The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-03-21
ROMANOFFS ARE
HOUSED PLAINLY
Former Car and Czarina Have
No Gas, Electricity or
Bathroom.
FARE OF MOSTFRUGAL NATURE
Practically Condemned to the Life Of
RecIuses-Daughters Allowed to
Come and Go Freely, but Son
Is Closely Guarded.

Paris.-Though things Russian ar
rather in disfavor just now, shoI
account Of the life led by the Roma
noffs, the former imperial family, ma
prove of interest.
Tobolsk has been called the "City o
above the freezing point. Most of it
houses are built of wood, the on
where the imperial family lives beinl
one of the few brick buildings in tina
part Of the country. It's ground foo
is occupied by company of soldiers
installed there as a guard. The tive
upper floors, consisting Of II rooms
apartments of Colonel Romanoff."
There is neither running water mol
gas, neither electricity nor bathroom
The servants are obliged to draw from
nearby well the water needed fol
household purposes. The rooms are
heated by brick ovens which burn
wood. The largest room is not more
than 16 feet by 10 feet.
The windows Of the house look out
On an unattractive landscape. There
Is not even q garden where the ex-
| car might dig and forget his bore
| dom. A narrow balcony and a court
yard inclosed by high brick walls fur
nish the only breathing spots for the
imperial prisoners.
Live Life Of RecIuses.
Nicholas Romanoff and his wife are
practically condemned to the lives Of
refuses. Their sole outing consists In
attending mass at the cathedral of the
AnnunciatiOn or at a neighborfng mon
astery or going to the public baths,
where as a special favor the revolu-
tfOnary authorities permit them to
battle once week. Whenever they go
out they are escorted by platoon OF
soldiers commanded by four officers Of
the guard.
The fare imposed upon the prisoners
is of the most frugal nature. Once ac-
customed to the delicate refinements
of French cooking, they are forced to
be content with ordinary Russian
dishes: ping, a sort of roll covered
with caviar; bortsch, a thick soup
kalacha, cheese paste.
The people of Tobolsk show neither
hostility nor sympathy toward the ex-
lied family. Life in the small town is
consistently monotonous. The exist
ence of the former emperor dragS
along in drab sadness. Now and then
he is authorized to receive the visit Of
two faithful high functionaries whom
the revolutionary government permit
ted to accompany him in his exile
Count Frederiks and General Voyekov.
To them he confides his regrets, his
and his hopes.
Nicholas Romanoff said recently to
General Voyekov in an accent of pro-
found resignation:
"Has my life not always been that
Of a prisoner? I do not regret my lost
power. All I ask is to be allowed to
retire to Crimea, where I could live
surrounded by flowers. I feel more
than ever that would be peaceful and
happy as simple citizen of repub-
lic."
His resignation in no wise is shared
by the former Czarina Alexandra. Ev-
erything in her new mode Of life
shocks and irritates her.
Nowadays Alexandra devotes herself
to her children, whom she teaches not
to resign themselves but to remember.
What makes her most indignant is that /
she is allowed neither to write nor re-
ceive letters that are not opened by
the revolutionary officers. She con-
stantly repeats to her daughters:
"Never forget what we are forced
to bear at the present moment"
Her only confidante is Countess Ma
rischkine, who was her lady in waiting
and who was allowed to follow her to |
Alexis Closely Guarded.
If the grand duchesses are allowed |
to come and go freely in the town
without the vexation of any surveil-
lance, the same thing is not true of the |
Prince Alexis, who is
familiarly known as Alioscha, can go |
out and play in the public parks when
ever he likes, but he is watched by ,
guards specially attached to his person. |
The daughters Of the former car
ead q simple life. Grand Duchess |
olga, the most serious of them all, has
enrolled herself among the voluntary
nurses Of military hospital to which
are sent convalescents from Siberia
and where she conscientiously passes
several hours a day.
Grand Duchess Marie has taken up
and typewriting to help
her father write his memoirs. But he
dictates nothing and writes nothing.
he leans out of the only
window, which overlooks the town,
and watches his children when they go
FOR walk. He wears the undress
Uniform of colonel Of the Prevbajen.
skys and puts on dignified air as
yoon as he thinks he is being observed
But when he thinks himself alone his
pack loses its stiffness, he hides his
.are-nned face In his hands and this
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