davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06
SCIENTIFIC NOTES.

Prof. A. II. Sayce has deciphered an
Assyrian tablet, which gives an &C
count of a transit of Venus, 1900
years B. 9.
According to the latest results of
the finest instrumental tests, as to the
propagation of electricity, an electric
signal travels at the rate of 10000
miles per second.
The diameter of trees varies not
only from summer to winter, but from
day to day. They are larger from
noon until twilight next morning
than from twilight to noon; they are
smaller in winter than in summer.
Water and the sap of trees expand not
only in proportion as they rise above
but also as they go below the freezing
point. Low temperature as well as
high promotes evaporation, and the
tree evaporate from their branches in
the winter, and so the colder the
weather the more they shrink.
DIR. Beyerinck, one of the most dis
tinguished naturalists in Holland, has
been investigating the origin of the
masses of gum collecting in the limbs
of certain kinds of trees, especially
plum, apricot and others bearing stone
fruits. He finds that the emulation is
due to disease produced by the pres
ence of parasitic fungi; and when
healthy trees are inoculaJed with the
gum thus produced, they speedily con-
tract the disorder, which is highly
contagious. The disease is dissemin-
ated by the drying of the gum by OK
idation, and its circulation in the
wind, which thus watts the germs for
many rods, so that one diseased tree
may infect whole plantation.
Somebody has been collecting figures
giving the distance to which sound is
conveyed under favorable atmospheric
conditions. j. j. Stranahan states
that the whistle and the noise of the
train on the trestle at Erie were form
erly heard at distance of nineteen
miles. w. q. Nee, of San Pablo, Cal,
writes that on calm, clear days, espec-
tally in the fall, they hear the rumble
of the cars on trestle nineteen miles
distant. j. I'll. S. says that he very
frequently heard the railroad shop
whistle at Grand Island, while living
at Orville, distance of twenty EIGHT
miles. G. V. SWarthout, of Cape Vim
cent, N. Y, frequently hears the
whistle at Kingston, Ont, a distance
of twenty miles.
M. Regnard has made series of ex-
periments on living organism under
high pressures. Yeast was found to
be latent after having been subjected
to a pressure of 1000 atmosphere for
one hour; an hour later it began to fer
ment in sweetened water. Starch was
transformed TO sugar by saliva at 1000
| atmOSDhereS. At 600 atmoSDhereS al
g@ were able to decompose carbonic
acid i'll sunlight, but they died and began
to purify after four days. Cress seed
after ten minutes exposure to 1000 at
mospheres, were swollen with water,
and after a week began to sprout. AT
900 atmospheres infusoria and mol
lusks, etc., were rendered morbid and
latent, but when removed returned to
their natural state. Fishes without
bladders can stand 100 atmosphere s,
at 200 tn ey seem asleep, at 300 they
die. and at 400 they die and remain
rigid even while putrefying.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06
Swept Into the Stream.
One Thousand Acres of Land and
"RIght Smart of Bears.'

On the deck of big Mississippi steamboat
stood an aged Southern planter. Indicating
bya sweep of his arm the waters the boat was
passing over, he said to passenger from tie
North: when / was twelve years old /
killed my first bear on a new plantation my
father as then cutting out of forest that
grew directly over the waters eff this ben 1,
That was mighty good plantation, and there
was right smart of bears there, too. But that
one thousand acres ofland went into the Mis-
sissippi years ago."
1t Is puttingno strain upon the figure to sa,
that great forests of youthful hope, womanly
DTauty and manly ST eHgth are swept in the
same way every year into the great, turbid
torrent OF disease and death. Yet it should
notbe so. That it is so is disgrace as well
as loss. People are largely 100 careless or
too stupid to defend their own intereStS-the
most precious of which is health. That gone,
all Is gone. Disease is Simpe, Dut to reckless
ness and Ignorance the simplest things might
as well be complex as a promo itiOn i'm Comic
sections. AS the huge Western rivers, which
SO. often Hood the cities along their shor 8,
arise In few mountain springs, so all our all
ments can be traced to impure blood and q
small group of diSordered organs.
The most effective and inclu i've remedy or
disease Is PARKER'S TON G. 1t goes to re
sources OF pain and weakness. In response to
It's action the liver, kidneys, stomach and heart
begin their work afresli, and disease is driven
out. The Tonic is not, however, an ntoxicant,
but cures desire for strong drink Have YOU
dyspepsia rheumatism, or troubles which have
refuses to yield to other agents? Here is your
hep.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06
THE Low PRICE OF. SUGAR.

Sugar is cheaper than it has been for
great many years, and inquiry shows
that its cheapness is not thing alone
of to-day, but that it will last. This
cheapness arises from over-production,
not in this country but in Europe,
where some years ago the production
of sugar was unknown. 1t was only
some fifteen years ago that the growth
of the sugar beet in Europe became
an industry of any Importance.
During the last fifteen years France
and Germany have wed with each
other in the matter of production and
expectation of sugar, until both
have grown to be enormous.
Both governments pay bonus on the
expectation of sugar, and the result
has been, that in both countries, Ger
many especially, the production has
gone far in excess of both home con-
sumption and export, and the sugar
growers of Europe are consequently
as much distressed financially as those
of the United States and of the West
India islands. Owing to this condi-
ton the propriety of repeating laws,
granting premiums to European
sugar exporters is, being agitated, but
as between Germany and France one
is waiting for the other to take the
first step in that direction, either
hoping that if the one will repeal its
law the other will still reap some ben
eft from sugar expectation; therefore
it is probable nothing will be doue for
years to come. OF the $4,000 tons of
imported sugar consumed in the
United States nearly half comes from
Cuba, while only $4,000 tons is Eu-
ropean beet sugar. As the European
market Is largely supplied with beet
sugar, and now takes very little cane
sugar comparatively, it is easy
to see how the price of the
latter is depressed by the over-pro-
duction of the former. But out
side OF the questions relating to
French and German policies it is evil
dent that almost the entire world has
become interested IN sugar produc-
ton, and the sugar planters of this
country need look for no early change
in prices; in fact, it may be that sugar
may grow still cheaper, and that it
never will be dearer than now. The
low prices come at period when
quite boom has been worked up in
sugar production from sorghum,
and the impetus given to
its growth will probably be retarded.
1t is interesting to note the effect of
the policy of paying bonus to the
exporters of sugar. While it has
enormously stimulated production, it
seems not to have benefited the pro-
ducers at all. but only the spectators
and exporters. 1t has, however, en-
abled the masses of the people of the
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06
AGAINST sUMPTUARY LEGISLATION,

The prohibitionists, it is said, are
going to come before the next legis-
lature, asking for the submission of
const tutional amendment to prohibit
the sale of liquor ID this state. A few
years ago THE STATESMAN en-
tered earnestly into ii can
vass for the enforcement of
local option in Travis county. 1t be-
lieved then that prohibition would
have a beneficial influence upon the
community, and with this conviction
it desired to see the test made. The
measure was defeated, and since then
we have had ample opportunity to
study the effect Of so-called legal
prohibition. A number of counties
in Texas adopted it, and nearly the
last one of them have abandoned pro-
hibition as scandalizing to the commu-
mites. The non use of in
toXicating drinks would be
blessing to any community, but
this attempted legal direction Of how
and when man shall drink becomes
an abSurdity wherever it is tried.
Tie drinking of Intoxicating liquors
goes on with open faced fraud
and effrontery wherever it is
adopted, and people are THUS
led in one respect to disregard law.
while from disrespect there is but a step
to defiance. In every state where pro-
hibition has been attempted it has
been a complete failure. 1t is bold
ly asserted there is more drunken
ness in Maine, under prohibition,
than there was without it; and after
Ohio tried it, it was abandoned be-
cause Of It's utter prostitution of law
to most evasive ends. The insignia
cant prohibition vote In Ohio, the
other day, shows how utterly the peo-
pleof that state are Disguised with it
as a farcical measure. AS to the
submission of a constitutional amend
ment to the people of Texas, the prop
osition is absurd, and it would be so
treated by them at an election. AT a
general election it would be defeated
by two hundred thousand majority
People know such law would
be treated as an absurdity, and
the vote against it would be al
most unanimous. To hold a special
election on this proposition would cost
the state, direct, about $50, 900, besides
involving even a greater outlay in
agitation and time and money to in
dividuals and communities. The
people who may urge the submission
Of an amendment know this
and yet they would rob the state of
this sum, and the people of a still great
er sum, just for the Sake of agitation
in which a few tricksters would all
themselves and draw salaries from
funds contributed for such canvass
The absurdities of legal prohibition
have been shown, and democracy, il
its fundamental principles, recogniz-
ing the improperly of legislat 'ng as
to peoples apetites and tastes, has de
clared against all sorts of sumptuary
legislation.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06
neutrality-suspicious. HOME.

The movement for home, at Aus
tin, for disabled and invalid ex-con-
federate soldiers, the points of which
are to-day given in our local columns,
is one that must attract attention, and
everywhere inspire among the ex-sol-
diers OF the armies of the south that
sentiment of fraternity that springs
from the memories of the dangers
and hardships of one of the most stu
pendous struggles of history. The
names which head the movement
General Goggin, Major Stewart
end others, who commanded in the
great war, are sufficient guarantee of
the high character and honorable OBJ
jects of the enterprise. A meeting is
soon to be held for the purpose
of carrying out these objects, and at
which the idea of the movement will
perhaps, be more fully developed. The
infirm and helpless veterans who drew
their swords on the Federal side are
cared for, and millions annually are
expended for that purpose. Why
should not the invalid aud intirm sur
vivors on the Confederate side be aid
ed by private endeavor, if in no other
way? No place in the great state of
Texas could be more be6tting the cree
ton of such home as that contem-
plated than the capital city of Texas.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06

two countries named to obtain their
sugar at very low prices. 1t rests on
substantially the same principle as the
high protective tariff in America. and
the injurious effects are the same. 1t
stimulates foreign trade, however. and
in some respects it may be considered
better than the American policy.
which destroys trade and heaps I'M
just burdens on the masses of our
own people.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06

DIR. DEscHAnPs says the scarlet fe'
yer microbes may be easily killed by
the new chemical, thyrnol.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06
THE Van Alstyne Enterprise saws:


A. w. Terrell, Esq, OF Austin, who
has one OF the brightest minds of the
state, and who is an able, fearless and
conscientious democrat. has accepted
the nomination for the office Of dis
trict judge of the Bexar and Travis
district.
The Enterprise has been sadly neg
lectful of Texas political geography.
Judge Terrell is not 4 o.,ACidate for
any public position. He de-
clined denomination for the state
senate, though he could have
made the race without opposition.
His retirement into private life is re-
GREETED by many, but since it is his
own selection no one has right to
complain. AS to the district referred
to above, there is no such district.
Travis and Bexar counties belong to
separate districts. Judge A. S. Walker
is the democratic candidate here, un-
opposed because of his eminent fitness
for the position of district judge,
while A. w. Houston is candidate
for the judgeship in the Bexar dis
trict. He, too, may be emin-
emily fitted for the bench; at
least one would suppose so from the
endorsement once. given him in the
state senate by Senator Terrell. Sem
ator Houston was great quibbler for
constitutional points. If we remem-
Der correctly he based his opposition
to penitentiary resumption on consti-
tutional grounds, and among other
bills, he SO opposed the Terrell bill
for leasing Of the public lands. In
the interesting discussion on this bill,
Senator Terrell paid the Bexar Sem
ator a marked compliment as a
great constitutional lawyer. He said he
never saw the senator attack meas
ure that he did not claim to be led by
constitutional qualms; that the posi-
ton had grown chronic with him and
that it reminded him of lawyer Collin
De Bland, of early Texas fame. He
said:
DeBland began his speech as fol-
lows: "May it please your honor, my
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06

1T is reported that numbers of
Cubans are arriving in the state of
Vera Cruz, Mexico, to engage in to-
bacco growing in consequence of the
extraordinary success that has attei d.
ed the culture of the weed there.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06

THE Galveston News runs special
to Houston. and delivers there before
breakfast. 1t is supplying the vacancy
created by the demise of the Post
The Newsis great institution.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06

PROHIBITION is to be tried in Wax
ahaxie. Whisky will continue to be
sold as freely as ever and there will be
world of trouble about it as long as
the local law exists.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06

EXCESSIVE railway building has
brought many of the strongest railroad
organizations of this country to ru.i i.
In the struggle for freight business
losing rates are made, and In New
York competition has brought pas
senger tariff down to one cent per
mile.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06

THE passengers and crew of the
German steamer Maasdam had mar
row escape. The vessel was burned
at sea, as appears in this mornings
1ianatchea
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06

FOREIGN syndicates and capitalists
now own nearly 10000 square miles
of territory in this country.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06

TIE president has ordered that a
public square in Washington be named
after the late Mr.. Folger.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06

BRADLAUGH again presented him
self at the opening Of parliament, TO
be again elected. He will have to
undergo conversion to make himself
stick.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06

GRANTS late partner, Ward, is in
Jail. Were it not that Grant has held
the grandest positions of honor in this
country he would still be keeping
Ward compony.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06

BLAINE has had that libel suit put
over till December. His wife's honor
does not seem to be of such great i'm
portance as was at one time intimated.
When December comes the suit will
undoubtedly be discontinued, because
of lack of defense.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06

HUGH MCCULLooH was secretary
of the treasury under Andrew john
son, and is a financier of recognized
ability. In his nomination President
Arthur has shown further desire to
serve the county to the best of his
ahilifv
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06

Miss RIsLEY, the Houston prima
dona, who has been studying in Eu-
rope for eight or ten years, has very
lucrative engagement at Pesth, in
Hungary, where she Will remain for
several years. 70 satisfy Hungarian
tastes ought to crafty her ambition.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06

THE vote of Texas for Hancock
was l56,428; for Garfield 1888;
Weaver 27,405. 1t is predicted the
vote for Cleveland will go to 10000.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06

SUICIDES are numerous,i in fact they
arereally growing fashionable. People
go off in various ways leaving notes
that they are tired of the world.
People who live correct and useful
lives rarely become tired of the world,
There is always something unfinished
to allure them on into protracted
l;fa
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06

manufactured into "a substance so
closely resembling human hair that it
Is employed as a substitute for the
genuine article and helps tournament
the graceful head of beauty. Thus
not only the hat but the glossy locks
upon which it rests are furnished by
the palmetto, from which source also
comes the fan to cool the brows and
the material to stuff mattresses where
upon to repose the wearied body. Who
would have thought tea years ago
that this plant, regarded as an incum-
brance OF the land it covered, would
have been converted into so many ar
ticles of value and utility? Paper.
hats, fans, hair, etc, are now furnish
ed from palmetto, and it will yet pro-
vide material for cordage and cloth
ing.
NJ. Delaunay, of Paris, has been
making extensive Investigations upon
the subjects of pastures in sitting as
regards the extremities. He finds
that the Chinese cross the left arm
over the right, while the Europeans
cross the right over the left. Those
who cannot work or are idiotic do the
contrary. A great many women cross
the left leg over the right. Among
opera dancers some always cross the
right leg over the left, but not one
crosse the left over the right habits
ally. Infants under three years cross
the lett arm over the right, ond when
older reverse Sc position. The pro-
fessor finds that men generally cross
the right leg over the left, and cites
the statements of tailors that trousers
are always more worn on the left side
which bears most of the weight
Many conclusions are drawn from
these facts, the most important ont
being that the left brain deyelopes be
fore the right, but finally the right pre-
dominates.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06

A FEW years ago it was as much as
a preachers head was worth to be
even suspected of belief in Darwinism,
OF in the doctrine of evolution. But
there has been change. Yesterday
in the synod of South Carolina-a
body of educated men-the vote on
allowing the doctrine to be taught in
the Theological seminary was fifty
against and forty-five for, showing a
great change in ecclesiastical opinion.
The best smoking tobacco is"Little
Joker
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06

Prof. A. g. Bell is son of Alex
ander Melville Bell, of Canada, and
before he invented the telephone he
had devoted his life to a study of the
voice and acoustics.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06

SECRETARY GRESHAM ordered an
investigation of the charges of Mr..
Barker that there is a great deal of
crookedness in the treasury. Proba-
bly, Comptroller Lawrence will write
an opinion declaring that the books
are all straight and that the cash is I'M
impaired. The public, however, will
not. accept his decisions any more
readily than the supreme court did.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06
PROMPTLY on the leo ., M:

PROMPTLY on the leo ., H.;
parliament the strife between t4o
commons and the lords broke out
afresh, and undoubtedly there is trou-
BILE ahead. The English are patient
with historical distractions, az wit
ness their delay in removing Temple
Bar from the busiest street in London.
But Temple Bar had to go, so must a
hereditary house of lords, unless it has
the power of accommodating itself to
the peoples wish. That is precisely
what some of the more advanced lib
erals fear. They do not wish it to be
accommodating, for they wish it to be
destroyed.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06

MRS. HULsKAMP, the clipping
daughter of Morosini, the broker, is
beginning to doubt the truth Of the
adage to the effect that "all things
come to those who wait" When her
marriage with the family coachman
made her the sensation of the hour,
she was offered 81, 600 week to go on
the concert stage. Unfortunately, for
her financial prospects, at least, she
he5itated; and, as the interest in her
case gradually lessened, the size of her
offers have diminished, until now the
best bid open is $500 per week. Sen
sations are short-lived in this country.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06

WE have too many public roads.
Would it not be better to have less
aud put them in frst-class condition.
Numerous private roads would lead
into well constructed public roads. In
Travis county and other sections sim
liar to it there ought to be as fine ma
cademized public roads as there are
anywhere in the world. Our black
lands demand them.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06

THE existence of a toll bridge over
Waller creek or Shoalcreek, on Pecan
street, would be about as outrageous
as a toll bridge over the Colorado
river. Had our present county court
been administering municipal affairs
through all these years, it is reason
able to suppose such bridges would
have been in existence.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06

GEN. GRANT says, that in writing
his biography he finds the things
which occurred to him in cary life are
more wildly impressed on his mind
than others; that he remembers Incl
dents of the Mexican war better than
those of the rebellion. Evidently the
General is eultiyating a convenient
memory. To follow the theory by
progression he may have entirely for
gotten the transactions of Grant s.
Ward, brokers, by the time he reaches
that fraudulent period in his own
history.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06

THE magnificent capital at Nash
vile, which cost the people of
that estate over three millions
of dollars is constructed of the
finest Tennessee limestone. and the
north and east walls are reported as
undergoing disentegration. The
limestone which has been selected for
the construction of our new capital
is said to be inferior to that Of which
the Tennessee capitol is construct ed.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06
nArrs or SUBSCRIPTIONS.

Weekly Statesman, 800 per annum, invaria-
bly, in '4dvance.
The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-11-06

THE report of the sixth auditor
bears out the calculations of the post
office department with regard to a
deficit from the reduced rate of letter
postage. The entire falling off in rev.
enue from this source is about six
million dollars, turning the balance
from a credit of $2,5O0,OOO to a debt
Of $3,500,000. But this simply repre-
sents reduction of surplus to that
amount, and, as the revenues of the
government are far in excess OF the
expenditures, this reduction is fully
justified, and it is made in a direction
where the relief is felt at once and by
all. The new rate is timely, wise and
popular, and the country wants Il lit
tie more CT the same sort Of egisla-
ton