Embossed postcard of the flag and coins of Russia, with fixed exchange rates for major currencies including Germany, Austria-Hungary, England, the Latin Monetary Union, Netherlands, and the United States of America. The Russian Ruble equaled 100 Kopeks. Tsar Nicholas II is on the obverse of most of the gold and silver coins; Tsar Alexander III is on the 7 1/2 ruble gold piece.
"'Take the Emperor, for example,' she continued. 'Isn't he patently predestined to ruin Russia? Aren't you struck by his ill-luck? Could any reign have been richer in miscalculations, failures and calamities? Everything he has undertaken, his best ideas and noblest inspirations, have gone wrong or actually reacted against him. As a matter of logic, what must his end be? As to the Empress, do you know any figure more baleful and accursed even in classical tragedy? And that other, the loathsome ruffian whose name I won't utter! Isn't the brand of Fate on him clearly enough? How can you explain the fact that at such a crisis in history these three incongruous and dull-witted beings hold the destinies of the world's largest empire in their hands? Don't you recognize the action of Fate in that? Come, tell me honestly!'"
Excerpt from the entry for March 23, 1916, from the memoirs of Maurice Paléologue, French Ambassador to Russia who hosted, that night, a dinner at the embassy with 'a score or so of Russians, . . . a few Poles, . . . and a few English people.' The quotation is from the Ambassador's private conversation with Princess V——, whom he considered 'very high-minded, quick-witted and clever.' She is downhearted about Russia's prospects, and discusses Fate, which she describes as a mysterious power, intervening at random in the world's affairs, and taking 'a malicious delight in making us the instruments of its own caprices.' Ruling Russia are autocratic Tsar Nicholas II, also supreme commander of the Army, the Empress who encourages his autocracy and urges replacements for high officials upon him, and Rasputin, 'our friend' to the royal couple, who presses the Empress to appoint his favorites to positions in the church, the army, and the government.
An Ambassador's Memoirs Vol. II by Maurice Paléologue, page 219, publisher: George H. Doran Company
1916-03-23, 1916, March, Tsar Nicholas, Nicholas II, Rasputin, Tsar Nicholas II, Alexandra, Empress Alexandra, Paleologue, 1916-03-22, 1916, Nicholas Romanoff, Romanoff
