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GIBSON

765

GILBERT ISLANDS, THE

North Front, extending as far as the British lines; and between the British and the Spanish lines is the neutral ground, which is uninhabited. Almost the entire rock bristles with artillery, and huge piles of shot and shell are stowed away in convenient places ready for use. The approaches from all sides are guarded by a number of formidable batteries, mounted with guns of the heaviest caliber, and by fortifications so strong in themselves and in their relation with one another, that the rock is considered impregnable, so long as there are sufficient garrison and provisions for maintenance and defense. The eastern side is so steep as to be altogether secure from assault.

Gibraltar has been known in history since the lays of the early Phoenician navigators. The Greeks called it Calpe, and it and Abyla (now Ceuta) opposite formed the Pillars of Hercules, long held to be the western boundary of the world. It was fortified in 711 A. D. by the Saracen leader, Tarik. It was held later by the Moors and also by the Spaniards. In 1704 it was captured by a combined Dutch and English force. Since that time it has remained in the hands of the British, in spite of desperate efforts of Spain and France to dislodge them. Modern steam-navigation has enabled vessels to pass through the strait twenty miles from Gibraltar, out of reach of the British guns, so that the impregnable fortress is no longer the key to the Mediterranean. See H. M. Field's Gibraltar.

Gibson, Charles Dana, an American illustrator, was born at Roxbury, Mass., 1867. He studied at the Art Students' League, New York, and as early as 1886 had achieved considerable success as artist for periodicals. In 1889 he studied at Julien's studio in Paris. He was again in Paris in 1893-94, and in London in 1895-96. A considerable amount of his work has appeared in the comic weekly, Life. He has shown much cleverness as a society-cartootiist, particularly in his satirical depictions of wealthy society-life. The striking feature of his art is its extreme simplicity. He takes his subjects from such places as the clubs, stations, theaters, music halls and boulevards. He is well-known on account of his creation of the type called the Gibson girl.

Gid'dings, Joshua Reed, an American statesman, was born at Athens, Penn., Oct. 6, 1795, and early removed with his parents to Ohio. He was called to the bar, and became a member of the state legis-

lature. He sat in Congress from 1838 to 1859, and was one of the most outspoken of the anti slavery leader, inspiring Lowell to a trumpet-toned sonnet. In 1842 he was censured by a congressional vote for his agitation, but at once resigned, appealed to his constituents and was re-elected by a large majority. In 1861 he was appointed consul-general in Canada, and died at Montreal, May 27, 1864. He published a volume of speeches and other works.

Gid'eon or Jerubbaal, whose name means the hewer, was the greatest of the judges of Israel. His history is narrated in Judges 6-8. He is mentioned in Hebrews as a hero of faith.

Qila (hefld\ a river of New Mexico and Arizona, the principal branch of the Colorado River. It rises in the Sierra Madre Mountains, flows generally westward, and joins the Colorado about 75 miles above the fall of that river into the Gulf of California. Its length is from 500 to 600 miles. Gold and silver are found near this river in Arizona, and the ruins of an ancient civilization abound in its lower valley.

Qila Monster, the name applied to a poisonous lizard (Heloderma) found in the region of the Gila. It is the largest lizard of North America, attaining a length of three feet, and the only poisonous one. It inhabits Arizona, New Mexico and the country southward. It is covered with rounded scales standing out like the heads of rivets. The color is black, with

GILA  MONSTER

irregular orang* spots. It ordinarily is slow and uncertain in its movements. It is shunned by animals and man and held in great fear by the Indians, though it does not begin an attack, and its poison is not necessarily fatal to human beings. The poison acts upon the heart, causing it to stop.

Qil'bert Islands, The, lie on the equator in the Pacific Ocean and consist of sixteen atolls with an area of 166 square miles and a population of 35,200 Exports largely consist of copra and sharks' fins,