Identifier: russia00dobsrich (find matches)
Title: Russia;
Year: 1913 (1910s)
Authors: Dobson, George Grove, Henry M Stewart, Hugh, 1884-1934 Haenen, F. de
Subjects: Soviet Union -- Description and travel
Publisher: London, A. and C. Black
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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Imperial Majesties lead off the dancingin a stately manner, as shown in one of theillustrations in this volume. Afterwards, at supper-time, when the great assembly has been accom-modated in groups at round tables in the midst ofa profusion of palms and flowers, the Emperorleaves the table, at which His Majesty sups withthe Empress and other members of his family, andwalks through the immense halls to see that all hisguests are comfortably seated and served. Whenthe vast company disperses after midnight, manyof the departing guests pluck flowers from thetables as souvenirs of the c\ ening. These festivegatherings round the Imperial Family, as well asthe different soities and military parades inside andoutside the palace, are magnificent spectacles. One of the most picturesque of such ceremoniesis that of the Blessing of the Waters on January 6,the Feast of the Epiphany, which takes place ina temporary pavilion, erected on the edge of theNeva, right in front of the Winter Palace. Here,
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^^ iJ^.^^-- BLESSING THE NEVA Emperor and Metropolitan at the blessinj, of the water of the Neva on theFeast of the Eiiii)han.v, January r> (old style) ST. PETERSBURG SOCIETY 105 surrounded by white-robed priests, and soldiers withall the colours of the regiments in garrison, theTsar witnesses the immersion of the Metropolitanscross in the river through a hole cut in the thickice. His Majesty is then supposed to take a dropof the water thus consecrated. Many years ago, when Nicholas II. was heir-apparent, his English tutor, the late JNIr. CharlesHeath, ventured to remonstrate with His ImperialHighness for wishing to drink raw water on one ofthese occasions, in view of the contamination of theNeva, in the opinion of Russian doctors. But thereis another danger connected with this ceremony, andthat is on account of long exposure, without move-ment, to the extreme cold, which nearly alwaysprevails at this time of the winter. Everybodypresent, including the Sovereign and the crowdskept

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