THE LONELY CZAR.

Evening Star, Issue 12882, 3 August 1906, Page 10

THE LONELY CZAR.

The new era of Hfo in Holy Russia was begun by invoking the Divine blessing* The monring bells in all the churches of tho «aprtal called the people to prayer, and in the Winter PaJace the sounds of the, National Anthem ceased in the ante-chambers as the Czar entered St. George's Hall and passed slowly in silence and unacelaimed to the centre of the hall to kiss the Cross extended to him by the Metropolitan.—'Daily News' May 11. Crownkss, unsceptred, representative Of the long race of Russia's mighty lords, He stands alone in centre of the hall.

Down all the corridors and spacious stairs The anthem, answering back the crty bells, Is fall'n, like all the Winter Palace, dumb. The Court, with pomp of many-colored robes, Lifts, on his left, the scutcheon of the Past; While, to his right, Kke fatal presences, Or dim prophetic voices soon to burst

In thunders of tho people's breaking heart, Yet wrapped in siJence till the moment

come— The Duma's members stand in sombre dress. Alone, alone, for evermore aJone.

Yea, spite of all thai great assembly there, Banging his spirit with a nation's soul, No eagle on the utmost midnight crags Of Caucasus is lonelier than he:

Great Czar of all the Rnssias is his name; Small man, with all maa's frailty, in Ma heart! The Cross which he has kissed, when unan-

nounced He took his place in silence, fronting God, Is lifted high above his tottering throne. Oh, Czar! whoea kiss costs little at thy- lips, Beware the awful symbol thou hast kissed! A million bands are raised to hold it up; A million starving souls kneel at its foot. Their lips are not for kisses, for. they cry A haunting cry across the bitter dark." Not any giving of new parliaments, Letting at length thy people's hearts have speech, Nor any golden words dropped mellowly In Royal cadence in the Duma's ear, Shall save thee —if thou nullify its power— Prom that Last Duma where God's voice is clear, And erery soul shall stand, as thou, alone. Ox-Ay Bakei^.