The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-05-30

AS for Tichinska. the ballet dancer
in the Imperial theateT, her romance
Nicholas obeyed the command of his
father-the romance that had begun
just seven years before that time
Every one in Russia knows the story
and yet it has never been published be-
fore. And outside of Russia it is little
known. 1t is true that when the pres
ent car was married it was reported
that a beautiful woman with whom he
had been in love had committed suicide
in Odessa But the report was false
Tichinska had her sons to live for, the
children of the man whom she loved
with all her heart and who loved her
so devotedly that he was willing to
make any personal sacrifice for her.
Tt is absolutely certain that Nicholas
would have been the happiest man II
the world in giving up his right to the
citizen, in marrying Tichinslxa and de-
voting the rest of his life to her ana
their children.
1t is a simple romance in itself. like
all of the really tragic ones; just the
story Of two people who loved each
other with an absolutely perfect devo-
ton.
At 10 Crown Prince Nicholas went to
the Imperial theater and saw Mathilda
TIchinska, already a premier danseuss
and famous for her loneliness. She was
the daughter of the ballet master of the
theater. who had been training her
only II and she was known as the
beautiful Labouskaio" Her mother
was JeWeSs from Poland. and from
her the girl inherited her Oriental
beauty, upon which had been grated
an amazing sprightliness and viyacious
charm of manner.
Crown Prince Nicholas fell in love with
the dancer at first sight. He immediate
~ demanded to be presented to her, and
OF course he was taken behind the
scenes at once.
Even before he made his avowal, and
he wasted little time about If, he knew
that she returned his affection. No one
has ever accused Tichinska of ambition
the crown prince whom she loved. but
Nicholas the man. As for him, it was
his first love affair and his only one.
And the car who rules absolutely
over the lives of 100 600 600 people who
has at his command an army OF I.009 Oo0
soldiers, cannot have by his side the
one woman whom he loves most. the
mother of his four strong and healthy
sons. The dowager empress has made
these boys her care. and when they
grow up they viii be ennobled and Civ
en- wealth and high places.
But the mother still dances at the
theater Her slightest wish is law there
by the emperOr's orders, as more than
one director has found to his cost. The
White Father has never spoken tc
T1chinska since his marriage. but he
goes often to the theater when she
dances. He sits in the royal box, far
back in the shadows, and watches her.
She always knows when he is there.
but she gives no sign She dances and
smiles and bows just as if her heart
were not breaking. She hides the trag-
4 edy L. her ewes. When the emperor OF
! all the Russias sits in his box and the
1 ballet dancer is on the stage. what
thoughts must rise within them-these
+ two who are so closely bound to each
other and vet are so far apart
Do they live over again in their mag
/ nation those beautiful halcyon days in
the fairyland when he was only 'tKola
and she was always "Musha2 ?"