Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-10

impress the Russian masses
While the bells were still ringing the i'm
perial yacht Alexandra with the Imperial
standard at the fore moved majestically
up the river, dipping her flag in answer to
the salutes and cheers from the emperor's
warships lying at the Baltic works. instead
of proceeding to the winter palace the
yacht stopped at the landing stage of the
English quay, below the Nicholas bridge
and in front of the Leuchtenberg palace.
formerly the American embassy, where the
emperor. the empress and the dowager em-
press entered launch and, attended by
launch on each flank. moved on up the
river. The members of the court made the
remainder of the journey to the winter
palace In carriages, escorted by a troop of
Gathering horse guards.
The Emperor's Arrival.
The emperor's arrival was not heralded
by the customary salute of 301 guns, and
for that reason the passage of the river
hardly attracted notice of the thousands
of spectators who were waiting along the
islands in the river.
Without halting at the winter palace the
launches crossed the river and their majes-
ties landed under the grim walls of the
st. Peter and ST. Paul fortess, which they
entered by the imperial water terrace.
Driving hurriedly to the immense cathedral
inside the walls, where repose the remains
of the Romanoffs. There, before the tombs
of the emperor's ancestors, the imperial
family knelt for twenty minutes, made their
devodons and asked for the blessing and
guidance of the Almighty.
AS their majesties after their devottonS,
returned to the terrace and re-entered the
launch. the faint echo of a cheer swept up
the Neva. The imperial launch immedi
ately crossed the river and entered the win
ter palace from the quay entrance. For
the first time since the ceremony of bless
ing the waters, January 10, 1905, when the
emperor escaped death from the charge Of
grape fired from a gun of the saluting bat
terry on the opposite bank of the river, the
emperor and empress were back In the Rus
sian capital.
Vast Hosts on Hand.
A little more than two hours later vast
hosts of military and civil dignitaries be-
gan arriving at the winter palace to listen
TO the emperors message to the representa-
tives of the people.
The palace is an immense, strange, mys-
terious-looking yellowred structure on the
left bank of the Neva- The queer style of
the architecture is accentuated by the un-
calmly statues on the roof line.
To the south is a large, open space. called
the Palace Square, in the center of which
rises granite column. that of Alexander 1.
1t is fianked by the buildings of the general
staff, ministry of finance and the foreign
Office. An immense quadriga crowns the
archway of the main entrance from the
Grand Morskaya.
The scene on the square today was IN
vivid contrast to that OF less than fifteen
months ago. when the troops met with
vollcys the people coming to ask the Little
Father for less than they have now been
granted. Instead of grim soldiers shoot
ing into mob, prancing cavalry with
shining accoutrements, guarded the ap-
proaches. while the square itself was filled
with rank upon rank or the chevaler
guards cuirassiers, hussars, lancers and
other guard regiments each In picturesque
uniforms of red, blue and yellow.
~ nf,n k4l, ~x,I,- NJ
sun, while the polished lance heads formed
thicket of flashing lines overhead. The
emperors picked Cfrcassian cosSacks in
long, flowing crimson kaftaos, sitting high
ON wild steppe horses, gave the highest
note of color to the scene. Behind the
iron grill leading to the courtyard Of the
palace were masSed a squadron OF heavy
dragons and battery OF machine guns.
Brilliant Mazed Troops.
Through this brilliant maze of troops
passed splendid equipages, many Of the
coachmen wearing the red imperial livery,
and bearing invited 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 the emperors presence men
who had come, not by virtue of his invi-
tation. but because they held a mandate
from the people. the rules and traditions
of caste and rank were not otherwise re-
Taxed.
By different entrances and up different
stalrways, into different salons. strictly ac-
cording to rank, the concourse of court
dignitaries. mobiles, foreign representatives,
clergy and military and civil officials ali
in full uniform, gathered to await the sum-
mons from the throne, in the hall or st.
George Through the Jordan door the
members of the lower house of parliament
mounted the Carrera marble staircase to
the spacious Nicholas Hall, overlooking the
Neva, where the great court balls are held
While the members of the council Of the
empire, or upper house, passed through the
regular entrance. That body assembled
In the Hermitage Pavilion.
The ambassadors and other chiefs of
missions mounted the ambassadors stair
case. skirting the dining room, where Alex
ander ii narrowly escaped death as the
result of an explosion in 1880, and passed
the hail of Peter the Great, whose red vel
vet walls are studded with golden Russian
eagles.
Brilliant Array Of Nobility.
In the gold-decorated music room, the
field marshals' and Arabic halls the Pom
peiian gallery, the hall of columns ETC.
gathered the suites of the various grand
dukes and grand duchesses, the procurator
general of the holy synod the members of
the holy synod. the generals of high rank.
admirals, aid-de-camps etc. while the i'm
mediate suites of the emperor and two en-
presses rcmainde in the Romanoff gallery
off the throne room, magnificent apart
ment, ornamented with robanded jasper and
beautiful mosaics representing the temples
of Paestum.
The ladies and maids of honor of the
courts. arrayed in ancient costumes of deep
purple. broidercd with pearls and wearing
sugar-loaf headdresses similarly adorned
presented charming appearance.
In the concert room a force of veteran
grenadiers mounted guard before the in
sigma or the emperor's sovereignty the inn
periaI crown, scepter, globe, sword stan
dard and seal of the empire, representing
the most valuable collection of jewels in
the world. The precious stones blazed like
live Goals. The scepter alone is valued at
81, 100000 1t is surmounted by the cele-
brated 0rloff diamond of 1S5 karats, a mate
of the Kohinoor. which, together formed
the eyes of the golden lion before the tenn
pie OF the grand mogul at Delhi
The romantic, bloody history of these two
jewels. stolen by Sepoys, is well known
The crown is surmounted by a cross form
ed of five diamonds, each worth kings
ransom. set upon priceless ruby, the whole
resting on a golden circle studded with
pearls, giving 1t the appearance OF a miter
and thus making 1t emblematic not only of
sovereignty, but Of supreme authority over
the Russian Church The globe also Is sur
mounted by a diamond cross resting on an
immense sapphire.
Shortly before j o'clock in obedience
Il, h..