Show CHANGES IN RUSSIAN CALEN DAB DAR I is stated that the Russian Government Gov-ernment is proposing to clfcct an alteration al-teration In their cayendar the dates In which since the end of last February have differed thirteen days from those of western Europe and America We are however told they do not propose to adopt the Gregorian reckoning but to bring Into use a scheme more simply sim-ply and more accurate and to Invite other nations to accept this It Is then to be presumed that the plan In question ques-tion Is that of dropping a leap year regularly each one hundred and twen tyeighth year which would keep the calendar right and In accordance with the true length of the tropical year for SOOOO years Obviously this Is far more simple than the Gtoaorlan rule which Is this Drop a leap year in each year the number of which Is divisible by 100 unless un-less It is also divisible by 100 This would keep the calendar right for over 3000 years but If It were further modified l modi-fied by dropping a leap year In each year the number of which Is divisible by 1000 It would preserve the year in accordance with its true length for 100000 years So that the modified Gre gonlan rule with an exception of an exception of an exception would be scarcely more accurate than the above simple rule according to which the next leap year dropped after the present pres-ent one would be 202 S To prove its accuracy ac-curacy It Is i only necessary to point out that it Implies having in every period of 126 years ninetyseven common years of 365 days each and thlrtyouc bissextile years of 366 days each This makes In all 40751 days In 128 years or the average length of a year 3C523219 days which differs only In the fifth decimal place from the true length of a tropical year London Notes and Queries |