Smoking

[Olishka~ Pincess]

You never know someone could have photoshoped them or they may have been pretending. Anyway they did not know the dangers of smoking like we do.

They weren't pretending, and the photos weren't altered. The children talk about smoking cigarettes from their father in their letters and diaries. The photos on Beinicke and in books like Anastasia's Album and Nicholas & Alexandra: The Family Albums have not been altered -- they all show the children smoking. You're absolutely right that smoking wasn't perceived as dangerous then. There was also no social stigma attatched to smoking, so most people smoked. That's all there is to it.

The captions in some books will try to convince you that the children are only pretending, but that's not true. As I said above, the children's own letters and diaries prove they smoked. IMO, the authors are just trying to avoid the modern controversy of showing kids with cigarettes.

Yes I have read the letters Tatiana and Anastasia were mentioning they were smoking in the letters to their father. Yes, the pictures are real i mean they came straight from the old albums the family had. Anyway I seen pictures of them smoking and it is real the grand duchesses, nicholas and alexei also did end of story the point is that all of them smoked but not as often as Nicholas did becuase he was a chan-smoker. They were not fully aware of the dangers of smoking.

[aleksandr pavlovich]

Relative to the photograph posted by Aliss Kande of the Heir with a cigarette:   I have seen this photo a number of years ago and I am believing that it was taken on the grounds of the Aleksandr Palace during the detention of the Imperial Family.  I seem to remember that the guards were at times a bit friendly/relaxed (but not to the extreme) with some of the family.  Perhaps the Heir found it amusing to pose nonchalantly with a borrowed cigarette from one of the young guards for a little levity?   One definitely may presume that the Empress was NOT nearby, even if the cigarette was not lit !!

[BeautyQueen]

So Alexei didn't smoke? Or did he really? Because it that picture, he was playing around.

[Alexander_IV]

Relative to the photograph posted by Aliss Kande of the Heir with a cigarette:   I have seen this photo a number of years ago and I am believing that it was taken on the grounds of the Aleksandr Palace during the detention of the Imperial Family.  I seem to remember that the guards were at times a bit friendly/relaxed (but not to the extreme) with some of the family.  Perhaps the Heir found it amusing to pose nonchalantly with a borrowed cigarette from one of the young guards for a little levity?   One definitely may presume that the Empress was NOT nearby, even if the cigarette was not lit !!

You're presuming here that the Empress wouldn't have liked Alexei smoking while we're not sure of that.
Smoking in those days was looked upon completely different than we do now.
Does anyone have any diary entries or letters or something clarifying Alexandra's view on smoking and by her children in particular?

[aleksandr pavlovich]

Yes, thank you, Alexander IV.  It would be interesting to know of such documentation, particularly re the children.   Best regards.

[Natasya]

I do know she sometimes smoked herself. She wrote in a letter to Nicholas she had a cigarette to calm her nerves. So she wouldn't negatively view it.

[NAOTMAA Fan]

I think it's now clear, with the evidence presented by other posters here, that OTMA and Nicholas smoked. Alexandra too, I believe, smoked on occassion for means of calming. I've read the letter that Natasya mentioned, and if I could find it I'd post its contents here. Now when it comes to Alexei, I personally don't believe he did as a habit. That photograph below certainly is him, but I think he was just pretending to be one of the guards as a mimic. Alexei was Alexandra's "Baby" so I think she would have refrained from letting him smoke until he was older, and yes the overall effects weren't well known then.

However, maybe in the time of House-Arrest at the Alexander Palace, him and Anastasia would go off and maybe smoke one between themselves. I mean they were extremely close and if Anastasia offered it, I'm sure Alexei wouldn't have been against it.

[BeautyQueen]

I think Alexei and Anastasia probably did smoke in the years 1917 and 1918 because they were stressed.

[Olishka~ Pincess]

I think Alexei and Anastasia probably did smoke in the years 1917 and 1918 because they were stressed.

Anastasia and Alexei also did it becuase they thought it was relaxing and it helps calm you down. They realy were unaware that it is very dangerous and a hazard. Yes Alexandra did smoke she thought it would calm her down. I read Alix's friends book Leli Dehn made about Alix's biography it said Alix smoked to calm her nerves down. She eventually quit later in 1917 I believe becuase she gave up her habit to a nun. Who knows I realy think Alexei did actually smoke Anastasia would have most likely offered them to him. So many things were kept a secret about them. we don't even know exactly what happened.

[aleksandr pavlovich]

Elizabeth~Princess:  As a learning process, please cite your source for the following verbatim segment of your recent post, Reply #38:  (Referencing the Empress Alexandra and her smoking):  "She eventually quit later in 1917  I believe becuase she gave up her habit to a nun." I am unaware of this. Please clarify.  Many thanks.

[aleksandr pavlovich]

Elizabeth~Princess:  ADDENDUM to my inquiry:  In specific, I am more interested in the "nun" inclusion.  I will appreciate whatever documentation you can supply on this.  Again, thanks!

[Holly]

Alix didn't become a nun. I think maybe Valeriya meant a Red Cross nurse?
I'm sure Alexei smoked occasionally. If Anastasia did at such a young age I'm sure they would've let Alexei as well.

[Olishka~ Pincess]

Alix didn't become a nun. I think maybe Valeriya meant a Red Cross nurse?
I'm sure Alexei smoked occasionally. If Anastasia did at such a young age I'm sure they would've let Alexei as well.

Yes, I know Alix did not become a nun that is understood. I don't think it was a red cross nuse Holly. I was realy unsure who the person was I was in belief of thinking it was a nun. I was not saying Alexandra became a nun. I am not exactly sure who the person was. I read it somewhere and I forgot their name.

[aleksandr pavlovich]

Elizabeth~Princess:   Thank you for your indirect response to my two posts (#39 and #40) of November 12. ( "Indirect,"  since Holly attempted to explain your answer.)  Especially referencing your post #38 (and subsequent ones), it is difficult to follow your English sentence construction with such problems as:  many misspellings and considerable lack to attention to punctuation, especially in the use of a period, thus leading to run-on sentences and jumbled interpretation.  Perhaps English is not your native language?  I'm certain that in your school there are special classes that can help with English construction for anyone.  Recommendations: (1.) Research your topic for verifiable FACTS,  NOT suppositions that lead to statements like:  " I was realy unsure....., I was in belief........, I'm not exactly sure......., I read it somewhere and I forgot....."  (2.)  Think what you want to convey, even writing it out in longhand, before posting, if needed,  (3.)  Use shorter sentences , correct verb-tense agreement, correct punctuation and (4.) Spell check!  Then your points will be more accurate and readily understandable. 

[Olishka~ Pincess]

Everyone always have to tell me that me  English is so bad and stupid I am really sick of it. 'Elisabeth your English is the worst please work on it' and 'what is your first language Elisabeth'? Oh whatever! Don't worry about it thats none of your concern. You all have annoyed me enough about this da** cr**. You already told me a thousand of times now I am really sick and tired of it. You are really not helping anybody more like annoying. You people really have nothing else to do than hurt someone's feelings and embarrass them.  I don't have to prove nothing you people know, wheather if it is true or not figure that out for yourselves. How about you go ahead and do that! I am really sick and tired of hearing that kind of cr**.  I don't have to be specific because since you all think you’re so 'perfect' and 'important' you can also figure that out for yourselves too. You people always say you need to explain your facts over and over again and really you’re doing it because you have nothing else to do.  God I can't stand it very annoying. I am not doing anything because you’re not the boss of me.  If you want to help someone then you could have said it in a much more positive way and not by harassing and being rude to them! You all say to people all the time that they have to work with their English and you say that because you people don't have a life or you have nothing else to do, other than annoy others. Oh, my goodness you people are so sick and pathetic.