averages about the same as Washington, D. C. Gulf Stream and long summer days. Winter temperature at Sitka being whites. The climate of Alaska is modified by the Pacific and mining. The population is largly Indian, only about 2,000 the seal fisheries. Principal industries, fishing, canning, trapping the United States Government has already regained that sum from ALASKA was purchased from Russia in 1867 for $7,500,000, and ALABAMA ranks fourth in cotton, fifth in mules and molasses, sixth in sugar, seventh in rice and iron ore, tenth in bituminous coal,seventeenth in population. First settlement by the French at Mobile, 1711. Admitted to the Union 1819. public elementary schools, with 440,851 pupils; and 1,017 public and private infant schools, with 107,563 pupils GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBURG. Religion All Roman Catholic, with exception of 2,200. Government-In 1867 the Duchy was proclaimed neutral territory, the King of the Netherlands being declared the Grand Duke; but in all other respects it is independently administered. SWITZERLAND is the most mountainous country in Europe, the immense mass of Mt. St. Gothard forming the center or nucleus of a system of mountains, covered with perennial snow the peaks of which rise from 5,000 to 15,000 feet above sea level. The chief passes are St. Bernard, 8, 120 feet; Cervin, 10,938 feet: Simplon, 6,595 feet; St. Gothard, 6,936 feet; Splugen, 6,945 feet. Religion-58 per cent. Protestants; 41 per cent. Roman Catholics. Government-Federal Republic of 22 Cantons. Executive, Federal Council of 7, including the President. Legislative, the State Council of 44 members, and the National Council of 145 Representatives. Education-Compulsory. There are 4 universities (Basel, Bern, Zurich, and Geneva), with 1,500 students, and 5,500 elementary and secondary schools with 500,000 pupils. GERMANY.-On the north Germany is bounded by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; on the east by Russia; on the south by Austria and Switzerland; and on the west by France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Religion-1880. Protestants, 28,330,970; Roman Catholics, 16,232,600; Jews, 561,610. Government-The 26 States which comprise the German Empire are united into a Confederation. The supreme direction of the military and political affairs is vested in the King of Prussia, controlled by the Bundesrath, or Federal Council, consisting of 62 members appointed by the individual States of the Empire, and the Reichstag, or Diet of the Realm, composed of 397 members elected by universal suffrage. Education-There are 21 universities, attended in 1887 by 27,784 students; 57,000 elementary schools with 7,100,000 pupils; and 1,484 higher class and technical schools with 266,228 pupils. NORWAY AND SWEDEN.-These two kingdoms, forming the Scandinavian Peninsula, are bounded on the north by the Arctic Ocean; on the east by Russia, the Gulf of Bothnia, and the Baltic Sea; on the south by the Baltic Sea, the Sound, Cattegat, and Skager Rack; and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean NORWAY. Religion-Lutheran Protestant with the exception of 7,238 Government-Norway and Sweden together form an hereditary and limited monarchy, the King of Sweden being also King of Norway, but each country having a separate legislative government. Executive, the King. Legislative, the Storthing, consisting of the Lagthing of 28 members, and the Odelsthing of 86 members. Education-There are 6,600 elementary schools with 279,000 pupils; and I university with 1,350 students. SWEDEN. Religion-Lutheran Protestant, with 21,000 exceptions. Government Executive, the King. Legislative, the Diet, composed of two Chambers, the First with 142 members, and the Second with 214 members. Education-There are 2 universities with 2,500 students, and 10,000 elementary and other schools with 700,000 pupils. AUSTRO-HUNGARY.-Austria is bounded on the north by Poland, Silesia, and Saxony; on the west by Bavaria and Switzerland; on the south by Venetia, the Adriatic and the Balkan States; and on the east by Moldavia and West Russia. Religion-Roman Catholics, 25,598,000; Protestants, 3,630,000; Jews, 1,646,000. Government-Austria and Hungary form a hereditary dual-monarchy, each country having its own Parliament, Ministry, and Administration. They are both united under a hereditary sovereign, the Emperor of Austria being also King of Hungary, and a controlling body known as the "Delegations." Education-Austria has 8 universities, attended in 1887 by 14,540 students; 1,824 higher class schools with 180,162 pupils; and 17,419 elementary schools with 2,781,220 pupils. Hungary has 2 universities, attended in 1887 by 4,169 students : 374 higher class schools with (1885) 49,409 pupils; and 16,717 elementary schools with 1,841,668 pupils. ITALY.-The Peninsula of Italy projects into the Mediterranean Sea, which forms its southern boundary. On the north it is bounded by Austria and Switzerland; on the west by France and the Tyrrhenian Sea; and on the east by the Adriatic Sea. Religion-Roman Catholic, but about 62,000 Protestants and 38,000 Jews. Government-Executive, the King. Legislative, the King and Parliament, consisting of two Chambers-the Senate, consisting of the Royal Princes and any number of distinguished men above 40 years of age who are nominated by the King. The Second Chamber, that of the Deputies, consists of 508 members elected by the people. Education-Italy had (1884) 21 universities with 13,334 students. DENMARK.-On the west Denmark is bounded by the North Sea; on the northwest by the Skager Rack; on the east by the Cattegat, the Sound, and the Baltic; and on the south by the Baltic and the German province of Schleswig. Religion-The |