The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-02

Within the past few days Birmingham has had the honor of entertaining Count Louis skarzynsh of St. Petersburg, who comes as an envoy from Russia to the United States to investigate the condi- lions engendered by the recent prohibition wave. Considering that the south has been more prominent than any other sec tion of the country in this prohibition movement, the count at once made this part of the country his point of vantage.
 The count is absolutely the most ''un- interviewable' person who has arrived in this burg for many moons. He has suf- fered at the hands of interviewers, so that he is anything but a nice "interviewee," not appearing to care for the paper clothes in which he has been arrayed at various places, and when one finds that such are the conditions surrounding his ''countship," the one best bet left Is to extract photograph of his royal high ness, which in this case isn't bad to look upon, and besides 1t isn't every day in the week that body has an opportunity to gaze at the very first and only picture of this particular nobleman ever pub 7ished by a newspaper in this country, and which The Age-Herald has the pleas ure of presenting to its readers this morn ing.
 His cards announce that he is of the ex- ecutive committee, International League Against the Abuse of Liquors, and for the benefit of those who may care to com municate with him further, it may be added that letter will reach him If sent to Tutshkowa Quay No 2. St. Petersburg.
 The count is absolutely bona fde nobleman, being ranked in his native country by the imperial family alone.
 The count has charge of the distribution of 1 per cent of $25O GOO, GOO which is ac cumulated by the Russian government In It's control of the liquor traffic. In his apartments at the Hillman. surrounded by a number of interested acquaintances, the count seemed more given to getting" in formation than in giving it. He speaks English quently and writes it remark ably well, and If his mission in this country is not successful it will not be for his lack of suavity or graciousness but from the fact that he is unacquainted with the methods of getting att things as we do.
 The count is tall and dark, with keen, steel-gray eye, which seems to be search ing for hieroglyphics on ones backbone particularly when talking of prohibition. He was dressed in the height of fashion, his close-cropped mustachios, his iron gray hair, and his forid complexion giv- ing the exact idea that one associates with the real Russian nobleman. The counts visit to Birmingham came about through his association with MT. Sum ter Mays Ball, whose work for Leslie's on the subject of prohibition is attract ing widespread attention throughout the BOuth
 Count Skarzynski came to Birmingham with cards of introduction from Hon. Seth Low of New York to Col. T. G. Bush and other prominent citizens, and was the recipient of many social atten- tions during his visit
 Among others whom he met here was MT. Burr Ferguson, who is friend of Count Andronikoff of St. Petersburg an intimate friend of Count skarzynski, whom Mr. Ferguson met on trip some years ago to Russia with Bishop Satter- lee, the bishop being sent by the Duke of Westminster to intercede with the