sugar; others thought even that a luxury, and drank hot water; while those who used sugar had to make one lump do for the whole day—that is, for three meals. Footnote 83: Those who did not join the _artèl_ had, of course, no votes in any discussions or decisions of that body. Footnote 84: A kopeck is about equal to one farthing.—_Trans._ Footnote 85: A rouble is about equal to 2_s._ 1_d._—_Trans._ Actual money was never given us, everything was on paper only. All remittances were received by the commandant, who kept us informed of the amount he had in hand. Then we would order various articles, which would be given to our _stàrosta_ to keep in the common chest, and whenever he gave anything out he made an entry in his account-book. At the end of each month the accounts were made up, each man being told whether he had overdrawn his pocket-money and so must start the next month with a _minus_ of so many kopecks, or whether he had saved and was credited with a _plus_. The former would try to make good their deficit during the following month; but there were some who—with the best will in the world—could never make their expenditure and income balance, and were always in default, thus acquiring the nickname of “minuses,” while the thrifty were called “pluses.” No shame was attached to the being a “minus,” though it was scarcely a title of honour, and no one cared for the position. The “minuses” always aspired to get straight at any rate at Christmas or Easter, when pocket-money was generally increased by an influx of gifts, but it sometimes occurred that someone found it impossible to get his head above water, and it was then the custom that at one of our festivals—at Christmas, or on the commemoration of some revolutionary red-letter day—the _stàrosta_ or someone should suggest the “whitewashing” of the bankrupt by wiping off his debt to the _artèl_. This proposal was always accepted by the majority, only the “minus” himself protesting, or refusing to consent. Every morning the _stàrosta_ presented himself with his order-book at the doors of the different rooms, and asked what was wanted. One would order a “sou’s” worth[86] of sugar, another a “brick” of tea, and so on. These orders were entered, to be later transferred to the account-book, and soon afterwards the _stàrosta_ would bring the articles and give them to us through the peephole. The _stàrosta_ also received from the steward for distribution all things that were due to us in the way of clothing, linen, and so forth, and he was our representative in all our dealings with the commandant. The election of the _stàrosta_ was by ballot, and for a term of six months. The person elected was, of course, free to decline the post, and this occasionally happened, as, though an honourable office, it was one which entailed trouble and responsibility, and sometimes even a degree of unpleasantness. Footnote 86: