Show I SOLEMN RITE OF GREEK CHURCH J t of Blessing the Wa Waters at St Petersburg t DISPLAY j ALL BIBB I T Jan S X made his first pubLIc ap appearance l this season at ceremony of blessing the wa waters water ter In the orthodox church this rite is commemorative of the baptism of th tb Saviour H It took place in an open chapel built out oat on or a quay extending tai fat from the whiter palace which was wa attended by the imperial family with the exception of the carlna whose condition was such euch as to prevent her j being present and the court officiate j nobility and representatives of the for foreign foret eign et powers K The latter drove to the palace in great state Mate with outriders wearing the traditional hunting knives Wets caps and streaming plumes of the national colors Impressive Scene TIP scene outside the th chapel hap waa wa ex extremely J impressive The registered below goro and the was wa clear Along the quay the people were held back baek by b a A troop ot 01 mounted gendarmes The bareheaded bt procession moved through double lines ot of imperial infantry and a sailor guard from the pa act ael to the chapel with the cross and gus gos gospels h Id aloft preceded by the I 1 iU n end and the higher der in gold em broi d vestment with church bar barn barners n ners rs and followed by l the scarlet gowned court choir chir the chamberlains and other court ourt officials Then came the officers of of crank crack regiments without their over overcoats coats thus permitting a gorgeous din dis display play pigy of jt uniforms uniform beating the he flags of the empire Next was the magnificent chev chevalier alice alier in white whito tunics with gold is and double eagled helmets hus Kare and red lancers with sabie tipped headgear r and crimson facings Appearance of the Czar Crar The grand dukes immediately preceded the csar ciar who carried himself easily eastly He wore vore a simple uniform that of the fu fa move regiment the cross of f St t Andrew glittering on his hi breast This was waa his only decoration dc ration The who held uld his helmet hennet in his band looked strong and well A rocket screaming uj ul from th the middle of the river signalled hi his which was with a salvo of at guns gun from th the fortress of Saints SaIne Peter and Paul latal punctuated with the simultaneous chiming of belte beIl throughout the city ity When the czar had taken up his position in the chapel and the lee Ice below had been broken th tb metropolitan blessed the waters water and the Cross was waa dla ed thrive thrice therein United States Ambassador Present The diplomatic crops crepe and the ladies of the court witnessed the brief ceremony rsm the windows of the palace United States Staisa Ambassador McCormick i and Mrs McCormick Secretary Eddy of the embassy Naval Nl Smith and the Japanese minister Jt t Kurino were those Wk the t i ands of el swarmed a coss tb th ire fee arid and aridi i up on water waist With to sanctify throughout TIe The diplomats views at to tho palace agreed that the situation has much im Un t |