The world’s focus may have been on the Far East and the possibilities of war in Japan. At the end of January 1904, war had been declared. Marie went with her Uncle Serge to the Church of the Assumption in the Kremlin where the Te Deum was being held. The Archdeacon’s voice trembled when reading the manifesto near the end of the service. Marie had noted that as a memorable experience.
Early in the war, it went well. The Muscovites were showing their loyal patriotism in the square in front of where she was staying. There were flags and portraits of the Emperor and Empress in the front areas of the crowds. This fervor had later developed into drunkenness with bottles and stones being thrown at the windows.
Marie had the feeling that these demonstrations would end up in a downhill spiral. She had brought up her concern with a friend of her Uncle Serge. That friend had reported back to Uncle Serge, and in turn, Marie’s uncle reprimanded Marie for a “lack of traditions.” (p60)
The war had presented new activities. Her aunt was involved with organizing hospitals in Moscow with a focus on assisting widows and war orphans. The palace halls had incorporated large workshops to make the linen and bandages for the hospital. On Sundays, Marie visited and sometimes she went her Aunt Ella. It was at the hospitals that Marie began talking with the sick.
As months passed by, the public lightly viewed the war as the Orientals military force was not believed to be capable. As time went by, the war became unpopular and there was an overall “discontent.” (p61)
Uncle Serge had taken on many more responsibilities, professionally and at home with Dmitri and Marie. It was important to him to shield and protect Dmitri and Marie from the outer world. Dmitri and Marie were kept busy with studies and a regimen, yet there was a general feeling of “disquietude and nervousness.” (p61) In the winter of 1904, the methodical academic and other activities changed.
In the summer of 1904, Tsarevich was born, an heir many had been waiting for. Uncle Serge and Aunt Ella had felt more of a compassion as this child was “suffering” from haemophilia. Following the Empress giving birth, she changed “her health - physical and moral.” (61) At Peterhof, Tsarevich’s baptism took place. Dmitri, Marie, Aunt Ella and Uncle Serge attended. This newborn rode in a gilded coach with the calvary troop following, and was attended to by the nurse and the Mistress of the Robes. There were many gala carriages with horses with plumes. The ceremony took place at 11am with the Imperial family and court, men in full dress uniforms and the ladies in jewels and gown of gold and silver cloth with long trains. In the procession, there were the Emperor, the Grand Dukes and Duchesses, the ambassadors, and the high dignitaries. The baby was carried on a cushion of silver cloth by the Mistress of Robes. There was light streaming through the church windows. The Archbishop of St.Petersburg greeted the Emperor and many clergy presided over this occasion. Once the service ended, Tsarevich was brought back to the house with similar ceremony. There were congratulations and joy in the air, and a banquet ended the day. Marie noted the godfathers for Tsarevich were those in honor of the Army - all the combatants who were fighting far over in Manchuria.
In the summer at Ilinskoie, Marie felt the time was long and somewhat tedious. After Autumn, they left for Usovo. There was an incident where on a Sunday morning, when the servants began their workday, they discovered that a large part of the silver had been taken. She was shocked that the burglars sat down and ate, smoked “calmly” as she saw tobacco bits and cigarette papers left. The burglars had broken the window to leave with tracks left in the snow. Marie was impacted with the realization of how easily this home was “penetrated” and “accessible to invasion.” (p62)
When they returned to Moscow, the Revolution of 1905 was in the early stages with strikes and student disorders occurring throughout Russia, though Moscow was impacted perhaps more so. Uncle Serge did not agree with the government on control measures. St. Petersburg was in an in-between stage of consent of policy yet were talk of evasions, creating delay. Uncle Serge was pacing and showed agitation. He decided to give his resignation to the Emperor who accepted it, after outlining the political circumstances.
Uncle Serge had planned to continue to live in Moscow, as he was in command of the military forces. He had great concern for Russia’s affairs and felt there was a “criminal weakness of the Emperor’s ministers and councilors.” (p63). Marie’s impression was based on what he said and the feeling behind it. She had yet to learn what these “external happenings” (p63) would mean and what this deep uneasiness meant.
This decision would mean they would have to leave the Governor General’s house and move to the Neskuchnoie Palace in the Moscow suburbs where they had previously spent Christmas holidays. As the holidays progressed, strikes and disorders added to the anxiety felt. She stayed within the park gates and a calvary squadron was located at the palace stableyard. There had been an increase in the number of guards. Loyalty of the Moscow garrison became evident and a revolt occurred in several regiments. A few days after Christmas and after she and Dmitri had gone to bed, they were awakened by Uncle Serge ordering them to immediately dress and leave Neskuchnoie Palace immediately.
While Marie did not know much, she understood they were leaving for the Kremlin. They left in a closed carriage which was waiting for them to get in the carriage. Who was in the carriage was she and Dmitri, Uncle Serge and Aunt Ella. Their carriage was drawn by 2 black horses which galloped while taking many detours to Nicholas Palace. Previously this palace was used to shelter foreign princes during court ceremonies. To Marie’s surprise, she would not leave until she married. The first floor was where escorts met them to take them to their rooms. The palace had not been heated or aired for a long time. It was damp with quite a chill and not well lit apartments. Marie’s governess, lay-in-waiting, aide de-camp arrived followed by the servants who brought along the necessities. They received tea while Uncle Serge was deciding where each would sleep, noting that the bedding was improvised. Protection was better there than in the suburbs where workers and many factories were.
Routines for Dmitri and Marie evolved, such as their lessons. It took time to adjust to the cold and was a bit uncomfortable initially. She grew used to it and had become pleasant. Marie wrote, “But the news from the outside became more and more ominous, and I sensed acutely that we were living on a volcano that was ready to belch fire and swallow us up at any instant.” (p65)
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