The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1880-02-26

The Msrchese Grille, the husband of
Nine. II sscr', IS 5uilding u mansion in
the neA aRd yet incomplete part of the
Via NsZonsfS,-R 'ms, and the other
day. in digging this very last spadefui
almost OF the foundations, the workmen
came upon large deposit of ancient
bror zes. The find was at once seen to
be very important one, and 1t has
been pToaounced by very competent
suthorijy, on e 5. bat by no means
complete Cxamination 10 be worth at
lest 10, 900 irs9cs, and probably more.
Slme of The stsluettes fourd are OF
Roman ami others Ct far superior Greek
wo' kmansnlp.
Ve,yct was originally an Asiatic pro-
duction, Introduced into Rome at the
time of the Enpcrors. It seems that
the ancient Greeks were not &c quainted
with 1t. Ia the middle ages some
manufactures OF velvet were establish
ed at CorstGrtinople, snd in some other
towns OF the Eastern empire. A, q
later time the fabrication of velvets
prospered at Venice, at Genoa, and at
other towns in Italy, before they were
known In France. Two Genoese i'm
ported this branch of industry into LJ-
ons, where they established a manuisc-
tory under the su :pices of Francis l.,
In 1886. Velvet, by the richness OF its
texture, at once took the priority on
the continent of all tissues. 1t became
the chief material of the costumes Of
the middle classes, the ornament Of
ceremOnisls, and was employed to set
| off sumptuous apartments.
The Supreme Court of New York re-
Gently rendered decision with regard
o the responsibility of railways for
baggage checked that must interest all
travellers. The plaintiff brought suit
against the New York Central railroad
TO recover SO, 900, the value of two
trunks and contents, which had been
checked by the railroad company to
New Orleans, but were destroyed on
the way. II was proven that the trunks
were carried safely over the defend.
ants line and were lost after they had
been delivered to connecting road.
The court decided that the defendant
mad no authority to check baggage be-
| yond rs own line, and dismissed the
case. 1t is the Universal custom now
to check baggage to the place of desti-
nation, though it may have to be reach
ed over a dCz:n different lines of rail-
way, and If this decision is sustained
by the United States Courts, 1t will
force travellers to check baggage
through at their own risk.
The exceilences of Queen V.ctorls's
public as well as private career have
been so patent that her weak points
have receded far into the background
but when the time arrives for her to ap-
pear at the judgment seat of history,
there will be one very serious blot on
her record her dealings with Ireland.
No one could have done so much fol
that unhappy country, whereas, il
point of fact, she has really done abso'
lutely nothing. In the aggregate she
has spent probably about ten years Of
, her life in Scotland, and about one
month in Ireland, which she has, in the
, course of reign of forty-th-ee years
paid three brel visits. This neglec
, has been utterly without excuse. Tit
: simple truth is that she and her hus
: bsnd-Who in this matter was alsC
3 greatly to blame-had nothing in com
/ mon with the Irish character, did no
. like it, and took no interest in IRELAND
f or the Irish. 1t will scarcely be cred
. tied that her benefaction to the Irisl
: reliet fund ID but one days official in
= come.
A selection of the largest tree in tn
? world from California is at present o.
2 exhibition in New York. The New
: York Herald Gays: ''This wonderful
specimen of NATURES handwork was dis
i covered in 1874. 1t was growing in
: grove near Tule river, Prulare county
8 California, about seventy five miles fror
e Vlsalia. Its top had been broken off
: probably at some remote period, an,
:, when discovered it was still 240 fee
l. high. The body of the tree where
I was broken was 10 feet in diameter
n and had two limbs, measuring respec
a lively 8 feet and 10 feet in diameter
r The trunk measured below III feet
i This ancient monarch of the forest
# called 'Old Doses after mountsi
l. near which it stood. 1t is supposed
J. be 4S40 years old, and it Is the larges
n tree that has ever been discovered
i The section on exhibition is rs feet
Il circumference and % feet across. 1t
l. capable of holding $50 people in its in
a terror. The interior, as it Is now fitte
a up, is arranged like a drawing-roon
: A carpet has been laid down; there al
d piano, sofa, tables and chairs, Wit
i scenes from California hung around
:. and people move about quite freely"
a A Madrid dispatch of the tenth say
: that when the judge of the tribunal {
d First Instance passed sentence yestel
y day on Otero, the would-be assassin {
+. King Alfonso, declaring that the fac
n proved in court constituted the GRIM
Ie regicide, without any extenuatlng Gil
lie cumstance, and with aggravated pre-
lie meditation, in perfect state of cognii
is ance and malice; also that by the col
or fession of the accused and the test
1t mony of witnesses Francisco Otero ha
s. been proved the responsible author {
s. the crime in consequence that Oter
lie had incurred the penalty of death, wit
l. its accessories wherefore the said Otel
N should suffer death by the garrote (
W ssrsngulation in the prison. This sci
N tence was, according to Spanish usag
lie signifed to the council for the defens
ID and the notary of the tribunal wei
lie with the council to the prison abo'
s. three IN the afternoon, and they We
ce both conducted by the gouernor of Il
Jail to the galley where Otero is CO..
fined. He listened, standing and bar
headed, while the sentence was beiI
read, and showed no emotion. Onl
as after singing the sentence, he turn'