THE ILL-FATED CZAR.

Shannon News, 22 February 1929, Page 3

THE ILL-FATED CZAR.

TENDER ROYAL NOTES.

(Sun Special.) LONDON, Thursday. The tender love of tile ill-fated Czar ; of All the Russias for the Czarina is i poignantly revealed in extracts from ‘ his letters and telegrams to his wife, in the dark days of 1914-15, extracts from which are reproduced in “'The i Spectator.” • » . ? They have been translated from an official Russian publication. g One letter, dated ‘‘ln the Train,'18/11/14,” reads:— ’ . “My Darling Wify,— “I have read your sweet, tender let : . ter with moist eyes. My love, I miss, you terribly, and shall try to Avrite as often as possible. , “My hanging trapeze proved most V useful. I have SAvung on it many time, and have climbed up it before \ meals. It is an excellent thing for the

train, as it stirs the blood and the whole organism. “What a joy and consolation it is .' to knoAv you are well and .working so - much for the wbunded. As our friend ;

(Gregory Rasputin) says, it is God’s grace that at such a time you can work v so hard and endure so much. May God bless you, my beloved wify. I / kiss you and the children lovingly. ■<• Sleep well, and try to think you are not lonely.-—Your hubby, Nicky,” > MY HEART LEAPS. ' j Another letter is dated “6‘tavka (Military Headquarters), 12/3/’15,” - and reads:— '

*‘ My Tenderly Beloved, — “Thank you for your two sweet letters. Every time I see an envelope with your firm writing, my heart leaps several times. I shut ■ myself up to * read—or, more correctly, to absorb— ■ your letters. “Of course, the girls can bathe in v my swimming- bath. lam glad the ' little one (the Czarevitch) likes it sa much. I asked the rogue to write me about this.”

A third letter from Stavka, dated - 9/3/’ls, and beginning “My Beloved Sunny,” refers to the receipt of lilies from the Czarina.

“I press them to my face and kiss often the places Avhich I think Avere touched by your dear lips,” he says. “They stand on my table day and night, and .when gentlemen pass the doors I give them the floAvers to smell. ‘ ‘ God grant that I may return by the eleventh. 'What a joy to be again in one’s oavh nest, snugly, closely, and in every sense together.”

Prom Siavka, on 19/6/ ’ls, the Czar wrote:— '

“■My Darling 'Sunny,’—How grateful am I to you for your dear, sweet letters, and all your devotion and love for nie. They give me- strength. I embrace you closely, ,'Beloved Mine. It is too hot to write of such a subject.” The letters frequently refer io the military situation. In cne, dated 23/6/’ls, the Czar speaks of “this damnable question of the shortage of artillery ammunition,” and adds: “If there was no fighting for months, our position would be better. “Of I am giving this information only tc you. Please do not speak of it darling—Ever your hubby, Nicky.”