of the scarlet robed boys of the celebrated Imperial Choir. All eyes turned on the Elm peror, who bore himself proudly erect, joining in the Te Deum by crossing himself and making frequent responses The Expresses kept their eyes straight to the front during the long religious ceremony. scarcely moving a muscle,
 though the heavins bosom and flushing face of the young Empress showed that she was far from being at ease.
 At the ciose of the Te Deum, the
 clergy retired and the Emperor moved up the hall and ascended the dais on
 the right of the throne. while the Grand Dukes moved forward and occu-
 pied the three lower steps on the same side. The Metropolitan, the Emper-
 or's private chaplain, the members of the Holy Synod, the master of the im- | perial household and the special aide | de-camp took their places at the foot | of the throne to the left, the Emperor himself remaining alone fin the center | Of tbe hall during the transformation. | When all those participating in the
 ceremony had taken their new places | there was slight pause and the Elm peror walked slowly to the dais, as- | Cehueu the tuFOHe, seated nlmSelr In | the imperial chair and an aide de camp
 stepped forward and presented him
 with the draft of his address. His
 Majesty rose and looking upon the | wonderful scene, delivered his message | to the representatives of the Russiaa
 millions.
 The Emperor spoke with a firm | steady voice which was heard distinct-
 ly In every corner of the hall, em- phasizins deliberately every word
 Such hush fell on the assembly dur ing the reading that the snap of .
 camera shutter was sharply audible
 The reading of the speech frofn the throne was not broken by the slightest
 attempt at applause, but the minute
 the Emperor had finished, bowed to the members of parliament and placed his foot on the steap of the dais to descend.
 a long cheer broke forth which
 drowned the strains of the national an. | them, God Save the Emperor" which
 the orchestra in the balcony played
 while the procession departed. The en- 1 thusiasm, however, was principally con- i fined to the courtiers and officers. Many | of the members of the parliament were sullen and silent.
 The assemblage stood motionless un-
 til the last member of the imperial fam l fly had left the hall and then an excit- | ed buzz of discussion broke out as the l legislators and courtiers discussed the
 significant passages of the Emperor's 1 speech, especially the intimation of l the necessity for "order founded on
 justice as well as freedom" to the pros | perity of the State, the recommendation
 that attention be paid to the needs of l he peasants and the absence of an ann | nesty proclamation.