Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-12
BY GLEB f. ROTKIN.

NEW YORK, August Fin my
last article | sketched briefly the ter.
ribie experiences the Grand Duchess
AnastaSia had undergone from the
time of the Ekaterinberg murders uu-
I'll my visit TO Castle Seeon
said that her situation had at
tfacted such widespread attention that
1t was both an advantage and a dis
advantage to her cause. The more
publicity her case gets. the quicker
justice will he done to the Grand
Duchess, | believe
But on the other hand. the posi-
bility of her recognition hastens the
efforts of her enemies to diScredit her.
These enemies, l believe. will stop at
nothing.
Earlier in my articles | remarked
that certain German newspapers were
printing articles which branded the
Grand Duchess as an impostor. Pol
iSh laboring woman suffering delu-
sions. That story was believed by
many. But it is only necessary to
read it attentively to see that it does
not hang together and is pure fabri-
cation from beginning to end.
Such stories form only one move
in the long campaign against the
Grand Duchess. which started when it
appeared she would live and be rec
ognized. and which probably will be
continued a long as there is a chance
of discreditinS her.
Who is behind this persecution, and
why, are questions ] shall not go into.
l believe, however that eventually the
names and motives will be public
property. When this happens there
will be scandal that will shock
Europe.
Says Doubt Is Incredible.
Undoubtedly there are persons who
honestly do not believe Frau Won
Tchaikovsky" is the Grand Duchess
Anastasia. Most of them never knew
the Grand Duchess. That persons who
did not know the Grand Duchess can
still entertain doubts of the identity
of the patient of Seeon passes my
understanding.
Unfortunately, I have seen much
evidence of an obviously unfair atti.
tude on the part of personages one
would expect to be the first to go to
her assistance. But to me all this is
secondary. The shocking fact is that.
at this minute, by an inconceivable
injustice of circumstances, the Grand
Duchess is still deprived of the most
elementary rights human being pos
SeSSeS.
What will the future bring the
Grand Duchess? There is reason for
the graVeSt apprehension. She must
have complete peace of mind and ade-
Quate medical attention. or she will
never recover her health. Without
these things it is hardly likely that
she will live.
Even her present safety is not as
sured. Powerful personages seem de-
termlned to get her out of the way
at any cost. Already attempts have
been made to put her again into an
insane asylum. or into a Jail, through |
false accusations. They may yet sue
coed. Her death in these circum- |
stances would be the final horror of |
life of unthinkable tragedy.
Possesses Infinite Charm"
In such brief account of the Grand |
Duchess experiences as l have been |
able to give in these articles, it is |
hardly possible to make one feel ade- |
quately the tragedy of her situation. |
l wish my readers could see her as / |
have seen her.
She is not a pretty woman, but she |
possesses that infinite charm which
was characteristic of all of the EN-
peror's daughters. She is gentle, kind
and always considerate of others. Her
only moments of forgetfulness are
filled with worry that she is the cause
Of difficulty for those trying to help
her.
She does everything she can to min
inize this difficulty. She wants moth
ing but solitude, her birds, her flow- |
ers, her name and peace. When one |
sees this fragile and delicate young |
woman walking all alone in the gar |
den, smiling timidly and pensively, |
one is astounded that any one could |
fear her; and, what is more astound- |
ing, fear her to the extent Of laying |
elaborate. plots to put her in an asy-
Ium or Jail.
The most exasperating aspect of
the Grand Duchess plight is that there |
Is nothing so difficult to prove, in the |
absence of direct evidence, as ones |
identity. OF course, there is always |
the possibility Of obtaining circum- |
stantial evidence. But in the case of
the Grand Duchess all of the evidence |
obtained up until now, which would |
form hundred of pages of printed text,
Is in her favor, yet she is still unrec-
ogniZed.
She has the birthmarks the grand
duchess was known to have. Her left
foot is slightly deformed in the same