The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1879-09-18
Personal,


The French revenue had on July 81
exceeded the estim of it more than
SIT, 900, 900.
The Duchess of Castiglione-Aldov-
rand has just died at the comparatively
early age of forty-two. She was wo-
man of genius, both In the direction of
painting and of sculpture, and about
her work there is a sug gestion of touch
ing romance. Her husband died young
and his devoted widow, retiring entire
~ from society, tried to forget her
grief in her art work. Under the name
of 'Marcello" she produced many
pieces of sculpture so beautiful that they
will preserve that name for many gen.
erations. In her busiest days she never
forgot the poor.
The first performance of 'Unc e
Toms Cabin" by that moral dramatic
company, under the sanction of Mrs.
Harriet Bsecher Stowe, has been given.
1t took place in the Michigan Avenue
Baptist Church, Chicago. The desk
Was removed from the platform, and a
4 stage erected, with suitable scenery.
The "Uucle Ten" was Sim Lucas, a
genuine negro, formerly performer in
a minstrel company. The rest of the
cast contained the name of more or less
known actors and actresses. The au-
dience plainly showed their unfamiliar
ity with theatricals, and were vastly
! pleased /; but it is said that the question
of the propriety of the show will be
discussed before religious tribunal.
Interesting statistics as to the use of
the mails in this country and abroad
show q much larger number of post
offices in proportion to population in
this country than in Europe. In all
Europe there were at the close of 1877
| 50, 466 offices to accommodate q popu-
lation of 800, 500, 900, while the United
States at the same time, with an esti.
ma.ed population of As, 900. 600, had
9,25s Offices. The average in Europe
is thus, one postoffice to every 6l94
persons, while in this country 1t is one to
every 1920 inhabitants. Even in Swift
zsrland, the European country which
has the largest number of offices both
in proportion to area and population,
the proportion is but one to every 9s3
inhabitants.
King Humbert is reported TO work so
very hard that he is nearly always late
fer dinner. and the food which is all
ready half-spoiled from being brought
some dItsnce shut up in tin boxes, gets
10 be almost UNBEATABLE. Bat robody
complain I, since Queen Margaret, like
her husband, cares nothing for dainty
or q well-c oked neal What she real
| ly enjoys is little dry cake. like savoy
biscust. which a Roman baker prepares
for her; he sen is forty-eight day for
the use of the Queen and the Prince,
and also a ANAL brown loaf which she
eats with butter at the 12 O'Clock break
fast. King Humbert is 1T present FIX
ing in his mind the italian parliament
tsry debates and opinions of the PCS
thirty years by reading and reresdinR
the tarial reports and making copioIs
snd careful notes.
| The order of Secretary Sherman di-
rectiDg that ten per cent. Of salaries OF
government employees be paid in stand
ard silver dollars, sent $o5 900 OF this
coin out amnng the people. Already
81, 600 Of the number have been re-
turned to the treasury vaults. There
are now in the treasury $50. 67S, AGA In
STANDARD silver dollars against which
there are outstanding silver certificates
amounting TO g. PSI, $50. By the re-
demptiou Of fractional silver the sum
of SIS. 2S6. ia Of this coin has accu-
minated, making total OF 81. 6S3 ,83e,
allowing for the silver certificates, row
| in the treasury in silver. This amount
Il bsing conEtsntly increased, and IS
the ten per cent. that i paid ont begins
st once to foE back, il appears that
This coin Is not doing much good Is 3
circulating MEDIUM