olga and rasputin

[Kalafrana]

'He's always there, goes into the nursery, visits Olga and Tatiana while they are getting ready for bed, sits there talking to them and caressing them. They are careful to hide him from Sofia Ivanovna, and the children don't dare talk to her about him. It's quite unbelievable and beyond understanding.'

What language was Xenia writing in? If in Russian, what is the nuance of the word used? I would disagree with earlier posters who suggest that 'caressing' is not necessarily sexual - in modern Brit English it is! Though I will admit that it may have been different in 1912. If something non-sexual is intended, then 'stroke' or perhaps 'rub' would convey the meaning better. In any event, this is hardly suitable behaviour from an adult to a pair of teenage girls.

As I read the extract, it sounds as though Xenia took the tale seriously. Though she speaks later of 'dreadful rumours' about Rasputin, it doesn't sound as though she was dismissing this one as mere rumour.

Ann

[Sarushka]

blessOTMA --

Those were my initial thoughts as well, but as matushka pointed out, Olga's entry was actually made a few days after the murder, when information about Dmitry's involvement was becoming available:

The 19th December, it is already 3 days after the crime, the first elements of the inquisition had already shown something. She did not write what she guess, but what had become know. In russian doljno byt' Dimitriem means more something like "it seems that it is Dimitri, nothing to deal whit that".

I do have the complete entry in Russian, but it will take me a little while to type it out.

What language was Xenia writing in? If in Russian, what is the nuance of the word used? I would disagree with earlier posters who suggest that 'caressing' is not necessarily sexual - in modern Brit English it is! Though I will admit that it may have been different in 1912. If something non-sexual is intended, then 'stroke' or perhaps 'rub' would convey the meaning better.

In modern American English "caress" also has sexual connotations, but 100 years ago it didn't. At the turn of the century the term was in much more common usage, and the implication was of tenderness or devotion.

[Sarushka]

Olga's diary entry of 19 December (OS):

Понеделник 19 декабря

Как всегда к Знамению и в лазарет. Почти было нечего делать. Пошли с Касьяновим в гостиную и при закрытых дверях и без никого я играла, а он напевал разные новые и красивые вещи. Он был очень, очень милым. Пошла дать лекарства и т.д. и опять поиграли. После 12 ч. после перевязок начали играть в блошки, всегдашняя партия и мы с Касьячовым обыграли улан. Еле с Мамой. Окончательно узнали, что отец Григорий был убит, должно быть Дмитрием, и брошен с моста у Крестовского. Его нашли в воде. Как тяжело и писать не стоит. Сидели и пили чай с Лили и Аней и всё время чувствовался отец Григорий с нами. В 5 ч. поехали на ветку по ошибке, а в 6 ч. встретили Папу и Алексея. Ужасно радостно. Обедали вместе. После 10 ч. Папа и Мама принимали Калинина, потом д. Павла. Мы были у Ани в комнате. В 12 ч. спать.

[blessOTMA]

Thank you Sarushka! It was kind of you to type the diary entry out. Even in this,  far from perfect mechanical translation,
it does seem to be something Olga heard about. If she suspected  Dimitry in  Rasputin's  disappearance days eariler , that would be another matter. It is interesting to see Olga  still felt Rasputin to be a spiritual force...( we felt father Grigory with us) as if death was no barrier for father Grigory.  thanks again



on December, 19th

As always to the Sign and in an infirmary. There was almost nothing to do. Have gone with Касьяновим to a drawing room and behind closed doors and without anybody I played, and he sang different new and beautiful things. He was very, very dear. Has gone to give  medicine, etc. have again played. After 12 ч. After bandagings have started to play flea beetles,usual party and we with Касьячовым have beaten улан. Hard for Mama. Have finally learned, that father Grigory has been killed, must be by Dimitry, and he was  thrown from the bridge at Krestovsky. He was  found in the water. Is hard  to write it is not necessary. Sat and drank tea with  Lillie and Аней and all time we felt father Grigory with us. In 5 ч. Have gone on a branch by mistake, and in 6 ч. Have met the Papa and Alexey. Awfully joyfully. Had dinner together. After 10 ч. The Papa  and Mama accepted Kalinin, then д. Paul. We were  in the  room. In 12 ч. To sleep.

[blessOTMA]

As it has relevence I repost Olga's diary entries for Rasputin's death and funeral:


18 December 1916

Oh God help, it is so painful and hard!
Ania and Lili were here in the morning and during the day. Went for a walk with them and Titi. in the morning brilliant, bright sunny skies but a heavy frost. We all sat together. Holy God protect and save us! Lili and Ania drank tea and will dine. N.P. dined and then went at 10 o'clock. Only after 11 we went our separate ways. It is all so painful! T and I slept with Mama. I in Papa's bed and T on the couch. Thus all nice and cozy.....  

 

I read this thread,  so how did I miss this gold mine? Thank you for this translation! It's interesting how Olga is in Nicky's bed and T on the couch.People with high emotions like Alexandra  and Olga can have a strained relationship in the day to day life. Each feels THIER emotions should dominate and emotional people often don't know what to do with thier emotions in the hum drum everyday, so there can be conflict.  But when there is  big, big  trouble, emotional people often turn to each other for support.

[blessOTMA]

from Olga Nicholaievna's diary Dec 19, 1916  diary ( mechanical translation)

Have finally learned, that father Grigory has been killed, must be by Dimitry, and he was  thrown from the bridge at Krestovsky. He was  found in the water. Is hard  to write it is not necessary. Sat and drank tea with  Lillie and Аней and all time we felt father Grigory with us.

I remember years ago reading Olga Alexandrovna's autobiography and she said she personally witnessed Rasputin's
beneficial effect on Alexei. Rasputin seemed to  have something and the medical world could offer them nothing. Explains a great deal. Olga Nicholaievna's  difficulty was she could see both  Rasputin's beneficial  effect on  Alexei  and her mother...( and apprently felt it as well.) but  eventually, also his damaging effect in St.P and the family's reputation.

If only it was as easy as he was,  bad Rasputin or good father Grigory . When the dearest things to you  are your family and Russia, he becomes both. And Olga  broke some windows, tore up a store room? ...with the stakes so incredibly high, and the ever increasing tensions during the war,  that doesn't sound like extreme acts to me. Far from alarming the small pair, they joined Olga in the glass breaking! It's as if the windows took the place of the AP park ice breaking she often found relaxing before the war.