State interests; let it therefore be abolished.” Thus the Zemstvo in its effort to satisfy the universally recognised needs of the population found itself between Scylla and Charybdis. Let us now return to the question, which is more important, of the boycotting of the Zemstvo by the peasants. If the Zemstvo is an aristocratic institution which would therefore deserve to be boycotted by the people, it should above all and before all consider its own class interests and satisfy them at the cost of the Zemstvo funds, otherwise the accusation is meaningless. A glance at the balance-sheet subjoined will satisfy the reader as to whether this is the case or not. Total estimated expenses for 1907-8: 243,504 roubles 60 kopecks (£24,350, 5s.) divided as follows:-- 1. Public health, 61,429 roubles 54 kop. (£6142, 9s.), or more than 25 per cent. of the total estimate. 2. Education, 52,682 roubles (£5268), or quarter of the total. 3. Share in the expenses of Government institutions, 41,204 roubles 7 kop. (£4120), 17 per cent. of the total. 4. Paying off of debts, 36,777 roubles 60 kop. (£3677), 15 per cent. of the total. 5. Costs of the Zemstvo Administration, 25,554 roubles 58 kop., more than 10 per cent. of the total. 6. Roads and means of communication, 9816 roubles 90 kop. (£981), or 4 per cent. of the total. 7. Relief and other funds, 9807 roubles 21 kop. (£980), or 4 per cent. of the total. 8. Old age pensions, widows, orphans, etc., 3296 roubles 80 kop. (£329), or 1 per cent. 9. Veterinary department, 2150 roubles (£215), or less than 1 per cent. 10. Various, 1768 roubles (£176), or less than 1 per cent. From the above figures it will be seen that one-fourth of the whole expenses is devoted to the support of hospitals, doctors, accoucheurs, nurses; and these hospitals are exclusively devoted to the peasants, who are relieved free of charge. Another fourth of the whole amount is devoted to the support of teachers and schools, in which the peasants’ children, and peasants’ children alone, are educated.