The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1915-05-07
NOW DRINK COLOGNE
Russian Government Still Faces
a Serious Problem.
Methy!ated Spirits, Furniture Poiist
and Other Deadly Liquors Are
Said to 3e Used as Substi.
tute for Vodka.
BY BAsSETT DIGRY,

Correspondent Chicago Daily News)
London.-Apparently total prohibi
ton Is not working as smoothly in Rus
STA as the considerable section OF
British press and public that is URGING
similar measures over here seems to
imagine. In spite Of total prohibition
there is great deal of drunkenness
to be observed in Russia just now
among the peasants. who form four
fifths of the nation. Methylated spirits
is the chief tipple involved.
l had talk with neutral subject
who has recently arrived in London
from the Russian empire, in various
districts of which he has lived many
years.
You can judge of the Importance OF
the methylated spirits ISSUE" he said,
from the fact that the ministry of
finance at Petrograd has been organic.
ing an international competition, with
prizes ranging up to 10000 rubles
C$15,000], for methods of rendering
methylated undrinkable. A second
competition is being arranged for new
and improved methods of utilizing
spirits for combustible and other pur-
poses. In this the prizes range up to
one Of $4,000 rubles. The total awards
in these spirit competitions will
amount to $350,000. Here is a fine
chance, surely, for keen young Amer
lean chemists.
Out In one of the chief cities Of
Siberia leading druggist on the main
street has been doing huge trade in
a new brand of eau de cologne of his
own manufacture. 1t consists of al
cohol favored with lemon juice and
has few drops of eau de cologne to
give it slight verisimilitude to the
real thing. This, of course, is beyond
the means of the peasants. They drink
either methylated spirits neat or
mixed with other liquids.
I'm the last few months new drink
has made it's appearance at the numer.
Gus country fairs in the empire. 1t is
called ksassok. Kvzass is theoretically
a very Slightly intoxicating liquor
made from fermented rye bread. OF
recent years, however, the name has
been given to all soft drinks consist
ing of water favored with fruit es-
sence. The termination ok is a di-
minutiye, like the chen in German.
In this case is implies not only an af-
fectionate regard for kvass but an indi.
cation that there Is only little kvass
in the mixture.
when left Petrograd In February
dead men often were picked out of the
snowy cutters at daybreak; they had
become blind drunk on methylated
spirits the previous evening, had fallen
unconscious and had soon frozen to
death.
"a preparation OF furniture polish. a
sort of French polish, also is being
imbibed to great extent.
This methylated spirit tipping is
doing lot of harm in Russia. Unless
the finance ministry's competition
produces results, 1t is expected that
the ban will be lifted from beer. There
is widespread agitation now in favor
of permitting the sale of low alcohol
percentage beer. to compete with
methylated.
Among the middle and upper class.
es eau de cologne has become the ia
vorite drink-when drink has hold
on them. 1t is nicer than methylated.
But that, say the Russians who must
have drink at any cost. about let's it
out