Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-22
ny GIEB +. B0TKIN.


AaastaSia.
BY GLEB f. BoTKIN,
The Leeds home at Oyster Bay. TO
which the Grand Duchess AnaStaSla
vas taken after her first few weeks III
New York City overlooks water Trees
gsou,ers and birds OF which she Is e%-
ceedingly fond, aboand,
shortly after her arrival among these
rleasinc surroundings. she began wan
6erinc around the estate. and tncSe
walks seem to benefit her greatly. her
sfvncss. however. often shorgens thess
a;vars;o,s and she still remains IN
her room when there are other guests
as the house. 49,.
But morning is different and the
Grand duchess often prefers to take
rer cuttings III this way. She nkeS
sY,eeS. A taste she has Inherited from
her father. The Emperor's chauheufs
ALWAYS travelled at a breakneck pace,
frequently. while III one Of Mrs. LeeoS
cars. the grand duchess eXclaiflS;
Look at this wonderful ROAD anu We
have 70 move so slowly.
Aviation also interests her. OFTEN as
she sits In the garden seaplane or
Iandnlane 6rones overhead, Sne
watches them mtentiv and sometimes
expresses a desire to fly.
Wouldn't you be afraid" l asked
her once.
Wants 10 Fly.
Certainly not!n she exclaimed. in
a manner that implied had asked
q silly question.
She has no physical fear She is
afraid OF nothing apparently save the
malice and cruelty Of mankind.
Se in ~
bordering. She was always fond OF II
and Goes it remarkably well. I had
much of her embroidery in Russia. It
was her custom to make presents OF 1t
IN Christmas and other holidays.
received the last piece from her on
Christmas. 1917, during our Siberian
exile
The work, unfortunately. is to severe
8 strain on her eyes. so She has SUD
stitllted knitting for it. She is seldom
without knitting. which she does with
her usual skill
The grand duchess dresses simply.
she is particularly fond Of white frocks.
bit wears no jewelry except bracelets.
She does not like jewelry. She particu-
larry 6islikes anything snowy or pre-
tentiouS.
II is difficult to say which of her par
euts the grand duchess resembles the
most. Her forehead hair and eyes are
those CT the Emperor. Her mouth is
more like that of the Grand Duchess
Olga. her aunt. Her hands are un-
canniiy like the Empress, graceful and
dignifed IN movement.
Identifies Hands.
I have a photograph of her hands
Once I was discussing her situation
with a man, who. though he had
never seen her. veilementiy denied her
identity He picked up this photograph
and said:
Where did you get this picture of the
empress hands"
Another peculiar incident concerning
a photograph of the grand duchess
happened Just before she left Germany.
She had enlarged photograph Of her
self taken in Finland IN 1918. II
showed her standing by lake, very
similar to the che at Castle Seeon. She
sent the enlargement to the Danish
Ambassador at Berlin without comment.
IN his acknowledgment. which she
showed me. the Ambassador said that
he was glad to see that she had taken
On much weight lately
Last December wrote an article Tor
a New York newspaper On the case OF
the grand duchess. Looking for photo
newspaper flies an old picture of the
Erpzror. the Grand Duke OF Hessen-
Darnstadt. my father and some other
persons ! knew, sitting at a table IN
garden.
AZ first I could not remember where
the picture had been taken. By mucn
examination and putting facts together
/ concluded it had been made either IN
1903 or 1910, probably at Hessen-Dar
IL f-nx zf1Ns
gave me an enlargement of 1t. which
presented to the grand duchess. Sac
locked a. K. smiled and exclaimed;
Where did you get that? It was
taken at Hsssen-DaTnlstadt in 1909!
Points Out Writer'S Father.
she looked at it further and said:
Your father must be hare some
where"
A moment later she pointed him out
70 ne.
Some days the grand duchess is
pleased when she is shown pictures OF
the imperial family. On others, how
ever, such pictures provoke only pain
fui memories. A friend showed her a
group picture Of the grand dukes and
grand ducnesses. The grand duchess
WINGED.
Take Il away" she said. I can't
HG6E NE24IE~ 4AbgSE 5Sa@bAA@G INV
Although brought up in military
court where almost every one wore a
uniform. and although intensely fond
Of uniforms when a child, the grand
duchess hates anything that suggests
wars.
The night we attended the moving
picture ti1eater in New York the news
reel showed some artillery drill.
That is terrible!" she said. Didn't
people hare enough fghting?"
argued that It was only drill and
drills were necessary To keep a nation
prepared She wouldn't hear Of IT,
They said the same things before
1914" was ncr retort.
The more ! write Of the grand duchess
tbs more difficult II seems To convey an
adequate impression Of her personality.
Z can only regret that she insists on
living in seclusion. The best evidence
for her Is herself.
Not a Peasant Woman.
Still as little as / have been able
N convey Of her personality. it seems
sufficient To me- 10 prove that she Is
no lmpostor. Certainly she Is not q
Polish peasant woman. Were 1t proved
that she IL not En2gtagia that would be
2 greater miracle 70 me than the story
q her escape from death al the hands
Of The bolsheViks
TIE grand duchess abllors lying and
presense. She is frank and truthful
sometimes 70 the point Of unwilling
rYdenezs Her character Is moi COM
oztble 3lth lmposIure That any ona
c93sd successfully play role for 10
years such rs mas been imputed W her
by her enemies seems impossible 10 me.
Wntle she iE improving II health, she
Is etlil subject 10 the nervous malay
7 have described several tines IN these
aTgcleG. the refusal OF her relatives