The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-02-23
GLEANTEGs.

8 General J.. Meredith Read is using
his leisure in Paris IN writing 4 life 81
Gibbon, the historian.
It appears that the total customs duties
levied on books imported into the Uni
ted states realize not less than $3.50, 600
The late Caleb Gushing was the first
person TO bring any considerable collec-
ton OF Chinese literature TO this country.
/ Mr.. Robert Browning wrote his trag-
edy OF "The Blot in the 'Scutcheons'
and his tragedy of 1.-THE Return of the
Drusesn each in five days. a
Nearly 1900 of the 8, $50 streets of
Paris have during the last thirty years
had their names changed, chiefly for
political reasons. This must involve
infinite trouble to the residents.
: The cost of feeding prisoners in San
francisco is low. Last year, in that
city, meals were furnished prisoners to
the number of Al, $50. at an average cost
of n cents per meal.
Agoae owned by a Georgia Judge has
long horns on his legs as well as ON his
head-eighteen In a1l---and he will prob
ably form the nucleus for fine Odd
Fellows lodge
| The Medical News says that if o first
class surgeon were called from New
York to Washington in case his fee
| would be from $500 to LOCO, and $500
per day while he staid there, and argues
| that the presidents advisers should be
paid on a larger scale
The British National museum has re-
ceived from the late John Jones, who
made a fortune as an army elothier and
contractor during the Crimean war,
bequest of a collection of works of art
estimated to be worth 81 ,25O, 900. 1t
comprises many admirable specimens of
Sevres ware, together with pictures and
ornamental objects of various kinds.
The French government has cancelled
the vote by which the Paris municipal
councillors made themselves present at
the end of the year of 100000 francs
The law sets forth that their services
must be gratuitous, and the government
has only done the right thing in making
this clear to them.
There is a movement in North Caro-
lima to commemorate the first landing
of Englishmen within the limits of the
union. 1t was about July 4,91584, that
Amidas and Barlowe came to anchor
off Roanoke island, and the State Press
association propose to see to it that the
event be celebrated on the Independence
day of 1884.
During the year just passed there
were published in England a total of
5,406 new books, of which 1896 were
new editions, books already known to
the public This shows falling off, as
compared with the year 1880, of about
800 books, which is attributed to the
rapid development of the periodical
press.
During 1881, 161 buildings and docks
were put up in Portland, Oregon, their
total cost being 81, no. 70, an increase
of S268, 1856 over the total cost of build
ings put up in 1880. In addition over
5000 worth of stone foundation, pre-
paratory to building during the coming
season. During the same time $685.
$50 has been expended in laying block
stone and macadam streets.
A very fine canary bird is owned by q
gentleman in Nevada county, California.
Recently unusual quantities of food dis
appeared from its cage One day the
gentleman CHANGED to look in the cage,
and there, snugly slowed away in one of
the seed-boxes, was a mouse as fat as
butter. Upon attempting 10 remove the
mouse the canary made chiyalrous
fight for the little animal. A singular
fact is that while the mouse was in the
cage the bird kept up a constant sing
ing all day, but since the mouse has been
removed the bird has refused to MARBLE.
The Southern RaiIaoay Gazette, which
has been, looking into the matter, dis
covers that the South is better provided
with water-power than anyother section
of the country. This is peculiarly SO of
the Atlantic slope, the four states of
Virginia, North Carolina, South Caro-
lima and Georgia having water-power
equivalent to 1900. 600 horsepower,
four times that of all the steam engines
in the world. The Yadkin river Of
North Carolina alone has force suffi-
cier,t To turn 9 600 600 snindles