Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-11-21
GLEANiNGS AND GOSSIP.

Manilas distinctive feature among the
cities of the planet * the river life I"
Be encountered on the Pasig. the sluggish
stream which flows through the mctropo-
lis of the American indies In this
respect Manila is only eclipsed by Cam
ton, China. where the Pearl river flats
Il city Of unknown population running IN
to the tens of thousands. Over 5000 Fill
rinos live on the Pasg, and very few of
them ever come ashorc-whole genera
tons live and die on the sluggish waters
Of the river.-Leslie's Weekly.
The road over the. Andes which Chill
and Argentina are building and when is
The last link in the line across South
America between the Atlantic and P;;ci-
flc, is nearing completion. 1t is said that
he entire line will be open to trade next
year. The Andes section OF the road be-
gins at Mendoza in Argentina, crosses
the Andes through a tunnel four kilo-
meters long and extends to the Gillian
town Los A ndcs, which has rail connec-
ton With the Pacific.-Bullctin of the
American Geographical Society.
Among the reasons which make the
highways of France the hest in the
world is the requirement that all pre-
liminary rOadmaking operations shall he
thoroughly performed. When embank-
rnentS are made. the earthworl is built
up only a few inches ut a time, and the
successive strata are leveled and. in the
neichborhoOd of masonry, rammed. Every
ditch is carefully cut to proper angle.
rari!ned end if necessary. paved with
stones. DANGEROUS turns are protected
by stone Darapets: at each cross-road
there are signDOstS. always in order, and
tho touring club of France has Cs:ab-
lislied indicators to remind the tourist
Of dangerous curves, rapid deSct hts. etc.
Every railroad crossing is protected by
cato, which has a Waterman in charge
day and Eight.-LeSlic's Weekly.
! 'tierIie.' the loon. who mas been n
leading attraction at the New York aqua
rum for the past six months. since her
capture ut Woods Hole ir this state has
developed a bad temper and has been
| removed to Bronx park. where it is hoped
that Ter health and disposition will im-
prove. At the hnnarum she has beer
confined in one of the large tanks, not
large enough however, to comply with
the exercise requirements of her kind.
BESIDES growing thin, the loon has de-
Neloped crankiness. ard has spent q large
share Of her time in bullying the dog
fish kept in the same tank. No matter
how poorly "Gertie'' felt she has
never missed an opportunity 10 nag the
doEfsh. ard has also made life miserable
for all ne occupants of the tank. innl"d-
ing skates and sea robins She will b.,
missed by the children.
"When George AIDE wintered in Egypt -"
said Balti,no"ean. 1T amused hin, Il
good deal to see the serious way in which
his felloW-touriStS took their Sinatteling
of the Arabic tongue. They has picked
=
or two'S reading. but they acted rs though
it was the precious fruit of II Iifctimes's
stuCy. at AsSauIn Il young woman from
st. Joseph complained that she could not
| understand the Arabic of her guide. TO
the crowd that encrcled her she pointc,,
out the euide-a bent old fellow with a
white bea:d--and she said bitterly that
after her through study of Arabic. it
seemed strange that she and this guide
| could not converse. From the rear of the
| cro.Hd AIDE called gravely It's your own
| fault, Miss Hc.ison. You should have
hired younger guide. These tnothcss
| old ones all speak gum Arabic "
A series OF exhibits of bird life IRE
| pared on a new principle is in process Of
natural history, Seventy-seventh street
| and Columbus avenue. In all 10 groups
| are in place and work is in progress on
| other groups. The birds are shown as
| far as possible In their natural surround
| inss. l,eina grouped ir life-Iike pictures
| in reproductions of their actual haunts
| and mounted as though engaged in their
| Ordinary pursuits Some are shown sit
| ting on their nests or feeding their Young.
| For instance, the pelican has two of her
| Young thrusting their bills down the
| maternal throat in search If the fish in
| her pouch. The young herons from
| Florida stand or their fiat nest and
await the return of the parent bird An
| especially interesting exhibit is de-
voted to the tabits OF the prairie chicken,
and another large group shows the bird
life of the irrigated area of San Joa :
Guin valley in California