The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-05-11

Cossecks. in long flowing crimson kaf- taos, sitting high on wild steepe 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 dragoons and battery of machine guns. Through this brilliant maze of troops passed splendid equipages. many of the lcoachmen wearing the red imperial liv- lery and bearing invited guests swift ny to the various entrances to which they had been assigned.
 Although the bars of what had hith- erto been the most exclusive court in Europe were lowered for the first time Ito admit to the Emperor's presence men who had come not by virtue of his
 hvitatiop. but because they held man. date froN mthe people, the rules and Traditions of caste and rank were not
 otherwise relaxed. By different en-
 frances and up. different stairways. in to different saloons, strictly according to rank. the concourse of court digni- tarfes, nobles, foreign representatives, lclergy and military and civil officials all in full uniform, gathered to await
 the summons fro mthe throne in the | hall of St. George. Members of the council of the Empire or upper house | assembled In the Hermitage paviI- ion.
 A Distinguished Company. & Tn the gold decorated music room, the field marshals. the Arabic halls, the pompeian gallery. the hall of columns,
 etc.. gatherer the suites of the various
 grand dukes and grand dunchesses. the
 procurator general of the Holy Synod.
 the members of the Holy Synod, the generals of%hish rank. admirafs. aides
 he dacys, etc, while the immediate suites of the Emperor and two Elm presses remained in the Romanoff gal Iery of the throne room, magnificent apartment ornamented with ribanded tasher and beautiful mosiacs presenting the temples pastum. '
 The ladies and maids of honor of courts, arrayed in ancient costumes of purple, broidered with pearls. and wearing sugarioaf head dresses simi- iariy adorned presented charming appearance.
 In the concert room force of vet
 eran grenadiers mounted before the
 insignia of the Emperor's sovereignty. the imperial crown scentre, globe, sword
 standard and seal of the Empire, rep
 resenting the most valuable collection of jewels in the world. he precious
 stones biaxed like live coals The
 sceptre alone is valued at $I.000,00o 1t
 Is surmounted by the celebrated Or
 loff diamond of 1S5 carats, a mate of
 the Kokinoor, which together formed
 the eyes of the golden lion before the
 temple of the grand moguI at Delhi.
 The romantic, bloody history of these
 two jewels stolen by Sepcys Is well
 known. The crown is surmounted by
 cross formed of five diamonds, eaen
 worth kings ransom, set upon price
 less ruby, the whole resting on a gold
 en circle studded with pearls giving 1t
 the appearance of mitre and thus mak-
 ing it emblematic not only of sover- eighty. but of supreme authority over the Russian church.
 The globe also is surmounted by a
 diamond cross resting an immense sapphire.
 Shortly before o'clock, in obedi- ence to signals, the streams of guests began slowly flowing towards the great St. Georges Hall. At each door of the series of salons stood two foot soldiers at present arms" while along the walls were ranged attachments of guard regiments in picturesque uni forms, so that the march of the mem bers of parliament to the throne hail
 was almost like a review of the im- perial guard.
 At. st. Georges Hall. St. Georges Hall Is an apartment 150
 feet long by sixty feet wide and Is
 given a stately appearance by double
 row of graceful Corinthian columns and marble walls, while through it's forty windows today streamed flood of brilliant sunshine Tn the centre of the marquetry floor stood an altar
 on which were burning candles. At the end of the hall, on dais was a gilded throne. in corner of which wa flung with studied carelessness the ermine mantle of state.
 From the gallery where the jour nalists were placed the correspondent lof the Associated Press commanded a view of the brilliant scene below as ct nf A sion of halls through which the hu- man tide advanced The first to .ap- bear were the courtiers, generals, ad- mirals and uniformed dignitaries of state who drifted forward in haphazard order, their blue. gold. silver. scarlet land purple uniforms forming shift l ing maze of color.
 The entry of the members of parlia-
 ment. over 300 in number, introduced d lstrangely incongruous element in the iglittering assemblege uniformed in igoId lace and sparkling with orders
 Most of the members were in evening dress, but many wore ordinasy frock coats and even short coats and yellow
 shoes. Their ranks were interspersed
 with Moslems in white turbans and kaftans, Tartars in fezes, a Polish
 Catholic bishop in purple robes and lorthodox clergy in sacerdotal attire and
 retired army any navy officers. | Dothan Social Event. Dothan, May 1O.-(SpeciaL )--The last | meeting held by "Die Touentlich Zwelfe" at | the home of Miss Florence on Rose Hill. was | one of the most enjoyable in the history | of the organization. The home was made 1 more ta nordfnarilv attractive by artistic | decorations of roses and ferns. "Tha Jolly | Twelve" meets once a week. The mem bership is confined to twelve persons all though fortunate guests receive invitations
 to it's meetings. The membership consists l O: Misses Alleene Parish. Florence Brown. Berta Faircloth. Alice Watford. Daisy Si- monton Mae Howard Shea, Evelyn Farmer. | Lillian Jordan. Hallie Jordan. Marie Hays, | Ruby Smith and Willie Florence At it's meeting with Miss Florence the l popular game of Nations was played at | five tables. the three most successful players being Mrs Ed. Harmon and Misses Pruitt | and Slater. The prize. box of stationery. | went to Mrs Harmon. Unusually delicious | refreshments were served. The Clubs next | session will be at the home of Miss Berta l Faircloth.
 Most of the members were workmen,
 who disdained western clothing and came in their ordinary costumes, | blouses and high boots. others wearin g
 long skirted coats and gay scarf belts l some white and others red or purple
 with cotton shirts. The peasants and l workmen appeared to be awkward and i'll at ease, but resolution was stamped | on their faces. for it was the first time that men dared appear thus at a state | function of Russian court, where eti-
 auette In the past was so rigorous that l it even compelled American diplomats accredited to St. Petersburg to don a
 uniform.
 | The members of Parliament lined up l Af to