Four sisters grew up together, with no friends outside their family and rarely seen in public. Due to their isolation they became close friends. They were the Grand Duchesses of Russia, children of the Tsar Nicholas II.   OTMA was the shared signiature of the four girls - Olga, Tatiana, Maria and Anastasia. As OTMA they signed mutural letters and presents and was also used in their diaries. The girls were divided into "The Big Pair" (Olga and Tatiana) and "The Little Pair" (Maria and Anastasia). Olga and Tatiana shared a bedroom and so did Maria and Anastasia - next door. The rooms were identical - spacious and full of light. With folding screens the rooms could be dividing and forming discreetly hiding private corners. The girls slept on folding camp beds with few pillows. When one of them became sick the patient was allowed to sleep in a more comfterable brass bed. Their portable beds made it possible for them to move around in their room acordining to the season. At christmas they all moved into their brother Alexei's playroom where they slept around the christmas tree. When the familly moved to another palace the camp beds came along.   The four girls shared a dressing room where a silver bath tub was placed. Every morning they took a cold bath and then a warm bath in the evening. Their clothes was very simple and identical. An outgrown dress or shoe was handed down to the younger sisters. They spoke english with their mother, russian to their father and brother. Among OTMA russian and english was spoken.   Anastasia and Maria had a phonograph player in their room and they used to play the records as louds as possible. And while playing they used to dance rather wild around in their room. This could be heard down in their mothers room. They also enjoyed to play tennis in their room.   The children's life and classes were strictly planned, the timetable having been approved by the Tsarina. Like their mother, the Grand Duchesses were good at embroidery and knitting. The tutors submitted regular reports to the Tsarina. She recorded pupils' progress and peculiar features. Back