Certain countries were distinguished by their generosity; others let go their money less easily.

It was a matter of temperament.
However, figures are more eloquent than words, and the following is an official statement of the sums paid to the credit of the Gun Club when the subscription was closed:-- The contingent of Russia was the enormous sum of 368,733 roubles.

This need astonish no one who remembers the scientific taste of the Russians and the impetus which they have given to astronomical studies, thanks to their numerous observatories, the principal of which cost 2,000,000 roubles.
France began by laughing at the pretensions of the Americans.

The moon served as an excuse for a thousand stale puns and a score of vaudevilles in which bad taste contested the palm with ignorance.

But, as the French formerly paid after singing, they now paid after laughing, and subscribed a sum of 1,258,930 francs.