The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-05-11

|
 Hnfo the center of the city might pro- tvoke collisions of disorders and per-, haps bloodshed.
 There was something distinctly awe inspirfng about the day, with visions of chains falling from another branch of the human race and the Russian people taking up the march of modern fertilization. The representatives of the Russian millions and the Russian Elm peror 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 Gen. traI Asia.
 | Attitude of Suspicion.
 | Notwithstanding the mutual distrust of the government and people, there was not lacking the hope that the foun- dation of a sincere understanding be- ltween the Emperor and his subjects would be, laid strong and deep today. It was the attitude of mutual suspicion l which constituted the great, jarring note on this occasion. It could not be tconceaIed. It was apparent everywhere. Like all great state functions in holy Russia, the ceremonies began with re- IIigious services. At 10 o'clock this morning the whole city reyerbcratcd with bells and chimes from St. Pe- itersburgs myfaid of Cathedrals, IcHurcHeS ana tenlpleSt SuntHOninR the people to thanksgiving. Only those who have heard the booming of the bells of St. Isaae's Cathedral, striking tbass to the tfntinnahulations of the bother belfries, can appreciate the saw lage splendor of the wild clangor Not lonly at St. Petersburg. but at the } Kremlin of Moscow, bells were rung land tediums were celebrated, thus giv- ling the occasion the solemn religious. las well as civil, significance necessary Ito impress the Russian masses. The city might have been in a state
 of siege. so heavy was the array of
 troops Not only were attachments of
 tioned at strategic points, but large reserves were massed in the court
 yards of the public buildings. Early in the morning, the palace square resembled a field camp, two regiments of guards had bivouacked
 there all night At daylight battal-
 ions of police took possession of all the approaches to the palace for the distance of a third of 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, whiah resta on pontoons. was allowed
 to swing down the current so as to , permit the imperial yachts bearing , their matesties and the court from Peterhoff to pass up the river to the ' landing stage in front of the winter , l palace. A fiotiila Of patrol boats, sev- ] eral low-lying torpedo boats and a
 number of cared galleys clear the
 river as far as the palace of all nov
 ing craft
 Bells Ring Liberty.
 While the bells were still ringing the imperial 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 war ships 1 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 Nicholcs bridge and in front of Leutchenbers palace formerly the American em-
 bassy, where the Emperer, the Elm Ipress and the dowager Empress enter ed a 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 ! troop of clattring horse-guards.
 The Emperor's arrival was not her- aided by the customary salute or SUI
 guns and for that reason the passage . of the river hardly attracted the ne- tice 6 thousands of spectators who were waiting along the islands in the Without halting at the winter palace tbe launches crossed the river and their fnajesties landed under the grim walis of the St ePter and Paul fortresses l which they entered by the Imperial 1 water terrace. driving hurrledly to the 1 immense cathedral inside the walls 1 wherk repose the remains of the Ro- | uauoffs There, before the tombs ot the Emperor's ancestors the imperial family knelt for twenty minutes, made
 their devotions and asked for the bles-
 sing and guidance of the Almighty, As their majesties, after their deYotions 1 returned to the Terrace and re-entedcl | the launch, the faint echo ia cheer | swept up the Neva. The imperial launch imn ediately crossed the river and en-
 tered the winter palace from the quay
 entrance For the first time since the
 ceremony of blessing the waters, Jan.
 uary 1S, 1905. when the Emperor es-
 caped death from the charge of grape
 fired from a gun of a saluting battedy
 the Emperor and Empress were back ir
 the Russian capital
 Contrasting Scenes.
 A little more than two hours late
 vast hosts of military and civil digna
 taries began arriving at the winte
 palace to listen to :he Emperors mes
 sage to the representatives of the peo
 pie. The scene on the palace squar
 today was in vivid contrast of that les
 than fifteen months ago, when tn
 troops met with yolleys the peorl
 coming to ask the Little Father for les
 than they have now been granted. In
 stead of grim soldiers shooting into
 mob. prancing cavalry with shining ae
 coutrements guarded the approaches
 while the square itself was filled witt
 rank upon rank of the chevalier guards
 curiassiers. Hussars, Lancers and otne
 guard regiments, each in pIcturesau
 uniform of red, blue and yellow. Thei
 helmets and cuirasses shone in tn