Jane Mary

Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna, Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna and Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna with Margaretta Eagar at the hunting lodge in Spala, 31st August - 14th September 1900.

“Various surprises had been arranged for the children. In a little orchard a tea-house had been built and about a dozen tame deer turned in, besides tame pheasants, hares, etc. These creatures would all come and eat from our hands, and the deer would follow me about everywhere, lay their pretty heads on my arm and, looking beseechingly in my face, seem to beg for notice. The Grand Duchess Tatiana named them "the pretty creatures” and by this name they were henceforth known. Outside the palings enclosing this fairyland flowed a river in which swam all manner of water-fowl which would come to be fed; so it was a regular paradise for children. A further surprise awaited them in the shape of a little goat-carriage drawn by a pair of goats, each led by a boy in Polish costume, a long frock coat of white homespun decorated with black braid, and a high crowned black felt hat trimmed gaily with bands of black velvet ribbon, coloured paper flowers and a rosette of different coloured ribbons. The trimming was pinned on the hat!“

Eagar, M. (1906) Six years at the Russian court. New York : Charles L. Bowman & co, pp.114-115.

Catherine: ...

Blenkinsop having pretty much the same reaction as I did when trying to understand the reason for the first world war.