Denise, Michael, Bluetoria, and Silja what tender concerns and what a great discussion you are sharing with each other.
Michael I know what you mean about the tragedy of Alexandra's daughter's lives being sacrificed. Like Denice says, I believe they were devoted to each other and their parents. I think the girls were so used to nursing not only their little brother but even their mother before the war and then serving as nurses in their Mother's hospitals must have created for lives of service that translated into captivity.
The other thing that is so hard to remember is how young the entire family was. When she was arrested Alexandra looked as though she could have been almost 60 but she was only 42.
I thought I might tell a little story that was related to me about how closely united the girls were. Years ago I would go to the NYC public library and look through the picture file on the Romanoff family. In those days there were many clippings of pictures from magazines, newpapers and books, but there were also real photographs that had often been printed as post cards. Among them was a postcard with a picture of the Grand Duchess George and her two daughters, Nina and Xenia.
I knew that that Nina had married Prince Paul Chavchavadaze and that she was living on the Cape in South Wellfleet, MA., and everytime I looked at the picture of her and her sister and mother I felt it was only right that she should have it. So one terribly exciting Saturday when no one was looking I put the photograph in my sweater and walked out of the Library.
I was sure that someone was going to search me but they didn't. When I got home I wrote Nina a letter and enclosed the photo. I explained that I had come across this photo of her and her mother and sister and wanted to send it to her as I felt that it rightly belonged to her. I am not sure I told her exactly how I had happened to come across the photo and I really never expected to hear from her, but within a week I recieved the most charming letter all written on the loveliest blue stationary telling me how grateful she was for the photograph. It seems that no one had managed during the Revolution to save any pictures of her mother taken in their palace in St. Petersburg and that this this photo of herself and her mother and sister was taken in their favorite drawing room sitting in their favorite chairs in their palace in St. Petersburg. She explained that her mother was wearing black because she was in mourning for the King of Greece who had just been assassinated. Nina explained that her mother was Greek by birth.
Nina wanted to know where on earth I had gotten the photo and said that she would be forever grateful for it. Again I am not really sure if I told her that I stole it, but the upshot of this rather long story is that she and I began corresponding and I had millions of questions and because I wanted only to know about the details of family life without any reference to politics or the Revolution, Nina answered all my questions.
She said that her mother and father were very "non political" and therefore had remained friends of Nicky and Alix. And that when Olga came of age GD George and family were invited to the informal dinner dances that were held for Olga and Tatiana at Livadia just before the War broke out. Nina described the dances as the most delightful, light hearted, enjoyable occassions imaginable, held in the beautiful almost brand new palace italianate palace, and that the french doors were left open to the rose garden so that the scent of the roses mingled with the dance music which mingled with the pretty pastel gowns and that is was all just incredibly enjoyable and that Alix was as light hearted as her daughters.
Nina said that Olga and Tatiana were so close that they decieded to come out together, even though Tatiana was not offically the right age, being a year younger. However Alexandra agreed and let her two older daughters come out in society together and that these informal parties were held for both of them.
I think that the Empress Dowager gave Olga and Tatiana a very large coming out party in St. Petersburg and I believe it was at that party that teenage Marie, who was struggling then with being over weight slipped and fell down while dancing, but I am not sure.
I felt the closeness and family loyalty of the girls from Nina's delightful memories of their coming out parties and I thought I might take this opportunity to share it.