The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1912-12-05
is THE GREATEST PUBLICAN.
The Gar of Russia Owns 10000 Sa.
looms and 1000 Distilleries.

The Gar of Russia Owns 10000 Sa.
looms and 1000 Distilleries.
1t will come as a surprise to most
people to learn that the greatest pub
lican of ancient or modern times is
none other than the devoutly ortho-
dox czar of Russia.
Vodka, the national drink of the
Russian people, has been a crown
monopoly continuously since the six
teenth century. To-day the crown
owns 10000 kabaks, or public
houses, and 4,OO0 distilleries. The
annual income from this source is
approximately 1OO,OOO,OOO pounds.
Public houses are open by imperial
command in that country. Every
hamlet, no matter how small, must
have at least one. When new town
is started it is said the first two
structures to rise are the orthodox
church and the cozy pub" In order
that the latter may enjoy some SEM
blance of nobility and otherwise be.
distinguishable from the ordinary
run of pure plebianism, picture OF
the czar is appropriately hung over
the bar, as if to extend royal well
come to all who enter.
Some time ago a movement was
launched in several communes to
close half the public houses and de-
vote the money thus saved to schools
for the children. The idea seemed
to be eminently proper, seeing the
people themselves were threatened
with destruction by the million-hand-
ed scourge of ignorance and vodka.
Word came down like crack OF
thunder from the lofty heights of st.
Petersburg that interference with
crown monopoly would not be toler-
ated a single moment. And before
the reverberation had died away in
the distance, soldiers Of the czar
swooped down upon the scene, closed
the schools, re-opened the pubs"
fined the presumptious communes
and served notice on all and sundry
that further offenses might mean an
indefinite sojourn in Siberia.
Prominent physicians from all over
the empire met at Moscow some
months ago to discuss measures by
which the intolerable ravages of this
monstrous bat-winged vampire of in
temperance might be stayed. They
met in the name of both science and
humanity, but the soldiers and police
of the little famous czar harassed
them until the congress was broken
up in disorder.
Before they disbanded, however,
some seeds were sown that may some
day ripen into a harvest of reform.
They showed that 80 per cent. OF
the male population of Russian
cities becomes addicted to the use OF
vodka before they are 80 years old;
that As per cent. of all girls in the
empire form like habit before they
are 1S; that SO per cent. of all the
crimes in both army and navy are by
men whose reason has been dethron-
ed by his majesty's special monopoly;
and that while the government is
spending less than I'd per head for
public education, the public brings an
annual blood toll offering of from
Is to 30s per head into the all-per-
vading drink shops of the govern
ment
The liquor business officially fos-
tered by the Russian government
constitutes a chapter in contempo-
rary history, which, in its grim sig
nifcance is probably without par
allel in either ancient or modern
times. On the other hand, the czar
is the recognized head of the great
orthodox church and the spiritual
leader of millions of people; while
on the other he bears the distinction
of being the greatest public house
owner the world has ever known
D;&,