The San Francisco call., 1906-05-11

4 t1O4 O4 I4C OSAAC4 RO4eA4~Sf N~--l
appreciate the savage splendor of the
wild clangor. Not only at St. Peters
burg, but at the Kremlin of Moscow
bells were rung and tie deums were cele-
brated. thus giving the occasion the
| solemn. religious. as well as civil sig
nificance necessary TO impress the Rus
sian masses.
| While the bells were still ringing
the imperial yacht Alexandria, with
the imperial standard at the fore,
moved majestically up the river, dip
ping her flag in answer to the salutes
and cheers from the Enperor's war
ships 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
Leuchtenberg Palace. formerly the
American embassy, where the Emperor
attended by a launch on each flank,
moved up the river. The members OF
the party made the remainder of the
journey TO the Winter Palace in car
riages, escorted by troop OF elatter-
ing horse guards. The Emperor's ar
rival was not heralded by the custom
ary salute of sol guns and for that rea-
son the passage of the river hardly at
| tracted the notice of the thousands of
spectators who were awaiting along the
islands of the river.
| Without halting at the Winter Pal
ace the launches crossed the river and
| their Majesties landed under the grim
walls of the ST. Peter and ST. Paul
fortress, where they entered by the inn
perial water terrace, driving hurried
i ~ to the immense cathedral, inside the
walls of which repose the remains OF
| the Romanoffs. There, before the
tombs of the Emperor's ancestors. the
imperial family knelt for twenty min
utes, made their devotions and asked
for the blessing and guidance of the
Almighty. Then, as their Majesties re-
turned TO the terrace and re-entered
the launch the faint echo Of a cheer
| swept up the Neya.
CZAR ENTERS WINTER PALACE
The imperial launch Immediately
crossed the river and entered the Win
ter Palace from the quay entrance
For the first time since the ceremony
OF the blessing Of the waters. Jan
uary 10. 1905, when the Emperor
escaped death from the charge of grape
| fired from the gun of the saluting bat
terry ON the opposite bank of the river
the Emperor and Empress were back
in the Russian capital.
A little more than two hours later
vast hosts of military and civil digni-
taries began arriving at the Winter
Palace to listen to the Emperor's mes
sage to the representatives of the peo-
pie.
Shortly after 1 o'clock. in obedience
to signals, the streams Of guests be-
gan slowly flowing toward the great
ST. Georges Hail.
The entrance of the members Of Par
lliament. over 800 in number, introduced
la strangely incongruous element in the
lglittering assemblage, uniformed in golC
lace and sparkling with orders. Most
Iof the members were In evening dress
but many wore ordinary frock coats
and even short coats and yellow shoes
Their ranks were interspersed with
Tartars In fezzes, a Polish Catholic
Bishop in purple robes and orthodox
clergy in sacerdotal raiment. and re.
tired army and navy officers in uni
form. Most OF the members, who came
in their ordinary costumes. blouses and
high boots, made strange contrast
The peasants and workmen appeared
TO be awkward and Ill at ease, but
resolution was stamped on their faces
for it was the first time that the mer
had dared TO appear thus at a state
function of the Russian court, where
Ietiquette in the past was so rigorous
that it even compelled American diplo-
mats accredited to st. Petersburg tx
don uniform.
The members of Parliament lined ur
on the righs side of the hall as if tc
offer battle to the glittering array o.
bureaucrats and eourtiers opposite
whose hostile. contemptuous glanees
showed how little they welcomed the
new and dominant force In Russian DO
liticaF life.
The members OF the Council OF this
Empire and Cabinet Ministers tooh
their places on the left of the throne
SPEECH FROM THE THRONE.
The Emperor's reception passed OF
without any untoward incident The
tone Of the speech from the throne was