,P>T #a3 ,*ILDHOOD1 ,SECTION #e 

#ahiiahii 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,PET] ,KROPOTK9 

,TEXT 3 

  

,PHOTO BY BE?OM#c#c1,C,C ,B,Y-,S,A ,LIC5SE ,:5 ,I WAS 9 MY EI<? YE>1 ! NEXT /EP 9 MY C>E] WAS TAK51 9 A QUITE UN=ESE5 WAY4 ,I DO NOT KN[ EXACTLY ON :AT OCCASION IT HAPP5$1 BUT PROBABLY IT WAS ON ! TW5TY-FIF? ANNIV]S>Y ( ,NI*OLAS ,I4'S ACCESSION1 :5 GREAT FE/IVITIES W]E >RANG$ = AT ,MOSC[4 ,! IMP]IAL FAMILY W]E COM+ TO ! OLD CAPITAL1 & ! ,MOSC[ NOBILITY 9T5D$ TO CELEBRATE ?IS EV5T BY A FANCY-DRESS BALL1 9 :I* *ILDR5 W]E TO PLAY AN IMPORTANT P>T4 ,IT WAS AGRE$ ?AT ! :OLE MOTLEY CR[D ( NATIONALITIES ( :I* ! POPULATION ( ! ,RUSSIAN ,EMPIRE IS COMPOS$ %\LD BE REPRES5T$ AT ?IS BALL TO GREET ! MON>*4 ,GREAT PREP>ATIONS W5T ON 9 \R H\SE1 AS WELL AS 9 ALL ! H\SES ( \R NEI<BORHOOD4 ,SOME SORT ( REM>KABLE ,RUSSIAN CO/UME WAS MADE = \R /EPMO!R4 ,\R FA!R1 BE+ A MILIT>Y MAN1 HAD TO APPE>1 ( C\RSE1 9 HIS UNI=M2 BUT ?OSE ( \R RELATIVES :O W]E NOT 9 ! MILIT>Y S]VICE W]E AS BUSY ) !IR ,RUSSIAN1 ,GREEK1 ,CAUCASIAN1 & ,MONGOLIAN CO/UMES AS ! LADIES !MSELVES4 ,:5 ! ,MOSC[ NOBILITY GIVES A BALL TO ! IMP]IAL FAMILY1 IT MU/ BE SOME?+ EXTRAORD9>Y4 ,AS = MY BRO!R ,ALEX&] & MYSELF1 WE W]E CONSID]$ TOO Y\NG TO TAKE P>T 9 SO IMPORTANT A C]EMONIAL4 

,& YET1 AFT] ALL1 ,I DID TAKE P>T 9 IT4 ,\R MO!R WAS AN 9TIMATE FRI5D ( ,MADAME ,NAZIM(F1 ! WIFE ( ! G5]AL :O WAS GOV]NOR ( ,WILNO :5 ! EMANCIPATION ( ! S]FS BEGAN TO BE SPOK5 (4 ,MADAME ,NAZIM(F1 :O WAS A V]Y BEAUTIFUL WOMAN1 WAS EXPECT$ TO BE PRES5T AT ! BALL ) H] *ILD1 AB\T T5 YE>S OLD1 & TO WE> SOME WOND]FULLY BEAUTIFUL CO/UME ( A Y\NG ,P]SIAN PR9CESS1 9 H>MONY ) :I* ! CO/UME ( A Y\NG ,P]SIAN PR9CE1 EXCE$+LY RI*1 ) A BELT COV]$ ) JEWELS1 WAS MADE READY = H] SON4 ,BUT ! BOY FELL ILL JU/ BE=E ! BALL1 & ,MADAME ,NAZIM(F ?\<T ?AT ONE ( ! *ILDR5 ( H] BE/ FRI5D W\LD BE ! BE/ SUB/ITUTE = H] [N *ILD4 ,ALEX&] & ,I W]E TAK5 TO H] H\SE TO TRY ON ! CO/UME4 ,IT PROV$ TO BE TOO %ORT = ,ALEX&]1 :O WAS MU* TALL] ?AN ,I1 BUT IT FITT$ ME EXACTLY1 & !RE=E IT WAS DECID$ ?AT ,I %\LD IMP]SONATE ! ,P]SIAN PR9CE4 

,! IMM5SE HALL ( ! H\SE ( ! ,MOSC[ NOBILITY WAS CR[D$ ) GUE/S4 ,EA* ( ! *ILDR5 RECEIV$ /&>D BE>+ AT ITS TOP ! >MS ( ONE ( ! SIXTY PROV9CES ( ! ,RUSSIAN ,EMPIRE4 ,I HAD AN EAGLE FLOAT+ OV] A BLUE SEA1 :I* REPRES5T$1 AS ,I LE>N$ LAT] ON1 ! >MS ( ! GOV]NM5T ( ,A/RAKHAN1 ON ! ,CASPIAN SEA4 ,WE W]E !N RANG$ AT ! BACK ( ! GREAT HALL1 & SL[LY M>*$ 9 TWO R[S T[>D ! RAIS$ PLAT=M UPON :I* ! ,EMP]OR & HIS FAMILY /OOD4 ,AS WE REA*$ IT WE M>*$ RI<T & LEFT1 & ?US /OOD ALIGN$ 9 ONE R[ BE=E ! PLAT=M4 ,AT A GIV5 SIGNAL ALL /&>DS W]E L[]$ BE=E ! ,EMP]OR4 ! APO!OSIS ( AUTOCRACY WAS MADE MO/ IMPRESSIVE3 ,NI*OLAS WAS 5*ANT$4 ,ALL PROV9CES ( ! EMPIRE WOR%IP$ ! SUPREME RUL]4 ,!N WE *ILDR5 SL[LY RETIR$ TO ! RE> ( ! HALL4 

,BUT H]E SOME CONFUSION OCCURR$4 ,*AMB]LA9S 9 !IR GOLD-EMBROID]$ UNI=MS W]E RUNN+ AB\T1 & ,I WAS TAK5 \T ( ! RANKS2 MY UNCLE1 ,PR9CE ,GAG>91 DRESS$ AS A ,TUNGUS 7,I WAS DIZZY ) ADMIRATION ( HIS F9E LEA!R COAT1 HIS B[1 & HIS QUIV] ( >R[S71 LIFT$ ME UP 9 HIS >MS1 & PLANT$ ME UPON ! IMP]IAL PLAT=M4 

,:E!R IT WAS BECAUSE ,I WAS ! T9IE/ 9 ! R[ ( BOYS1 OR ?AT MY R\ND FACE1 FRAM$ 9 CURLS1 LOOK$ FUNNY UND] ! HI< ,A/RAKHAN FUR BONNET ,I WORE1 ,I KN[ NOT1 BUT ,NI*OLAS WANT$ TO HAVE ME ON ! PLAT=M2 & !RE ,I /OOD AMID G5]ALS & LADIES LOOK+ D[N UPON ME ) CURIOSITY4 ,I WAS TOLD LAT] ON ?AT ,NI*OLAS ,I41 :O WAS ALWAYS FOND ( B>RACK JOKES1 TOOK ME BY ! >M1 &1 LEAD+ ME TO ,M>IE ,ALEX&ROVNA 7! WIFE ( ! HEIR TO ! ?RONE71 :O WAS !N EXPECT+ H] ?IRD *ILD1 SAID 9 HIS MILIT>Y WAY1 0 ,?AT IS ! SORT ( BOY Y\ MU/ BR+ ME10 - A JOKE :I* MADE H] BLU% DEEPLY4 ,I WELL REMEMB]1 AT ANY RATE1 ,NI*OLAS ASK+ ME :E!R ,I W\LD HAVE SWEETS2 BUT ,I REPLI$ ?AT ,I %\LD LIKE TO HAVE SOME ( ?OSE T9Y BISCUITS :I* W]E S]V$ ) TEA 7WE W]E NEV] OV]-F$ AT HOME71 & HE CALL$ A WAIT] & EMPTI$ A FULL TRAY 9TO MY TALL BONNET4 0,I WILL TAKE !M TO ,SA%A10 ,I SAID TO HIM4 

,H[EV]1 ! SOLDI]-LIKE BRO!R ( ,NI*OLAS1 ,MIKHAEL1 :O HAD ! REPUTATION ( BE+ A WIT1 MANAG$ TO MAKE ME CRY4 0,:5 Y\ >E A GOOD BOY10 ,HE SAID1 0,!Y TREAT Y\ SO10 & HE PASS$ HIS BIG H& OV] MY FACE D[NW>D2 0BUT :5 Y\ >E NAU<TY1 !Y TREAT Y\ SO10 & HE PASS$ HIS H& UPW>DS1 RUBB+ MY NOSE1 :I* ALREADY HAD A M>K$ T5D5CY T[>D GR[+ 9 ?AT DIRECTION4 ,TE>S1 :I* ,I VA9LY TRI$ TO /OP1 CAME 9TO MY EYES4 ,! LADIES AT ONCE TOOK MY P>T1 & ! GOOD HE>T$ ,M>IE ,ALEX&ROVNA TOOK ME UND] H] PROTECTION4 ,%E SET ME BY H] SIDE1 9 A HI< VELVET *AIR ) A GILD$ BACK1 & \R PEOPLE TOLD ME AFT]W>DS ?AT ,I V]Y SOON PUT MY HEAD 9 H] LAP & W5T TO SLEEP4 ,%E DID NOT LEAVE ! *AIR DUR+ ! :OLE TIME ! BALL WAS GO+ ON4 

,I REMEMB] ALSO ?AT1 AS WE W]E WAIT+ 9 ! 5TRANCE HALL = \R C>RIAGE1 \R RELATIVES PETT$ & KISS$ ME SAY+1 0,PETYA1 Y\ HAVE BE5 MADE A PAGE20 BUT ,I ANSW]$1 0,I AM NOT A PAGE4 ,I WILL GO HOME10 & WAS V]Y ANXI\S AB\T MY BONNET :I* CONTA9$ ! PRETTY LITTLE BISCUITS ?AT ,I WAS TAK+ HOME = ,SA%A4 

,I DO NOT KN[ :E!R ,SA%A GOT MANY ( ?OSE BISCUITS1 BUT ,I RECOLLECT :AT A HUG HE GAVE ME :5 HE WAS TOLD AB\T MY ANXIETY CONC]N+ ! BONNET4 

,TO BE 9SCRIB$ AS A C&IDATE = ! CORPS ( PAGES WAS !N A GREAT FAVOR1 :I* ,NI*OLAS SELDOM BE/[$ UPON ,MOSC[ NOBILITY4 ,MY FA!R WAS DELI<T$1 & ALREADY DREAM$ ( A BRILLIANT C\RT C>E] = HIS SON4 ,MY /EPMO!R1 EV]Y TIME %E TOLD ! /ORY1 NEV] FAIL$ TO ADD1 0,IT WAS BECAUSE ,I GAVE HIM MY BLESS+ BE=E HE W5T TO ! BALL40 

,MADAME ,NAZIM(F WAS DELI<T$ TOO1 & 9SI/$ UPON HAV+ H] PORTRAIT PA9T$ 9 ! CO/UME 9 :I* %E LOOK$ SO BEAUTIFUL1 ) ME /&+ AT H] SIDE4 

,MY BRO!R ,ALEX&]'S FATE1 ALSO1 WAS DECID$ NEXT YE>4 ! JUBILEE ( ! ,IZMAYLOVSK REGIM5T1 TO :I* MY FA!R HAD BELONG$ 9 HIS Y\?1 WAS CELEBRAT$ AB\T ?IS TIME 9 ,/4 ,PET]SBURG4 ONE NI<T :ILE ALL ! H\SEHOLD WAS PLUNG$ 9 DEEP SLEEP1 A ?REE-HORSE C>RIAGE1 R++ ) BELLS ATTA*$ TO ! H>NESS1 /OPP$ AT \R GATE4 ,A MAN JUMP$ \T ( IT1 L\DLY %\T+1 0,OP56 ,AN ORD9ANCE FROM HIS MAJE/Y ! ,EMP]OR40 

,ONE CAN EASILY IMAG9E ! T]ROR :I* ?IS NOCTURNAL VISIT SPREAD 9 \R H\SE4 ,MY FA!R1 TREMBL+1 W5T D[N TO HIS /UDY4 0,C\RT-M>TIAL1 DEGRADATION AS A SOLDI]10 W]E WORDS :I* RANG !N 9 ! E>S ( EV]Y MILIT>Y MAN2 IT WAS A T]RIBLE EPO*4 ,BUT ,NI*OLAS SIMPLY WANT$ TO HAVE ! NAMES ( SONS ( ALL ! (FIC]S :O HAD ONCE BELONG$ TO ! REGIM5T1 9 ORD] TO S5D ! BOYS TO MILIT>Y S*OOLS1 IF ?AT HAD NOT YET BE5 DONE4 ,A SPECIAL MESS5G] HAD BE5 DISPAT*$ = ?AT PURPOSE FROM ,/4 ,PET]SBURG TO ,MOSC[1 & WAS N[ CALL+ DAY & NI<T AT ! H\SES ( EX-,IZMAYLOVSK (FIC]S4 

,) A %AK+ H&1 MY FA!R WROTE ?AT HIS ELDE/ SON1 ,NI*OLAS1 WAS ALREADY 9 ! FIR/ CORPS ( CADETS AT ,MOSC[2 ?AT HIS Y\NGE/ SON1 ,PET]1 WAS A C&IDATE = ! CORPS ( PAGES2 & ?AT !RE REMA9$ ONLY HIS SECOND SON1 ,ALEX&]1 :O HAD NOT YET 5T]$ ! MILIT>Y C>E]4 A FEW WEEKS LAT] CAME A PAP] 9=M+ FA!R ( ! 0MON>*'S FAVOR40 ,ALEX&] WAS ORD]$ TO 5T] A CORPS ( CADETS 9 ,OREL1 A SMALL PROV9CIAL T[N4 IT CO/ MY FA!R A DEAL ( TR\BLE & A L>GE SUM ( MONEY TO GET ,ALEX&] S5T TO A CORPS ( CADETS AT ,MOSC[4 ,?IS NEW 0FAVOR0 WAS OBTA9$ ONLY 9 CONSID]ATION ( ! FACT ?AT \R ELD] BRO!R WAS 9 ?AT CORPS4 

,& ?US1 [+ TO ! WILL ( ,NI*OLAS ,I41 WE HAD BO? TO RECEIVE A MILIT>Y $UCATION1 ?\<1 BE=E WE W]E MANY YE>S OLD]1 WE SIMPLY HAT$ ! MILIT>Y C>E] = ITS ABSURDITY4 ,BUT ,NI*OLAS WAS WAT*FUL ?AT NONE ( ! SONS ( ! NOBILITY %\LD EMBRACE ANY O!R PR(ESSION ?AN ! MILIT>Y ONE1 UNLESS !Y W]E ( 9FIRM HEAL?2 & SO WE HAD ALL ?REE TO BE (FIC]S1 TO ! GREAT SATISFACTION ( MY FA!R4 

7,S\RCE3 ,MEMOIRS ( A ,REVOLUTIONI/1 ,FIR/ ,$ITION1 ,H\<TON ,MIFFL9 ,COMPANY1 ,BO/ON & ,NEW ,YORK1 #a#h#i#i47 

,FROM 3 ,AN>*Y ,>*IVES4 

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