The Washington times., 1921-10-02
CzarevitcllisI
for
Far1aily'sFall
Continued from Page -

his hunting parties. and the din.
ners each evening saw the usual
number OF invited guests.
On October II, Professor Ficdrof
arrived from 81. Petersbutx. Isaw
him Tor a moment. He appeared
greatly preoccupied. The follow
ing day was the birthday OF the
tsarevitch. but. except for the re-
iigious service. there was no out
ward observance. All. following the
example of, their paiesties, strovs
to hide their grief.
HEART-BREAKING HOURS.
On October 10 the hoy'ss fever
Increased. The Empress. at dinner.
caused Professor Fiodrof to be sum
moned. On Sunday, October 20
the little patients condition becaine
worse. There were. however, sew
eral guests at dinner. The follow
ing day, as the boys Temperature
had risen to 10s. and his heart
being very weak. Count Fredertcks
asked the. Emperor to publish
health bulletins. Esp, 4 =
The first bulletin was sent TO
st. ,Petersburg that evening. 80
1t had required the intervention OF
the minister of the court before
they would admit the gravity OF
the tsarevitch's illness. sa
why had the emperor and en-
press imposed upon themselves
this fearful constraint? Why. when
they had but one desire-to lie
near their child-had they forced
themselves to appear with smiles
on their lips in the midst Of guests?
It was because they did not wish
the world to know the nature OF
the tsarevitch's malady and be-
cause, as I see 1t, that malady had
in their eyes the importance Of .
State secret.
On the morning Of October 20
the boys temperature rose to
1osh. Toward noon, however. his
pain diminished and the physicians
made a more thorough examination,
hitherto impossible because Of his
intolerabie pain. x,
That afternoon at 3 o'clock there
was q religious service In the for.
est attended by many peasants
from the neighborhood.
PRAYERS OFFERED.
From that evening prayers were
offered twice a day for the re-
covery Of the heir to the throne.
AS there was no church at Spala-
Q tent with a little field altar had
been erected in the park during
the week of our arrival. In this
tent the priest officiated. morn.
ing and evening. each day.
After several days. during which
all hearts were contracted with
anguish. the crisis was passed, and
the child began to convalesce. But
that period of recovery was q long
one. and in spite Of all assurances,
fears still were entertained. As the
sick boys condition required watch
fulness, Prof. Fiodrof brought from
St Petersburg one of his young as
sstants. the surgeon vladimir
Derevenko, who from that time
remained attached to the child.
The newspapers of that period
printed q great deal about the
tsarevitch's malady. The most fan.
tastic reports were circulated in
regard to 1t. myself only learned
the truth later from DIR. Derevenko.
FALL CAUSED DISEASE.
The crisis was brought about by
a fall which Alexis Nicolaievitch
sustained at Bieloveje. While try
ing to disembark from a little boat
he crushed his hip against the
planking, and the shock caused q
somewhat abundant hemorrhage.
The boy was on the road to re-
covery from this injury when an
imprudent action at Spala sud-
denly aggravated his condition. A
bleeding tumor formed in his groin,
nearly causing a serious infection.
On November 16. with infinite pre-
cautions against a relapse. the boy
was taken from spaia to Tsarskoie.
Seio, where the imperial family
passed the winter. '.sr 49,, HE.
The vicarious health Of the
tsarevitch demanded very special
and most assiduous medica, atten.
ton. ~. o.. ~.
His illness at Spala had caused a
temporary atrophy of the nerves
of the left leg. which partly lost its
flexibility and remained ocnt, 80
that 1t was impossible for, the boy
to stretch 1t out. This condition
continued until the long vacation of
1918. ~. ~
1t was my custom to return each
summer to Switzerland. That year
the empress gave me to understand,