Grand Duchess Elizaveta - discussion and pictures PART II

[Sasha_18]

Ella was less moody and more accomadating than the spoilt Alicky, who lived in her dreary and depressed world like a Bronte heroine. Even Marie Louise. her cousin accused her for finding pleasure in being miserable.

Alicky was too young to remember her mother, and Ella was not. Alicky was too young to cope with her brother's death, and Ella luckily had the age and foresight to not be so shattered by it. I think Ella was far more stable a person, whether by natural personality or individual circumstance, and it is sad Alix did not take her older sister's convictions seriously in her later life. If she had, history would have been much different.

[Yelena Aleksandrovna]

Alexandra had a strange character, Ella (happily) had other much better than the character
of her sister, really I can't imagine Ella suffering as Aexandra did... 

[Eric_Lowe]

Ella did suffer too when Serge died. It took her awhile to break down. VMH did not even break down, she worked off her frustration in the garden after she learned the dreadful news about Alicky & Nicky. Alicky was too sensitive and moody and prone to feel like a victim, none of her other sisters were like that.

[Magdalena]

Ella was less moody and more accomadating than the spoilt Alicky, who lived in her dreary and depressed world like a Bronte heroine. Even Marie Louise. her cousin accused her for finding pleasure in being miserable.

Alicky was too young to remember her mother, and Ella was not. Alicky was too young to cope with her brother's death, and Ella luckily had the age and foresight to not be so shattered by it. I think Ella was far more stable a person, whether by natural personality or individual circumstance, and it is sad Alix did not take her older sister's convictions seriously in her later life. If she had, history would have been much different.

well, I can't agree with you at some point... Even a small child, let's say, since he/she is like 3-4 years old, actually CAN remember some tragic events from his/her life, and remember that after their mom's and sister's death, there was no such thing like, 'ok, they are dead, let's forget about it', no, I'm sure the athmosphere of tragedy and sadness was present at the hessian court for a long, long time, so I'm sure Alix noticed AND remembered those terrible times, for sure...

[Sasha_18]

Ella was less moody and more accomadating than the spoilt Alicky, who lived in her dreary and depressed world like a Bronte heroine. Even Marie Louise. her cousin accused her for finding pleasure in being miserable.

Alicky was too young to remember her mother, and Ella was not. Alicky was too young to cope with her brother's death, and Ella luckily had the age and foresight to not be so shattered by it. I think Ella was far more stable a person, whether by natural personality or individual circumstance, and it is sad Alix did not take her older sister's convictions seriously in her later life. If she had, history would have been much different.

well, I can't agree with you at some point... Even a small child, let's say, since he/she is like 3-4 years old, actually CAN remember some tragic events from his/her life, and remember that after their mom's and sister's death, there was no such thing like, 'ok, they are dead, let's forget about it', no, I'm sure the athmosphere of tragedy and sadness was present at the hessian court for a long, long time, so I'm sure Alix noticed AND remembered those terrible times, for sure...

of course magdelena! my point was that ella got to experience more of the stablizing influence of a mother in early childhood, and alicky simply got less of that, not that either tragedy influenced ella less or alix didn't remember it

[Eric_Lowe]

I think it was Alicky's nature to brood. Most of her other siblings were very much British among the lines of "get on with it" (especially VMH and Irene), while Ella & Ernie were most sensitive. However They too know what their duty lay and did not dwell onto it. Although Alicky lost her mother at an early age, she was well looked after by her sisters and of course their grandmother QV, who had great influence on young Alicky. No, I think she would have been the same way had Alice lived. Look at Sisi who had her mother with her, but still turned out to be sensitive and a recluse (in a way like Alicky). Both women hated crowds and could not function well in a public setting.

[wildone]

I think it was Alicky's nature to brood. [snip] No, I think she would have been the same way had Alice lived.

And probably would have been Alice's pet because of it, since Alice herself had a tendency to brood.

[Eric_Lowe]

Yes, but she had the light hearted moments too. Ernie always told people that people looked at his mother's photos and portraits and thought of her as a sad woman, but he said Alice was easily amused and laughed a lot too.

[wildone]

Yes, but she had the light hearted moments too.

And Alix never did...?

[Eric_Lowe]

It would seems seldom. Alicky could only relax with her close friends and kin, even her cousins have to tiptoe around her when she could change her mood. The fact that she could order Ella a car and drove her away seems the extent of her moodiness. I doubt Vicky ever ordered a car and her sisters away (technically she could since as cCown Princess of Germany and later Empress, but she never did).

[Sasha_18]

The fact that she could order Ella a car and drove her away seems the extent of her moodiness.

was this when Ella confronted her about Rasputin or was this a different time?

Alicky trusted very few people. How sad that the people who try to help her she drove away, and only really kept the friendship of those who almost worship her.

[wildone]

It would seems seldom. Alicky could only relax with her close friends and kin, even her cousins have to tiptoe around her when she could change her mood. The fact that she could order Ella a car and drove her away seems the extent of her moodiness. I doubt Vicky ever ordered a car and her sisters away (technically she could since as cCown Princess of Germany and later Empress, but she never did).

I don't recall reading that Alice was particularly light-hearted around people who weren't close friends and kin... many people saw her as self-righteous and serious.  I'm confused why you mentioned Vicky, since we're not talking about her. 

To bring this back on topic a little, if Ella were generally more light-hearted than Alix, besides the fact that she never had to care for a child with a serious illness, it may be because she inherited it from Ludwig rather than Alice.  From what I've read, Ludwig seems more openly cheerful.

[miki_nastya]

  HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!! sweet dear Ella !!!!

[Russka Princess]

HAPPYY BIRTHDAYYY OUR DEAR ELLA!

Rest in Peace and we all think of you and wish you are happy now whereever you are now... 

[Svetabel]

Let's go to the Part III.