New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-07
rOR the first time in many years
II Russian orchestrss are playing

|OR the first time in many years
II Russian orchestras are playing
"Mar.eillaise," says writer In
"TitBits." I saw the Russians start
one night at the opera when the or
ehes.ra struck up, and my neighbor
leaned over TO tell me: "You see, 1t
hasn't been allowed since the days OF
the revolution. The Socialists had
song to It's tune then"
Il was the same Russian who stopped
before one Of the big newspaper Offices
in the Nevski. and looked a long time,
not a. the latest telegram from Poland,
but a. the forty or fifty people gath
cred 10 read the bulletins.
"Do you know he said, ~ don't be-
lisve ever saw 60 many people TO-
gsther on the street before here. There
were always police orders to dispense
any crowd"
But the Nevsk-the Strand and Pic
esdilly Of Petrogrsd-is seeing many
new things these days. Every day
thousands % women take their way to
the Kazan Cathedral. which lies mid
way between the Baltic Station and the
golden spire Of the Admiralty-"the
gift toothpick Of the empire" as the
Russians call il. From early morning
until late AZ night the quiet stream OF
women takes its course, sometimes
stopping at the innumerable little
chspels that stand like sentry boxes
along any Russian street; and cathe-
dral and chapels alike blaze with the
candles Of prayer. Inside, quiet, ex-
cept for the shutting feet and the soft
sound of old women and men kissing
the icons Of their name saints.
But If the Russian asks much he
burns as many candles when he is
grateful. And for the Punishment OF
vodka there is moro thank ,giving than
for anything that has ever happened
IN the empire. Needless to say, drunk
enness, under the government monopoly,
was never treated with any harshness.
80 that now, with three months I'M
prisonment for those found tipsy, and
5000 roubles fine for the sale of vodka,
there is some ground for the wall OF
the soggy old chap from Archangel
whom ! saw borne of one night down
the Moika. There are no Black Marias
in the Russian police service, and the
old man, who had got himself in fine
state on a mild shellac that was the
drink Of his desperation, was flung
across the bottom of one OF the same
ishvosticks that he drove. The two
gendarmes planted their feet upon his
back and quite disregarded his howls
OF, You used 10 bring me home, and
now from my homo you take me away.
Who ever heard Of its being against
the Emperor TO drink" He was borne
away to joint the others who had made
vodka their milk and water and tea and
couldn't quite live up to overnight pro-
hibtion.
And overnight prohibition il was. An
Old Scotch newspaper man IN Petro-
grad was thrown out of restaurant
Tor ordering whiskey and soda on the
Gay after the imperial order. The
manager thought he was a government
spy, and wanted TO be really impress
siye In his strict obedience.
Out in the country, as much as in
me cities, one feels always the ire
mendous confidence the Russian peo-
pie have in victory. 1t is no use say
,eg that the recommending officers are
reckless in their remarks that the army
can AFFORD 10 lose million men, when
'ne calm and cheerful moujik himself
mo has just been "seizel," as his