Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-04-27

in a European society known as THE
International League Against the Abuse
of Alcohol" Georgia is the first prohi-
bition state that he is investigating.
THE league is conducting a scientific
study" said Count Skarzynski, "of the
abuse of alcohol the world over and of
the various remedies that are being pro-
posed and tried. We recognize that this
abuse needs correcting for the good this
society We eeel that the best results
can be accomplished through a broad,
dispassionate, thoroughly scientific in
auiry into actual conditions. That is
what / am here for.
After a light breakfast at the Piedmont
hotel, where he is staying, the count call
ed on Walter G. Cooper, secretary OF
the chamber of commerce. He wanted the
names of local citizens whose several
points of view would represent as nearly
as possible what Atlanta as a whole
thinks of prohibition as solution OF
the alcohol problem. The list that Mr..
Cooper gave him is an interesting combi-
nation.
1t includes Governor Smith, Recorder
BroyIes Or John +. White, DIR. Brough-
ton and Attorney T. B. Fielder in the
course of the day Count Skarzynsh will
interview each Of them and perhaps 9TH
ers He will remain here about two days
ana all the Wille he Will hCCp NyOS
wide open He has already spent some
time in New York, Washington, Charles
ton and Savannah and before he leaves
for Europe he wii4 visit Alabama, Ten
inessee, Missouri, and possibly California.
His Opinion of TOlstOy -,
Alcohol is by no means the counts sole
interest His education has extended to
the best institutions of learning In Ger
many and France and he is keenly alive
to everything in the way of an idea.
What he thinks of Tolstoy will be partic-
ularly interesting to Atlantians, for the
Carnegie library is continuously besieged
with requests for Tolstoy's books,
81 admire Tolstoy for certain character
istics of his style" said the count. who
does not? who could not? But he is de-
structive in his manner of thinking He
is not a builder. This is how he is gen.
orally considered in Russia, though there
are some disciples of his philosophy who
worship him."
How does he rank in the affections
of the people with Turgeneiff?" was
asked.
The count laughed deeply, threw up his
hands in a genuinely European gesture,
and cried:
"Ah, Turgeneif, he is the writer. He
is the artist. To be sure, he is much
greater than Tolstoy. He has the better
view Of life. He builds up. Tolstoy tears
down" 20
Count Skarzynski knows ALA Nazimo-
va. the gifted young Russian actress who
recently appeared at the grand in "A
Dolls House."
''She is considered very talented at
home' he said, but not our country's
greatest actress. But don't claim to be
very we'll up in such matters"
On being asked his opinion as to what
the outcome of the present turmoils in
Turkey would be- he was rather reticent.
1.-THE success Of the revolution has been
due to the army" he said, land that
makes the tide of the future shifting and
extremely uncertain. But, here, tell me,
who is DIR. Broughton? What side does
he stand with?"
And so he veered from any other furth-
er discussion OF European. politics.
In manner, the count richly justifies his
title. He blends graciousness with free
dom and energy and wears his American
style clothes as though he were a noble
man in a picture His hair is cut close
behind and is brushed somewhat like the
cars from his forehead. He says Ameri-
ca is the windiest land he has seen.
Asks Striking Questions
Some of the questions for which he is
seeking an answer are very striking.
"Of course" he explained, these are
inquiries of the international league and
are asked in a purely scientific spirit"
Here are some of these queries:
"Why does the internal revenue office
sell licenses to those people in prohibition
districts who have not the right to deal
in liquors? To Europeans there seems to
be contradiction between the laws that
are obligatory in the different states and
the action of the central government"
do you think the prohibition laws
when made general throughout the Unit
ed States will stop the consumption of
liquor? If so, by what new tax do you
think the federal government could be
compensated for the loss of about two
hundred millions of internal revenue?'
The answers to these and other ques-
lions will be kept by Count Sharzynski
and turned in as a report to the executive
committee of the league.