arty, which is only two or three years old, although its
founder, the excellent Avramovi['c]--an elderly gentleman who sits
behind vast barricades of books in various languages--has devoted
himself for many years to agrarian co-operative societies, of which in
Serbia there are more than 1500.

The most uncertain factors seem to be the moderating hold of Radi['c]
over his peasants and over himself. No one doubts but that he has the
interests of the peasant very much at heart, and if he succeeds in
improving the peasant's lot then that grateful giant will presumably not
sink again into the sleep which he enjoyed when he was under the
Habsburgs. The circulation of Radi['c]'s weekly paper _Dom_[62] ("The
Home") has risen from 2000 before the elections and 9000 during the
elections to 30,000. One enterprising vendor, a Serb from the Banat,
takes 500 copies a week and tramps over the countryside, disposing of
his wares either for cash or for eggs, the latter of which he sells at
the end of the week to a Zagreb hotel. The peasant is making great
efforts to raise himself--a case has recently been brought to light of a
farmer in Zagorija who, as a hobby, has taught more than 700 persons to
read and write. The peasant perceives that he has been assisted far less
by the Catholic Church than by the work of Radi['c]. It is not unfair to
say that the Church desired, above all things, to keep the peasant
under her control. If a parish priest was disliked by his flock, so a
prominent Croatian priest tells me, that was all the more reason why the
Bishop refused to remove him. And the clergy, except for an enlightened
minority, have been very much opposed to Radi['c]'s policy of
democratizing the Church.... In return for his unceasing labours he has
now secured the peasant's love and confidence. He will retain them if he
satisfies his client, and it seems to be within his power--gaining for
him a better position and dissuading him from fantastic demands. He can
be of immense assistance in the task of building up the State. But will
the brilliant flame within him burn with steadiness? Has he got
sufficient strength of will? With all his qualities of heart and brain
he has not managed to discard his zig-zag impetuosity. The peasants, who
recognize his talents, ask him to captain the ship; but he runs down too
often into his cabin and leaves the unskilled sailors on the bridge.
Down in the cabin he is feverishly and with great skill writing