Curious Details of Bishop Tikhon's Struggle Against Seminarians Who Were Vagrants, Pranksters and Prone to the Intemperance of a Vile, Suspicious and Drunken Passion in the 1770s

For example, it was devised to select the most honest pupils as fiscals, that is, overseers and informers, who would watch which of their schoolfellows frequented the drinking shops:

«Let there be appointed from among the most honest pupils fiscals, that they might watch and report faithfully to the teachers on pranksters and vagrants and those who stand about the shops, and let the teachers punish and fine them without slackening».

The pupils were made acquainted with the prohibitions on drinking wine, while the teachers, those of philosophy and rhetoric in particular, were obliged to collect from them signed statements that they had been apprised of this decree.

«And moreover, often both by word and in occupations, and in exercises, and morally, and historically, to remind them how many illustrious men have perished of that drunken passion. And should any of the seminarians be found in that passion, then, concealing him not in the least, forthwith report it to me, and on no account conceal it, fearing a fine without fail».

Other measures were also resorted to in order to identify the drunkards: Bishop Tikhon recommended that teachers exercise strict control and audit over the pupils' monetary dealings:

«By a special decree let it be prescribed that the teachers, especially of the schools of philosophy and rhetoric, test through a standing pupil whether their pupils have debts at the shops and eating-houses, and wherever spirits and grape wines are sold, and, if they learn anything, let them present it to me by report for consideration».

The drinkers were scolded, exhorted and thrashed, but the young men went on drinking. The authorities drank, the teachers drank, and the passion for wine ruined many. In their cups they fell into misdemeanours and crimes, having drunk away their means, into poverty and theft, and from all this they longed all the more to forget themselves.