The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-05-15

single hitch, and with only a minor
incident f mar the memorable day,
the Russian parliament was inaugu-
rated today. The weather was superb.
and the stage management of the i'm
pressiVe ceremony at the winter palace,
when Emperor Nicholas, %surrouded by
cOurtiers and all the pomp and pano-
ly of power, delivered the speech from
the throne to the members of the two
houses, was perfect. Such a spectacle,
perhaps, never before has been wit
messed on the earth's stage.
The message in reality was less a
throne speech thar a greeting, and re-
quired only three minutes for de,iv-
cry. Upon entering the chamber the
emperor halted in the center of the
hall, n the metropolitan antonius ad-
vanced to meet him and held out the
cross, which his majesty reverentl,y
kissed. Then bending forward the EN-.
perOr claSped the hands of the metro
pol1tan, raised it t. his lips and kissed
it, the metropolitan returning the salu-
tatiOn.
The expresses, who had in the
meantime advanced and taken their
places on either side of the emperor.
greeted the sacred emblem, and the
representative of the church in a SINH
lar manne The emperor was dressed
in the simple blue uniform of a colonel
of the Preobrajensky regiment of the
guards, with half length boots, and his
only decorations were the scarlet rib
bon of the Alexander Nevsky Order
across his breast, and the diamond
star Of the st. Andrew order.
The expresses were clad in court
costume, the ancient Russian dress,
composed of a flowing, long trained
robe over a white silk skirt, and wear
ing on their heads the K~ohoshnik, or
high Russian head dress, embroidered
with pearls and diamonds. The train
of the dowager empress was white and
heavily edged with dark fur, as a token
of her widOwhoOd. That of the IN
press was embroidered with gold. The
empress wore diamonds and the dow
ager empress pearls.
All eyes turned on the emperor b
bore himself proudly erect, joining in
the tie deum by crossing himself n
making frequent responses. The en-
presses kept their eyes straight to the
front during the long religious cer2-
mOny, glancing neither at the members
Of the parliament on their --1n- 10"
at the cOurtierS on their left, scarcely
moving a muscle, though the heaving
bosom and flushed face of the young
empress showed that she was far from
being at ease.
At the closing of the te deum the
clergy retired, chanting, towards the
palace chapel, and the expresses 0
ed up the hall and assembled 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 emperors
private chaplain, the members Of the
holy synod, the master of the imperial
household, and the special aid de camp,
took their places at the foot of the
throne, to the left, the emperor him.
self remaining alone in the center OF
the hall during the transformation.
When all those participating in the
ceremony had taken their new places,
there was a slight pause, and then
the emperor walked slowly twenty
PAGES to the dais, assembled the throne,
seated himself in the imperial chair,
and an aide de camp stepped forward
and presented him with the draft Of
his address.
His majesty rose and looked dow
upon the wonderful scene, delivered his
message to the Russian millions.
The emperor spoke with a firm,
steady voice, which was heard dis
tinctly in every corner OF the hall, en-
phasizing deliberately every word.
Such a hush fell on the assembly dur
ing the reading that the snap of CAM
era shutters was sharply audible.
The emperorrs speech was as fol-
lows:
1.-The Supreme Providence which
gave me the care of our fatherland
moved me to call to my assistance in
legislative work elected representa-
tives of the people. In the expectation
of a brilliant future for Russia I greet
in your persons the best men from the
empire, whom / ordered my believed