The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-10-02

knows that majorities are made MP OF
units, aud that unit distracted from
the opposition benches counts two in
division. Thus when in the House
of Commons, If his watchful eve OBJ
served wavering or the part of an indi-
vidual opposite, he somehow or other,
before twenty-four hours passed, man
aged to come in personal contact with
the waverer. The toughest member
knows the sound of the friendly voice
and the touch of the soft, white hand.
There is a good deal of human nature
in the House of Commons, and human
nature prefers DisTaeli's manners to
Glsdstone's.
Rather a novel sight, the laying of
the foundation stone of q new Roman
Catholic Church, was witnessed in
Rome few days ago. Except for the
church built by Father Douglas behind
s. Maria Maggiore, it must be some
hundreds of years since church found
alton stone was laid in Rome. e. of
the Roman faith; for many churches
of other denominations have sprung up
since 1870. Although Rome has already
300 churches, there is some reason for
this new one, for all the churches of
Rome are built in the old town-the
only occupied part until the Italians
came in: and SO the new districts
which have sprung up, especially the
one beyond the railway station, MAccao
a. it is called, find themselves long
way from any church. This new
. AL
wGy down the road leading to ST.
Lorenzo, and facing the railway
station.
Lord Lyons has now been twelve
years the British Ambassador in France
at salary of $50, 900 year, with
fine house rent free. The last four Iu-
lers of that country have all liked him.
In the early days of the Republic he
was supposed to have been sceptlcal as
to its ability; he did not even take the
trouble to have new passports printed
with the words: ''French Republic"
When Theirs came to dine with HIM
there was some little question as to the
ceremony to be observed. Lord Lyons
determined, at least in one respect, to
accord royal honors to his guest. In
announcing dinner the majol -domo
bowed to NJ. Theirs, and said: IN. lie
President de la Republique est servi."
The little old man thereupon gave his
arm to Madame Timers, and the twain,
as though they had been Caesar and his
wife, led the procession to the dining
room.
The Russian government is at present
giving its consideration to project,
drawn up in the department of Public
Worship, WHEREBY the Russian monas-
teries are to be brought much more
stringently under S5ste control. 1t Is
proposed that the Sat shall take pos
session OF their landed, funded and
portable property and administer it for
the national b9n' ii :, paying them such
income as may lie deemed sufficient for
their support upon something like q
reasonable scale The present income
of the Russian mOnasteries and con
vents exceeds 3, 900, coo of roubles and
the value of their possessions in the way
cf gold and silver plate, precious
stones, and works of art has been ap-
praised at between $3.50, 900, 900 and
$500, coo, 900. Some of them large
holders in Russian stock, and others are
stated to have accumulated enormous
sums in bullion.
The correspondent of German
newspaper tells of an interesting in
stance of conversion from the orthc-
dox Greek Church to Mohammedanism
recently witnessed by him in Constan-
tinople. The convert was Jorgakl Bey
Arlstarchi, an official in the service of
the Porte, under the title of adiutant
to the Sultan. 1t is an old custom that,
in such cases, prominent member of
the religious denomination which the
convert is abandoning should be in at
tendance at his initiation into the new
faith, and should endeavor, up to
the last moment, to persuade him
to renounce his resolution. In
this instance this duty was as
sumed by a brother of the Apostate,
who is man of high position and
great influence in the Greek Church,
who with tears and intreaties labored
earnestly, though in vain, Jorgaki
Beys remained uum)ved, replying /
hope that you, and me too, may come
to perceive the truth of Islam and may
close your days as a Mohammedan
Omer Seifv Rey is the name given to
the convert. The occurrence has been
made the text by the Turkish press
for long homilies on the superiority OF
Mohammedanism to all other religions
as means of salvation.
The London tradesmen complained
so loudly of the injury done to their
bushes by the cooperative stores of the
civil service clerks that Parliament Or
dered an investigation, which is now in
progress. The idea of cooperation in
the purchase of necessaries of life orig
mated with few of the government
clerks in London, whose small salaries
forced them to economize rigidly. They
organic ID and sold to members at an adj
vance on the first cost Of the goods just
sufficient to pay off the small shop &C.
cupied and cost of attendance. The
membership rapidly increased, and
shares of the association, which were
issued at ten dollars, are now worth
from $3.50 to $500. The business has
been extended and now the. co-opera-
tive stores contain every article of
domestic use and consumption. A