Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 115, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 May 1918 — Page 2

In Philadelphia Public Ledger. » aT WAS as a measure of safety for the life of the dethroned czar and his family that the Russian government authorities decided that the former ruler and his family be sent to Tobols|(| Siberia, till the constituent assembly could determine how best to solve the problem of their future. Kerensky was then premier, and it fell upon him to deliver the fateful decision as politely as possible. He called personally at the palace of Tsar-skoe-Selo and gave twenty-four hours to the royal exiles to pack their trunks and make themselves ready for their journey. The ex-czar turned white and stammered in answer to Kerensky: “If it is God’s and the people’s will we shall obey.” A day thereafter the premier again called on the ex-czar and informed him that the train which was to take him and his family to Siberia was ready. In four closed automobiles, guarded by a company of Cossacks, the royal exiles left their stately residence and drove to the railway station, where they were met by Baron Fredericks, the for- . mer minister of the court; General Voyiekoff, the former commander of the palace, and Countess Naryshkin, the former lady in waiting to the czarina. These were to follow their former masters to Siberia. The baggage consisted of fifteen trunks and a few suitcases or handbags. These were carried Into the car by the two loyal servants and the family members themselves. A dead silence pre- “ vailed on the platform when the once feared and respected ruler walked to his car. Premier Kerensky held his arm. Vice Premier Nekrassov accompanied the ex-czarina. It was a heavy and painful moment, a moment full of depressing thoughts. if ever, in history has there been a more4omplete change in human fortunes than that which Nicholas Romanoff has suddenly undergone. From a household expenditure of> $12,000,000 a year lie has now been reduced to about $3,006 a year. From having twenty palaces at his command he was at first cut down to an eight-room flat in an old Siberian municipal building. From being the most powerful autocrat of All the Russias he became suddenly plain Mr. Nicholas Alexandrovich Romanoff. Siberian exile. I have succeeded in receiving considerable details concerning the ex-czar’s manner of life and views at Tobolsk. It is only a short while ago that he was permitted to move from the small flat into the monastery. Here he is now occupying a .small room in the house of the archimandrite, while the ex-czarina occupies another room in an adjoining building. Though apparently free, the ex-czar and his family are really exiles, guarded carefully by the soldiers over whom he used to possess a command of life and death. . In this dreary town of 45,000 inhabitants the exczar and fils family have remained the chief objects of interest. While a special attention had ibeen paid by the guards to him and the ex-czarina, the daughters are free t'o come and go as they please, and from them the townspeople have learned a great deal about the household and life •of their dethroned rulers. The residence determined for the ex-czar consisted of eight rooms of the second floor of the former governor’s house at Tobolsk. It is a rather roomy house, built in the stately style of Russian institutions, of brick in white stucco, with a sloping green roof. It is not situated in the aristocratic quarter of the city, which lies on higher ground on the farther side of the Tobol river. The lower floor was occupied by the guarding officers, who had been specially selected on account of their loyalty to the revolutionary cause. Nicholas and the former czarina occupied a room each and two rooms were put aside for the daughters and the son Alexis, the former heir apparent There were a dining room, a wide kitchen and a general sitting room, and the rest of the flat was given over to the servants. The revolutionary government allowed three servants, a butler and two .-maids. Contrast these quarters with those the Romanoffs formerly enjoyed at Tsarskoe-Selo, Peterhof, ait the Winter and Anichkova palaces In Petrograd, at Llvadia, in Gatchina and the twenty-odd palaces they possessed. The Peterhof palace was so large that a person could lose himself in it, and •JWO servants were employed solely to steer guests Through It; The Hall of Mirrors in the Winter pal«ee st Petrograd is 200 feet in length and is con-

By IVAN NARODNY

Mr. Romanoff and family in Exile

sidered dne of the most gorgeous rooms in existence. In the early days of their life in Tobolsk Nicholas and his wife were kept really prisoners within their flat. They were only allowed out for the purpose of attending services in the Cathedral of Annunciation or the monastery where they now live, or going to the public baths. They attended divine services twice every Sunday and on religious anniversaries of importance. They attended the public baths once a week. The Romanoff family are living a very simple life. They cannot afford oranges, lemons, pears, peaches, pineapples and many other delicacies which are quite common in America. They could not have spirituous drinks if they wanted them, for the law which Nicholas first promulgated himself is still in force. Instead of sugar they use honey for their table. As a true hausfrau, the ex-czarina generally assists the cook in the Ifitchen to prepare t-he meals. The Romanoffs have a light breakfast at nine o’clock, luncheon at one and dinner at six. The late hour for breakfast and the early hour for dinner are planned to suit the convenience of the servants. Day after day the same monotonous routine continues, with its simple meals and its lack of excitement. There are no social pleasures and no entertainments. Until recently their lives were filled with state banquets, great court balls and receptions’ and pageants of various kinds, not to mention the military and religious ceremonies and other diversions perhaps equally exciting. Now they cannot even entertain the mayor or the school children of the town. The former czarina was greatly excited about the banishment and suffered during the first days after her arrival at Tobolsk. But she soon overcame her sorrows and took an active interest in the housekeeping. She likes roast goose and roast veal cooked in the German style. There are rumors that she is now very lively in her conversation and bitter about her fate. On the other hand, the ex-czar has been very silent, glpomy and reflective. He frequently has brushed away a tear from his eyes. He has grown very haggard, gray and old-looking. He wears ordinarily the uniform of a general of the Prebrajensky regiment, which he is allowed to use, although he no longer enjoys the rank. Perhaps the most interesting news of the Romanoff family relates to the daughters. There are four of these girls, all pretty and attractive: Olga, aged twenty-two; Tatiana, aged twenty; Marie, aged eighten, and Anastasia, aged sixteen. They were nearly frightened to death at the outbreak of the revolution, but now, under just treatment, they are developing into good republicans and perhaps even radicals. The government has very kindly and no doubt wisely allowed these young girls to come and go as they please, without any watch being kept upon them. They mix freely with the people of the town and travel to all parts of the country if they wish. It is no uncommon thing to hear the son of a local shopkeeper say to the former Grand Duchess Olga, eldest daughter of the former czar of all the Russias": “Hello, Olga Nlcholaevna, won’t you go for a ride this evening?" To this Olga will reply, without being the least offended: ' “No, thank you, Ivan Petrovich, I have an important meeting of the Woman’s club to attend." Usually the girls are addressed, according to the regular Russian style, as “Olga Nicholaevna,” meaning “Olga, daughter of Nicholas;'” “Tatiana Nicolaevna," and so on. The ex-czar is addressed as “Hospodin Romanoff” and the ex-czarina as “Hosposha Romanova,” the prefixes used being the Russian equivalents of “Mr." and “Mrs.”

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

Intimate View of Life of Former Royal Family of Russia in Siberian Home

All the daughters of the former czar have plenty of money at their disposal, as they have been allowed to retain the possession of the cash they bad before the revolution as well as the jewels which they possessed individually. Olga, who is the most serious member of the family, is a volunteer nurse in the local military hospital, where she spends five hours every day. Tatiana’s occupations were more indefinite, as she is a girl who likes more the social side of life and therefore made the largest number of friends in this Siberian town. All the Romanoff girls mix freely with the ordinary citizens of Tobolsk. They often go to the Municipal theater, and on these occasions they sit down in the lobby, which serves the purpose of,the French case as a social meeting place. They also go to large tea parties in the town, sell at the booths of the charity bazaars and attend luncheons at the Merchants’ dub. They are members of the Woman’s club and the Red Cross society of the town. They are also frequent visitors at all the radical meetings and lectures in Tobolsk. * A rather interesting change has taken place with the former heir apparent, little Alexis, known to his family and friends as “Aliosha.” From the monarchical point of view he is more important than all the girls put together. He has become very democratic and enjoys the banishment. He is allowed to go out and play in the public park as long as he pleases, but he is watched all the time, because he might be used by conspirators in an attempt to restore the monarchy. It is interesting to know that little Aliosha appears to be in much better health than when he was heir to the throne, although he still suffers from the stiffness of the right leg which he acquired in a mysterious accident. His color is better than it was and he appears to have recovered to some extent from the slow poisoning to which Rasputin subjected him as a means of maintaining his Influence over the czar and czarina. While the younger members of the Romanoff family are reasonably happy, there is no doubt that the former czar and czarina are intensely miserable. They are tormented by the loss of their power and° splendor and the great heritage that had been handed down to them from generations of famous ancestors. While the former czarina is filled with rage against those who have brought her to the present condition, Nicholas show’s only melancholy. Though occasionally downcast, she has a more aggressive and restless character than her husband. She busies herself in the household work, probably in order to save herself from going mad over her troubles. She rises at eight o’clock in the morning, makes a brief toilet and puts on a kitchen dress. Then she goes into the kitchen, looks over the provisions and plan's the meals for the day. She made all her jars of jelly and jam for Jast winter. The former czarina prides herself on her skill in making all kinds of cake and pastry. Pathetically she hopes that the fallen czar will be cheered by a cake baked by her own imperial hands. But all her efforts are ,in vain. Her husband has been gradually losing his appetit£. The exiled czarina is most saddened by the thought that she has lost all the historic crown jewels of Russia, representing a value of millions of dollars. Many of these which she was forced to leave behind in the palace at Tsarkoe-Selo now adorn the wives and sweethearts of leading socialists and bolshevik politicians. One thought consoles her: that she sent a Way a large part of her personal jewels to Darmstadt, Germany just before the revolution broke out. It was in last November that the government permitted the exiled czar and his family to make their residence in the monastery near Tobolsk, they are now living under the supervision of thesclergy and local police, most of the guards having been withdrawn. The routine of their daily life in the monastery is virtually the same as it was in the former governor's house, only the at- . mosphere is more religious and they are secluded from the curious eyes of the outside world.

BLACK IS POPULAR

Gowns Suitable for All Occasions and All Ages. May Be Relieved by Use of Colored Lining and Touches of Jet and Metallic Lace. With the spring season almost upon us, nearly every woman will have need of a smart new evening gown. Something simple and dignified is looked for in these days of economy, says a fashion authority, and women gladly pass up the frivolous frocks of more prosperous days. Black is tremendous* ly popular for evening wear, but it Is usually brightened by quantities of fine jet or metallic lace.' One of the loveliest black evening gowns is made of black tulle over soft satin. If you have a black satin or charmeuse afternoon frock, the waist of which is worn, you can use that to great advantage. If the skirt is rather narrow, use it as the foundation. First make a plain drop skirt of black net over the satin, reaching down to the hem. A narrow band of jet sewed to the net will give it weight and make it hang well. A tunic with four points, also bordered with jet, goes over the net skirt and falls a little longer than usual. This tunic can be elaborately embroidered in jet beads, or you can buy black net that is already embroidered. However, it is not difficult to do oneself, and if white tissue paper is held under the net, it will not be so hard on the eyes. Later, carefully rip* the paper away. The bodice of the gown should be extremely simple. Make a plain dart fitted foundation of black satin and drape the net over it in soft folds. Shoulder straps of jet hold the bodice, while two loops of jet slip over the arm. £r you can make a bodice of net with long sleeves flaring at the wrist. A jet band is the only trimming on the sleeve. An interesting note could be given this gown by a corsage bouquet of gay colors. A rich red poinsettia would be

GRAY MATTER AND CLOTHES

How a Smart Girt Copi£| Hat She Saw in Shop Window, Making a Most Clever Reproduction. Read about these two clevter things that one girl did whose allowance for clothes was nothing what it should have been, which only goes to prove that pocketbooks don’t always make smart clothes and that gray matter has a lot to do with it. She saw a hat she liked in a smart shop window. It was a tricorn, with the most adorable trimming cockades on each of the three sides. But she couldn’t afford it. However, she went straightway and bought a plain silk tricorn and then proceeded to copy those fetching little cockades. She painted a wooden button mold with some gilt paint, then covered It with some dainty figured chiffon. The result was that of an enameled ornament. She then used some long yellow and black beads, which she had on hand, and arranged them around the button as spokes in a wheel, backing the whole thing, with a plaiting of the folded chiffon. ~ This same girl did wonders to a plain blue chiffon blouse, designed to be worn with a dark blue suit, but npt quite dressy enough as it stood when bought.

BLACK SATIN HAT AND BAG

Clever sets are offered as spring accessories and among the latest and most attractive designs are those In satin decorated with wool embroidery and cut-out floral designs. This fetching hat and knitting bag of black satin are trimmed with gay-colored appllqued flowers.

striking at the belt, especially when , worn by a brunette. The girl with the auburn hair should select a few orchids (artificial if necessary) to wear, with her black dance frock. For those who find all black too Intense, try black tulle or lace over a slip of flesh-colored satin. Finish-the bottom with a deep flounce ,of silver' lace and have a black tulle drop skirt. Silver embroidery should trim the tunic of this style gown and silver banding used at the shoulders. This makes a lovely dance frock for the young girl, and one of which she does not easily tire. • ~ Black evening gowns are well suited to all ages and occasions, from the elderly matron with snowy locks to the golden-haired debutante.

MILLINERY FOR SUMMER

Ostrich feathers are having a remarkable vogue this year for summer millinery. The attractive hat here illustrated is covered with pale blue ostrich plumage.

COVERING THE HAT FRAME

Sure Way of Getting Headgear That Fits and Is Becoming—How to Economize on Millinery. . It is a difficult matter usually to cover a hat frame so that it looks well, tiowever ?you can do this if you go about it in the right way. If you have an old hat made on a buckram frame that is becoming the best thing is to re-cover that. Then you are sure of a hat fits and is becoming. You can cover the brim by making a bias band slightly more than twice as wide as the brim, joining it in a circle, folding it lengthwise through the center, slipping it over the brim with the raw edges toward the crown —one on a line with the lining and the other on the edge of the outside crown — and gathering the fullness along both edges neatly into place. The lining, which always goes' la after all trimming has been placed, covers one of these gathered edges. Now cover the crown letting the raw edge of the crown piece meet the raw edge of the brim covering. Over .this joining place a neat band of straw braid. Where the two ends of the braid meet you can arrange the flower trimming. Sometimes you can wind several lengths of straw braid around the lower part of the crown to makei a band three or four inches wide.

Short Peplum Pleases.

The short, wired peplum is again sponsored by Lucile. An exquisite evening gown presented at the openin if was made of silver clJth, pink pearls and sequins and pale pink tulle. The tulle was wired into an extremely short peplum, below which hung the draping of pearls and sequins. Delicate shades of green, mauve and orchid satin were combined In the bodice, and at the waistline there was a tiny bunch of hand-made ribbon flowers, the edges of which were hemstitched and pecoed with silver thread.

New Handbag Linings.

Some of the new handbags show most interesting lining arrangement. The silk lining is held in place of the inside of the silver frame by means of tiny artificial flowers, In dainty coloring in thin silk. A little bow of forget-me-not blue flowers, for instance, holds in place—or at least seemingly holds In place—the old gold lining of a black velvet bag mounted in dull sliver. Tiny rosepink flowers are used on the blue lining of a'mauve velvet bag.

Three-Quarter Length Gloves.

Some concern is I ‘felt by buyers of gloves over the difficulty in obtaining 12-lnch silk gloves, and the 8-inch leather glove, which the bell effect now applied to many of the high-priced waists and to the Eton coat will make quite necessary, for the reason that these sleeves are worn only half to the wrist. ’ 7