In these bad times our town is twice as poor. The two regiments of soldiers who were camped in town – left town. Several hundred of people who earned their living by renting their houses to the army officials have become poor, their houses empty. The people especially affected are managers of pubs.

In 1886, our town was considered one of the big towns of "second rank". This raised the price of certificates for pub holders – from 200 to 450 rubles. The pub holders appealed to the treasury minister explaining their dire economic situation. The minister empathized with them and on the 10th of February, the treasury was ordered to return to Brisk its previous status of "third rank", so that pub holders can afford the price of the certificates [200 rubles]. The people of Brisk are very thankful.

[Signed:] AL"A Yantzikovski.