were spread in different parts of the room for and were on duty without food till three in the ladies in waiting, etc. On the dais a small afternoon; and Mr. L— says that it was table had been set before the two thrones, and torture to smell the good things as they were at the corners of the dais stood four Chevaliers carried under his nose. I wonder he could reGardes, sword in hand. Of course we waited sist transfixing a cutlet with his sword. When a long time (that « snack»!), and my French- at last he got home to food, he was too tired man became so impatient and noisy that to touch it, and could only throw himself upon Stürmer, a master of ceremony, had to an- his bed and sleep and sleep. We found ournounce the Emperor several times to keep selves very tired, too, that night, when the

him quiet. At last, just as a gray pigeon curtain was down on all these splendors. But had flown in at the window, circled above our even «la sévère mees,» as the Frenchman heads, and flown out again («Very lucky,” said called me, might yawn then. The play was the Russians), here his Majesty was. We were over. I looked out of my windows as I got to go when he asked for wine, after an old into bed, and tried to imagine a glimmer in custom; for John the Terrible, it seems, was the sky over the Kremlin, the theater of the so violent in his cups that the foreigners were morning. Nothing of the sort! Instead, the allowed to retire when he began to drink, dark and rain were shutting out the last leaving him to his faithful subjects. Mr. lights. Good night, Emperor and Empress! Stürmer seemed very anxious for our safety, On Monday evening, the 28th (16th), was for Alexander III, had not got through his the third great sight of the coronation after soup even when he bundled us off. I longed the entry and the service itself-the state to rush up to the throne and ask if I might n't ball in the Kremlin palace and the illuminastay. As we left we met another dish, being tion of Moscow. I put them together, for escorted by six Chevaliers Gardes to the on the three nights of illuminations it was Grand Maréchal de la Cour, who served the the only time that I saw the lighting of the Emperor. I am surprised that it got past Kremlin, and it remains to me a part of the the soldiers outside. An officer whom we saw state ball. It was lovely, and curious, too, to there has told us since that they left their look out from the windows of the Granovitaya barracks at half-past three in the morning, Palata at the wonderful tower Ivan Velikii outlined in light against the deep blue night pieces of plate that had been sent to the Czar sky, and to step upon the palace terrace from with the offering of bread and salt by the one of the enormous halls was like stepping various governments of Russia. Perhaps the into fairyland. I was with Mr. S— and finest was one from the government of MosColonel - The former has seen all the cow, a very handsome gold plate with enameled beautiful illuminations of Rome, and the lat- arms in medallions. The salt-cellar with this ter the best of Paris and the whole of Italy; plate was a tiny copy of the famous crown of yet they agreed that this surpassed them all. Monomachus, every detail exact, and even the It certainly was quite, quite beautiful. With bordering of fur imitated in all its softness the best possible judgment, every architec- in silver. In the throne-room the insignia were tural line had been followed in the lighting, spread out on their velvet cushions, looking and the Kremlin stood revealed in the dark- more gorgeous than ever under the thousands ness, «mystic, wonderful. One's eye followed of lights. But I preferred seeing them on the the lights along the top of the wall to each Emperor and Empress. Altogether, we all curious tower; along the wall again to the enjoyed our evening, and retailed her grouped churches with every outline marked; conversation with the royalties with her and « up, the pinnacled glory reached,» to the usual knack. They all appear to have been shiring crosses that crowned the whole, and very much interested in the pigeon's flying in looked as if they were made of the stars on the coronation day, and evidently thought themselves. It was an unforgettable sight. it too good to be true. The pigeon will be a

The « polonaise ball » in its way was very more sacred bird than ever in Russia. fine and stately. There was no dancing except I pass over the ball at the governor-genthe polonaise, and that is not a dance! And eral's on Tuesday, the ball given by the noit was gone through by Emperor and Empress, bility of Moscow on Thursday, and the ball at senior grand dukes and grand duchesses, for- the German embassy on Friday. For this last eign princes, one or two court officials, am- the Emperor of Germany sent the silver all bassadors and ambassadresses alone. The the way from Berlin. diplomats were all collected in the Granovi- The gala performance at the theater on taya Palata, where each turn of the polonaise Wednesday evening, May 30 (18), was considbegan and ended, so that we saw very well. ered a great success. For my part, I did n't And once General Greig asked me to join the think it remarkable, except for the ladies' procession with him, my shining train spread jewels and the men's decorations. The pit out at full length behind with great effect. was given up to men entirely, and not one man I was delighted, for one could go only with in it was undecorated, from Dolgoroukov, the some Russian notability; and in this way I saw governor-general, with rows and rows of oreverything, as we followed the imperials, to ders upon his breast, to some very young the music of the polonaise from « Life for the subalterns in the back seats, with five decoCzar, across the curious carpet of the Grano- rations each. As for the imperial box, it vitaya Palata, and over what seemed miles of was absolutely lighted by the diamonds in it. polished floor in the splendid rooms beyond. From crown of head to waist, the Empress and The last of these rooms was given up to ladies, the other ladies were a mass of jewels. Over whose Russian court dress was very effective collars and necklaces of diamonds, strings in such brilliant light. Just as we got into of big pearls hung one after the other upon this room the Empress turned to lead the way the bodies of their dresses. A wonderful disback; and the procession was striking as it play certainly, but the jewels of this court came through these glittering ranks--the are extraordinary in beauty and profusion. almost uniform white of the ladies' dresses At the coronation the Emperor gave each throwing up the men's uniforms and the won- grand duchess a splendid present in precious derful cloth-of-silver and diamonds of Em- stones, and they threw them into a drawer, press and grand duchesses. General Greig somebody said, as if they had been nothing and I squeezed into the doorway to let all this at all. The only person here who can rival splendor pass, and then followed it back to the imperials is Mrs. —, the wife of the

the Granovitaya Palata. And here he made « bonanza king,” who has appeared at the a very deep bow, and I made him a very fêtes in new necklaces and tiaras each time. deep courtesy and retired into humble life And she evidently could have cut them out. again.

Somebody having expressed admiration of her The procession having passed, we went to jewels to her husband, « Oh,» he said, «I guess look at the illuminations again, and to see the she's only brought a few little things along.» beautiful rooms more closely, and the splendid We have kept our illuminated theater pro

VOL. LII.-4-5.

grams as mementos of the coronation-very seemed to enjoy, but in their own quiet way. pretty, with Russian pictures, and greetings The cheering was faint, very faint; and the in Slavonic characters. I saw Count Hans rows of «old believers,» ticketed and numWildezek with his roll under his arm to take bered, who had the honor of standing next to back to Vienna.

the pavilion, scarcely opened their lips. Mama Yesterday, Saturday, June 2 (May 21), was said since to one of the young American the great popular fête on the Hodinskoye naval officers who are here: «How lacking Polye, an open space beyond the exhibition in heartiness the Russian cheering is, is n't buildings (out in the country really), where it? Just think of it compared with English or big reviews take place, and which will be American!» «Why, madam,» he answered, used for the review of all the troops in «it's a moan.) And so it is. The popular fête Moscow next Saturday. Yesterday it was would have been long if it had not been so covered by a still greater army of muzhiks, interesting to watch the people. Five huntightly packed together. Not an inch of the dred thousand! I should have said millions. wide plain seemed to be unoccupied. As To-day we have been talking it all over, far as the eye could reach, to the very ho- and wondering if we have anything so inrizon, there was nothing but heads, heads, teresting to see as the things we have seen. heads. I could n't have pictured so many Some dashing Cossack maneuvers this afterpeople in the world as I saw before me. I noon (Sunday), that I was sorry to miss. thought it gave one an idea of the day of judgment. I suppose not. But as every face

Sunday, June 10 (May 29). of that endless crowd turned to greet the MONDAY came the second court ball, that Emperor as he came into his pavilion, it was morning the fête of the Preobrajenski regia most impressive sight. One could n't help ment; Tuesday, the diplomatic state dinner thinking what power there was in such a at the palace; Thursday, the consecration of mass with anything to rouse it. But the St. Saviour's Church, built in commemoration people seemed wonderfully well disposed and of the deliverance of 1812-a magnificent quiet, as if they said to themselves, «Our service. The French embassies, actual and little father, the Czar, is feasting us; we must special, refused to go, which was a matter be good children. We neither saw nor heard for them to decide. But we hear that the of any disturbance; but one of the servants French consul's wife, not content with a reports that five people were killed by the silent disapproval, went to the church all in pressure of the crowd.

black, and was refused admittance, as was The numbers on the Hodinskoye Polye were her husband. To Russians, who lay aside even reckoned at more than 500,000. Mr. T- deep mourning to come to their friends on a came up to me with an important face. «The «name-day » in light colors, this was indeed five hundred thousandth basket has just been an insult. Stupid woman! I believe more every given out,» he said. For each person received day that the English are the only people who a little basket with a loaf of bread, a meat pie, know how to be beaten. Friday, nothing; a sweet pie, a bag of sweeties, and a brown we went sight-seeing on our own account to mug with the arms of the imperial donor the Kremlin, where our guide, Prince S upon it. I envied them the mug, I must say, told us that he had been in charge of 4000 but there were none left over. Some of the servants. Saturday, review of 50,000 troops muzhiks with mercenary souls would sell in a cloud of dust; and end of the coronation theirs, but ask four, five, and ten rubles; festivities. and some are noble and say, «I cannot sell it; it is the gift of the Czar.) Besides these PAPA and I have been to church; that is, to baskets there were huge vats of drinkables the German church, in which our service is on the ground, enormous things that giants held when its own is over at twelve o'clock. could have quaffed from, and into which any- There were not many people, -fifty or sixty, body might dip his mug; there were greased perhaps, -and all as far apart as possible. An poles with prizes at the top-so fine as silver English church is in process of building in watches; there were big open theaters; and Moscow, and from the plans that we've seen, there was, besides these and many other it will be big and rather handsome. things, a procession showing the return of The coronation may be said to be quite, spring and its gifts, when we saw the mon- quite over. ster who had held the earth in thrall through The Emperor spent Friday night at the the long winter led to execution, and the big Petrovski Palace, to which he came on his knife that laid him low. All this the people arrival in Moscow; and here, after the re

view yesterday, he took leave of the foreign that everybody possesses in Russia; and with princes, and, I believe, of the special am- the Emperor and Empress's departure on Satbassadors, before starting in the evening for urday night the coronation was over even for Petersburg and Peterhof. The interview was the jaded officials. Poor creatures! even its very cordial, no doubt; for they have all re- recollections seem to weigh upon them; but ceived something or other from his Majesty they always add apologetically, « C'était très -a ribbon, a star, or a diamond snuff-box. I beau.) Now for the country to recover; someam so glad that English diplomatists are out body said that would take twenty years. The of all this, and that broad red and blue rib- coronation is generally reported to have cost bons don't fall over their shoulders just be- it 40,000,000 rubles-exactly £4,000,000. cause they happen to be standing in the way.

ST. PETERSBURG, June 16 (4). Monday, June 11 (May 30). I HAD no idea that I should be so sorry to ASKED to a monster picnic to-morrow at leave Moscow. The streets looked very dreary Prince Youssoupoff's place, twenty-two versts on Wednesday without their flags and banfrom here. I wonder that there are enough ners. The coronation seems to have waked people left for it: for the last few days the place up to the life and movement of Moscow has been emptying itself fast into long ago, and now to have left it to sink foreign watering-places, or the «terres » again into oblivion.

Mary Grace Thornton.

XIII.

«Good morning, George,» said a sharp

voice which startled him as he was replacN a hot morning at the end of June, some ing a photograph of the latest Fullerton baby.

a

four weeks after the Castle Luton visit, «I thought you had forgotten your way here George Tressady walked from Brook street by now.) to Warwick Square, that he might obtain his «Why, mother, I am very sorry,” he said, mother's signature to a document connected as he kissed her; «but I have really been with the Shapetsky negotiations, and go on terribly busy, what with two committees and from there to the House of Commons. this important debate.»

She was not in the drawing-room, and « Oh, don't make excuses, pray. And of George amused himself during his minutes of course—for Letty-you won't even attempt waiting by inspecting the various new photo- it. I would n't if I were you.» graphs of the Fullerton family that were Lady Tressady settled herself in a chair generally to be found on her table. What a with her back to the light, and straightened characteristic table it was, littered with notes the ribbons on her dress with hasty fingers. and bills, with patterns from every London Something in her voice struck George; he draper, with fashion-books and ladies' jour- looked at her closely. nals innumerable! And what a characteris- « Is there anything wrong, mother? You tic room, with its tortured decorations and don't look very well.) crowded furniture, and the flattered portraits Lady Tressady got up hurriedly and beof Lady Tressady, in every caprice of costume, gan to move about the room, picking up a which covered the walls! George looked letter here, straightening a picture there. round it all with a habitual distaste, yet not George felt a sudden prick of alarm. Were without the secret admission that his own there some new revelations in store for him ? drawing-room was very like it.

But before he could speak she interrupted His mother might, he feared, have a scene him. in preparation for him. For Letty, under «I should be very well if it were n't for cover of some lame excuse or other, had this heat,» she said pettishly. «Do put that persisted in putting off the visit which Lady photograph down, George-you do fidget so! Tressady had intended to pay them at Ferth Have n't you got any news for me-anything during the Whitsuntide recess, and since to amuse me? Oh, those horrid papers! I see. their return to town there had been no meet- Well, they 'll wait a little. By the way, the ing whatever between the two ladies. George, Morning Post) says that young scamp, Lord indeed, had seen his mother two or three Ancoats, has gone abroad. I suppose that times; but even he had just let ten days pass girl was bought off.» without visiting her. He supposed he should She sat down again in a shady corner, fanfind her in a mood of angry complaint; nor ning herself vigorously. could he deny that there would be some «I am afraid I can't tell you any secrets,» grounds for it.