Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-14

government itself, while the auxiliary
ones will be laid by the provincial
counsils. Apart from the military and
autonobiling standpoints. such a sys-
tenn of roads will be of immense COM
mercial value, as +, will open up dis
tricts that are latent through lack of
communications, and it will develop
others that are a. present dependent
solely either on the river or the rail-
way for transport.
Paris, Jan 14-Various sugges-
tions for facilitating and increasing
the number Of marriages in France
have been reported by the sub-com-
mittce on law and administration OF
the general commission that was ap-
poin ed to consider the depopulation
Of France
In addition to several bills calling
for greater police surveillance to pre-
vent violations of the health laws
the committee recommends the pas
sage of a measure proposed by NJ
Lepiae. the prefec. OF police, calling
for the distribution OF premiums to
those state employees who have sever
al children. The measure also stipu-
iates that no increase OF remunera-
tion shall be vo.ed to such employees
in the future without giving a special
Il eatment TO employees with large fam
lilies.
The American Students club OF
Brussels, which was founded and en-
dowed by Mrs. Larz Anderson, the
wife OF the American minister, has
now become on the most useful and
/ best known institutions in Belgium.
! The club has unanimously adopted
/ resolutions of regret at the departure
Of Mr.. aud Mrs. Anderson, the min
lister having been appointed ambassq-
dor to Japan.
Several we'll known American wom-
en- have presented valuable pictures
/ TO the clubhouse. while other gifts
/ include a rare, antique fireplace and
an antique silver tea service.
Great perturbation was aroused in
the breasts of lovers Of Paris by the
report that the Count de Franqueville
/ has sold the historic Chateau de la
/ Muette and it's wonderful old park,
on the Passy border OF the Bots de
Boulogne, to a specializing builder,
who was going to cut down the cen
tenarian trees and build large blocks
OF apartment houses. A letter from
the count, however, alayed public
opinion.
( He had not, and did not intend to
; sell his house, but in view of the
tremendously heavy tax on unbuilt
land in Paris, he had sold a portion
of the park, including the beautiful
avenue of lime trees at Ranelagh AMI
the fine old garden at the edge of
/ the Bots de Boulogne. The ground
sold totals altogether about $4,000
square metres, and the price paid IS
understood to be S1,S00,000.
The chateau was originally a hunt
! ing lodge in the time of Louis XIV.
Philippe, Duke OF Orleans. the regent,
built a house on one story there for
his daughter, the Duchess of Berry,
who rendered it famous by her enter
tainments. The second story and the
garnet were added by Louis X. / 5
associated with the residence of
Madame Dubarry and afterwards of
Louis XIV.
After the revolution, during which
period IL became national property, II
was sold to NJ. Erard, who complete
ly transformed and added to it con-
siderably, so that ii now possesses
little historic interest. On the dea h
of Madame Erard it passed to her
daughter, who had married the Count
de FranQueville.
The Bibliotheque Rationale. which al
ready possesses "a miles of shelves,
will. within the next few months, add
another FIVE miles to its total The
great French library now contains con-
siderably over 100000 volumes, far
beyond the number in other national
libraries. but as an Institution for stu,
dents it is far behind the times There
is no artificial light. and at this time
of the year the huge store of knowl
edge is quite useless, as no books are
issued except during a few hours in
the middle of the day.
The world of Partisan dandies whose
existence is occupied with caricatur