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ALGIERS
50
ALKALI


Kadir, before France became fully master of the country and the life of a Frenchman was safe outside the walls of the capital.

Algiers (al-jeerzf), capital of Algeria, is divided into two parts. The newer portion, along the harbor, is European; the older, on. the hillside above, is Arab. It is an important French coaling station on the Mediterranean. Population (1906), 138,240.

Algo'ma, one of the northern districts of the province of Ontario, offers great attractions for settlers. Contains millions of acres of productive land easily reached, very suitable for live stock and dairying. Bounded by the district of Nipissing on the east. It includes the Temiskaming settlement. Its northern boundary is that of the province itself, viz.: Hudson Bays and the Albany River. These two districts of Algoma and Nipissing taken together have an area larger than that of any European country except Russia. These districts are in that belt of the world which has ever been the most famous for the production of grasses, vegetables, fruits and cereals. The important industrial center of Sault Ste. Marie, only 193 miles north from the latitude of Toronto (population 13,000), is in Algoma. The timber and mineral wealth of the district is immense. The richest and most extensive nickel belt in the whole world is in Algoma.

Algon' quins, one of the two great families of Indians that formerly occupied the Mississippi Valley and the regions east of it. The Indians of New England were Algonquins. The largest tribe left is the Chippewas.

Algon'quin National Park. In northern part of the province of Ontario (from 1,500 to 2,000 feet above sea level). On the Ottawa division of the Grand Trunk Railway, which extends into the park itself, only 200 miles north of Toronto (quickly and. comfortably reached), and 175 miles west of Ottawa, the capital city of Canada. Most attractive to travelers and tourists. A magnificent preserve set apart by the province for a park; beautiful lakes and rivers, 1,200 in number; abundance offish. Wild forests of heavy timber and pure, health-restoring air; a total area of 1,800,000 acres of forest, lake and stream; called Lakeland. Red deer and moose (hunting not allowed in the park) plentiful and increasing in number. The highest summer resort in eastern Canada. The railway stations are located on picturesque lakes. Teeming with fish (speckled, gray and salmon trout). A paradise for campers. The Naganetawan River takes its rise in the park.

Alhambra (dl-hdm'bra), the ancient for-tress and residence of the Moorish monarchs of Granada, situated on a hill overlooking the city of Granada, Spain. This famous palace was built between 1248 and 1354, and though greatly marred by its Spanish conquerors in succeeding ages still contains marvels of beauty, taste and ingenuity. The surrounding gardens, with their waterfalls, fountains and shady ravines, caused the Arab poet to liken the whole effect to "a pearl set around with emeralds." It is divided into countless apartments, vast halls, ranges of bedrooms and summer rooms, whispering galleries, a labyrinth and vaulted tombs. Passages from Koran adorn the various walls. Among the most famous courts are the Hall of Ambassadors, with its splendid throne of the sultan, and the Court of the Lions, with its magnificent fountain, supported by twelve marble lions. A famous description of their palace is to be found in Washington Irving's Alhambra.

Alicante (a'L-kan'ta), Spain, a province of the Spanish kingdom, area 2,185 square miles, with a population (1910) of 483,986; also a strongly fortified town and seaport on the Mediterranean, situated north of Cartagena and south of Valencia, population (1910) 51,165. Here, on an eminence overlooking the sea, is the castle of Santa Barbara. The town, which is a delightful seaside resort, is picturesquely situated, and has a picture gallery, library, several parish churches, two nunneries and a number of fine squares and promenades. Being the port of its own and the Valencia province, its export trade is considerable, chiefly of wine, oil, tobacco, silk and grain. There is a resident United States consul in the town.

Alison (al'i-son), Sir Archibald (born 1792, died 1867), an English historian. His work, the History of Europe, covers the period from the French Revolution to the Peace of 1815. It was in its day very popular and had a sale of over five hundred thousand volumes. It, however, is not of the highest authority, because of its author's partisanship and its many inaccuracies.

Al' kali, an old chemical term used to denote soluble caustic hydroxides. The alkalies proper are potash, soda, lithia, rubidium and cæsium hydroxides and ammonia. Potash is called the vegetable alkali, soda the mineral alkali and ammonia the volatile alkali. Lime, magnesia, baryta and strontia are called alkaline earths, because they have some of the properties of alkalies. That which especially distinguishes an alkaline substance is the power it has of turning a vegetable blue, green; or a vegetable yellow, reddish brown. Alkalies belong to a general class of substances called bases, which are oxides of metals (usually combined with water), or compounds containing carbon and nitrogen called organic bases, all of which unite with acids to form salts. Alkalies and acids neutralize each other, and the usual caustic or bitter taste of the alkali and the sour taste of the acid usually disappear when a salt is formed. A familiar