The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-10-22

Editors Democratic SiglcsulQn in my
wandcFings through your taautiful, pictur-
esquc city, I have found many remlnis-
cences that gave me salisfaction. What af-
forded me the most intense pleasure was 3
chrome OF s'I,eatrice Cenci, st Messrs.
Thompson S Nagle's, on the Avenue. To
be sure you cannot share with me the many
pleasant memories the picture recalled
memories Of faces very dear, meath coi-
I'm lid hidp these many years, and o lays
spent in wandering in other and innier
chimes than this-days that possessed less
OF earth than heaven" in the fulness Of
their happiness. You can, At least, share
with me the story Of the Inflated maiden.
Beatrice Cenci was a Roman maiden OF the
sixteenth century, s'fair and delicate like .
| lily, as the picture indicates, but she Is
famous for her tragic fate Her father,
Niccolo Cenci, was q man notorious
for his bad character and fiendish passions
which would have brought him 70 an un-
timely end long ere they did, had not ms
immense fortune enabled him 20 escape
from the hands Of justice. In the latter
part Of his life he retired with his second
wife Lucrezia, his daughter Beatrice, ana
her youngest brother Bernardo, TO the Cas-
tie Of Petrella, situated in a desolate spot
VA lNAAoA AAAAANa nNNA tAAI AtNN If0AANt---
tier; and here, in sthat savage rock. the
Castle of Petrslla," where, s'at MONDAY
It's twilight, and at sunset the blacklist
night, in that darksome retreat, he COM
mitted the Growing horror Of his depraved
life, by causing the death Of two OF his
sons and perpetrating most diabohcai
outrage upon his own daughter. Beatrice
brought her case before Pope Clement VII,
but, strange TO say, her appeal for JUS
tice remained UNDECIDED. According
to some historians, the step-mother
of Beatrice, her brother and lover, driven
TO desperation b. NiccOlo's brutality, dCter-
mined to put him 10 death. Other, "a
more trustworthy authorities, aver e {
Beatrice and her relatives had no part in
the assassination, which is believed TO have
been perpetrated by some of tho many enc
mics of the old man, who was execrated
all over the country. However this may
have been, Beatrice was accused Of
parricide, and, after having been subjected
to the most oxcruciating fortunes, was exc
cuted by the AdHnaia, September II, 1899.
Her step-mother, Lncrezia, and her eldest
brother Giacomo, were also sentenced to
death. Bernardo was spared on account of
his extreme youth. When the executioner
bound her hands, Beatrice said g You bind
my hands for destruction, but my soul for
immortality
During the fortunes, to each interrogation
of the judges he replied, sit Is true"
adding, 20 God, thou knowest II this be
true" Beyond this there was not vestige
Of evidence against her. The death OF
Beatrice sent thrill of horror through
Rome. Many of the most Industrious fam
lilies had In vain besought the Pope to spare
her, and more than one life was lost in try
ing to rescue the fair maiden. Her remains
rest in the Church of San Pietro. at Mon
tori. Pope Paul v. confscated the Cenci
estate, including the Villa, which, under
the name of Villa Borghese, has acquired a
worldwide celebrity. The chrome / speak
of is from copy Of Guido's celebrated
portrait which hangs in the Palace Bar
lerini, at Rome, and is said to have been
painted Immediately before her execution.
Her memory is held in high esteem, and
every one the traveller meets in Rome can
tell the sad story Of the ''Cenci, as she is
called by the admiring Romans.
ORACLE.