Early in 1917 when the weather was cold and dark, Marie’s perspective had changed and what was familiar, was no longer. While those around Marie in the more recent past had been more open and communicative with Marie, now there was distance as now eye glances were avoided.
Back in her week, Marie began to have less energy and enthusiasm. The hospital personnel and wounded soldiers began to treat Marie differently. Marie was beginning to feel concern for her safety. The atmosphere changed from calm and kind, to constant complaining with loud voices. When one soldier whom Marie began to attend to his wounded thumb, responded to a bandage removal with punching Marie in the chest. The doctor had grabbed the soldier’s collar and took him to another side of the room. That man was transferred to another hospital the following day.
Around March 8, rumors had been spreading about “hunger riots in Petrograd.” (Page 286) Where Marie was, which was in Pskov, had not experienced them. On March 10, Marie’s driver drove her to the station and went over the train tracks too quickly. Marie’s head had begun to bleed. In her Uncle George’s car, Marie was attended to by her Uncle George’s doctor. Over tea with her Uncle, he had not mentioned the disruptions occurring in Russia’s capital.
On March 11, Marie had gone into the dining area going to her place at the head of the table, and the personnel were talking among themselves and had given Marie unusual glances. On March 13, news from Petrograd was there was “shooting in the streets.” (Page 286) The Violin regiment and others went into the streets and participated in the uproar. Some buildings were set a blaze, prisons let their prisoners out. Just days before, “the Duma, dissolved by a ukase issued a few days previously, had assembled on its own initiative in the Tavrichesky Palace and had formed a committee to serve as mediator between the government and the rioting population.” (Page 287) The Emperor could not be found which Marie had viewed as an omen. General Ruzsky’s aide-de-camp would periodically keep Marie informed.
On March 14, Marie learned that the Emperor had unexpectedly arrived in Pskov. That trip was part of the Emperor’s visit to Duo station which was en route from Headquarters to Tsarskoie-Selo. The Emperor was to meet Guchkov and Shulgin, both of the Duma; they had come from Petrograd. The Duma request was for the Emperor to abdicate so that the Tsarvich would rise to the position. Marie was now beginning to understand the meaning of “revolution,” as her understanding as a child referred to death. Marie knowing about France’s revolution’s “causes and its consequences” began an early recognition of what may be coming. Marie still felt blinded by her old way of being and her early years with tradition. (Page 287) She was having difficulty that this was in her sphere and “the shadow of death actually threatened all of us who were of the ruling caste.” (Page 287) Marie had thought the Emperor’s abdication was impossible knowing what she did of him and his beliefs. Marie had written of those who had generationally had been part of the staff and they had been “faithful” to him. (Page 288) At 9pm The Emperor was already engaged in a meeting in Pskov and “the mutiny in Petrograd was in full swing.” (Page 288) While Marie was waiting to learn of the meeting results through Ruzsky’s Headquarters. At 2am, Marie was asked to come to Headquarters where she went to the Commander-in-Chief’s “quiet garden.” (Page 288) Once Marie entered the vestibule and the General came out to speak with Marie, Marie saw the dramatic change in the General’s haggard physical appearance. The General updated Marie. “The decision of the Emperor abdicated tonight both for himself and for the Tsarevich, in favour of the Grand Duke Michael.” (Page 289) “The decision of the Emperor to abdicate for the Tsarevich caught us unawares. No one had expected him to take that step. It will have immeasurable consequences.” (Page 289) General Ruzsky also had spoken about “the interference of the members of the Soviet of Soldier and Peasant Deputies,” and continued to say, “Apparently confusion is supreme. The Soviet demands the immediate establishment of a republic. The committee, however, considers that a change in the form of government is at this moment too risky.” (Pages 289-290) Ruzsky continued, “Monarchy must be preserved. Yet some concession seems to be necessary. While the power had not been completely snatched away from the Emperor, he should have voluntarily abdicated in favour of the Tsarevich, having previously sanctioned the executive committee of the Duma which by this would have become the new responsible Cabinet. They feel there that succession, juridical as well as dynastical, should be preserved.” (Page 290)
The abdication text had been created at Mogilev Headquarters and then sent via wire to Pskov Headquarters. “The draft spoke of the Emperor’s abdication in favour of his son, with Grand Duke Michael as regent. But in the meantime the Emperor had conceived a different idea, and the text of the manifesto was altered accordingly. Completely dumbfounded by its contents, we tried to persuade, to exhort, but it was impossible to move the Emperor. He was very calm, as he usually is …” (Page 290) Marie learned that the Emperor had spoken with “the court physician, Prof. Fedorov, about the health of the Tsarevich,” which brought the Emperor to understand that his son’s disease was “incurable.” (Page 290) While the “decision is illegal,” the reason was the Emperor would not be able to be a part from his son. (Page 290) “Before abdicating the Emperor signed a ukase dismissing the old Cabinet and naming Prince Lvov Prime Minister and Grand Duke Nicholas as Commander-in-Chief of the army. We must await what the Grand Duke Michael will say …” (Pages 290-291) Marie continued to speak with General Ruzsky so see with simplicity and clarity the situation. Marie found after 300 years of her family dynasty was turned by fate of what was “typewritten” was of “his final act” and “final expression of his autocratic will.” (Page 291 Marie was not able to “imagine Russia without a dynasty. It would be a body without a head…” (Page 291)
The Grand Duke Michael had never really taken interest in state affairs. A Te Deum in the Cathedral was ordered where the Emperor’s abdication manifesto would be read and Grand Duke Michael was to ascend to the throne. Marie was advised to attend the Te Deum to remain in the public eye. The square and cathedral had crowds As the service began, the emotional atmosphere was that of it must be attended but without the usual solemn manner which had been in the past. When leaving, Marie experienced no allowance for her to pass through easily as in the past. While Marie stood and walked solidly, others would not providing her an easy exit. That evening the streets became unruly. In the hospital, the soldiers were no longer respecting the doctors requests. Marie starting seeing her special project in life dissolve. She was no longer being viewed with respect and protection by many. “At the front soldiers began to maim, torture, and kill their officers.” (Page 294) Marie recognized she was considered an officer and her life was in increasing danger. Just days later was being warned she must have 2 men with her when walking into the dining room. The two men were Tikonov, the head orderly, and Lett, another orderly. The danger increased as the General commanding the Pskov garrison was beaten up by drunk sailors and thrown into the river. (Page 296) Marie had been warned by a husband of a nurse who had worked with Marie. Guchkov , the War Minister of the Provisional Government, was trying to bring the soldiers back into the war, but to no avail. Marie waited for a few days to let the crowds of soldiers on the train leaving he front to move, per the advice of the general.
“Leaving Ruzsky’s study I came out into the vestibule where several Ural Cossacks - who served as bodyguard to the Commander-in-Chief - were warming my coat by the stove. They offered to accompany me to the hospital. Such an attitude both surprised and moved me.” (Page 297) The Emperor had lost his support starting with his courtiers and lastly with the clergy. There was in words expressed. “Flaming generalities, fluent demagoguery, fiery speeches. .. words still produced an effect upon the superficial Russian imagination.” (Page 297) “The intelligentsia, now at the helm, had nothing concrete to offer for what they had destroyed, and the people appeared to distrust this new caste just as they had the castes preceding it.” (Page 297) Those who ready to take Marie down did not realize that they were also in danger.
On March 21, during a Te Deum, a manifesto was read. Marie did not attend, but she saw and felt that she had now become “the enemy of the state.” (Page 298) Father Michael, Doctor Tishin, and Marie were all experiencing tense times. Father Michael was the first to leave. Marie was to follow. As she wrote, “my former life lay dead. The one I faced would be a fight for mere existence and an adaptation to this fight.” (Page 298) Before Marie leaving, she visited the cathedral in Pskov where had spent many a day. Marie had been said good-bye to at the station by all of the personnel including the chief physician. There lots of people all over the roofs and elsewhere with guns. She boarded and left on the train not knowing what her future would look like or be. They were locked. The Headquarters had secured a place on the train. The seal on the door was only to be broken by the military commander of the Petrograd station. As it turned out, it was broken by the commander aide at her destination which was hours arrival delay. The Imperial rooms were also locked. She boarded a 2-faded white horses “ancient brougham".” Her seat was “sunken” and “a thick, musty smell enveloped me.” (Page 299)
“We started. Everything around seemed alien and terrifying. The streets were deserted and quiet. The Sergeievsky Palace resembled a mausoleum.” (Pages 299-300) “Only two weeks had passed since the beginning of the revolution, yet they seemed like years.” (Page 300)