Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-06-09
ASSEMBLING OF
RUSSIAN DONNA

DR.. h. j. Dillon describes as follow
in the London Telegraph the momen
tous gathering in the douma, or parlia
ment, at St. Petersburg Of the car an,
his councillors with the peasants wh'
will act as his co-rulers In the govern
ment of the Russian empire:
The members of the council of tn,
empire. mostly elderly gentlemen
drove up in silence, entered the portals
of the imperial hostelry and took theil
places in the Hermitage hall. Long
shaggy bearded peasants. priests, ru
raj teachers and the rank and file OF
the nations representatives were con
Quoted to the Nicholas hall. The other
day for the first time in history peas
ants We're admitted as co-rulers OF the
car to govern the mighty empire, and
one may declare without claiming The
gift of prophecy that their power will
go on increasing until Russia, like Ser
via, has become peasant state.
Sightseers who could catch a glimpse
OF the carriage inmates craned their
necks and strained their eyG- 10 iden-
tify the members OF the new cabinet.
The indolent looking premier. NJ. Co
remykin. was revealed by his lOlling
attitude and outlet whlskers as he lay
back In his carriage. gazing YEARLY.
now through the right now through
the left window. VI. Stishinsky, the
reactionary minister OF agriculture
whose name and presence would ruin
the most liberal cabinet Russia could
get together. appeared for Il moment,
as usual. slightly disdainful. with de-
gree OF exquisite elegance which will
probably not fOrsake him on the day of
Judgment in the valley OF Jehoshaphat.
Entering the Winter palace by a
modest little door near the Hermitage.
l soon found myself In the midst of
military uniforms. The staircases,
rooms, corridors. passages and gardens
all literally bristled with bayoDets, ri
fies and sabers
This unpleasant impression was
somewhat softened by the gorgeous
uniforms. bewitching smiles and cour-
teous demeanOr of the army chiefs.
The throne room. In the gallery of
which the press representatives were
accommodated with places, was still
quite empty AS in most great apart
pal colors in this magnificent room
were white and gold, the white of the
huted marble pillars. the gold of the
balustrades and the vast GiIded electro |
liers An imperial mantle of ermine |
and purple was thrown negligently |
over the seat reserved for the car,
while in front OF the throne. but not In
the center of the hall stood a little |
III RI, srol6
brocade 1t was an improvised altar,
at which monarch and the people were |
TO unite in fervent prayer that their Co |
operation may rebound TO the glory of |
the nation. Very soon considerable |
sprinkling of gold splashed uniforms
and flaming red sashes broke the same
ness of the spectacle. Then came about
seventy little boys attired in Bordeaux
cOlored gowns, all members of the
court choir.
As the minutes passed the great hall
rapidly filed. senators. members OF the
council OF the empire. chamberlains
and other officers entering at first b.
ones and twos and then in continuous
lines. Suddenly three men without
garments-that Is. in common
workman's garb-were seen hobnob-
Ding at the lower end OF the hall. one of
them In q blouse devoid Of starched
collar. and all three looking utterly out
# keeping with the place and with the
visitors But not for long.
A few minutes later others followed,
and yet others. many neatly dressed,
several untidy, a few in very slOvenly
"a shion Then the peasants dropped
N slowly and circumspectly. with a
ook of surprise in some cases border
ng upon awe Among them were long
haired priests and a dignified Polish
1relate of the Roman Catholic church.
ittired in purple, and some other pas
ors of the same faith in long black
'outanes.
Ten bishops. literally swathed in
leavy gold brocade. looking like great
Russian or Byzantine icons galvanized
nto life. passed into the throne room,
md six wax candles on the temporary
Iltar were lighted just as Count White,
owering above his colleagues, took his
,laoe I'm the hall. T.;
Il was a quarter to . when the bish- /
tps, stIffened with gold, turned awk- i
vardly toward the door at the end of I
he room opposite the throne, antici- &
'ating the arrival of the car. {
The commoners on the left hand side t
+ the throne closed up all the spaces [
'etwcen individuals. cOalescing into s
ne black mass. the white sheepskin
unics of the Polish peasants and the
urple robes of the Polish prelate be- {
ng swallowed up in the somber hue I
f frock coats The Russian mujiks. in
heir long tunics and high and often i
vii smelling boots. moved forward to- I
Yard the passage down the middle OF
be hall, eager to get glimpse of the
little father I
Gorgeousiy dressed courtiers. bearing e
ach an imperial eagle. followed by
theirs reverently carrying the sword Of e
tate and other regalia, and finally the
nperial standard, glittering with sill b
er and gold. ushered In a magnificent {
pectacle of life, color. beauty and 8
race such as rarely falls to the lot Of q
resale citizens of the present times TO q