The Last Days of the RomanovsSokolov, N. (Nikolai)
History
The Last Days of the Romanovs
Sokolov, N. (Nikolai)
Nicholas II, Emperor of Russia, 1868-1918; Romanov, House of
Kisseleff, footman; (28) Ermolay Gouseff, footman; (29) Ivan
Michaelovitch Haritonoff, cook; (30) Kokischeff, cook; (31) Ivan, I
think, Vereschagin, cook; (32) Leonid Sedneff, assistant cook; (33)
Sergius Michailoff, assistant cook; (34) Francis Purkovsky, assistant
cook; (35) Terchin, assistant cook; (36) Alexander Kirpitchnikoff,
clerk, performing in Tobolsk the duties of janitor; (37) Alexis
Nicholaevitch Dimitrieff, barber; (38) Rojkoff, in charge of the wine
cellars; after our arrival in Tobolsk we were joined by (39) Vladimir
Nicholaevitch Derevenko, physician; (40) Mr. Sidney Ivanovitch Gibbes.
Our life in Tobolsk went on peacefully. The restrictions were the same
as in Czarskoe-Selo and all felt even freer than in Czarskoe-Selo.
The officer of the day kept to his room and nobody interfered with the
private life of the imperial family. Everybody got up early, except the
empress, as I told you when I was describing the life in Czarskoe-Selo.
In the morning, after breakfast, the emperor usually took a walk and
always had some physical exercise. The children also had their walk.
Everybody did what he or she wanted to do. In the morning the emperor
used to read and write his diary. The children took lessons. The empress
read and embroidered or painted. Lunch was served at eleven o’clock.
After lunch the family usually had a walk. Frequently the emperor used
to saw logs with Dolgoruky, Tatischeff or Gilliard; sometimes the grand
duchesses took a part in this exercise. Tea was served at four o’clock
and usually during this time everybody was at the window watching the
outside life of the town. Six o’clock was dinner time. After dinner came
Tatischeff, Dolgoruky, Botkin and Derevenko. Sometimes they played
cards. Of the family the only card players were the emperor and the
Grand Duchess Olga. Sometimes in the evening the emperor used to read
aloud while everybody listened. Sometimes plays were staged, usually
French or English. Tea was served at eight o’clock and a conversation
always took place until about eleven but never as late as twelve
o’clock. After that everybody retired. The czarevitch retired at nine
o’clock, or at a time very close to it.
The empress always dined upstairs and sometimes the czarevitch dined
with her. The rest of the family ate in the dining-room.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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