Alexandra wrote this letter to Nicholas on September 25, 1914.
Source:
The letter:
25-th. Good morning my treasure. To-day the Feldjeger fetches the letter later so I can write still a little. This may be the last letter if Fredericks is right, that you are returning to-morrow, but it seems to me you won't, as you are sure to be seeing the hussars, lancers, artillery and other troops resting at Vilna. There were 2 degrees of frost this night — now there is again glorious sunshine. —
We shall be at 11 at the hospital, I still cannot take medecins wh. is a great nuisance, as my head daily aches tho' not very strongly and I feel my heart, tho it is not enlarged, but I must keep still rather quiet today. I have not been for a real airing since you left. — Sergei is a little better — Pss. Orlov too feels quite alright, only weak. — Baby slept and feels well.
One continues speaking of that property in the Baltic provinces where the place is marked white and a hydroplane rested upon their lake there — as, tho' officers, ours, had dressed in plain clothes and seen it — nobody is allowed to go there. — I do wish one could have it seriously enquired into. There are so many spies everywhere that it may be true, but it would be very sad, as there are still many very loyal subjects in the Baltic provinces. This miserable war, when will it ever end? William, I feel sure must at times pass through hideous moments of despair, when he grasps that it was he, and especially his anti-Russian set, wh. began the war and is dragging his country into ruin. All those little states, for years they will continue suffering from the after effects. It makes my heart bleed when I think how hard Papa and Ernie struggled to bring our little country to its present state of prosperity in every sense.
With God's help here all will go well and end gloriously, and it has lifted up spirits, cleansed the many stagnant minds, brought unity in feelings and is a "healthy war" in the moral sense. Only one thing I long that our troops should behave exemplarily in every sense, and not rob and pillage — leave that horror to the Prussian troops. It is demoralising, and then one loses the real control over the men they fight for personal gain and not for the country's glory, when they reach the stage of high-way robbers. — No reason to follow bad examples — the rearguard, "obozy" are the curse, in this case all speak in despair of them, nobody to hold them in hand. — There are always ugly sides and beautiful ones to everything, and so is it here. Such a war ought to cleanse the spirits and not defile them, is it not so? Some regiments are very severe I know and try to keep order — but a word from above would do no harm, this is my very own idea, Darling; because I want the name of our Russian troops to be remembered hereafter in the countries with awe and respect — and admiration. Here people do not ever quite grasp the idea that other people's property is sacred, and not to be touched — victory does not mean pillage. Let the priests in the regiments say a word to the men too on this topic.
Now I am bothering you with things that do not concern me, but only out of love for your soldiers and their reputation.
Sweetest treasure, I must be ending now, and get up. All my prayers and tenderest thoughts follow you; may God give you courage, strength, and patience, faith you have more than ever and it is this wh. keeps you up — yes prayers and implicit trust in God's mercy alone give one strength to bear all. And our Friend helps you carry yr. heavy cross and great responsibilities — and all will come right, as the right is on our side. I bless you, kiss your precious face, sweet neck and dear loving handies with all the fervour of a great loving heart. How lovely to have you soon back again. Your very own old
Wify
Wify
Above: Nicholas and Alexandra.
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