The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1878-10-15
G'e 9ailg Argas,
Rock ISLAND. .rLLTrors
Concluded from second page. J

/ NeAu0Su lIuul SECOND page.
pierced with pigeon holes. through which
money and papers were being continualIy
passed. L could look down on row of
spruce clerks sitting behind the usual bio
ledgers, while on the other side of the
screens there was q flock of all sorts and
conditions of people busily engaged IN
paying cash and receiving documents
Ali" Thought, these are the ADVERT
sers. An estimable race. Blessed be the
adVertlsers!" Not at all. was quite in
error. The Hispano-Moresque, patio
was the Bureau of subscribers of the
Ftgdro, and the multitude on whom was
looking down were the abonnes-the quar-
terly halt yearly, or annual subscribers to
the most popular journal in France. The
majority OF American journals publish the
terms IN which they can be subscribed for.
and an American resident, say, in italy or
the interior of France, usually subserlbes
for some American paper or another. OF
course we have all heard, in America of
the Subscriber from the First''-and
pretty airs he gives himself sometimes in
his correspondence on the strength of his
seniority IN subscription, He is the twin
brother OF the Constant Reader" and |
am inclined to think that he is at least the
eousin-germau of ''Paterfamiias, that he
knows the real name of "Viudex," and
that he most probably has bowling ac-
guaintance with the oldest Inhabitant,"
But there is no mystery about the French
d6onne. lie is palpable entity frequent
~ with spectacles and umbrella Journals
OF different shades of opinion present
equally, OF course, varied aspects of the
d6onne, from the clean,shaveD. sleek
faced. sable-clad gentleman who subscribes
to the OntUerS" TO the stout BOURGEOIS in
the white waist coat who has taken in the
Constitutional ever since the year IS45.
and the elderly and austere parsonage with
the ribbon of the legion and tortoise
shell snuffbox who pins his faith to the
Journal des Debats," and thinks NJ.
John Lenoinne the greatest statesman in
France, Then there is the republican ad-
vocate with the closely trimmed black
whiskers who swears by the "Republioue
FrdncaiSe'; the retired major of dra~
goons, with his fierce graW moustaches and
high black cravat; or the ex project, under
the second empire, of the department of
the Haute-Gruyese or the Brie Inferieure
rather seedy and trade-fallen ex-offi-
clal just how. who would sooner give up
his deneitasse and petit verre after dinner
than abandon his aboanement to the
Pays" Of subscriber to the Mar
seattdase" cannot from any very definite
idea, but | vaguely imagine him to be
mild parsonage, with doye-eolored hair and
Whiskers who wears mittens when il is
cold and goloshes when it rains. It is usu.
ally your mild and meek people who are
most pleased with the ferocious 10 journal
ism. Nevertheless, although the French
newspaper subscriber may differ
in particulars from his brother,
he is idential with him 10
general. He is an abonne first and a citi-
zen afterwards, He has fearful temper.
There Is no end to his complaints. He
knows his rights, and insists on having
them. Let there not be the slightest mis-
take about that, He may be arrogant
exlgent, and captious; but it is worth
while, on the proprietor's part, to con-
clliate, and to defer to him, since the
d6o1sne is the very backbone and mainstay
to the circulation of French newspaper.
Sometimes when he takes offense he is
lmpiacable. Then he becomes disa5onae,
and there is waiing for him as for a lamb
that has strayed from the fold.