Letters from Tatiana

I believe the story about tatiana being in America was in the New York Times. Apparantly she was doing the rounds lecturing on the Revolution!

So did Tatiana read of it from a New York Times clipping? Or did she read of it in a clipping from a Russian newspaper reporting info The New York Times said originally? I am unclear on this point.

According to page 207 of Fall of the Romanovs, this story appeared in Petrograd's "Vecherniaia pochta" [Evening post] on 23 November 1917:

Telegram from our correspondent:
Copenhagen, 20 November. London telegraphs that a rumor is circulating there to the effect that the former tsar Nicholas Romanov's second daughter escaped from Tobolsk and has now arrived in America.
It appears that Tatiana Nikolaevna plans to give lectures on Russian events and to open a school in the United States.
According to these same rumors, Tatiana Nikolaevna is said to have married Count Fredericks, son of the former minister of the court.
Note: Probably all these rumors are a sensation having no basis in fact.
The same for Count Fredericks -- there is and was no son; there are only daughters.

Wow. I think all that can be called not simply Romanov fiction, but Romanov science fiction! lol!

Here’s a letter whose first paragraph is posted in “Tatiana’s Letters in Exile”. I post it in full here, including the excerpt from the AP website. I apologise in advance for the second paragraph as it’s my own translation (with the help of my friend, Google Translator).


From Vel. Knzh. Tatiana Nikolaevna to VI Chebotareva)
Tobolsk, 1 / 14 May 1918

Tobolsk 1/14 May 1918
Dear Valentina,

How long had it been since I sent you a letter? How are you now? Have you received the parcel I sent you? How did you spend your holidays? They were sad for us since we were without Papa and Mama. You have probably already heard they were taken away from us. It was so sad to separate ourselves from them. You are sure to understand. Maria went with them and we stayed with my brother, who is sick. Of course, we were not told where to and for what purpose they were being taken, neither they knew anything. Almost a week after their departure, we learned that they had arrived at Ekaterinburg. We receive letters from them. It is such a joy for us. Mama’s heart is hurting very much as a consequence of the awful road to Tyumen – they had to travel over 200 versts by horses along a horrible road. They spent nights in villages. Now they live in three rooms. Before their windows is a huge fence, so one sees only the top of a church. We are now expecting to leave shortly as soon as brother fully recovers.

Do you have news from your husband (Lieutenant General AP Chebotarev)? Where is Grisha – what is he doing now? We have no news from Bibi, perhaps her letters to us have not arrived yet. I hope you are all healthy. I worried a lot about you for it has been a long time since we wrote each other. Is O.P (?) with her husband? Did you see them? I would be very glad if you write back and would send it directly to me. Olga kisses you. We had warm weather almost everyday and we still wear the same dresses, but on holidays, it was cold and the snow fell. Now again, it gradually becomes warmer. Where are L.F. (?) and her husband (Lieutenant General Krasnov)? Think of it– Onoshko surprisingly wrote us twice nice letters. Honestly, I never ever expected something from him, my dear boy. Well, goodbye for now, my dear Valentina Ivanovna. I remember the hospital and all of you often. Good luck and God bless you. How (…)? I firmly and gently kiss you. Send my greetings to everyone who remembers me.

Your Tatyana.

Thank you for posting her letter. I think you did a fine job!

[
According to page 207 of Fall of the Romanovs, this story appeared in Petrograd's "Vecherniaia pochta" [Evening post] on 23 November 1917:

Telegram from our correspondent:
Copenhagen, 20 November. London telegraphs that a rumor is circulating there to the effect that the former tsar Nicholas Romanov's second daughter escaped from Tobolsk and has now arrived in America.
It appears that Tatiana Nikolaevna plans to give lectures on Russian events and to open a school in the United States.
According to these same rumors, Tatiana Nikolaevna is said to have married Count Fredericks, son of the former minister of the court.
Note: Probably all these rumors are a sensation having no basis in fact.
The same for Count Fredericks -- there is and was no son; there are only daughters.

Thanks a lot for that, Sarah!

Another…

To Princess Nadezhda Orlova née Petrovna (daughter of Pyotr Petrov, tutor of the Grand Duchesses)

2 October 1917 - Tobolsk
All of us are here and everything is in order. The house was small but cozy. It has a balcony where we sit on much. Almost everyday, the weather is wonderful, very warm but many leaves fall. We get much air here. There also is small garden behind the kitchen.

We walk around the garden for only three minutes. A part of the street we walk on in front of the house was fenced. We walk to and fro - about 120 steps long. The streets here are all covered with wooden planks, and in many places, there are big holes, but one can drive safely. Our windows look out onto the street, so we have fun looking at the passers-by. Thrice we went to church - it was such a comfort and joy! On Saturdays and other days, we have vespers and obednitsa. Certainly, those are good but still, it cannot replace a true church. Time passes quickly and monotonously. We work, read, play the piano, walk, and have lessons. Those are all for now. Directly address your letter to me, or in the name of Commissioner Pankratov, through whom all letters go firstly…

Tatyana

 Well I think she was considered the most beautiful of the older girls and there fore most suitable for this thrilling fiction. When I stated being interested in  the Romanovs, Olga and Anastasia were considered plain...if not ugly...yes, can you believe it? Now,  Olga and Anastasia have not changed ....but it seems public tastes has wised up a good deal  since then.

Yesterday, I found a letter of Tatiana to her teacher Peter Petrov dated October 23, 1917 [the full letter in livadia.org] on which she wrote: Were you amazed when you found out about the wedding of your very 1st pupil?

The poster of that letter (maybe Lanie) has added this explanation after that sentence: “[a reference to a rumor that one of the grand duchesses had escaped & married]”

I think the “very 1st pupil” refers to Olga as she signed her letters to Petrov as “Pupil No. 1”.

She wrote very beautiful

Nice but it is enought hard on reading.

["Господь им дал дар по молитвам их размягчать окаменелые наши сердца за их страдания..Мне думается, что если люди будут молиться Царской Cемье, оттают сердца с Божией помощью."]

Ah you mean why was Tatiana featured in the story and not the others? Well I think she was considered the most beautiful of the older girls and there fore most suitable for this thrilling fiction. When I stated being interested in  the Romanovs, Olga and Anastasia were considered plain...if not ugly...yes, can you believe it? Now,  Olga and Anastasia have not changed ....but it seems public tastes has wised up a good deal  since then.

I highly doubt sensational stories were thought up simply on the basis of looks. I believe it had more to do with being more well-known amongst the public and the age. Olga was also part of sensational tabloids including escape and marriage. Anastasia had admirers as well. One man from the US saw her in a picture of her sisters and sent her a letter and said he wanted to marry her.

Olga was Pupil No.1, Tatiana No. 2, Maria, No. 3, and Anastasia No. 4.

[Mathematic, art and history in ♥]

And Alexei was the pupil No.5. 

Tatiana Nikolaevna to Zinaida Sergïévna Tolstoy, born Bekhteeff
Tobolsk, February 16, 1918
My dear Zinotchka, it’s been so long time since we’ve written each other. How are you? Have you received my postcards from January 23? To our great disappointment, the packages have not arrived yet! Probably, someone has eaten those. The first has arrived. Is Rita always with you? With us, nothing’s changed and there’s nothing new. Your sisters have sent postcards. Have you seen N.I.? Has M.D. made it? We often think of you. We pity the unfortunate inhabitants of Petrograd. This time, it must be terrible there. I hope that wherever city you are, it would be peaceful and calm. However unfortunately, it is difficult to hope at this moment. Where are Moussia and his family? What are they lacking of? It’s been so long since we have no news of Katya K. (Katya Kulneva). We stay too far from them. Has N. N. returned? I heard they are in Kiev. I do not know if this is true. Here, the weather has been beautiful, very spring-like. We thought it would never change but today there were lots of snow, then the sun reappeared and the wind blew hard. I hope this letter will reach you. I shall be very glad if you write me. I wish you much happiness. Greetings to your husband, Seriocha, N.I. and N.D. May God keep you.
Tatiana

Good Shandroise! Is Katya Kulneva the girl that Olga and Anastasia have locked in the w.c? haha xP

Tatiana Nikolaevna to Zinaida Sergïévna Tolstoy, born Bekhteeff
Tobolsk, February 16, 1918
My dear Zinotchka, it’s been so long time since we’ve written each other. How are you? Have you received my postcards from January 23? To our great disappointment, the packages have not arrived yet! Probably, someone has eaten those. The first has arrived. Is Rita always with you? With us, nothing’s changed and there’s nothing new. Your sisters have sent postcards. Have you seen N.I.? Has M.D. made it? We often think of you. We pity the unfortunate inhabitants of Petrograd. This time, it must be terrible there. I hope that wherever city you are, it would be peaceful and calm. However unfortunately, it is difficult to hope at this moment. Where are Moussia and his family? What are they lacking of? It’s been so long since we have no news of Katya K. (Katya Kulneva). We stay too far from them. Has N. N. returned? I heard they are in Kiev. I do not know if this is true. Here, the weather has been beautiful, very spring-like. We thought it would never change but today there were lots of snow, then the sun reappeared and the wind blew hard. I hope this letter will reach you. I shall be very glad if you write me. I wish you much happiness. Greetings to your husband, Seriocha, N.I. and N.D. May God keep you.
Tatiana

Where did you find this one? It's new to me.

This:This

Good Shandroise! Is Katya Kulneva the girl that Olga and Anastasia have locked in the w.c? haha xP

I don't know actually. But I recall that Katya is someone taken care by Ekaterina Schmeider.

It's my understand this is the famous cousin  David or statue letter...perhaps our Russian speaking members can have a go at it

Yesterday, I found a letter of Tatiana to her teacher Peter Petrov dated October 23, 1917 [the full letter in livadia.org] on which she wrote: Were you amazed when you found out about the wedding of your very 1st pupil?

The poster of that letter (maybe Lanie) has added this explanation after that sentence: “[a reference to a rumor that one of the grand duchesses had escaped & married]”

I think the “very 1st pupil” refers to Olga as she signed her letters to Petrov as “Pupil No. 1”.

Not quite.

What Grand Duchess Tatiana Nicholaevna actually wrote was:

"...Were you surprised when you learned of the wedding of your very first [female] pupil — before us?!! We didn’t expect it at all. And did Mr. Conrad see the newlyweds? How did they look and where are they now?"

I think it refers to sister-of-mercy O. P. Grekova's recent wedding to Baron D. F. Taube. That is why, for this particular letter, Grand Duchess Tatiana signed it as "Pupil No. 3".