The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-05-11
Meeting of the New National
Assembly Amid Scenes Of
Semi-Barbaric Splendor.
Speech from the Throne Delivered by
the Emperor in Person---Red Flag
Conspicuously Absent.

St. Petersburg, May 10, 10 a. m.-An
ideal May day like a happy augury
greeted the uprising of the curtain Tor
the new act Of the great historical
drama, Russia's struggle for liberty
Never did the snowy capital of Peter
the Great, present a more brilliant pic
ture than for the Inauguration of the
Russian parliament. lust a suspicion
of haze hung over the gulf, softening
the outlines and giving the scene
touch of fairyland. The city, spread
ing out over the numerous green ISL
ands in the river, seemed swimming in
a flood of light. The broad swift flow
ing Neva. with arms outstretched TO
the sea, and the interlacing canals
were turned to azure by the rejecting
blue of the heavens, while the gold
dOmeS of the churches, the spires OF
the admiralty and the St. Petersburg
and st. Paul fortress, and the shining
nlinarets of the palaces seemed to be
floating above the mass Of yellOd build
ings. Besides, the metropolis was
dressed bride-like, awaiting the coming
of her lord.
Flags FIoated on High.
The yellow imperial standard with the
ter palace, flags by order Of the police
were displayed from every house AMI
streams of multi-colored pennants f1ut-
tered from the yachts and shipping in
the harbor. Even the tiny passenger
boats which thread the rivers and ca
mails, the street cars and many cabs car
ried the Russian colors. The banks,
stores. schools and some of the factor
les were closed in honor OF the coca
sion, but there was no general holiday,
the government spes e - 'ls=--9 is"ctirf.1s-
ing a suspension of work in the indus
trial districts, owing TO fear that
q crowding the workmen into the center
-,of the city might provoke collisions, dis
orders and perhaps blOOdshed.
Awe-Inspirine Scene.
There was something distinctly
awe-inspiring about the day with Wis
ions Of chains falling from another
branch of the human race and the Rus
sian people taking UP the march Of
modern civilization. The representa-
tiVes of the millions and the Russian
emperor were at last face to face, and
the result was to determine the fate Of
the nation and country stretching from
Germany to the Pacific. to the Polar
seas and to the burning sands of central
Asia. Notwithstanding the mutual dis
trust of the government and people,
there was not lacking the hope that the
foundation of a sincere understanding
between the emperor and his subjects
would be laid strong and deep today.
1t was the attitude Of mutual suspicion
which constituted the great Earring note
on this occasion 1t could not be con-
Cealed. 1t was apparent everywhere
The city might have been i'm a state of
siege, so heavy was the array of troops.
City Resembles Camp.
Not only were detachments of infan-
try. cavalry and gendarmes stationed
at strategic points. but large reserves
were mlssed in The court yards of the
public buildings. Early in the morning
the palace square resembled a field
camp, Two regiments of guards having
bivouacked there all night. At day
light battaliOnS of police took posses
sion of all the approaches to the palace
for the distance Of a third Of a mile
and all day no one was allowed to pass
the lines without tickets. The draw of
the Nicholas bridge from Vasili island
was opened and the palace bridge
which rests on pOntOOnS. was allowed 10
swing down the current so as to permit
the imperial yachts bearing their ma
1esties. and the court from Peterhof to
pass up the river to the landing stage
I'm front of the Winter palace. fiOtilla
Of police patrol boats. several low ly-
ing torpedo boats, and a number Of
cared galleys cleared the river as far
SIS the palace Of all moving craft
Masses Summoned to Church.
Russia. the ceremonies began with re-
ligious services. At 10 o'clock in the
morning the whole city reVerberated
with bells and chimes from st. Peters
burg's myriad Of churches, CathedraIs
and temples. summOning the people to
thanksgiving Only those who have
heard the booming Of the bells of st.
Isaac's cathedral. striking bass to the
NATURALIZATION Of the other belfrys can
appreciate the savage splendOr of the
wild cIangOr. Not only at st. Peters
burg but at the kremlin Of Moscow bells
were rung and tie deums were celebrat-
ed. thus giving the occasion the solemn,
religious as well as civic Significance
necessary TO impress the Russian
masses.
Approach of Imperial Party
/ While the bells were still ringing the
iAnperiaI yacht Alexandria, with the inn
pAriaI standard at the fOremast steamed
maiestically up the river, dipping her
flag in answer to the salUtes and cheers
from the emperors warshiDs lying at
the baltic works
Instead of proceeding to the Winter
palace. the yacht stopped at the land
ing stage of the English quay. below the
Nicholas bridge, and in front of Leuch-
tenberg palace. formerly the American
embassy. where the emperor, the en-
press and the dowager empress entered
a launch and. attended by a launch on
each flank, moved on UP the river. The