IMPERIAL LIFE IN LIVADIA PRIOR TO THE WAR (1913).

From Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna’s 1913 diary:

“… We 2 rode horses through Ai-Nikola, the farm and the Livadia settlement… N.P., Zlebov, Smirnov and Kublitzky had breakfast. Tennis in the afternoon. Played an American set with Shurik, and then 2 sets with him… An awning was set up… with lights and green garlands. Some officers wore masks. Danced on the afterdeck and around the control cabin. [I] danced a quadrille with S. Very cozy, nice, fun. Then played a game twice. Palladino composed a march and played it. At first [I] danced with N.P… ”