THE REAL CZARINA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16848, 26 September 1922, Page 8

THE REAL CZARINA.

The real character of the murdered Czarina is revealed in an extraordinary collection of letters written by her to her husband during the war and found, after the murder of the Imperial family, in a wooden box in a. cellar at Jikateiinburg. These letters, written in English, number hundreds, and one volume has already been published in Berlin. “The Times'’ gives extracts from the correspondence which makes authentic history out of what has hitherto been an almost incredible rumour. The letters show that the Empress was j not the pro-German she was commonly reputed to he. and they disclose her great love for her husband and children, but also make it clear that she was under the domination of Rasputin, who is constantly referred to as " our friend " and “ the man of God.” Of perhaps more historical interest is the diary kept by the Czarina during her captivity. In this she recorded the daily events in the lives of the unfortunate Imperial family. She mentions that on June 13 she cut the Czar’s hair for the first time in her life. On June 7 she was able to have a bath, but the water had to he brought up from the kitchen. Later her jewellery was taken away by the Bolsheviks, who sealed it up in a box- The Czarevitch, whom she called “ Baby/’ slipped severely and hurt his knee, and the mother srpent the night watching him, and . treating the injury with cold * water compresses. The Czarina spent moat of her time in bed reading the Bible j or pious hooks.