THE EX-CZARINA.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 April 1920, Page 12

THE EX-CZARINA.

WORKED FOR GERMANi DURING WAR. Dr. H. V. Wol)i.;on, of New York, was dentist for over thirty years to the family of the Into Czar of Russia. For the first time, lie lias conveyed to the public his impressions of the Romanoffs, and, although he reveais nothing that is not already well known, he emphasises the attitude of the unfortunate Czarina in a way that confirms the worst as to'her intriguing in behalf of reactionary statesmen in Germany. Dr. Wollison .is. at the same time, evidently quite fair to the Czarina. "She was," he stales, a far more likable woman than people who had never seen her and who know nothing of Russian court life seem to think. It was impossible when one was with her to believe the scandal Hint, was abroad about her relations with Madam Wiraboff and with the monk, Rasputin, whose mistress Madam Wiraboll' was supposed originally to have been. SENT TILES OF MONEY TO GERMANY. "To one who met her as I met her she was exceedingly charming, and Mada;'-i Wiraboff, for that matter, was a fat, jolly, likable sort of a girl, although rumor had it, and facts substantiated the supposition, that she was one of the greatest intriguantes about the Court. The Czarina was German clear through and through. There was no mistaking that, and it was through her that the Germans gained of their influence at court. She sent untold sums of money into Germany dirring the war." Dr. Wollison did not entertain a high opinion of the Czarevitch. "He was all mischief," ho declares, although the incident he supplies illustrative or his prococity suggests tho jolly rather than the petulant, anaemic creature that he is generally supposed to have been. "Not long before the Czar began hts last journey," Dr. Wollison relates, "from general headquarters to Petrograd, he was at headquarters with his father. Several of the generals of the Czar's stall were having luncheon In the garden at headquarters anil poring over problems of strategy as they ate, when suddenly a great stream of water struck squarely in the middle of the table and then was plied about the heads and shoulders of members of His Imperial Majesty's high command. The young Czarevitch had found the garden' hose and a faucet to which to attach it, and was making havoc of the luncheon, "The four (laughters of the Czar and Czarina were delightful girls, Olga was a bit of a blue stocking. Marie was a great German volkyrie, Tatania was a more quiet, domestic sort and Anastasia was lovely, the very sweetest of them all. It seems a dreadful thing that such a wholesome family of girls should have met so sad a fate." The Czar was far too gentle to lie. a ruler, maintains Dr. Wollison. Toward the last of the war Russia was so steeped in German influence that he couki find no support, for his measures anywhere, and even when he did make suggestions or issue commands they were rarely carried out.