The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-02-12
Russia Aboiishes Saloons.

The 800 government shops in st. Peters,
burg where vodka is sold are meant TO
supersede almost entirely the old traktlrs.
tavers, or saloons which formerly adorned
the thoroughfares OF Russian cities and
towns, just as they do In our own blessed
land.
In these trakars the workmen and the
peasant could sit and sip their vodka
by the hour, by the day, or the night,
and find there jovial companimships.
The government depot for the
sale OF vodka Is bare and unnviting.
except for it's air OF decency and cleanli-
ness, says a writer I'm Ainslee's Magazine.
a sign over the door announces the char
acter of the establishment, and YOU enter
to find yourself before long counter with
cage above it, and two little gates like
I'm a bank Behind the shelves are guam
titles of the bottles OF all sizes and both
qualities. arranged with utmost precision,
and In the 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 a never-endng stream OF
customers during hours. The shops are
closed at night and open only n short
time on holidays.
Some Of those who enter are laden with
empty bottles and thus get the price dis
counted on their next supply some go
away like John Gilpin. with a huge bot
tie on either side, while others pass over
six kopecs. carry their small measure Of
vodka outside, where they knock the cork
out with n blow. swallow the contents a
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
more liquor. and there IL no place I'm tho
shop where the customer may sit down:
10 drink 50 much as drop on the prem
Iscs IS absolutely forbidden.
In connection with these shops there are
some interesting facts relative TO the gov
ernment policy In running the monopoly.
The conditions attached Co the part Of
shopkeeper are such that we'll educated.
self respecting men and women can un-
dertake the work. out of $50 shops in So
Petersburg. 800 are attended by women,
and they are paid 4 salary from 40 TO
800 rubles year.
This Is good pay I'm Russia. Besides
they have lodging over the shop with
fuel and light Sometimes, also. they are
provided with an assistant. I was told
that the most of these women were OF
good family, and talked with one who
was very intelligent and spoke French
0uentlN. Mono or the many women IN
this employment has ever taken u kopcc
from the monopoly. whereas there has
been considerable loss through the dis
honesty of men employees.
Therefore. women are generally prefcrr-
ed. I'm the country shops--thc sum total
of AL the monopoly shops IL about 1890
the Keepers are mostly men. II is ncccs-
sary TO maintain 20.1 collectors who are
principally from The peasant class. Go
gather in the accounts ana the money r.
ccived IN the shops and from licensed
traktirs.
When Dc Witte flrst laid his scheme d
fore the council OF ministers. one made
the objection that u would bc Impossible
to trust the officials with 10 much money.
To which d. answered:
n am quite sure that N an cmbezzle-
mont happens % viii be among the high
cr ofiriai CLASSES rather than the lower 30
And his words have provcn true The
humble officials have performed their
tasks with remarkable honesty
But. Interesting 80 are the methods of
the Russian government IN constituting
itself soic manufacturer and seller OF q
product for which there ls such an cnor-
nous dsmsnd.th essential point concerns
attainment rather than the means en-.
pioyed Has the vodka monopoly Ia Rus
ale realized the prophecies of ne witte
ss.l hfs aftffurfH