The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-07-26
EDITORIAL NOTES.

1t is interesting to know that not
only the people of New York state,
and of the country generally, are
greatly interested in the projected
Niagara Falls reservation, but those
OF England and the English colonies
as well. An Australian gentleman
who recently visited the Falls stated
that he would be willing to under
take the raising of 100000 at home
in aid of the new more, and would
himself subscribe 5000 toward the
fund.
An eastern paper has enrolled Sen
ator Harris among the political
prophets because he says if the Dem
ocratic convention were he'd now
Mcdonald would be nominated for
president, but by next year his pros
poets may be blighted and that Ar
thur will be the Republican candidate
unless Senator Sherman should be
made prominent by the result of the
approaching election in Ohio.
Associate Justice Miller, of the
United States supreme bench, made a
ruling in st. Paul, Mimi, last week,
which has excited much attention.
The case was that of Julia Crockett
against the Milwaukee and st. Paul
railway company for damages for in
juries received at Shakopee Station,
where Julia fell between the cars and
the depot platform. The company
set up as a defense that the woman
wore Il pullback dress at the time of
the accident, and was therein guilty
of coutributory negligence, in that
the style of dress prev ented the full
use of natural means of escape. Judge
Miller ruled that the evidence was
admissible and the point well taken,
saying that certain dTeSsrs were not
proper at certain times and places. as
for example ball costume in bag
gage car.
Not many people knew, says the
Richmond Wing, that Gen. Robert E.
Lee was offered the chief command of
the army in 1861, and declined it. The
offer was made upon the recommen-
dalton of Gen. Scott, backed by the
venerable Francis z. Blair, ST., who
conveyed the tender of the position in
person. 1t must have taken great
moral courage to decline the highest
position to which he could ever have
attained in his most ambitious
dreams. In 1865 the railroad which
is now called the Virginia Midland,
and its connections, was mainly owned
by English bondholders. After an
expert had carefully examined the
condition of things the committee of
bondholders held a meeting and ten
dered to Gen. Lee the presidency Of
the road and its connections under
one organization, at salary of
$4,000 a year. About this time
one of tie most powerful of the
New York life insurance companies
offered Gen. Lee $4,000 a year and a
house in Richmond to take hold of
and build up their Southern business.
Gen. Lee declined both of these SPLEEN
did offers to accept place as teacher
of Southern young men, at $1,000 a
year. Capt. Burritt says that 1.-The
Duke of Beaufort, Lord John Man
ners and two other English noble
men, rendered Gen. Lee Splendid es-
tate in West Riding, at Yorkshire,
with a handsome rental. equal to $685.
600 a year, for life, if he would accept
it and live upon it. Earl Spencer,
now lord lieutenant of Ireland, made
| tie tender. Gen. Lee, with a charm
! ing dignity that these gentlemen say
was beyond anything they had i'm
! agiTled. declined.the Offer"