Olga and Tatiana at Court Events

[Lanie]

I think the photo of Olga standing in front of the door, holding the handle, from 1911 is from her birthday ball--at least, just before it.

[Ortino]

Olga evidently was hysterical and Tatiana calmed her down, though Tatiana was deeply affected by this event.

I believe it was the other way around. Nicholas wrote that "Tatiana was very upset and she cried alot..."

And there's a big difference between attending the theater and going to a ball in my mind.

[Lanie]

Re Stolypin's assassination--Tatiana slammed the door so Nicholas couldn't go out and see what was going on; understandably to protect her father and Olga if the shooter was still in there.

[Pasha]

I agree that going to the theater and ballet is not quite the same as a gala ball, but it is evident that the 2 older girls went to social occasions like this, often because their mother did not attend.

As far as the Stolypin assassination goes, I agree with Lanie that Tatiana, though obviously upset, was the "cooler head" in the situation and tried to calm her family just after a truly horrific event that took place right in front of them. My understanding is that Olga was hysterical, which is completely understandable.
It is interesting that, at 14, Tatiana, seemed to take some kind of control of the situation.

[ferngully]

well she wasn't called the governess for nothing
selina          xxxxxxxxxx

[Sarai_Porretta]

I think the photo of Olga standing in front of the door, holding the handle, from 1911 is from her birthday ball--at least, just before it.

Lanie,
Oh yes, I know which photo you are talking about! She is lovely in it. If you are right, that is very exciting, as I have never seen any picture of the girls at (or even right before) their "coming out" balls. Thank you for that info.!

[Ortino]

Lanie,
Oh yes, I know which photo you are talking about! She is lovely in it. If you are right, that is very exciting, as I have never seen any picture of the girls at (or even right before) their "coming out" balls. Thank you for that info.!

Well, there aren't any existing photos of the other girls' "coming out" balls because they never had any. Olga was the only one.

[Pasha]

Lanie,
Is there any way you could post that photo of Olga? I would love to see it.

Do you have any more info about the 1914 ball?

I was also interested to see if anyone knew how accomplished Olga and Tatiana were in playing the piano. I have read they played very well, but that Olga was a bit jealous because it came very naturally to Tatiana.

Any photos of them playing?

[Lanie]

Piano-wise, Olga was very much a mucisian.  She could play anything by ear.  She had a lot more passion in her playing and was in that way better than Tatiana, who was just better at it with skill but just did it because she was made to take the lessons and perform pieces.

I colored the 1911 picture; you can find it on page 5 of the Colored Photos III thread on the main Imperial Family section.

[Pasha]

Lanie,

Very nice job on that photo of Olga!

Are there any photos of the party itself?

My sense is that Olga worked harder at music, studying religion, etc. Tatiana was not quite as diligent, but was very bright and talented.

[Sarai_Porretta]

Well, there aren't any existing photos of the other girls' "coming out" balls because they never had any. Olga was the only one.

True enough. I suppose I was just thinking of a passage I read once that described Maria at a ball (I could have sworn it was called her "coming out" party) where she was wearing a powder blue dress and she greatly embarrased herself when she tripped and almost fell as she was making her entrance. Her father just laughed and chalked it up to "clumsy Marie."

[Pasha]

If Olga had her "coming out" party in 1911 at age 16, wouldn't it follow that Tatiana would have one in 1913 or 1914, and Marie, perhaps in 1915? I know the war was on in 1914 and 1915, so maybe this wasn't feasible, but, certainly in 1913 or early 1914 it could have been. We have discussed earlier, a ball in 1914, and there were a number of events in 1913 because of the tercentennary. Was 16 the magical age of becoming a debutante?
Do you recall any particulars about the event regarding Marie, Sarai?

[Lanie]

Alix had planned for Tatiana to have her party in the winter of 1914-15 where she would finally let her girls out into St. Petersburg sociiety.  Obviously it did not happen.

[Ortino]

If Olga had her "coming out" party in 1911 at age 16, wouldn't it follow that Tatiana would have one in 1913 or 1914, and Marie, perhaps in 1915? I know the war was on in 1914 and 1915, so maybe this wasn't feasible, but, certainly in 1913 or early 1914 it could have been. We have discussed earlier, a ball in 1914, and there were a number of events in 1913 because of the tercentennary.  Was 16 the magical age of becoming a debutante?

The girls were all two years apart, so Tatiana would have technically had hers around 1913, and Marie 1915. You also have to take into consideration that Olga was born in November while the other three were all born in June. That throws off the date and year somewhat. Yes, the war postponed any type of parties and the 1913 celebration events probably made the proposition of a party impossible. I think though that Olga's almost engagement to Prince Carol also threw Tatiana's party off somewhat (1914). And yes, 16 was the age for all girls to "come out".

[Pasha]

You are right, Ortino, in that Tatiana turned 16 in June of 1913. Lanie mentioned that Alix wanted to have the "coming out" party for her in 1914 or 1915. Sarai's mention of Marie at a function and tripping is also interesting. I wonder if this was the same ball we discussed earlier that took place in 1914 (Marie would have been 15).

Also, besides all the celebrations in 1913, it is also the year Tatiana had typhoid, if I am not mistaken. I know she participated in many events that year, but, perhaps, she was not physically up to a "coming out" party.