Personal Attributes of Nicholas II

[historyfan]

It would have been extremely de classe  if not lese majeste to even  mention such a thing.  One does not comment on another's physical appearance except in  positive ways [flattery]. Otherwise, it is rude and shows lack of breeding.

Of course it is. I was only making the point that here, on this board, it's hardly vilification.

[dvoynik_nikolay]

I just wanted to say that the allegations of imbalances should bring the evidence. A lot of words said, a lot of criticism expressed by my criticism, but no one has presented data on the size of feet and shoe of Nicholas II and that "he appears to have rather large feet for as small as he was". Where is  evidence?
 

[Robert_Hall]

I agree with you, Historyfan, it is not vilification. That is a  rather harsh and inappropriate word  for this case.

[dvoynik_nikolay]

About the 1902 voice recording with President Loubet.

Now I'm not so sure it is Nicholas.

I just had my French friend listen to the 1902 recording, and he thinks that it is not Nicholas talking!  I am so disappointed.  He believes that the recording is like this:

(short Narration Voice #1) (Speech in French, Voice#1) (short Narration Voice #1) (Speech in French Voice#2).

In other words, a French person speaks the quick introductions and Loubet does his own speech.  I guessed why this might be -- if the event was in Krasnoe, Nicholas would have spoken in Russian, and Loubet in French.  But if it were re-recorded back in France, the narrating voice might have spoken Nicholas' speech translated from Russian to French.  Perhaps it was prepared for a radio transmission?  I don't know, radio was just being invented, so that's unlikely, unless it was transcribed much later.

On the other hand, if the audience at these speeches was more educated, it is possible Nicholas might have spoken French.

So it all depends upon whether the "Narrator" voice is the same as the first real Speaker....

What do you think?
Naslednik

This is exactly the voice of Nicholas II. This is what I wrote in the discussion  Voices of the Imperial Family http://forum.alexanderpalace.org/index.php?topic=16135.30
This speech, more precisely - the toast he gave May 8, 1902 at a luncheon during visit to Russia of President Loubet. And this speech in French, published in the official (Ïðàâèòåëüñòâåííûé âåñòíèê) Government Gazette  1902, No102.
 

Given on the pages of the Complete Collection of speeches, Tsar Nicholas II - is speech 62.

[Inok Nikolai]

About the 1902 voice recording with President Loubet.

Now I'm not so sure it is Nicholas.

I just had my French friend listen to the 1902 recording, and he thinks that it is not Nicholas talking!  I am so disappointed.  He believes that the recording is like this:

(short Narration Voice #1) (Speech in French, Voice#1) (short Narration Voice #1) (Speech in French Voice#2).

In other words, a French person speaks the quick introductions and Loubet does his own speech.  I guessed why this might be -- if the event was in Krasnoe, Nicholas would have spoken in Russian, and Loubet in French.  But if it were re-recorded back in France, the narrating voice might have spoken Nicholas' speech translated from Russian to French.  Perhaps it was prepared for a radio transmission?  I don't know, radio was just being invented, so that's unlikely, unless it was transcribed much later.

On the other hand, if the audience at these speeches was more educated, it is possible Nicholas might have spoken French.

So it all depends upon whether the "Narrator" voice is the same as the first real Speaker....

What do you think?
Naslednik

This is exactly the voice of Nicholas II. This is what I wrote in the discussion  Voices of the Imperial Family http://forum.alexanderpalace.org/index.php?topic=16135.30
This speech, more precisely - the toast he gave May 8, 1902 at a luncheon during visit to Russia of President Loubet. And this speech in French, published in the official (Ïðàâèòåëüñòâåííûé âåñòíèê) Government Gazette  1902, No102.
 

Given on the pages of the Complete Collection of speeches, Tsar Nicholas II - is speech 62.

For the convenience of everyone involved in this discussion on voice recordings, here is another thread on that topic:
http://forum.alexanderpalace.org/index.php?topic=16135.msg505451#msg505451