The Life and Letters of William Boyd Carpenter, Bishop of Ripon, page 259, by H. D. A. Major, 1925
The letter:
Kiel.
Dec. 28th, 1905.
MY DEAR BISHOP,
Most heartfelt thanks for your so kind letter of good wishes with those beautiful verses you wrote, and the charming book of Poems by Whittier, which is quite new to me and has such lovely passages. I shall prize it very much, I assure you. The Prince joins me in sending you our truest good wishes for 1906 and that it may be one of joy for you and yours.
I just received letters from my two sisters in Russia; they avoid touching on political matters excepting just mentioning the anxiety they are in for the welfare of their country. It is grievous times they are going through. At Zarskoe the Empress is out of those terrible sights and sounds, but my eldest sister Ella at Moscow is not — although fortunately she left there before these last barricade fights took place to join the Emperor for his Namesday. They both occupy themselves chiefly for the sick and wounded returned from the war. Alise goes almost daily to a hospital in the Park of Zarskoe, where she even reads to the poor soldiers in Russian — she has a school for them where they do basketwork and tailoring, carpentering and boot-making — for those poor souls who have been amputated — and she says those with one arm learn also very quickly. Then a newly founded Hospital for Babies where nurses are trained for Nursery work, wh. is a great failing in Russia, cleanliness and neatness being one of their very weak points, also answers well. She started it this summer and is quite proud of her success so far, as she is constantly seeing them at work — it is really a school for nurses in better families, nursemaids, etc. Then her two trains are still running for the sick and wounded in Siberia — and her depôt of clothing and necessaries still greatly in demand. All this is some comfort to her in these sad times. My sister in Moscow has many institutions she is at the head of, and especially one hospital where now in her sad widowhood she goes twice a day to and says: "My hospital is an intense comfort to me; I never thought it could be so calming to know those simple souls with their little interests, their great faith in God, and unbounded patience — how they bear their own wounds is marvellous; one feels so small next to that patience. Never worry for me, nothing prints itself on me to make me nervous physically or morally — I have a feeling of belonging to those who suffer — that I want to be my aim in life; personal sorrow is gone, there is no room for it. Serge (her husband) is at rest, such rest we on this earth can't find: how can and dare I long for him to return? I have and will stand alone — I who never did a thing without his advice, it seems strange to me. I manage it — but what must be must be, and perhaps that is my strength that God does not allow me to lose courage, it is work, work, and I feel well, etc. I have much more comfort than Ernie (our brother now nearly two years ago when his little girl died) had and none of those worries, etc. All only live to give me pleasure, and perhaps the hardest thing for me now is not to become selfish. I have a constant battle with myself; it is good not to spoil people. All charity-work gives so much joy in spite of so many a very bitter disappointment, but that is good — it pushes one on."
I have only written this out for you!!! — who know us all almost — that you should have a peep into her sweet unselfish nature, so full of love and faith. So true, so simple, never gaining any influence except by her deeds and never pushing herself forward, always keeping in the background. You can well imagine how she is adored — but her life is in God's hands, and nowhere else would she be happy at present. She knows all the failings of the Russian character, but also their good points. She is no dreamer. Forgive me writing all this about my own dear sisters — but you kindly asked after them, and I thought you might like a peep into their inner life so sacred to us.
Once more every good wish for you and yours from
Yours truly,
IRÈNE, PRINCESS HENRY.
Above: Alexandra.
Above: Ella.
Above: Irène.
Above: William Boyd Carpenter, Bishop of Ripon.
