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i9I6] PRINCE ALEXANDER OF OLDENBURG 397
Empress—presided as a figure-head during the
closing-weeks of the old regime, went through the terrible days
of the Revolution in the same state of surprise as that
in which he had submitted to his appointment, and
finally found himself in a cell in the Peter and Paul
fortress, from which, however, he was eventually
released as a guileless and irresponsible person. I do
not know what has become of the poor old gentleman
since.
What a difference between this dull, lackadaisical
man and Prince Alexander of Oldenburg, whom I had
called on the day before ! His Palace on the Quai de la
Cour looked like a hive in full activity, where doctors,
scientists and sisters collected to make reports, receive
instructions, exchange opinions with this energetic man
of few words, who had a blunt manner, but who,
nevertheless, was full of kindness and true pity for suffering
humanity, never more in need of pity than now. We
had a pregnant conversation on the subject of the
transport of the wounded, which the Prince was directing
in Russia, and of the treatment of prisoners of war.
General and instructive conversation animated the lunch
to which I was invited after the interview, and at which
I met the principal assistants of the indefatigable host.
One felt that the Prince had seen everything with his
own eyes during his constant journeys across Russia,
Europe, Asia, that he had taken part in the experiments
of scientists, the distribution of clothing, the cooking of
food, the fumigating of wards. Ah! thought I, if only
Russia had more such untiring men of action, of
unfailing energy! This one may well have his faults, as all
mankind has ; but in his case it would never be faults
of omission, which are the very worst of which any one
can be guilty at a time demanding above all else
courageous initiative and unremitting toil!
On leaving Galitzyn I went to see M. Alexis
Neid-hart, who was at the head of a special committee in
connection with our prisoners of war. I had not seen
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