The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-03-04
EDITORIAL NOTES.

Switzerland Is agltated by temper
ance movement, based on the alarming
increase of drunkenness. Ia that Coun-
Cry there Is no restriction whatever on
the number of distilleries. The disti
lers have no licenses to get and no taxes
to pay. 1t is stated by Bo2enheimer,
the Swiss Murphy, that there are 49,
900 stills 10 Canton Berne alone, and
that alcohol is made from potatoes and
beets in every farmers house and peas
ants cottage. This looks as if SwIizar-
land is the disuller's and drunkard's
Paradise. AT this rate alcoholIzation
the noble Swiss will become -demoral-
lied, and the worst feature of the busi-
ness is that the heaviest consumption of
brandy is in the rural districts.
At the opening of Parliament on the
fifth Queen Victoria wore dress and
tain of black velvet trimmed with
miniver, and a long white tulle veil,
surmounted by the crown in diamonds,
a necklace aud ear. rings of large dls-
monds, the KOh-i-noor as brooch, the
Riband and the Star of the Order of
the Garter and the Orders of Victoria
and Albert and the Crown of India.
The Princess Bestrice wore q dress OF
pale blue velvet, trimmed with satin,
and head-dress of feathers, with veil
and diamond stars; also a necklace of
diamonds, q pearl and diamond pend
ant, earrings and brooch with the Or
ders of Victoria and Albert, the Crown
of India and the Saxe-COburg and Co
tina Family O.ders. The Princess of
Wales wore dress of dark vanille vel
vet draped with pale vanille and silver
brocade and bordered in dark fur; cor
sage to correspond; also tiara of dia-
mOnds, feathers and veil and diamond
ornaments. with the Orders of Victoria
and Albert, the Star of India, St. Cath,
crime of Russia and the Danish Family
Orders.
Leap Year is full of oddities and
quiddities. Besides upsetting the de-
corums of Cupid and Hymen, it brings
into force the statutory rule which pro-
vides that whenever the twenty-sec-
ond day of February, the thirueth Gay
of May and the Fourth of July shall tall
upon Sunday, the Monday next follow
ing shall be deemed a public holiday"
Each of these days-Decoration Day
and independence Day IS we'll as this
present anniversary day of Washing
toms birth-happens to fall in this year
of our Lord 1880 upon q Sunday.
Christmas Day and the New Years DsY
of 1881 will fall upon Saturday. So
that during the year 1880 five religious
and civil holidays will afford our peo-
pie two successive days of rest apiece
from business cut of five different
weeks. The few remaining veterans
of the war of 1912, on the other hand,
will lose one extra dinner during this
year 1880 because Evacuation Day falls
upon the last Thursday of November,
which under the usage will be selected
by the President as the national
Thanksgiving Day.
The Geneva papers give some inter
e'ting details of the marriage of G. ,ri-
bsldi, which took place on Monday,
January &c, at Maddalena, in the offics
of the syndic of the municipality. All
the members of Garibaldi's family
General Meuslti Garibsldi, Nine. Italia
Bedschlni- G arlbaldI, 'Stefano-Canzio,
Nine. TeresIts Gaubsldi-Capzi o, Manlio
ct Celia Gsribalbi-were present at the
ceremony. Five old friends were the
only other witnesses. Garibaldi ap-
pesred radiant. He was seated in his
rolling chair, wrapped In a white pom
chO, and wore large red silk hsndker-
chief around his neck. The bride,
Donna francesca, wss dressed in white.
There was no religious ceremony. after
the civil contract was signed the par
sat down to dinner, and toasis vert
drunk to the health of-the newly mar
ried couple and 10 the realization of
Gsribaldi's hopes of italian unity.
Many consrstulatory kilograms were
received at Csprera during the day, and
Ganbsldi sent the following dispatch
t. Msncini, who was his attorney in
the proceedings for snnulling his mar
riage with Signors Raimondi: my
ilius,rious friend, owe you more than
iife-I owe to you the power of accom-
plishing sacred duty. Say to your
beloved family that belong to them ss
q brother, and that feel all the graft
tide of which my soul is capable"