Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-08-29
Collecting Hen Tax in Sicily.

startling account of the riots at Calta-
biano The poorer part of the popula-
ton, both men and women, assembled
in the square to protest against new
tax levied on hens. The Syndic, who
was found in cafe playing at cards,
taking the matter lightly, received the
deputation with fisticuffs. Alarmed,
however, by the increasing clamor, he
led the way to the Municipality and
surrendered the roll of the rate-payers.
This was burned by the crowd, which
then dispersed. In the afternoon, how
ever, the arrival being bruited of a
force of policemen, genda,naes and SOL
diery. the crowd collected anew, and
marching with the portraits of the King
and Queen and then national flag at
their head, we're joined by the Work
ingmen's Club, and met the forces at
the station with loyal shouts of Vira
IL Re-" After an interchange of saluta-
tons they marched collectively into the
village, hating in the square. The
military were drawn up in line. The
inhabitants ranged themselves oppo-
site, waving their flags and cheering
for the King and the army. At this
moment policeman, greatly detested,
nicknamed Trasher," advancing, Or
dered the laborers to lower their flag.
Exasperated by refusal, he drew on
the flag bearer, but was in his turn
struck by a stone. This was the signal
for the commencement of hostilities.
The soldiers fred volley after volley.
The crowd first replied with stones,
then disbanded and fed. Many per-
sons were shot accidentally; mounted
muleteer and peasant returning sing
ing from the fields; two children and
man upwards of so, who received a
second fatal shot as his son, needless OF
danger, bore him off. Two young
ladies were wounded whilst closing the
window shutters. The number killed
was eighteen, among whom was preg-
nant woman, who was ripped up by
bayonet thrusts. The wounded were
upwards of sixty. Seventy arrests were
made. The rioters are scattered about
the country, and fear to return to the
village, whilst the crops suffer from
want of hands to gather them in.-Lom-
don NeDS.
He hloONElS AMI HE
picturesque incident is narrated con-
corning General Chanzy during the
time of his Imprisonment under the
Commune. He was closely watched,
and when one morning he asked for
barber to shave him, that individual
was only allowed to enter escorted by
two National Guards. The day was
dull and the light bad, and the knight
of the basin moved the general about
several times, complaining that he
could not see and that the guards were
in the way. Grumbling, they fell back
a little, and the barber began his work.
Presently he observed that lie had never
seen man more difficult to shave, and
adding: "How hollow your cheek is
Come, General, a la Prorencale - he
thrust his thumb into the generals
mouth to press the cheek outward. The
prisoner was for the instant naturally
enraged, and was about to protest when
he became aware that some small OBJ
ject was lying on his tongue. The shay
ing finished and his visitors gone, LIE
placed himself in the only position in
the cell in which he could not be seen,
and took from his mouth what proved
to be q little roll Of paper, on which
was written Keep up your courage !;
you are not forgotten. This will not
last long. SAIssET." 1t was q true
prediction /; in few days the general
was liberated by an order from the
Central Committee.
Canada refuses to permit the Goth
New York regiment to enter the Do
minion bearing arms, although it has
just welcomed Beecher's Brooklyn reg
iment with all its equipments. The
trouble is that the Goth is composed of
Fenians, and q Kanuck gets as much
excited over q Fenian as bull at red
rag. The st. Patrick society of Mon
treal invited the New Workers to visit
the city on Dominion day, and it was
arranged that they should 60. But an
officer Of the Goth published letter not
very complimentary to the queen and
glorying in the fact that the regiment
was largely composed of Fenians. The
Goth thereupon decided not to go. But
the Montreal Star has taken up the
question, and the larger part of the
Canadian press grew very red in the
A0So uOAOuACAu6 VIC uAoAOydAGy VI 1uV1I-
ing a regiment to Canada which re.
fused to turn out when the Prince of
Wales landed at New York in 1860, and
had been composed of Irish Fenians
ever since. A detachment of the Goth
was still bent on visiting Montreal,
just to spite the "blasted Britishers."
but the indignation had now become 80
general throughout the Dominion that
the government slammed the door in
their faces by resembling the order al
lowing American troops to come across
the line armed.
The famine in Cashmere is very seri-
GUS. Great distress prevails through
out the country. Many towns and vii
lagos have been depopulated. The au-
thorities are sending assistance. The
famine has also been increased by the
selfish obstacles thrown in the way of
relief organization by the maharajah's
own officers, who have been speculat-
ing in grain, making q profit on the
high prices at which it is sold to the
starving multitudes. The Indian gov.
eminent is now insisting on active
measures, and the Cashmere ruler him
self is thus forced to the front to su.