The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-11-19
RUSSIA ABSOLUTELY
4DRY;;' REMARKABLE
CHANGE IN PEOPLE
Spurious Liquors Vanish
Completely Under Royal
Edict-Effect Startling
Over Country

Petrosrad, November 1s.--Actmal
nnd complete prohibition is in force
today throughout the entire Russian
empire and not a drop of vodkn.
whisky. brandy, gin or amy other
strong drink is obtainable from one
end to the other of an area popuiatci
by 15O,O0O,O0O people and comprising
one-sixth of the hnbitabIe globe.
In every foot of Russian territory the
word prohibition is taken literally. 1t does
not mean partially successful attempt
to curtain liquor consumption, resulting In
drinking in secret places, abuse OF medi-
cal licenses and general evasion and sub
!. terfuge. 1t does mean that vast popula-
ton who consumed $1,0O0,000.0 worth of
vodka year, whose ordinary condition
has been described by Russians them
selves as ranging from slight degree OF
stimulation upward, has been lifted all
most in one day to sobriety.
On that day when the mobilization be-
gan policemen visited every public place
where vodka is sold locked up the sup
/, ply of the liquor. which is almost pure
dlcOlOl, duu pidCtu Ou lit Siop tHt lIfi-
perlal seal. Since the manufacture and
sale of vodka is a government monopoly,
1t is not difficult to enforce prohibition
and from the day the shops were closed
drunkenness vanished
Results Already Seen
The results already are seen in the
peasantry. They are beginning to look like
a different race. Marks of suffering, the
pinched looks of illness and improper
nourishment have gone from their faces.
Their clothes are cleaner and both men
and women appear more neatly and bet
ter dressed. Homes of the poor, FORM
erly destitute now present something like
order and thrift.
In Petrograd and Moscow the effect is
fairly startling.N On holidays inebriates al
ways filed the police stations and often
lay about in the streets. Today unattend-
ed women may pass at night through por-
tions of these cities where 1t formerly
was dangerous for men. Minor crimes
and misdemeanors have almost vanished
This miracle virtually has been accom-
plshed by one man. He is Michael d.
Tc elisheff. a peasant by birth, originally
house painter by profession. then mayor
of the city of Samara, and now a mill
| lionaire. Physically he is giant standing
over six feet four inches. Although So
| years old, his movements display the en-
ergy of youth, his eyes are animated.
| and his black hair Is not tinged by
gray.
| In Petrograd Mr.. Tchelisheff goes about
| clad in blue blouse with tasselled gir-
\ die and baggy black breeches tucked into
heavy boots. He offers his visitors tea
and fruit.
Reared In Small Village
| Speaking today to a representative Of
the Associated Press of what he accom-
plished for sobriety in Russia, Mr.. Tchel-
! isheff said
! II was reared in small Russian VIII
| lage without schools. picked up an
education from old newspapers and stray
books. One day chanced upon book
which treated of alcohol. 1t stated that
vodka was poison. was SO impressed.
knowing that everybody drank vodka,
that I asked the first physician l met If
the statement was true. He said yes. I
(COntinued N Paee seven.)