Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-07
ALL WORKING HARD
Royal Women Of Russia Take
Part.
TO RELIEVE SUFFERING
YOUNGEST AS WELL AS OLDEST
INTERESTED.
Grand Duchess Vladimir Has Turned
Her Palace Into a Red Cross
Headquarters.

Working as earnestly and theoretically
| as the poorest peasant in the empire for
the benefit Of the Russian soldier and his
| family since opening of war in the far
| east the royal women OF the empire figure
| prominently as important factors in the
| alienation Of the sufferings of those upon
whom the Russian government is looking
| to win It's battles on sea and land, and all
the world is according them due credit for
giving such succor, aid and sympathy in
time of national distress.
Working literally side by side in the Win
| ter Palace daily can be found the women
of nobility, the czarina herself personally
| conducting the work Of sewing and prepar-
ing bandages for the Russian troops.
In addition to these workers Of the
czarina's immediate circle and who are
her personal friends among the ladies Of
the court, there are four immense halls in
which similar labor for the troops Is ac-
lively pursued
Over two thousand women belonging to
the highest Russian society gather every
afternoon in these great rooms from l to
6 o'clock.
Every now and again the czarina leaves
her room to address few pleasant words
to the workers in the halls and, in hOmely
parlance, to "see what is going on
No royal woman in Russia has been more
active in aiding the soldiers than the
Dowager Empress of Russia, mother Of the
cZar She has organized sewing societies
| among the nobility. which hold meetings
daily in her palace. At these gatherings
all manner Of hospital clothing, bandages
| and other things needful for the Russian
Red Cross are turned out in large quanti-
ties. When the dowager empress Is not
thus employed she spends her time in
church in devout prayer for the success Of
the Russian arms.
Palace Headquarters.
The Grand Duchessss Alexander and Con-
stantine, the latter one of the most beau
| tiful women of the empire, have placed
their palaces at the services of the Red
Cross, and their imperial highnesses are
daily touring the city in their troikas, seek
ing contributions and aid for the men and
their families who are fighting the battles
pages travel covered furniture vans where
ir the gifts are deposited.
The Grand Duchess Constantine who
| is one of the most popular noble women of
Russia, is manifesting deep interest in the
Russian soldiers welfare, which was DEM
| onstrated recently when she dispatched a
trainload of Enster souvenirs to Russian
sailors in the far east. Among the gifts
were 1900 Easter eggs Each of the latter
contained book, soap and towel, tobacco
pouch, note paper, etc, wrapped in hand
kerchief bearing pictures OF Peter the
Greats boat CT Russian naval victories
On board also was a special basket con-
| tanning thirteen eggs, sent by the empress
to General Stoessel for distribution among
the men defending the Notifications at
Port Arthur. who have most distinguished
themselves. Each egg contained portrait
of the car.
No one of the royal family has worked
more earnestly and regularly for the SOL
diers welfare in the present war than the
| Grand Duchess Vladimir, whose husband
is next heir to the throne, after Grand Du e
Michael, who is at present dying of con-
sumption. She is seen daily at the palace
commingling with the members of the no.
bility and working with her needle, making
clothing, baldages and other hospital sup
plies.
A Democratic Duchess.
This democratic and domestic side of the
life of the Grand Duchess Vladimir is in
striking contrast to her life heretofore, she
being known as the gayest royal lady in
all Europe. Royal Russia was excited re-
Gently over her narrow escape from death
while hunting at Gatschina, near st. Pc
tersburg. famous shot, she had killed
| one bear and then shot at another. wound
ing IT. Rising to its feet, the latter rush
ed upon the duchess, when she again
raised her gun, putting bullet directly
between the eyes Of the animal. 1t would
be a contrast in czarinas If the grand
duchess should ascend the throne, for she
smokes, drinks and CANDLES to say moth
ing of flirting, and eveSyone knows the de-
mure sweetness and dignity of the present
empress The Grand Duke Vladimir spends
much of his time in Paris. Just now he
is paying court to that beautiful American
singer Mary Garden, who is the idol of
Paris. The duke has lost his heart to her,
but she treats him indifferently.
Foremost among the royal women at the
front is the cars sister, the beautiful
Grand Duchess Olga, wife of Grand Duke
Peter of Gutenberg, who has gone a nurse
IN h1tria in ha n
tendent of the Red Cross work. She is
deeply interested in the work and has al
ready proved herself warm friend of SICK
and wounded Russian soldiers.
Cart Loads Of Comforts.
While the older members of royalty are
| deeply engrossed in their work of alleviat-
ing the distress of the soldier at the front.
the younger representatives also are as bus
fly engaged in the charitable work. The lit
tie daughters of the car, the Grand Ouch
esses Olga, Marie and AnataSia, have col
lected and prepared with their own hands
CARLOAD of little comforts for the wounded
Russian soldiers, which before being sent
on it's long journey was formally inspected
by the cZar. who expressed himself as be-
ing much pleased with the work his dear
children were engaged in.
Large numbers of educated young women
in Russia of the better classes are seeking
to obtain employment as nurses in the
army. and the representatives of the Red
Cross Society in various parts of the coun-
try are simply inundated by applications.
Each applicant is informed of the ter
rible rigors of Siberia, but not one In ten
is daunted by the prospects held out. The
society has been obliged to decline thou
sands of requests for enrolment.
The Russian public Is greatly touched by
these evidences of patriotism on the part of
the women. and the result will be a much
larger measure of freedom for women in the
future.
Russian women already enjoy more lib
erty than the women of any countries ex-
| cept the Anglo-Saxon, and the result is
that In times of national danger or calam-
ity they comport themselves with great
heroism. The part they played at the siege