Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-03-17

Geneva, Switzerland, February 28. -(CorresponGence of The Associated | Press)-Nicholas Romanoff who, as Emperor of Russia, once exercised sway over the fate of millions of Russians, leads melancholy life at Tobolsk, the Siberian "city of death" to which he and his family are exilad according to one of the Red Guard sentinels stationed at his home there.
 "My life has always been that of a prisoner" the former emperor is quot ed as saying. "It is not my former power that 1 regret. I have only one wish and that is to return to the Crimea and devote myself to horti- culture"
 Writino to a friend in this city, the Russian Red Guard said:
 "The attitude of the Emperor when he is alone is full of calm and simple dignity but as soon as he thinks he is no longer observed he gives way and walks with head bent. His hair has become as white as snow and his face filled with a painful melan- choly. He is often seen at the win dow following his children with his eyes when they go out for walk and fuftivelV wipes away tear. eff the Emperor shows resignation, it does not find an echo in his wife, Alexandria Alix. Everything in her | present situation seems calculated to wound her and make her miserable. She was only allowed to take with her fifteen boxes of clothing. At first sight this may seem quite a con- siderable amount, but it must not be forgotten that the whole wardrobe of five women and an Emperor is contained therein. Therefore it is comprehensible that it would not suf- flee for an exile of long duration. To this must be added the impossbility of procuring any knd of clothing in Tobolsk. The Princesses possess in all, only four costumes, and are oblig- ed to be contented with those. As regards their jewelry, they were fore ed to leave it all in Petrograd.
 "The former Empress occupies her. self with her children, but instead of strives the whole time to keep up in the past. It is the impossibility of most. The few letters she receives dIc CGuSOICu pS the officers of the "body guard" Her confidential friend is Madam Narich- kina, former lady-in-waiting now living in Tobolsk from whom the for mer Emnress has no secrets.
 "The Princesses can move freely about the town, without any special superintendence, but naturally, not without being followed step by step by the street police, who, however, perform their duty, as discreetly as possible.
 s"On the contrary, the hair-appar- ent is closely guarded. as the revolu- tionists fear an abduction. He is es- corted everywhere by the sailor Dere- menko, man of herculean stature, who once saved the Princes life at a hunt He has not the right to go into town without being accompanied by certain number of officers. The Prince is in good health, but sight limp betrays the stiffness of the right foot, which is incurable.
 "There is little to say about the life of the Princess The Grand Dutch ess Ogla, who is of a very serious nature, perhaps even gloomy, has be- come nurse in a military hospital for convalescent Siberians, to whom she devotes six hours day. The Grand Duchess Marie is learning shorthand and typewriting in order to help her father, in the editing of his memoirs. But up to the present the Emperor has neither written nor dictated anything.
 'The ground floor of the residence of the former imperial family is oc- cupied by company of soldiers, ironically termed the Emperor's body guard The remaining two stories form the apartment of the dethroned monarch-Colonel Romanoff. It con- sists of four large and four small rooms, which are furnished in the simplest manner. There is no water laid on, no gas, no electricity and no bath room. The servants are obliged to draw the necessary water from a well close by. The rooms are heat cd by means of primitive brick stoves. The largest room is only five yeards in length and three in breadth. Where are the spacious reception rooms of : Peterhof and the Winter Palace, with their surcharged magnificence.
 'There is no pleasing view in any direction from any of the windows.