The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-07-18
A BRIDE in RAGING RUSSIA
BY VALENTINO JAKOVLEFF
Light-Opera Star of the Kreevoe Zerrao, Petrograd
FROM ALTAR To BATTLEFIELD
Copyright. 1919. Newspaper Enter
prise Association.


What scene for theatrel Thai
was the thought that came involun-
tarily to my mind
Thru a rift in low-hansinG clouds
stared the face OF the moon--a blood
red moon. Its beams fell on a field
crimson.splashed. across which sour
ried dark patches OF uniformed men,
seeking every shelter. In answer to
flash OF lightning and a peal OF
thunder from the skies. IA blush
streak shot suddenly skyward and
burst. The whole earth seemed in
a roar.
shivered and pressed closer to
the side of the uniformed man In
the big gray automobile. My hus'
band' This was our wedding trip.
The blood-red moon was looking
down on the strangest honeymoon
that any actress ever had.
Weird Honeymoon
A honeymoon on the battlefield
The big gray car, its engine muf.
fled. stopped with shudder before
dugout Out of the dark night
rushed a group OF darker figures.
They surrounded us. crowded about
the rear OF the car, seized the cases
that were piled at the back. and dart.
ed away. vanishing again Into the
shadowy ground.
The gray cars nose swung east
ward and sped off into the night
Twenty miles behind the lines we
came to a tiny hut. Thru the single
window poured a flood of orange
light Within. felt safe. warm,
alive again. and In touch with my
dreams. This one room I had pa.
pered with my own hands. had
scrubbed and painted the board
floor. This was my Castle In Spain
this hut on the lonely Russian
steppe.
With hurried kiss my husband
left me and sped away.
Wins in Career
stood at the window and unused
over the vast gulf between human
plans and the DEGREES OF fate. Five
weeks before. I had terminated my
engagement at the Kreevoje Zerralo.
the great Petrograd playhouse. feel.
ing that at last my career as an
actress was within my grasp and
the world at my feet. My life's am
bition seemed to have been attained,
tho | was but is years old.
Every night for six months I had
been applauded. cheered. showered
with flowers. The rules of the house
fAs-hn tatx 80 tt.t
for longer than six months: but six
months was enough. had con.
quered. and knew Il. I planned 10
go to Kiev and rest for a time on
my mothers estate.
And to Kiev had gone--but not
alone. With me went my lover and
husband OF a day-Alexis r. Jakov.
left. architect and major in the
Fourth automobile engineers.
Thought Her Child
had won him across the foot.
lights. In a spightly light-opera I
had sung the role OF 12-year-oid
girl. Major Jakovieff had begged to
be presented. When friends granted
his resquest, he urged that return
Immediately to my mother.
"A child like you should not ap-
pear In a public theatre" he urged.
you cannot be more than II years
old 10
/ told him / was is, and that my
career meant everything to me. At
the end OF two weeks / became
Madame Jakovleff. From the porch
Of my mothers home In Kiev we
watched the sunset and talked of
the gathering clouds of war. 1t
looked as tho our Russia would be
attacked by Germany and Austria.
At 6 o'clock on the morning after
our arrival. | arose in reply to a