https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=inu.30000011396573&view=1up&seq=103
http://www.alexanderpalace.org/letters/march15.html
The letter:
No. 47
Tsarskoje Selo, March 1-st 1915
My very own Huzy dear,
What an unexpected joy yr. precious letter was, thank you for it from all my loving old heart. Yes, lovy mine, I saw you were happy to be home these 2 days again & I too regret that we cannot be more together now that A. is not in the house. It reminds one of bygone evenings — so peaceful & calm, & no one's moods to bother & make one nervous. —
I went to Church last night at 7, the cosacks sang well & it was soothing & I thought & prayed much for my Nicky dear — I always think you are standing near me there. — Baby madly enjoyed yr. bath, & made us all come & look on at his pranks on the water. All the daughters beg too for the same treat some evening — may they? — Then we went to Ania, I worked, Olga glued her Album, Tatiana worked — M. & A. went home after 10 & we remained till 11. I went into the room where the Strannitza (blind) was with her lantern — we talked together & then she said her prayer. —
The Com. of the O. fortress Schulman knew us when he was at Kronstadt to put order there & then at Sebastopol he commanded the Brest regiment, wh. behaved so well during the stories — I remember his face very well. — After luncheon shall finish — now must dress. Ortipo has been rushing all over my bed like mad & crushed Viltchkovsky's reports I was reading. — The weather is quite mild, zero. —
I had Olga E. to say goodbye, she leaves for a quiet sanatorium near Moscou for 2 months. Then we went to the cemitry, as I had not long been there, & then on to our little hospital & the big palace. Upon our return found your dear telegram for wh. tenderest thanks. — We all kiss & bless you over & over again. Our love to N. P.
Ever, my Treasure, yr. very own
Wify.
Who misses her sweetheart very much. —
Nicholas's replies:
Telegram. Stavka. 2 March, 1915
Warmest thanks for dear letter and news. It is warm, but dull. I am very busy and have to speak a great deal. Find time for the usual long walks after lunch. I shall write. Embrace everyone closely.
Nicky.
--
Stavka. 2 March, 1915
MY TENDERLY BELOVED,
I thank you from my heart for your two sweet letters. Every time that I see the envelope with your firm writing, my heart leaps several times, and I shut myself up and read, or more correctly absorb the letter.
Of course the girls can bathe in my swimming-bath; I am glad that the Little One enjoys it so much; I asked the rogue to write to me about all this!
I am here for the seventh time — only think of it! At the front everything is quite satisfactory. N. is in a good humour and as usual demands rifles and ammunition. The question of supplying our railways and factories with coal has assumed an alarming character, and I have asked Roukhlov to take it all into his hands. Only imagine, if the manufacture of military supplies were to cease! And this because of a lack of coal, or rather owing to an insufficient output of it in our mines in the South! I am convinced that energetic measures will pull us out of these difficulties.
George looks quite well and very sunburnt; he has told me many interesting things, which he will presently pass on to you. Petiusha is here, quite recovered now. I have learnt from him that Roman had typhoid fever, but is getting better. To-day a charming old man, Pau, a French general, came from Galicia-he is delighted with his journey and with having been under Austrian fire. Sazonov arrived as well this morning, so that they all lunched with me. To-morrow Paléologue is due to arrive, who is supposed to bring the official reply of France concerning Constantinople, and also her wishes with regard to the Turkish booty.
3 March.
In the course of the day we had a lengthy conversation — N., Sazonov, Yanoushkevitch and I — which ended to our mutual satisfaction. So many questions have accumulated that it is impossible to solve them in one day. My plans are not yet quite clear. N. would not hear of my going to Lomja to start with. He says that German aeroplanes are flying there above our troops, searching for our reserves; that all the roads are blocked with transport and wagons; and that, for these reasons, he does not advise General Pau to travel in that direction. I shall see what I shall do. I have sent Djounkovsky to find out what is happening there, and, as he is a practical man, he will be able to judge whether this journey is possible.
To-day the news from everywhere is quite good. Little Osovetz is holding out satisfactorily against the bombardment; all that is damaged in the day-time is repaired at night; the spirit of the garrison is magnificent and they are in sufficient strength. I have sent them my thanks. This time the Germans are further away from their objective than they were the first time in September.
Yesterday N. brought me Ivanov's report from Broussilov and Khan-Nakhichevansky about the splendid behaviour of Misha's division in the February fighting, when they were attacked in the Carpathians by two Austrian divisions. The Caucasians not only repelled the enemy, but actually attacked him, and were the first to enter Stanislavov, while Misha was the whole time in the line of fire.
Everybody is asking me to give him the Cross of St. George, which I shall do, N. is sending one of his adjutants this evening with my letter and order to Misha; I am very glad for his sake, as I think that this time he has really earned this military distinction, and it will show him that he is, after all, treated exactly as all the others, and that by doing his duty well he also gets a reward.
The little Admiral is behaving very well and often makes us laugh during our evening games of dominoes by his witty remarks about Tatishchev and Svechin, who bore him with their interminable talks. It is true that the latter likes to tell dull anecdotes, interspersed with French sentences, when we are having lunch or tea, and he is beginning to try the patience of us all. The Admiral has become great friends with Feodorov, and they discuss nothing but points of strategy.
Well, I have talked enough nonsense, and you must forgive me, my darling Wify. God bless you and the children! I kiss you all tenderly.
Always your old devoted hubby
Nicky.
Above: Nicholas and Alexandra. Photo courtesy of Ilya Grigoryev at lastromanovs on VK.
Above: Tatiana's French bulldog puppy Ortipo. Photo courtesy of Ilya Grigoryev at lastromanovs on VK.
Above: Nicholas's bath. Photo courtesy of GMZ Tsarskoe Selo.
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