THE SIGNING OF THE TREATY OF PEACE. (FROM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE STANDARD.)

North Otago Times, Volume 1881, Issue XXVI, 7 May 1878, Page 4

THE SIGNING OF THE TREATY OF PEACE. (FROM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE STANDARD.)

San Stefako, March 3. The ttentv of ponce wns pi/jncd to-day At hnlf-nfiif 4 o'clock, In the expectation thnt tbi« dnv would *ritnc«s the cnnjummaM'nn of Another net in ill* 1 drama which nil Europe has boon watching for *o loiv, ptennrntioin had bfon mndo for n arnnd review in lionor of the event ; but this r/>» ii-w wns not to take pince until (he mi'i'ary authorities had peen informed thnt the *ignaturp« w«re an accomplished fact It hnd hecn cnleulnfed Ihnt the review ml-jht he hold nt 2 o'clock, tnd at Ihnt honi the Grnnd T)nke\s hor o vms uniting nt the do >r. The troops hnd marched out i»» the forenoon to the review ground, nnd. their numbers hid been swelled by n large contingent from Tchataldjn. The battalion of the Imperial Gnnrd piled their overeonts in heaps at the rnilwnv stntion, and left them there under a guard while they took pnrt in the evolution*. 'I he clenrv nl*o were not idle, for they chanted the Liturgy nnd snng a Te Deum in the church on the morning of thU memorable Sundnv. The Grand Duko Nicholas appeared on the ground at 6 o'clock. Thoro woro assembled 20 battalions of infantry, 44 puns, and eight squadrons of oavalry, drawn up in flvo parallel lines, with a ■pace of BO yard* between ono line and the next. Some 200 yards in advance of tho front lino stood an oblong tablo bearing a picture of Our Lord gorgeously decorated in silvor, a Bible bound in gold, and several books with portraits of saints. Upon a round tablo hohind the largor ono stood a silvor basin of holy water and a brush of tho same precious metal. To conduct tho religious portion of tho ceromony a number of ltussinn priests were in attendance, hoaded by ono who was habited in a short robo of goldon texture, strewn with red orossos, over a purplo silk undergarment, and his hat was of purplo velvet. Tho sky was overcast, but nothing could chill tho enthusiasm of tho troops, who cheorod as tho Grand Duke and Ins staff rodo in and out between their lines, cheered as the distinguished party moved forward to take thoir appointed placos, nnd continued to make the air ring with their aoclamations whenever an excuse was found for a cheer. Before the functions of the priest wero employed, the officers had gpthered round thoir commander to hear his congratulations. His Imperial Highneis looked supremely happy, as, in a loud voice, he announced that peace was concluded. Ho thanked tho army, and especially tho Guards, whom ho had so long commanded, for the bravery they had displayed ; and finished by taking off his cap, waving it in tho air, and ■hunting " Hurrah ! " The example wan contagious. For tho moment there was no thought of military discipline, and a rare scone of enthusiasm was witnessed. The men in the ranks kissed and hugged ono another ; they cried, they shouted, they flung up thoir caps, and gave thom■elves up to a complete abandon of joy, in which some poor Turks who had boon standing among the spectators joined, using their turbans in tho absenco of a more soldierly headdress. Tho tumult of this indescribable dadncss was only ■übdued when tho Grand Duko wns seen advancing to the improvised altar. There, kneeling before a gold cross which tho priest extended to him. his Imperial Highness kissed tho sacrod symbol j then rising he took the brush, dipped it in tho water, and made the sign of tho cross upon his forehead. After kissing the hands of the head priost ho made wav for his son, who did as his father had done. General IgnatiefF, whoso bine spectacles made him very conspicuous, was tho next to take tho water sanotifioation ; and ■carcely loss noticoable was tho lato ambassador's wife, dressed in mauve silk, a Jacket trimmed with a da*k fur, and a black velvet bonnet with two saffioncoloured feathers, Tho march past, commenced soon after 6 o'clock, and the troops followed ono another in tho following order : — Two squadrons of Cossacks, ono squadron of mounted gendarmerie, tho Tmporial Guard, the infantry in thoir greatcoats, tho guns, the cavalry, the hussars, and tho Cossaoks. Each colonel, after saluting tho Grand Duko at tho head of his regiment, loft the lino and joined the brilliant staff ; each band nlso took up a position near the review staff, and plnvod as its own rogimont was passing. Tho regimental flags, carried ovor tho shoulder liko rifles, woro torn nnd pievcod with bullot holes, nvidenco of many a dosperato en<r>ig H ment. and wero surmounted with eagles. The Cossacks nepdnd no band for they sang thoir wild melodies ns they marched ; somo of them carried bamhoo lances win eh they had captured in fight from tho Turkish irregulars, and which they had beon allowed to retain, as they considered them superior to thoir own. I mention this fact on tho authority of a Russian offleor n% T novor chanced tosoo any of those, bamboo lan cos dming tho campaign in Euron«\ Tho battalions of the lino wore still avmed \rith their nnwioldv old-fashionod riflns Tho rejoicings of the troops continued far into tho night., and tho cheering ropeatedlv broko tho stillness, until the ovorjoyal soldiery woro ovorcomo by sleep, and the camp was loft to tho tread of tho sentry. To their credit it must bo ftd'lxd that very little drunkenness was to bo so.vi. Although an illumination had been snokon of as a fitting conclusion of tho li\v. noun took plto» ; tho oniv lights in tho town after dark bning tho lantern at every third house, in nceordnnco with a re"nlation of the authorities, and nn th<> shore, a lamp at eaoh house.. Some 400 officers, many of ihom of superior ranW, eschewing tho restraints of tho canin nt a moment whon tho now poacn ppnnittod the rolnxntion of almont all di«o : r»im<}, nssemWod at ft miserable E'K'Ki-n nonvof the Parisian nafbohnntant, anl constituted thomsolves both perfnrnvrs and audience. National airs tvm<» lustily if not harmoniously wero aHnrrn.*e'l with ehoino hits from "La F;i1(» do Miulame Anorot," and the. opera pot the better of tho patriotism among th" ftnited gathering after a la^ge quantity <>f ohampivno hod hem consumed. One officer, a Bnkwrinn, and said to be an fcdwitod man, beenme so elated that, snr?'i"in«? upon a table, he danced the oan-ein. amid tho hearty applause nnd to the infinite satisfaction of his friends. A 'l this afternoon display and this fVi.nin" enronst'ng wero consequent unon fl<(> «i«nr>lo incident T have mentioned in ivtf <>nnnine linos — nn incident, liownvpr, po rvo«nnn<ons that tho scene of its oeenvl">nr. • will be relohrnted in enminv time fii ; lV <i> homo at Sedan whore tl»e l<»ndr> p "t, ti.p Frnneo-Germnn wnrhr-id Mi*>ir pi'-ni < i'bh» interview. Fo»* the sicnineof tli« ' f".t v house had be»«n soloe'ed «' - s»-iii'ls upon the brink of n pvf>eii' niJT into who«o eavo-enton b;i«i*> ♦ vos seemed to boom a cnst-int » ' n-'flinst p<>nee. Tho plnntnoten- «•' if t in nn elix/nntlv fnnu«''o<l r l >..i>t Csft square, nnholntered in 1 ' '• veijnw flo\r«'r« nnd strides, nnd * 1 »iMi the produce of the loon>s,of ** ' in green nnd red, "Povclain ' ' o»*« freens stood in enoh window. T ''• Hio windows the eye rnm/nd r '••lendid pnnnmma — p r«t, th" "» eon flecked wif'i i\h'tn

until ; in the middle distance the Prince's Islands, rooky oliffa rising in barron majesty out of th« expanse of water; and in the background tho mountains of Asia, misty and undefined, except whero a snow-capped peak raised its head abovo tho hn^y outline. At tho oppoaito sido of tho room from tho windows was a divan, in front of which stood n larpo tablo covered with maps. Oonoral TgnntiofT and M. do Nelidoff took their Boats with their backs to tho window, bo that they could srrutiniAo overy play of foaturo which at. this supreme momont must surely break through tho impassive stolidity of the two representative Turks commissioned to ratify the defeat of their nation and itarnnspnuenroa. Safvet Pasha sat on Tynatieff'sriuht, thoro beinj? a small round table bi'foro thoso two functionnrios. Saduliah Boy was nearer tho contro of Hi© room, in a largo fantouil, bordorod with heavy gilt fringe. Tho other occupants of the room were Prince Ohorofteli, M. Basil, and two Turkish secretaries. When all was ready, General Icrnatieff and Safvet Paiha signed simultaneously, the latter holding tho document on his hand as he wroto, after the Turkish fashion ; tho Russian writing on the table. Each thon took the other's pnpor and signed a«ain, and tho Treaty of San Stefano was completod.