TEETOTAL RUSSIA 127 



But generally the Russian in his cups was not 

 aggressive. He was not quarrelsome. He did not 

 want to fight everybody. His mood was rather to 

 roll around and slobberingly kiss all whom he met 

 though it might have been preferable if he had wanted 

 to fight. 



Anyway, Nicholas II., an Imperial Lloyd George, 

 but with the power to do what he wills, conscious 

 that a vodka-soaked Russia was not the correct 

 thing while the greatest war was being waged, 

 said there was to be no more alcohol sold. And 

 it was so. Dealers have been ruined. But Rus- 

 sia is not a land in which to babble about compen- 

 sation. 



The nation was declared, by Imperial rescript 

 and by the order of the authorities, to be teetotal. 

 Of course, there was a good deal of groaning amongst 

 the 120,000,000 white Russians. For now, if any 

 brandy or wine is needed for medical purposes it has 

 to be bought at an apothecary's, but only on a magis- 

 terial permit, and the magisterial permit is granted 

 only on a medical certificate. 



A good many people, used all their life to a little 

 liquor with their meals, became ill; but they recov- 

 ered. Those with the hunger of drink upon them 

 have taken to drinking methylated spirits and other 

 things that are evil for the inside. Many have died 

 from excess of methylated spirits. The majority of 

 folk have to be content with drinking tea and the 

 number of glasses of tea, deliciously refreshing, the 

 Russian and his wife can consume puts into dimmest 



