The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-02-24
The Old World.

The Prussian government compels bakers
to keep their bread at least one day before
selling.
1t is said that jurors were offered five
thousand dollars to assure mIstrial in
the Rsbcock case.
An English woman advertises herself IS
corn-cutter to the Royal family. She prac-
hces on ''the light, fantastic toe" and
ought to live in Dallas.
The Russian government has decided to
increase the strength of the army and navy
contingent this year by 80, 900 men. so that
it will now consist of 1S0, 900 men, instead
of $50, 900, as fixed during the last five
years.
| A Frenchman who has lived in America
| for years says: "When they build a rail-
road the first thing they do is to break
ground. This done with great ceremony.
Then they break the stockholders. This is
done without ceremony"
The British Board of Trade returns for
December again show large increase Of
imports, being SEQ, III, 900, against e2S,-
6S5, 900 in December, 1874, OF an increase
11.9 per cent. The exports show fallliS9
off of nearly three per cent. sn.@er ~er'
wachtel cleared $44 t}5 $500 Goo. Those feI-
then cleared fRSs.s ~ ~ ok;r,,ad over here
M Nn~-.stars that are shipped over hero
l.,af Europe to clean out the surplus casn
trade breath for money and iools 1901 'he
bills.
The cause of the aurora borcalis Is eA-
plained in a novel way by Herr Groneman,
of Gromgen, in Holland. The theory OIL
this astronomer assumes that there Is
stream Of fine particles of iron constantly
t-,auine around the sun. The earth passes
through PorvrO.- - this stream from time
| to time, and the friction the iron dust
when it enters our atmosphere ignites it,
causes it to become luminous, and it is then
visible as the aurora. Herr Groneman attri-
butes the form of the aurora light to the in
huence of the earth's magnetism upon the
particles of iron, which he compares to that
exerted by a magnet upon iron filings placed
on a paper over it.
The following story, which is told in a
Swiss newspaper. throws some light upon
the state of morals in Switzerland. 1t is q
story of fraud practiced upon a baker
near Zurich. very prepossessng young
man, calling himself Arbenz, and giving
Andelfngen as his birthplace, had hardly
been ten days in his service when he received
by post an important-looking letter, which
purported to emanate from the English le-
CATION at Berne, and apprised HIM that the
Duke of Worcester had bequeathed him
his title and property, worth e4O0, 900. He
showed the letter to his master, and offered
to give HIM one tenth Of the legacy il he
would part with his wife, who had all along
been smitten with the young man The
baker agreed, and, the fortunate youth not
liking TO present himself at the legation
without better clothes, he fitted him out and
advanced him $50 francs 10 boot. There
upon Arbenz and the bakers wife took
their departure, both making purchases at
Zurich to appear in better trim. They went
on to Berne, and the young man professed
to go to the legation, and brought his part
ner confirmation OF his succession TO the
dukedom. Meanwhile the bakers mother,
suspectiug the truth OF the story, went
over to Andelingen and found that Arbenz
was unknown there. Her son, being in
formed of this, set the police in motion,
and the young man was arrested in Zu-
rich hotel and taken off 70 prison. The
woman was taken back to her husband,
: who at first insisted on a months penitence,
, but was prevailed upon to take her in, esPe-
, cially as he had to reproach himself will
parting with her for :he sake of filthy lucre,