Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-27
No Barrooms in Russia.

Anna n. Benjamin in Atnslees.
The $50 government shops in st. Petersburg,
where vodka is sold, are meant to sepersede
almost entirely the old traktirs, taverns or
seIons. which formerly adorned the thorough
fares of Russian cities and towns, just as
they do in our own blessed land. In these
traktrs the workmen and the peasant could
sit and sip their vodka by the hour, the day
or the night, and find in jovial companionships
encouragement to further excuses. Now, ex-
the restaurants of higher class, this evil is
abolished. The government depot for the sale
of vodka is bare and uninviting, except for
it's air of decency and cleanliness. A sign over
the door announces the character of the estab-
lishment' and you enter to md yourself be,
fore a long counter with a cage above 1t and
two little gates like in a bank. Behind on
shelves are quantities of the bottles OF all
sizes and both qualities, arranged with utmost
precision, and in a rear room are reserve
stores replenished by the cases which are con-
stantly sent from the factory. Business is
lively in these vodka shops. The door admits
hours. The shops are closed at night and open
only for a short time on holidays Some of
those who enter are laden with empty bottles,
and thus get the price discounted on their
next supply; some go away like John Gilpin,
with huge bottle on either side, while others
pass over six kopecs, carry their small meas
cork out with blow swallow the contents at
a gulp, and then return with the bottle for
more, paying only four kopecs this time. But
when a man is actually drunk the shopkeeper
is not allowed to sell him any liquor and
there is no place in the shops where the Gus
toner may sit down; to drink so much as
a drop on the premises is absolutely forbidden.
In connection with these shops there Is some
interesting facts relative to the government
policy in running the monopoly. The conditions
attached to the part of shopkeeper are such
that well-educated, self-respecting and
women can undertake the work. Out Of the
$50 shops in ST. Petersburg 500 are attended by
women and they paid a salary OF 10 to 800
roubles a year. This is good pay in Russia.
Besides, they have lodging over the shop with
fuel and light Sometimes also, they are pro-
of these women were of good family, and
talked with who was very intelligent and
spoke huenty in French. None OF the many
women in this employment has ever taken a
kopec from the monopoly, whereas theirs has
been considerable loss through the dishonesty
of men employees. Therefore, women are gen.
orally preferred. In the country shops the sum
900 the keepers mostly men. 1t is necessary
to maintain 1900 collectors, who are princi-
pally from the peasant class, to gather in the
accounts and the money received in the shops
from licensed traktirs
When de White first laid his scheme before
the council of ministers. one made the obJec-
ton that It would be impossible to trust the
officials with 50 much money 10 whicn ne
answered:
IT am quite sure that II an embezzlement
happens it will be among the higher official
classes rather than the lower" And his words
have proved true. The humble officials have
performed their tasks with remarkable hon
esty.
But as interesting as are the methods of the
Russian government in constituting itself sole
manufacturer and seller Of a product for which
there is such an enormous universal demand,
the essential point concerns attainment rather
than the means employed. Has the vodka mo-
nopoly in Russia realized the prophecies OF de
Witte and his supporters?