Answer.—Averaged for the nine years from 1865 to 1873, the depth of water below St. Louis was eight feet or over for about one-half the year, and less than four feet not quite three and one-half days a year. The time that navigation was arrested by ice in the ten seasons from 1870 to 1880 averaged thirty-five days a year; and the time that barges could not be loaded to eight feet draft on account of low water or ice, during the seven years ending with 1880, averaged about one hundred and twenty-six days a year. In the canals around the Mississippi rapids and between the Mississippi and the lakes, navigation is suspended above five months each year. To appreciate the significance of the above figures as to depth of water, it must be borne in mind that, where the depth of water is eight feet and over, grain is transported at less than half what it costs when the depth is four feet. There are years when navigation below St. Louis is not obstructed by ice all winter through; as for example, in the winters of 1868-69, 1873-74, 1875-76, while in the rigorous winter of 1877-78 the river was closed at St. Louis seventy days. Between St. Louis and Quincy navigation is obstructed by ice about four months every year, and by low water about thirty-five days more, while between Quincy and St. Paul navigation is practically closed about half of every year either on account of ice or low water.
MILLAIS’ PICTURE OF THE HUGUENOT.
Denver, Col.
Kindly inform us through Our Curiosity Shop what is the significance of the handkerchief in Millais’ picture of “The Huguenot.” I have gone to the limit of my resources and can find no allusion whatever to any such badge.
F. G. Woodbridge.
Answer.—On the eve of the bloody massacre of French Protestants, which commenced in Paris in the dead of night of Aug. 24, 1572, the Duke of Guise, to prevent the assassination by mistake of any of his own party, the Catholics, issued a secret order that every Catholic bind a strip of white linen around his arm, as a badge to be known by. This incident is vividly depicted in Millais’ celebrated painting of “The Huguenot,” where the Catholic maiden, who is aware of this secret order, seeks to save her bold Protestant or “Huguenot” lover by pledging him to wear her handkerchief around his arm until they meet again.
NORTH AMERICAN POULTRY ASSOCIATION.
Fairfield, Iowa.