Evening star., 1907-09-02
CZAR VENTURES HOME
VISITS ST. PETERSBURG MIDST
GREAT PRECAUTIONS.

ST. PETERSBURG. September For
the second time since Red sunday
tJanuary 20, l@5l. Emperor Nicholas yes
terday entered the capital to attend the
conservation OF a church to the memory OF
his grandfather, Alexander II, who was
assassinated In March, 1881, on the spot
where the edifce was raised
The date OF the trip. coinciding with tho
conspiracy trial just closed here. was plain
ly designed to raise the loyalty of the
army and the people. II was complete
success
The police neglected no prccaution to
insure the safety of the emperor. and even
went so far as to thoroughly search the
| city and inspect the passports OF suspicious
individuals. Gendarmes were stationed In
every window facing the route over which
tho imperial procession passed. and own
e"s OF houses were forbidden to open win
GoNs under pain of a heavy fine. Bridge
and river traffic was entirely suspended.
the banks of the Ncva were lined WIKI ma
rine guards and torpedo boats patrollcd the
river.
The imperial patty arrived from Peter
hot unannourced. not a single saluie being
! fired during their whole stay. The en-
peror and his party disembarked from y
yacht at the admiralty and entered an IN
conspicuous launch. landing at th" Grand
Duke constantine's palace. Thence they
memorial church in carriages.
Though the emu Ch faces the NcVsky
Prospect, ii is conveniently reached from
the Neva across the Mars field drill ground.
where new road. hanked bv rows of flags,
Lad been made for their majesties.
Brilliant Day.
After two months OF daily rains the sky
cleared and the sun shone upon the brill
liant scene of nearly a hundred detach-
of NTH ;,,, mi
forms stationed along the line OF march.
The emperor's arrival was announced by
cheers from the troops. the publ looking
on indifferently. The big churchyard. where
the imperial party arrived at the hour set,
was pictu resquely bordered by platoons OF
Cuirassiers grenadiers and Dragons in
multi-colored uniforms, waving plumes,
busbees and silver breastplates.
After walking around the church and sa-
luttng the guard, the emperor entered the
edfce at the south door. The scene inside
was one of great splendor, recalling the old
time court balls. An abundance of light
streaming through the lofty windows illu-
minated the four immense mosaic columns
around which were grouped 1000 represen-
atves of the ruling classes. The emperor
and empress occupied the so-called pdtri-
archs' place at the right of the altar where
they were visible only from the diplomatio
loge. A score of grand dukes and grand
duchesses encircled the imperial pair. and
further back were courtiers. court DANES.
pfONlnClaI governors ana
majority of army officers.
Premier Stolypn was the only minister 10
attend the ceremonies, all of the others
being abroad. Mr. Riddle, the American
ambassador, and Sir Arthur Nicholson. ;he
British ambassador, and the civic element
were conspicuously absent. though millions
OF rubles were subscribed TO the church
fund by peasants and others who We're not
invited. The three walls of the church
were lined with a double file OF palace
grenadiers and the entrances were guarded
by veterans of the RussoTurkish war.
Left City Quickly.
The emperor seemed to be in excellent
spirits, but the empress had the same care
worn, sad look which has often been
marked upon. The emperor wore a simple
Preobrajensky uniform, with a dark blue
tunic and trousers. Across his shoulders
was the blue sash of St. Andrew. The em-
press was gowned in white silk and wore a
white ostrich feather hat and string OF
diamonds. She also wore the sash of st.
Andrew. Both their majesties remained
standing throughout the entire ceremony,
which lasted three and quarter hours. the
empress slightly leaning on her parasol.
characteristic part of the ceremony
consisted of a solemn proce sson with the
cross and banners embroidered by an Amer
lean, In which the emperor and his suite
followed the clergy around outside The
church, repeating a special liturgy.
After the ceremony the imperial party
left for cruise in the Gulf of Finland.