The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-05-10
CONTINUED from Page one.)

There, before the -tomhs- of his ma Jes=-
tvs ancestors. the imperial family knele
for twenty minutes, made their devotions
and asked for the blessing and guidance
OF the Almighty. AS their majesties after
their devotions returned 10 the terrace
and re-entered the launch the faint echo
OF a cheer swept UP the Neva. The imper-
ial launch Immediately crossed the river
and entered the winter palace from the
quay entrance. For the first time since
the ceremony OF blessing the waters, jan
49, 1906. when the emperor escaped dea;h
from the charge OF grape fred from gun
OF the saluting battery on the opposite
bank OF the river. their majesties were
back In the Russian capitol.
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 repre-
sentatives Of the people.
The palace is an immense. strange.
mysterious looking yellow structure on
the left bank OF the Neva. To the south
is a large. open space called the palace
square, in the centre OF which rises a
granite column, that OF Alexander l. 1t is
banked by the buildings Of the general
staff, ministry OF finance and the foreign
office. An immense ouadriga crowns the
archway of the main entrance from the
grand Morskaya-
IN VIVID CONTRAST.
The scene on the square today was in
vivid contrast TO THAI OF less than 10
months ago whAn tho troops met with
volleys the people oogIsang to ask the Lat
tie Father FOR less than they have now
been granted Instead Of soldiers shoot
ing into mob pranoing cavalry guarded
the approaches, whte the square Itself
was filled with rank upon rank OF the
OhevaEer Guards, Cuarassiers, Hussars.
Lancers and other guard regiments. each
in picturesque uniforms of red, blue and
yellow.
Their helmets and cuirasses shone in
the sun. while the polished lance heads
formed q thicket of flashing lines over
head
The emperor's picked CircaSsian Cos
sacks in long. flowing crimson Kaftsns,
sitting high on wild, steppe horses, gave
the highest note Of color to the scene.
Behind the iron grill leading TO the court
yard Of the palace were massed a squad
ron of heavy dragoons and battery OF
machine guns.
THE BARS LET DOWN
Through this brilliant mare OF troops
passed splendid equipases, many OF tho
coachmen wearing the red imperial livery
and bearing invited guests swiftly to the
various entrances TO which they had been
hitherto been the most exclusive court in
Europe were lowered for the first time
to adTnM to his ma testy's presence men
who had come not by VIRTUE of has in
vitatton. but because they held a mandate
from the people. the rules and traditions
or caste and rank were not otherwise re-
laxed.
BY different entrances and into differ
ent salons strictly according To rank the
ooncourse OF court dignitarles, mobiles,
foreign representatives. clergy ana milf
tary, and civil officials. all In full uni
form, gathered to await the summons
from the throne, in the hall OF st George
Through the Jordan door, me members
or the lower house OF parliament mounted
the marble staircase to the spacious Mich
olas hall while the members OF the coun-
ell of tho empire. or upper house. PASSED
through the regular entrances That body
assembled In the hermitage pavilion. The
ambassadors and other chiefs OF missions
mounted the ambassa DORIS staircase and
passed the hall OF Peter the Great, whose
red velvet walls are studded with golden
Russian eagles.
A BRILLIANT THRoSG.
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 procura>
tor general OF the Holy Synod, the MEM
bers OF the Holy Synod. the generals or
high rank admirals. aide-de-camps. etc.
while the immediate suites OF the en-
peror and two empresses remained In the
Romenoff gallery.
The ladies and maids of honor Of the
courts. arrsysd In ancient Russian cos
tunes OF deep purple. embroidered with
pearls and wearing sugar-loaf head dress