Calm Before The Storm

( Originally Published 1921 )

OUR own life had been changing somewhat. We had made two delightful trips to America, visits long to be remembered for their happy reunions and crowding pleasures. We went in 1906, and made a beautiful trip with my lovely aunt and my favorite cousins through the American Far West. We visited Chicago and Washington, and stayed on quaint Governor's Island, where my father was in command, saw all the old friends in New York or elsewhere, and enjoyed many a country house party. When we returned to Russia we took the children with us. "The Revolution" was over by the beginning of 1907.

Just then Cantacuzène was named to the staff of the Grand Duke Nicolas, and a companionship of service began which during seven or eight years was a constant happiness to my husband. Born of perfect understanding on both sides; a paternal loyal affection on the part of the splendid chief which never wavered, and an absolute devotion and enthusiastic admiration on my husband's part, relations were always reliable and appreciative. All these qualities on both sides during times of stress were required, for the Grand Duke was sincere, and though ready to lay down his life for his kinsman, the sovereign, he was very anxious, naturally, that the influences around the Empress should not do her husband harm, either in fact or in public judgment.

The Grand Duke, suspicious of the Germans, feared the Kaiser's caresses for our ruler and country. He was anxious to get fortresses and cannon established on our western frontier, and he pressed preparation, but with little or no effect. He threw his influence into breaking up the compact which Wilhelm had engineered during the latter's visit to our Emperor's yacht in Finnish waters. I do not think our chief ever trusted or liked Count Witte. He never said this that I know of, but it was considered a fact, and Mr. E. J. Dillon's description of these years when he was Count Witte's confidential aid would seem to prove this theory of mine.

However, t the time of the "Willy-Nicky correspondence" the Grand Duke loyally worked with Witte, and helped the latter straighten out the political tangle, and our sovereign to regain his foothold. I believe my husband's chief never took part in politics after that. He studiously avoided them, and demanded the same attitude from his court; but every one knew he stood for law, order, and liberality, and that he was pro-Russian first and, after that, pro-Ally—never pro-Gelman. Also it was known the Grand Duchess Anastasia, his wife, was a Slav princess by birth—a Montenegrin—educated in St. Petersburg and thoroughly anti-German. She had been one of the Empress's intimates, only to be suddenly and rather roughly dropped—no one quite found out why, though every one spent much time guessing.

It required some tact and` discretion to live in our court atmosphere with its various currents, but this was less difficult with Russians than it would have been else-where, as society was simpler among them than among most other peoples, and unless one were particularly clumsy in criticising, one was allowed to live in peace and think what one pleased.

Through those years I began to feel a great interest in politics and see a good deal of the diplomats and cabinet members. Mr. Izvolsky, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and his wife were very sympathetic, and their salon, where I went often, always seemed full of interesting people.

Orloff's palace was growing more and more a political centre, too, and every one went there to get some message to or from the Emperor, knowing Orloff's unassailable honesty, as well as his heart of gold and excellent judgment. Both he and his attractive wife were intimate friends of ours, and I have them to thank for much of my pleasure in my Russian life.

There were a number of other houses with hospitable rooms, where conversation was a delight. Every one was gay at gatherings, whatever his anxieties outside might be. So living in our group was very agreeable during those years. There were a number of diplomats who took part in our pastimes. Hardinge, the British Ambassador, with his winning wife, had a host of friends. He was followed by Sir Arthur Nicolson, most popular and astute of suave diplomatists. A really great American, Mr. Rockhill, before whom the world stood at attention, was admittedly the most important foreigner in St. Petersburg during his stay there. Another American who made an admirable position for himself was Mr. Meyer. Both men had extremely attractive wives.

The capable and brilliant O'Beirne, one of Russia's best and ablest friends, was part of our inside circle, winning every one's affection incidentally to doing his work well. When years later he was again coming out on a war-time mission with Lord Kitchener and was drowned, all St. Petersburg society sincerely mourned the man, who had served his own country, yet had been a loyal and firm friend of Russia, too. There were a number of others we saw often, but in more formal manner, 'for our path. lay among the ultra-Russian groups, and my husband's service was altogether military. My tastes also inclined me most toward the people of my adopted country, whom I loved more and more the longer I lived among them. We spent nearly all our time within our home country, largely because of my husband's duties and interests, and because of our growing family. In November, 1908, our third child was born, a golden-haired baby, the first Cantacuzène to have blue eyes.

That same year a new note was introduced into our lives by our buying a pretty cottage at the great military camp of Krasnoe Selo, within an hour's driving distance of the capital. We rebuilt this home, and made it very attractive with furniture and ornaments of generations ago, keeping it all in one period. Arranging the buildings and the little garden which surrounded them was our greatest joy during the next six years. It grew to be the most delicious corner in all the country around, we thought, and it drew our friends from the environs. The grounds especially were very pretty. Planned with infinite care, we had given them a simple character, with flowers from the woods and fields, established and made welcome. I took particular pride in my roses and sweet peas, and our production of these was wonderful for so small a place. An old-fashioned summer-house formed by the branches of living, graceful beech-trees, inter-laced, held my tea-table, and each day a pleasant group gathered there for a restful hour after drilling. The peace of the sweeping, soft-green background, the witchery of perfume and the splendor of our view out over the plains toward the proud capital of Russia, with its gilded domes and spires, closing in with our horizon of the forests and the blue Gulf of Finland was ideal. Our visitors asked how this gem of calm prosperity could he kept up in a military camp. They came often to see us from Peterhof, where the court sojourned in summer, or from Tsarskoe and St. Petersburg itself. We grew to love this home best of any we owned, and our life was always happy there.

In the mornings the children and I rode, and my young companions were as expert at this sport as they were at various others. I felt very proud to show them off, and to have them with us riding through woods and over fields. My afternoon was spent pottering about the garden, while in the evenings, if we did not go out, we generally received in most informal fashion such of our friends or comrades as dropped in on us. My husband's duties with the Grand Duke kept him extremely occupied, and to us the five or six years previous to the World War represented the best part of our lives.

In 1910 we made another trip to the United States, which was delightful, when we spent four months with the family and old friends, filling our time with delightful excursions again. We journeyed down to Florida and fell in love with that part of America because of its sunny, turquoise sky and sea, and smiling landscapes. For Christmas in Chicago, twenty-odd of his descendants gathered round the ninety-year-old patriarch, my Grandfather Honoré.

It was pleasant to find my father in the full flush of his career, settled at Governor's Island and, having made a fine fighting record, still active and doing good in his patriotic way. Since the Spanish-American War he had not left the army, and was thoroughly satisfied in 1910 at the head of his profession, holding the confidence and love of all who worked with him or watched his activities. The final fruition was worthy of the fine promise of earlier days, and at sixty he was hale, hearty, able, and still keen.

My mother also felt her life to be most enjoyable, and had hosts of friends who surrounded her. She apparently took as much pleasure as ever in life.

After this visit home I never again saw my father alive. Within a year he showed the first signs of the illness that was to claim him as its victim, and through the winter of 1911-12 he went on with his duties, knowing he was doomed. No realization of his danger came to my mother apparently until it was too late to let me hear, so it chanced that returning home from an official party in St. Petersburg one night I found a cable asking me to go across the sea because my father asked for me, and during the preparations for that distressing journey another wire followed, saying that my father had died suddenly. One has to know the misery of such a departure and trip to realize what it means to be too late, and to miss the last words or last smile of one who was deeply loved. Never can I forget my journey: the hideous travelling through Russian snow and over the bleak plains of East Prussia. Only semiconscious of what I did, I felt the kind acts of my family and friends who helped me to get off and the kind hands that did what they could to ease pain or smooth difficulties away be-fore me.

I realized little by little through my numbness their presence, their silent, gentle sympathy and efforts, and how much I had grown to belong to my adopted country-men, and they to me. All through the voyage my devoted old maid was producing new books or papers, or a new dainty with which to tempt my appetite, and it was always by - the wish and the generous attention of some friend left in St. Petersburg that she was acting. They had supplied and instructed her in advance.

The landing in New York and the heart-break of the funeral, the touching demonstrations of admiration and love for my father by his comrades and his soldiers, by the old policemen who had served under him, and by the city of New York, won our gratitude and moved us deeply. His body was taken through the city's thoroughfares, lined with vast crowds; the latter stood with heads bared, and bowed, wiping their eyes as the gun-carriage passed, draped with the flag he had served since his thirteenth year in one capacity or another. We went up the Hudson, taking this devoted son past the place where his father lay, to another above it and equally beautiful, on the great river.

At West Point our pilgrimage ended. There, amid his comrades of old school and army life we deposited this son of the academy, who had been so devoted to his school and had lived by its high traditions. After taps sounded we left my father to his long rest from the great suffering he had borne without complaint, the worthy follower of his sire in that as in all else.

It was hard to accept the situation. That the post at the head of our family was empty and the strong man gone, seemed unbelievable. My mother was broken up, her life changed in every way, and a little relaxation from the shock and strain of the preceding weeks seemed desirable. She was prevailed upon to accompany me abroad, and within a few days after the funeral we sailed for Russia, where I had many duties claiming my early return.

For two years I led a life of complete retirement. The children, growing older, needed my attention, and I stayed much at home, with enough to fill my days in the round of home duties and such quiet pleasures as music at concert or opera gave me. The ever-increasing circle around my tea-table, where friends gathered to talk informally on all sorts of subjects, still retained its interest in my eyes, and the conversation never lagged, nor was it dull, for in that varied group many of our strongest men and most attractive women figured.

Time passed and I felt that not only was I studying Russia and its people, but that through these clever minds, even at play, as they were, I was learning much of the world at large with its political questions. Always it seemed to me the Russian mentality and attitude were generous, large, and strong. I grew also to love our peas-ants and the patriots who strove to lead them forward and to place our nation higher for its ideals and ambitions than any other one in Europe, were splendid. It seemed to me we had a great future, and that at last the liberals more and more were moving toward an evolution of the right sort; that it would be but a short span of years until parliament would have strong legislative rights, and a responsible ministry would answer for mistakes or be acclaimed for its creative efforts.

Many men talked of a constitution. It was well known that when certain of the ministers who most insistently advocated reform went to the Emperor with reports and suggestions His Majesty listened with sighs of deep sympathy; and also that in spite of Madame Wiroboff's efforts certain honest courtiers held their influence. The Empress was constantly ill, and she kept around her a strange crowd, who spent their time flattering her and feeding her with gossip and charlatanism. She was drifting away, living solely for her children and for her occult group of friends.

There was no doubt in any one's mind as to Madame Wiroboff's relations with Rasputin, or of the fact that she had invented him and declared him to be a miracle-worker, thus installing him as a sort of backstairs prophet.

His prayers were said to do the Empress good, and also the young heir to the throne, who was an invalid. Madame Wiroboff had persuaded Her Majesty that she her-self could not survive being separated a day from the mistress she adored. Also she was convincing about Rasputin. He was devoted, and a simple peasant; it would please the people 'f Russia to know a representative of theirs stood high at court; without knowledge, but by the pure, real faith which moved him, Rasputin had power from on high to prophesy and heal, and his intervention averted the nervous pains from which the Em-press had suffered since so long. The latter was brought firmly to believe all this, and the fact, continuously re-told, that her son was stronger and would eventually recover perfect health by their private saint's constant intercession and watchful care, made the distraught Em-press a victim, yielding more and more to the foul influence of the plotters.

As she gained power and dared to show it, Madame Wiroboff made a few allies in court circles, all among the worst elements, who either feared her or hoped to share the spoils she gained. Many of us realized the wretch was doing harm, but how much no one could calculate. We saw her creeping into the intimacy of the sovereigns, but she played the fool extremely well and was never suspected of political ambitions. We discovered early in the game that she wanted to seem a figure in the court. Many people shrugged their shoulders and decided to accept punishment for ignoring the favorite's pretensions if necessary. Many would not call on her. She and I spoke when we met, but the acquaintance went no further, for to me, as to many others, Madame Wiroboff was a repulsive creature.

As for Rasputin, I never met or saw him. Coarse, vicious, hideous, he was known to be, yet he exerted an unholy fascination on a number of women, who crowded about him and composed his clientele. He drank and in general lived brutally, though without other plans than to be materially enriched, or to have warmth and finery and food.

Those who had known the Empress enough to realize her culture, were much distressed to see her so badly advised, but there seemed nothing to prevent her being exploited. Several devoted subjects tried to warn her. It was no use, for she had chosen her path, and remained unmoved by any pleadings. She put aside all loyal friends of her best interests, who showed their courage at the price of her favor, and she held more firmly to her occult group, while her influence over her husband grew and grew, till by degrees he lost familiar contact with those who might have given him real enlightenment and truth. Still she held to Prince Orloff, and believed rightly in his honor and devotion. The latter's tact and power were constantly used to stem the intrigues at our court.

Early in 1913 was celebrated the three hundredth anniversary of the Romanoffs' accession to the throne, and in the pageants connected with all this the court lived over again the acclamtions and enthusiasm of the dynasty's early days, when for his virtue, intelligence, and grace young Michael Romanoff had been chosen by his people for their sovereign, and was fetched out from the retirement of the convent in which he was being brought up by his good mother. The great deeds of our imperial family through three centuries of history were recalled in tableaux, song, and ceremony. An official reception occurred at the Winter Palace, when each guest in national costume was given a golden insignia to mark his or her attendance that day t court. Deputations came from every province, and from vassal states, with gifts for the sovereigns, and these received with all due pomp, surrounded by the imperial family and their attendants.

Never had the palace looked more magnificent, nor had the power of the ruler seemed more assured. The city of St. Petersburg was officially dressed in gayest bunting, while at night the imperial crowns or mono-grams, with emblems of state designed in colored lamps, made vast decorations which lighted up the streets. Two special gala fêtes were given. One, offered by the nobles of the capital to their Emperor, was a ball in the "Council Hall of the Nobility." The magnificent white marble ballroom dated back a century at least, and was wonderful that night. All of us had put on our best clothes and jewels, to do honor to the imperial guests of the evening.

The entrance of the sovereigns was very impressive. They were met by the "Grand Marshal of the Nobility of the Province of St. Petersburg" at the outside entrance. He offered his arm to the Empress-Mother, who on this occasion had graciously accepted the invitation. Prince Soltykoff, who had the dignity and manner as well as the blood of the boyars—aristocrats--of ancient Muscovy, handed Her Majesty, always graceful, through the "polonaise " which ceremoniously opened the ball. They were the most stared at and admired couple in the room, and the old Empress's popular figure, still slim and elegant, was at its best in walking. She smiled at her subjects, and they became her captives anew and swore renewed allegiance under their breath to this ever-attractive woman.

The Emperor in full uniform looked uncomfortable and intimidated. He walked as rapidly as possible, in military fashion, as if anxious to get the ceremony over and hating to be stared at. It was somewhat of an effort for the beautiful young Countess Koutousoff in her long robes to keep up with His Majesty's quick stride, which was not in time with the music. She spoke to him, and her partner replied timidly to the wife of the "Marshal of the Capital City's Nobility"; then he smiled, made a determined effort to slow down, and did his duty. When he saw the bows and curtseys on each side as he passed down the lines of nobles with this radiant partner at his side, he distributed various shy, small nods. It was evident the whole thing was an effort to his nature, for in the earnest, deep-gray eyes there was an eloquent appeal; and as the marching neared its end he seemed relieved; then, as the trial ended, he bowed and relinquished the hand of his fair lady partner with a grateful sigh.

As for the younger Empress, she had had one of her habitual attacks some days before and was still suffering, it was said; but she did her part in the procession. The "Vice-Marshal of the Nobility of the Province" gave her his arm. She towered above the little man in her splendor. Diamonds and pearls glittered on her head and neck and dress, making her, as always, a gorgeous statue. Her eyes were stern and sad, her mouth made a straight, hard line, drawn in physical distress and mental rebel-lion at the necessity of carrying through a ceremony she disliked, amid a court and nobility she did not care for. Not once did she smile nor look to right or left, though at intervals, quite regularly, she inclined her head to the throng which pressed forward. Every one said, coldly enough, that Her Majesty was looking very handsome. When she finished her turn she settled on a chair at once and remained silent and forbidding, with a tragic face, all through the entertainment.

It was a scene well worth even her admiration that we gazed out on. The room, three stories high and spacious in proportion, the myriad crowd that filled it with their color as they moved in rhythm to the lovely waltz music, was perfect. The vast columns of cream marble, wound with garlands, the rich red velvet of draperies, the golden woodwork, the bronze and crystal of chandeliers or high candelabra, made a picture difficult to rival, and one felt the proud nobles of the empire had done their best and might well be proud of their success.

A few nights later there was a gala performance at the opera-house. This time the sovereigns were hosts to their court and to the government officials. And again all those present wore their best, a different best from the ball splendor of the earlier function. In the orchestra seats sat venerable senators and members of the Council of the Empire in court uniforms of green and red and black, much trimmed with gold embroidery. Here and there some gorgeous ex-commander of an imperial guard regiment stood in military uniform of equal brilliancy, carried with elegance and ease. In the loges, tier on tier, sat cabinet officials and their wives, glistening with deco-rations, all the ladies of the court in their fine jewels, and men whose rank or service brought them there by right. The imperial family filled the large boxes. In the centre box of the house sat Their Majesties. When they entered they were acclaimed with long cheers, echoing to the roof, and with the national anthem, and again, as on the previous occasion, each responded as prompted by his or her nature.

Around the sovereigns sat the members of the imperial family, according to his or her rank. To every Grand Duchess in the imperial circle was attached a page that night, brought out by ancient etiquette from the page corps to do his service. Chosen for their fine physique and handsome features, these youngsters, in high boots and tight trousers, their uniform coats bedecked with gay gold lace, stood at attention, and held the fur scarf or delicate lace fan of the various Romanoff ladies. To the background they added rich notes of color. The house had never had a grander evening. The composition of the audience and the performance on the stage rivalled one another in their perfection. Parts were given of several patriotic operas. "A Life for the Czar" was played and sung, and, if I remember rightly, Chaliapin gave the first act of "Boris Goudanoff. The national anthem and the wild applause and cheers were ft repeated before the sovereigns retired and the party broke up. This performance was followed by a supper and ball at the palace of the Grand Duchess Xénia, the Emperor's sister.

After assisting at the week's rejoicings, the Emperor, his wife, and children retired again to Tsarskoe, and we were left with the impression of a fairy dream, which had lasted a few days and had renewed our historical loyalty for the throne and its occupants. It was whispered about, however, that the Emperor and Empress had not shown themselves sufficiently to the simple people of their capital and had made no effort to capture the love and admiration of their humbler subjects; and as a reason for this neglect, it was added that since the demonstrations of 1905 and 1906 the sovereigns hated the populace and had no desire to win the love of St. Peters-burg's citizens, but wished, on the contrary, to keep as far as possible from dangerous crowds. It seemed an unfortunate attitude to many of us, and regret was ex-pressed on all sides they had been so badly advised.

The next winter, 1913-14, I had laid aside my mourning finally, but expected to take little part in what promised to be a gay season. Fate decreed otherwise, how-ever, and that last winter before the war I passed in dancing. It was a last fling before the breaking down of all that had made the frame of our brilliant youth and life, and it seems as if we all instinctively felt we must eat, drink, and be merry, in fear of the destruction due with the morrow's dawn.

I had meant to continue in the quiet habits of life which I had formed during my two years of mourning, but St. Petersburg's celebrations for our set continued for some time around Prince Alexander of Battenberg, who came out to stay with the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess Kyril. Perforce entertainments given to amuse this guest, whom we had all known and liked during a previous visit, drew us back to the ways of youth again. Fête followed fête, and the season culminated in a car-nival week such as St, Petersburg had not seen since before the Japanese War. We enjoyed it and forgot to be old.

Among other things, a beautiful Persian dance was organized, was practised and danced under the orders of a ballet-master, as the central performance at a costume ball. A few nights later this was repeated, after dinner, t the home of the Grand Duchess Marie. It was to amuse the Empress-Mother, who wanted to see her nieces and nephews, with their friends, masquerade. The clothes and jewels in the Oriental forms and colors were very striking and becoming, and the men and women who took part wore all their finery. Our spirits were high, both at the rehearsals and on the evening of the gay show, and the dance's general effect was really beautiful, near enough the gorgeous East to be quite satisfactory.

Possibly Persians would not have realized we aimed to look like them, however!

That year, as usual, the sovereigns and their court spent the spring in pleasant comfort at Livadia, on the coast of the Black Sea. Both the Emperor and the Em-press were fond of this their personal home, and, with the excuse of Her Majesty's health and that of the Czarévitch, they lengthened their sojourn in the south each year. Many government functionaries rushed back and forth from the capital to Yalta, complaining of the long journey, but very glad, really, of the possibility of visiting, as part of their service, the pretty city lying t the foot of the hill with its white palace and magic gardens.

That year the Crimea had attracted many members of the imperial family, who each with his suite were housed in their villas along the shore. The Emperor worked part of each day with his government officials, walked with the gentlemen of his suite over many miles of pathway planned for his enjoyment across the hills, and lived otherwise a quiet life.

The Empress, save for her hours in her family circle, gave herself up to the companionship of Madame Wiroboff and the latter's friends, who were her intimates. Daily Her Majesty drove through the imperial park in her victoria, with Madame Wiroboff beside her, and Rasputin a third in the party. At last some one at court told the Emperor of these expeditions, and persuaded him to influence his wife, as gossip was busy with her name. After various discussions the Empress consented to modify her programme, after which she started out on her drive with only Madame Wiroboff in attendance. But Rasputin was waiting at some point in the route chosen, was picked up, and had his drive till they dropped him again only at the last moment, before the palace door was reached. Guards' and courtiers' tongues wagged as much as ever.

Both Madame Wiroboff and her occult partner were growing arrogant in 1914 toward the members of the court, whenever their imperial protectress was not watching; but in her presence they always played modest roles and represented themselves to be a pair of humble saints who spent their time in prayer. Officials were approached by them for favors, however, and in their petitions covert threats were felt.

This scandal was an underlying note of warning in those weeks of the imperial family's last residence in their Crimean palace. On the surface everything went smoothly, and many a gay beauty held her small court in the colored villas or in the salons and loggias of the old Hotel de Russie. No one had an anxious thought for the future, though the clouds were gathering rapidly overhead !

At the end of the spring the sovereigns and their followers returned north, and they scarcely had time to settle for the summer t Peterhof, make preparations and receive the President of the French Republic, who was scheduled for an official visit of about a week's duration, when the murder at Sarajevo suddenly startled all Europe. The menace of its touching us was not sufficiently felt, however, to cause any change of programme, so the feasting and receptions, the reviews and gala theatres to honor our ally and our guest were continued, in full security that all was well. At last the visit ended and Poincaré sailed away. Then we realized quite suddenly that we had war to face and at short notice.

Someone recalled to everyone else's notice how during the week's festivities the face of Admiral Heinze had been hideous and his behavior strained. The truth was realized too late about this representative of the Kaiser attached to our Emperor's person. War came, and in the history of Russia a chapter full of the picturesque was closed and a new one begun, in glory and in pain, which was to lead to crucifixion and martyrdom for our whole nation.