The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1906-05-11
CAR GIVES
HIS PLEDGE
st Petersburg a Scene Un-
equaled.
PAGEANT AT DOUMA
Emperor Nicholas Said, 81 Shall
KeepInviOIate the institutions
Which | Have Granted.

ST PETERSBURG, May 1.-The
stage management of The impressive
ceremony at the Winter palace when
Emperor Nicholas opened the douma
surrounded 10y courtiers and all the
pomp aud panoply Of power and deliy-
cred the speech from the throne to the
members of the two houses was per
feet. Such a spectacle perhaps never
before has been witnessed on the
earth's stage.
Ambassador Meyer was accorded a
rousing reception from the crowd MS
he arrived IN front of the rauride gar
den as the house assembled. When he
drove up there was tremendous cheer
ing for the representative Of free
America The people wanted TO take
ont the horses and draw the ambassa
doris carriage with their hands. but
this he would not permit
The actual opening OF the house was
delayed by IN elaborate religious serv-
ice.
A magnificent but to foreign eyes
semibarbaric pageant headed by two
masters of ceremonies in gorgeous uni
FERNS stir with gold then appeared.
These officials had sparkling orders
across their breasts, one displaying the
scarlet ribbon of the Alexander New.
sky Order and the other the blue rib
bon of7 the st. Andrew Order These
officials bore the golden keys OF Office
on their hips. Before them walked two
grooms and three court heralds with
gold tipped wands Then like pha-
lsnx came Respondent array Of court
dignltaries aud officials the grand
marshal Of the court, the lord high
chamberlain. the gentlemen of the inn
peria bedchamber, the master of the
horse. the master OF the hounds, the
master OF the hunt, the lord steward,
the high cup bearer and the high
I carver all with their breasts covered
with decorations, their places In the
procession being in inverse order Of
rank
1 Following them, escorted by twelve
| tall grenadiers in beaisltin shakos UNI
| der command OF two guard officers,
/ with drawn ssbers. six high dignu-
ries bore the emblem of the sovereign
/ ty Of the house of Romanotf, the seal
OF the empire, the imperial standard,
the sword Of state, with its long.
straight blade borne point up; the orb
aud sceptsr and the glittering impe-
rial crown in the order named.
Half dozen PAGES in the rear the
emperor, walking alone. advanced cas-
lily, holding himself erect and evident
ly steeing himself for the ceremony.
He was dressed in a simple blue uni
form OF colonel of the Preobraiensky
regiment of the guards, with half
length boots. aud his only decorations
were the scarlet ribbon of the AleXan.
der NevSky order across his breast and
the diamond star of the St Andrew
Order. He carried his military cap in
his left hand
At an interval of two PAGES came
Baron Fredericks and two special
aids de-c0np and then the two en-
presses, the place of honor being ac
corded TO the dowager empress, and
the other members of the imperial
family, with the exception of the baby
heir 10 the throne. Grand Duke Alexis
Nicolaevitch, and the daughters Of the
emperor, headed by the Grand Duke
Of foIlAtrnl
in their order Of succession to the
throne.
The expresses were clad in court
costume, the ancient Russian dress
composed of a flowing, long traineC
robe over a white silk skirt and wear
Ing on their heads the kokoshnik OF
high Russian headdress, embroidereC
with pearls and diamonds The train
of the dowager empress was white an(
heavily edged with dark fur as a tokeI
of her widowhood That of the EN-
press was embroidered with gold TIT
young empress wore diamonds aud thu
dowager empress pearls,
The emperor spoke with a firm
steady voice which was heard distinct
" in every corner of the hall. empha
sizing deliberately every word. Sucl
/, Il hush fell on the assembly during TN
reading that the snap of II camera shut
ter was sharply audible The empero
said
"The supreme Providence which gay
: me the care OF our fatherland move
me to call to my assistance in legisla
tive work elected representatives q
: the people. In the expectation of
brilliant future for Russia ! greet /
your persons the best men from I'll
i, empire. whom | ordered my believe
subjects to choose from among then
i selves
"A difficult work lies before you.
trust that love for your fatherland an
your earnest desire TO serve it VIII j
spire aud unite you.
), Il shall keep lnviolate the institution
+ which have granted, with the firm Il
s surance that you will devote all yoi
e strength to the services of your cou
try. aud especially TO the needs of Il
peasantry. which are so close to n
heart, and to the education of the pc
" pie and their economical welfare, +
memberlng that to the dignity al
prosperity Of the state not only FIRE
"a dom, but order founded upon iustiC
are necessary.
II desire from my heart to see Il
people happy and hand down 70 my 5!