https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=inu.30000011396573&view=1up&seq=115
https://www.alexanderpalace.org/letters/april15.html
The letter:
No. 57.
Tsarskoe Selo, April 5-th 1915
My own huzy darling,
Just got your telegram. This is wonderful. You left at 2 and arrived at 9. When you leave at 10 you reach there only at 12! Bright, sunny weather, I hear the birdies chirping away. Wonder why you changed your plans. — The girls have just gone to church; baby moves the arms better, tho' water in elbows still he says. Yesterday he went with Vladimir Nikolaievitch to Ania and she was mad with joy, he goes again today to see Rodionov and Kozhevikov. Now she has Vladimir Nikolaievilch to show how to electrify her leg — every day a new Doctor. Tatiana and Anastasia were there in the day and found our Friend with her. He said the old story that she cries and sorrows as gets so few caresses. So Tatiana was much surprised and He answered that she receives many, only to her they seem few. Her humour seems not famous (the chief mourner) and notes cold, so mine too. —
I did sleep alright, as so awfully tired — but feel the same so far. Yesterday again 37.3, this morning 36.7, and morning's headache — the empty cushion beside me makes me, oh so sad! Dear sweet One, how is all aranging itself? You will let me have telegrams through fat Orlov when there are news, won't you? — Spent the evening lying quietly and the girls each reading a book. Olga and Tatiana went for ½ an hour to the hospital to see how all were. — I hear Shot barking before the house. — I send you your Image from our Friend of St. John the Warrior, wh. I forgot to give yesterday morning.
I have been rereading what our Friend wrote when he was at Constantinopel, it is doubly interesting now — quite short impressions. Oh, what a day when mass will again be served at St. Sophie. Only give orders that nothing should be destroyed or spoiled belonging to the mahomedans, they can use all again for their religion, as we are Christians, and not barbarians, thank God! How one would love to be there at such a moment! The amount of churches everywhere used or destroyed by the Turks is awful because the Greeks were not worthy to officiate and have such temples. May the Orthodox Church be more worthy now and be purified again. — This war can mean so colossaly much in the moral regeneration of our Country and Church — only to find the men to fulfil all your orders and to help you, in all your immense tasks! —
Here I am back again — lay two hours on the sopha, had Mme Zizi half an hour with petition — feel rottenly weak and tired and she did not approve of my looks. — My dear, Ania has been wheeled by Shuk as far as Voyeikov's house, Dr. Korenev near her and was not a bit tired — now tomorrow she wants to come to me! Oh dear, and I was so glad that for a long time we should not have her in the house, I am selfish after 9 years, and want you to myself at last and this means, she is preparing to invade upon us often when you return or she will beg to be wheeled in the garden, as the park is shut (so as to meet you) and I wont be there to disturb. Shall give Putiatin the order to let her in to the big park, her chair wont spoil the roads. — I should never have ventured out — what a sight! Covered by a shuba and shawl on her head — I said better a tennis cap and her hair plaited tidily will strike less. The man is needed in the Feodorov hospital and she uses him constantly. I told her to go to Znamenia before coming to me — I foresee lots of bother with her; all hysteria! Pretends to faint when one pushes the bed, but can be banged about in the streets in a chair.
The children went out before one, and I shant see them till 5 for quite short, then they go off to Ania to see our officers, Baby after his dinner. I was up fr. 1-3. — Fancy your having had snow in the night! Sweetest treasure — how I miss you! Long and lonely days - so when head aches less copy out things of our friends, and then the time passes quicker. Please give my love to N. P. & Grabbe.
What a lot of prisoners we have taken again! Now this must go. — Goodbye, Nicky love, I bless and kiss you over and over again with all the tenderness of wh. I am capable.
Ever yr. very own old
Wify.
Nicholas's telegram:
Telegram. Stavka. 6 April, 1915.
Warm thanks for dear letter and telegram; thank Marie also. There is no special news. I saw Engalychev. The weather is much better and warmer. Fond kisses.
Nicky.
Nicholas's letter:
Stavka. 6 April, 1915.
MY PRECIOUS SUNNY,
Countless loving thanks for your sweet letter, which has arrived this morning. Yes, it is curious setting off at 2 o'clock by the Warsaw line, one arrives here at 9 o'clock in the morning; whereas, leaving at 10 o'clock in the morning one gets here only at about 12 by the Vindavo-Rybinsk railway; it is a bad line and the trains move slowly on it.
Yesterday, after lengthy discussions, it was decided that we should start from the Stavka on Wednesday evening and arrive at the old frontier station of Brody on Thursday morning. Thence, N., I and some of our suite will drive in cars to Lvov, and the rest with Fredericks will go by train. In this way we shall follow the route which was taken in August by our Third Army, and shall see the battlefields, spend the night in Lvov and in the morning proceed via Sambor, where Broussilov is, to Przemysl. — Here we shall spend the night and return by the same route. Between those two places I shall perhaps manage to get in touch with the Third Caucasian Corps, who are concentrating in the reserve.
Think what a delight it would be if I should really succeed in doing so! All these changes will add only one extra day to the whole of my journey, so I hope that my Wify will not be very cross with me.
I was glad to see dear Olga. To-day the weather is really delightfully warm. We had a fairly long walk in the fields and got into an evil-smelling swamp. Some amusing scenes occurred here, especially when Grabbe, having tucked tip his skirts, tried with all his might to pull himself out of the deep mud. You can imagine in what a charming condition we returned! Well, my love, my little bird, I must finish; it is time to dispatch the courier. We are all going to the cinematograph.
Ever, beloved mine,
Your hubby
Nicky.
Above: Nicholas and Alexandra.
Above: Anna Vyrubova.
Above: Grigori Rasputin, whom Alexandra called "our Friend".
Note: shuba (шуба) = a fur coat.
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