New-York tribune., 1918-08-04

left he held out his hand quite cor
daily. The prince instructed one of
tie old court servants to take us
through the buildings.
Where the Czarina
Said Her Prayers
First we saw the resplendent little
chapel where the Czarina used to
pray. Then we went through the
gorgeous guest rooms used for for
cign ambassadors. They were as
they had been, marble baths and all.
Nothing had been changed. But now
the rooms were icy cold and empty,
and there was bullet hole through
one of the windows. That bullet hole
was a mystery. The bullet had never
been discovered.
Next we visited the throne room
and ball room. The splendor was
staggering. Untold wealth must
have been wrung from the peasants
to pay for it. On the wall behind the
throne was gigantic gold sun whose
golden rays extended in every direc-
ton. The throne seemed to spring
from the suns centre. 1t made fit
ting background for a Gar Beyond
the throne room stretched the long
supper hall. Here many CAV din
ners had been given. In the little
alcoves all down the room were piles
of elaborate furniture. Beds, bu-
reaus, tables were mixed together in
discriminatory. These were treas
ures taken from other palaces and
estates for safekeeping. The Krem-
lin had become a storehouse. The
old retainer who showed us about
was very proud of the place. He was
eager to explain each item. He
showed us the old wing, a portion Of
the building that has come down
through the ages. 1t was Byzantine
in style, with gaudy colors. The
equipment was simple. The Gar of
those days was satisfied with bed
room, sitting room, dining room and
larger than q modern drawing room.
Had Nothing
Against Them
The personal suite of the recent
Car was not visible. Most of his
furniture had been sent to him at
Tobolsk But we saw the Care
vitch's apartments. This was pal
ace in itself. There was something
uncanny about the place The rooms
were still warm. An ciderdown puff
Jay ready on the royal bed, the clock
on the mantel still ticked. Every
thing seemed ready for the young
masters return. One felt each mo-
ment there would be bare OF
trumpets and tine royai party would
enter. We asked the old servant if
he liked the royal family "Yes.' he
said, they We're good to me. They
were kind employers. have moth
irg against Them"
Before we left we passed the main
entrance to the palace. A great
marble staircase led from the front
door to the main upper hail. Up
these stairs had poured thousands Of
courtiers, ladies in evening dress on
their way to royal ball, or nobility
and ambassadors hurrying to the
throne room to listen to 4 royal
speech.
Directly at the head Of the stairs
facing all who entered was huge
oil painting. 1t was a picture of the
Cars grandfather, addressing the
peasants. In proud and arrogant
grandeur he stood there. while be-
fore him, bowling low, cringed the
peasants. hats in hand, and under
Meath the picture were written the
words of this former Gar. Il am
glad to see YOU. | thank You for
your courtesy. When you return
home thank my people for me, but
tell them not to believe any stupid
rumors about the distribution Of land
and the giving of it to the peasants.
These rumors are lies, spread by our
enemies. Property is sacred
What a change had come. BY
mighty swing Of life's pendulum the
land had been wrested from the no.
bility. Never again would it be
called sacred. The unhappy recent
Gar has had to pay for the sins of
his fathers. 1t is time we invented
some new notices. We should
change "Think before you speak" to
Think about your great-grandchil-
dren before you speak"
The poor Nicholas II must have
had some bitter moments before he
was led out 20 execution. Perhaps
it flashed through his mind, "If only
father and grandfather had been