Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-31
By Iuan Narodny,
Author Of 1.-THE Dance" Etc.

TN the great cataclysm Of blood and ter.
ror that has fallen upon once mighty
Russia there is no more appealing
problem than the fate Of the Russian I'M
perial Ballet, created and lavishly fostered
by long line OF Cars.
What has become Of these lovely allur-
Ing. delicate creatures. Incompatible ex-
ponents Of the dance, raised to be an orna-
ment OF the worlds most luxurious and ex.
travagant court? Have they met a dread
full fate at the hands of violent, fanatical
revolutionists? Have they been executed
along with other uncounted victims OF the
revolution? Have they been kept to min.
lister to the pleasures Of the despots OF the
proletariat?
Even TO those who have followed Rus
sian affairs most closely and have been
in frequent communication with the coun.
try, the fate OF many of the imperial
dancers still remains mystery. Is not the
fate OF the Car himself and his whole
family still much OF mystery?
Concerning the dancers. however, We
have reason to believe that few have
met tragic end. others have fallen into
cruel misery. while many, probably the
majority. have been able to exist for
amusement is a necessity even OF the most
ordent revolutionists.
The greatest interest naturally centres
about Mademoisele Matilda Ksheshin-
skaya, perhaps the most celebrated OF all
the Russian dancers. that capricious
little queen of the imperial stage. She
do ha ,,-ba,
Nicholas was susceptible youth and had
not yet inheritca the throne. He became
80 fascinated BY .er that he wished TO
spend the rest vt his days In romantic at
tendance upon her. 1t was with the great
est difficulty that his august father and
the other authorities Of the empire con-
yinced him that he must take a consort
more fitting to his rank.
Mile. ksheshinkaya was not the most
beautiful OF the imperial dancers. but few
ever excelled her in grace, although her
style was less original than that Of some
artists who have more recently won fame.
She retired from the stage quite early, and
the appreciative Gar bestowed upon her
a magnificent palace. worthy of a member
OF the imperial family This residence
became one Of the greatest centres of
Petrograd aristocratic Bohemian life.
Grand dukes, Oriental potentates, powerful
statesmen, brilliant artists, Dohemians
and interesting adventures thronged its
brilliant salons
The clever dancer never lost her in
fuence over Car Nicholas, and the Car
ina herself admitted her charm. On sew.
era occasions tho artist by her fascina-
ton and audacity, influenced the Gear to
infringe the most rigid rules Of court ETH
quette.
Once there was special gala perform
ance Of play at the Winter Palace In Pet
rograd to which all the great dignitarIes
OF the empire and foreign diplomats were
invited as guests Of the Gear. 1t was held
In the great ballroom
An arm chair in the centre of the first
row was reserved for the Car. an on one
side was a chair for the Queen Of Den
mark, the Czarina being absent. Mile.
Ksheshinskaya took it into her little head
to go to this performance without an in
vitation. AS she was we'll known TO the
palace functionaries she passed the outer
guards easily and presented herself in
the lobby outside the ballroom. An official
asked her for her invitation and she an.
swered:
Il have none. You will please place
chair for me next to His Majesty"
The Car stepped in at this moment
and the artist repeated her order in his
presence The monarch with smile
tacitly consented and the dancer sat next
to him during the whole performance
During the early days Of the war Mile.
Ksheshinskaya and the other dancers re-
tanned all their prestige and popularity
and helped by their art and personal
charm to brighten the gloom Of the great
conflict.
Then the Gear fell and the Bolsheviki
arrived in power. The beautiful palace of
Mile Ksheshinskaya was seized by Lenine