Revolutionary Days

444 Pages·1999·2.171 MB·English

by  Julia Cantacuzene Countess Speransky, Terence Emmons (ed.)

Revolutionary Days
Princess Julia Grant Cantacuzene, 1907
My Life Here and There
The Lakeside Classics
REVOLUTIONARY DAYS
Including passages from
My Life Here and There
1876–1917
By
Princess Julia Cantacuzene
Countess Speransky,née Grant
edited by
Terence Emmons
The Lakeside Press
R.R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY
CHICAGO
December,1999
Copyright © 1999by R.R.Donnelley & Sons Company
All Rights Reserved
PUBLISHERS’ PREFACE
ITWASEXACTLYone hundred years ago,in 1899,that
the author of this year’s Lakeside Classic embarked
upon the adventure of her life.That summer,Julia
Dent Grant,granddaughter of the famous general and
ex-president,married a Russian prince and sailed off
to live among the aristocracy in Imperial Russia.She
and her family escaped in 1918from the Russian Rev-
olution and returned to the United States.Princess
Cantacuzene then wrote her memoirs of one of this
century’s pivotal events.
It is interesting to note this book’s Chicago con-
nection.Both of Julia’s parents were from Illinois.Her
mother’s sister was wealthy Chicago society leader
Bertha Honoré (Mrs.Potter) Palmer.Julia met her
prince while traveling in Europe with her aunt and
uncle,visited Chicago on trips back to the United
States,and,upon her permanent return,was men-
tored by Mrs.Palmer.
Coincidentally,1899was also a milestone in the his-
tory of our company.The founder and a prominent
civic leader,Richard Robert Donnelley,died in April
of1899.Leadershippassedtohisson,ThomasElliott
Donnelley,who led the company for the next half-
century.It was T.E.who,in 1903,started The Lake-
side Classics series.These books were intended to
typify simplicity and elegance in book design and
demonstrate the latest in manufacturing methods.
v
vi Publishers’ Preface
Each year since then,a new title in the series has been
issued as a holiday gift.
Revolutionary Daysis the ninety-seventh book in
The Lakeside Classics series.We continue to honor
T.E.’s original concept, employing the latest com-
mercial techniques to manufacture the book.For more
information about this volume, please refer to the
Colophon at the back of the book.
Our historical editor for this edition was Terence
Emmons,Ph.D.,who teaches Russian history at Stan-
ford University.Professor Emmons is the editor of a
multivolume,annotated bibliography of Russian émi-
gré memoirs; the author of a book on Russians in San
Francisco; and the editor and translator for a book
that details the diary of a professor at a Moscow uni-
versity.Professor Emmons wrote our Historical In-
troduction and edited and annotated the text.
* * * *
When R.R.Donnelley died one hundred years ago,
the company faced significant challenges.The same is
true today.
Although print continues to be a vigorous and
healthy business,we know we must be vigilant to as-
sure the right combination of people,plans,and re-
sources to meet the expectations of our customers and
shareholders.We are emphasizing four business areas
that will create future profitable growth.
First,we look to transform print to meet our cus-
tomers’needs for speed,targeting,and flexibility in
Publishers’ Preface vii
the products and services we offer.Second,we con-
tinue to build an integrated production system of
value-added services,from premedia (the stages be-
fore printing plates are made) through final distribu-
tion of products.
We also are concentrating on using our current ca-
pabilities in ways that are highly valued by our cus-
tomers,such as consolidating and reconfiguring our
logistics business so we can offer customers better,
faster,and more economical ways to get their products
to consumers.Finally,we are extending our capabili-
ties through acquisition and expansion to leverage
value-creating opportunities.
InthisPreface,wewillfocusonthelastpoint:how
weextendedourcapabilitiesin1999tomeettheneeds
ofourcustomers,shareholders,andemployees.
Early in 1999,we broadened our range of direct-
mail capabilities when we purchased Communicolor,
a major direct-mail marketing group.This acquisition
significantly enhances our capabilities to produce a
wide array of direct-mail products.We are now well
positioned to assist direct marketers in improving
their response rates through increasing levels of per-
sonalization and product differentiation,all provided
by one source.
We recognize that the southeast United States is a
growing market.Two acquisitions in 1999were based
on our decision to serve this region more effectively.
Each acquisition addresses a different market seg-
ment. For example, the financial printing unit of
viii Publishers’ Preface
CadmusCommunications,withservicecentersinBal-
timore, Charlotte, Raleigh, and Richmond, offers
entrytotheSoutheast’sfinancialcenters.Therapid
growth of this region, including the emergence of
some of the largest banks in the United States,pro-
vides great opportunities in financial printing.The
purchaseincludedaprint-on-demandandfulfillment
centerinCharlotte,enablingustoofferthesepopular
servicesmoreefficientlyintheSoutheast.
Late last year,when we purchased GTE Directo-
ries’ St. Petersburg, Florida, telephone directory
printing plant,we added print/bind,logistics,and ac-
celerated delivery throughout the region for telecom-
munications publishers.The agreement included a
long-term contract to print certain GTE directories,
as well.
In addition to adding new print capabilities,the
company added other value-added services,including
Internet-related services.During the past few years,
customers have sought aggressively to extend their
brands into new channels.R.R.Donnelley responded
by forming the eSolutionssm business unit, which
helps customers utilize the Internet and other elec-
tronic media to achieve brand extension.The eSolu-
tions group creates large-scale Web sites,consults on
Internet strategy,and develops Internet-based mar-
keting programs.It enables our customers to acquire
new customers, retain existing customers, and in-
crease the lifetime value of customers.
South America also continues to provide us with
Publishers’ Preface ix
excellent opportunities for growth.Through Editor-
ial Lord Cochrane, which is 78 percent owned by
R.R. Donnelley, we made a number of moves to
strengthen our position there.For example,Donnel-
ley Cochrane Brasil Ltda.expanded into the telecom-
munications market by establishing its first dedicated
directory plant in Brazil near São Paulo.This facility
complements the company’s existing directory ca-
pacity in Santiago,Chile.
We entered the book market in South America by
acquiring São Paulo-based Hamburg Gráfica Editora,
the largest independent book manufacturer in Brazil.
Among its customers are many of South America’s
leading publishing houses in the elementary school,
high school,trade,and professional book markets.
In Argentina,our Cochrane S.A.took full owner-
ship of Atlántida Cochrane S.A.,when it purchased
the remaining 50percent of that company.Renamed
Donnelley Cochrane Argentina,the company focuses
on printing high-quality magazines,inserts,and cata-
logs for domestic markets,including Brazil,Paraguay,
and Uruguay.
Our Central and Eastern Europe operations print
magazines and catalogs for Poland, the Czech Re-
public,Russia,Ukraine,and Germany,as well as tele-
phone directories primarily for Poland, the Czech
Republic,and Greece.To add to these capabilities,
we are investing $100 million in our operations in
Poland over the next three years.Specifically,we ac-
quired 100 percent ownership of Donnelley Polish-
x Publishers’ Preface
American Printing Company,a Kraków-based joint
venture formed in 1993,and we are expanding our ex-
isting facility in Kraków,making it the largest and most
advanced printing operation in the region.That plant
celebrated its fifth anniversary this year.We also plan
another printing plant in Kraków,with startup date to
be determined.
Our current success is demonstrated in the perfor-
mance measurements where we excel: customer rela-
tionships and integrated solutions,technology,and
financial metrics such as margins,cash flow,debt ca-
pacity to finance growth,and return on investment.
Our future success is dependent on maintaining our
lead in delivering value-added products and services.
* * * *
This year,we welcomed Joseph B.Anderson,Jr.,to
our Board of Directors.Mr.Anderson is president
and CEO of Chivas Products Ltd.,a manufacturer of
components for the automotive industry.Prior to that,
he was general director of a business unit for General
Motors Corporation.A decorated military officer,Mr.
Anderson served two tours of duty in Vietnam and
taught at West Point.
We wish you and your families good health and
good wishes for the new year.
THEPUBLISHERS
December 1999