old style more certain, and if it comes before the end of the century, it will save the addition of yet another day of chronological error to their present burden of twelve days. But happily even when I write, the official international press news indicates that 'although it is now generally understood that the Russian government contemplate the introduction of the Gregorian calendar at the close of the century, it has not yet been decided whether the reform shall be effected suddenly and entirely, or by gradual process. The latter scheme consists in omitting the first twelve leap years after 1900, and the change from the old style to the new would in this way cover a period of fortyeight years. There are now twelve days difference, but in 1900 there will be thirteen days, and this unlucky or fatalistic number has not a little weight with superstitious slavs who have hitherto been opposed to a reform of the Julian calendar. If the graduated plan be adopted there will be only nine days difference on the 1st of March, 1908, on the same date in 1912 eight days, and so on during every recurring fourth year until 1944, when the reform will be accomplished. It is, however, by no means certain whether this plan will be adopted or the more sudden and radical change. The majority are in favour of the latter, whilst the former scheme promises to receive less opposition from the ecclesiastical authorities, and is not calculated to shock the popular sentiment so violently as the sudden reform.' See also section 64 infra.
28. Keeping in mind that the Christian era, as a chronological basis, became current in Eastern Europe only in the sixth century, it is interesting and important to recall that Christianity, as a religion, had arisen in France and England
