rien" ["the Mercure... is immediately below nothing"]) took his defense.

The periodical eventually became a financial success and it brought Donneau de Visé comfortable revenues. The Mercure de France became the uncontested arbiter of French arts and humanities, and it has been called the most important literary journal in prerevolutionary France.

Thomas Corneille was a frequent contributor to the gazette. The Mercure continued to be published after Donneau de Visé's death in 1710.  In 1724 its title was changed to Mercure de France and it developed a semi-official character with a governmentally appointed editor (profits were invested into pensions for writers).  Jean-François de la Harpe was the editor in chief for 20 years; he also collaborated with Jacques Mallet du Pan.  Other significant editors and contributors include:At a time when the giraffe population is plummeting in the wild, the sale of products made with giraffe skin and bone is booming.

According to a report to be released Thursday by Humane Society of the United States and its international affiliate, more than 40,000 giraffe parts were imported to the United States from 2006 to 2015 to be made into expensive pillows, boots, knife handles, bible covers and other trinkets.

The sale of these products is legal, but the organization argues that restrictions are needed. Along with other advocacy groups, it has petitioned the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to provide that protection by listing giraffes as an endangered species.

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