Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-05-10

ace the yacht stopped at the landing } stage of the English quay, below tho
 Nicholas bridge and in front of the
 Leuchtenberg palace. formerly the
 American embassy, where the em-
 peror, the empress and the dowager
 empress entered a launch and, at
 tended by launch on each flank,
 moved on up the river. The nem-
 bers of the court made the remainder
 of the Journey to the winter palace 1 in carriages, escorted by troop of
 horse guards.
 l The emperor's arrival was not her
 aided by the customary salute of 30I
 guns, and for that reason the passage
 of the river hardly attracted the no-
 tice of the thousands ot spectators
 who were waiting along the islands
 in the river.
 ! Without halting at the winter pal
 ace the launches crossed the river
 and their majesties landed under the l grim walls of the St Peter and Sc
 Paul fortress, which they entered by
 the imperial water terrace, driving
 hurriedly to the immense cathedral
 inside the walls, where repose the
 bodies of the Romanoffs There, be- fore the tombs of his majesty's an
 cestors, the imperial family knelt for
 twenty minutes, made their devo-
 tions and asked for the blessing and guidance of the Almighty. As thelr | majesties, after their devotions, re- turned to the terrace and re-entered the launch, the faint echo of cheer
 swept up the Neva. The imperial launch immediately crossed the rigsr. and entered the winter palace from the quay entrance. For the first time since the ceremony of blessing
 the waters, January 19. 1905, wien the emperor escaped death from he charge of grape fired from a gun of the saluting battery on the opposite
 bank of the river, their majesties
 were back in the Russian capital. A little more than two hours later vast hosts of military and civil dig nitaries began arriving at the win ter palace to listen to the emperor's message to the representatives of 'he people.
 The palace is an immense, strange,
 mysterious looking yellow-red struc- ture on the left bank of the Neva. To the south is a large. open space called the Palace square, in the cen ter of which rises a granite column, that of Alexander I. It is fianked by buildings of the general stan, minis try of finance and the foreign office. An immense quadriga crowns tho archway of the main entrance from the Grand Morskaya.
 The scene on the square to-day ,,,cc ,y;J oDp trocf tn fhof nf tocc than fifteen months ago, when the troops met with yolleys the people coming to ask the Little Father for less than they have now been grant ed. Instead of soldiers shooting into a mob, prancing cavalry guarded the approaches, while the square itself was filled with rank upon rank of the chevalier guards, cuirassiel's, hussars, lancers and other guard regiments, each in picturesque uni- forms of red, blue and yellow. Their helmets and cuirasses shone in the | sun, while the polished lance heads | formed a thicket of flashing lines | overhead The emperor's picked | Circassian cossacks, In long. flowing | crimson kaftans. sitting high on l wild, steppe horses, gave the highest | note of color to the scene. Behind the iron grill leading to the court yard of the palace were massed squadron of heavy dragons and a battery of machine guns.
 Through this brilliant maze of troops passed splendid equipages. many of the coachmen wearing the red imperial livery and bearing in vited guests swiftly to the various entrances to which they had been assigned. Although the bars of what had hitherto been the most exclusive court in Europe were lowered for the first time to admit to his maj esty's presence men who had come not by virtue of his invitation but because they held mandate from the people, the rules and traditions of caste and rank were not other wise relaxed. By different entrances and into different salons, strictly ac- court dignitaries. nobles. foreign clergy and military and civil officials. all in full uni form, gathered to await the sum- mons from the throne. in the hall of St George. Through the Jordan ioor the members of the lower house ,f parliament mounted the marble 1 to the spacious Nicholas !, nall. while the members of the coun- ( ,il of the empire. or upper house, passed through the regular entrance. That body assembled in the Her ( nitage pavilion. The ambassadors md other chiefs of missions mounted , he ambassadors staircase and pass d the hall of Peter the Great, whose red velvet walls are studded with golden Russian eagles.
 In the gold decorated music room. he field marshals. and Arabic halls, he Pompeian gallery. the Hall of Columns. etc. gathered the suites of he various grand dukes and grand uchesses. the procurator general of he Holy Synod. the members of Holy ! 'ynod. the generals of high rank, ad- nirals. aide de camps. etc: while the suites of the emperor and wo expresses remained in the Ro- lanof gallery. The ladies and iaids of honor of the courts. arrayed a ancient Russian costumes of deep urple. broidered with pearls and ( rearing sugar-loaf head dresses . Imilarly adorned. presented C harming appearance. n
 In the concert room force of vet n ran grenadiers mounted guard be- {, ore the insignia of the emperor's A 'vereignty. the imperial crown. A 'eptre. globe. sword. standard and h. .sl Of the empire. representing the Iost valuable collection of jewels in