The sun., 1908-02-16

city and comrades OF a mans home and his
kinsmen are dear and bring cOntentment.
In happiness remote from foolish men I
praise the wise lord Euxantius. who when his
Ieilows were eager refused to rule or to take
the seventh share OF a hundred cities along
with the sons OF Pasiphg. and he sDake to
them prophecy:
Then shall !. in pursuit OF wealth and
thrusttng aside into utter neglect the decree
OF the blessed ones OF our country. have
elsewhere great possession? How would
this be secure to me? Dwell not my heart.
on the cypress grove. dwell not on the pas
lures OF Ida To me little IL given. a mere
shrub OF oak: but have no lot in trouble or
strife
The Ottoman Government has Just taken
a step that cannot fail to appeal directly
to the hearts Of all the brigands and bandits
in the Sultan's wide dominions and else
where.
Mehmed Tchakidyi and his robber band
have made the back woods OF the vilayet Of
Smyrna unsafe for years, the robber chief
himself having defied the periodical feeble
attempts at capture by the authorities for
no less than thirty years Now, without
asking for IL, he has received an imperial
full pardon. which he has graciously con-
sented to accept, mainly because he felt
the infrmities OF old age creeping upon him
and is less agile than formerly.
The pardon carries with II State pension
OF some $40 a month and a little house to
live in. All the members Of his band have
likewise availed themselves OF the Govern
ment's offer Of a pension Of S2S a month IL
they will undertake to leave the brigand
business alone. And 30 they have all be-
come peaceable citizens.
Enormous popular interest is evinced
throughout Italy In the trial Of the famous
brigand Salamone. which Is taking place
at Caltanissetta, Sicily. 1t promises 20 be
one Of the longest and most intricate cases
ever known in that country Of long trials,
Tor 500 witnesses are to be examined.
Salamone's associates in the dock are
two rich old priests. the brothers Vasa-
poll, and two other brothers named Bonfir-
rarO. These four are charged with having
instigated SalamOne to murder their politi-
cal opponent. Signor GiordanO, Mayor OF
Barrafranca.
Salamone. after many misdeeds. had
been condemned to a long term ofimprisOn-
ment chiefly on information furnished by
SignOr Giordano. against whom he accord
ingly vowed undying vengeance. Upon
his release he arrived home to find that his
mother had died a few hours previously Of
a broken heart. and in a furious frenzy he
shot Giordano dead the next day. escaped
into the mountains and began a life Of
brigandage In course Of time he was
captured.
In the dock Salamone conducts his own
defence with great dramatic power and
eloquence. and daily causes scenes. At his
last examination he spoke for six hours.
quoting poetry at great length amid the
plaudits Of the crowd. until the president
gave orders to clear the court and reminded
the prisoner that the dock was not an
orators tribune.
Salamone declares that his fellow prison.
ers are innocent and protests against the
persecution and cruelty OF which he says
he has been the obieot. Public opinion 10
very much divided. the murder having been
committed by shooting the victim In the
back, which is not permissible according to
the Sicilian code Of honor. Two companies
OF infantry have been specially told OF
70 act as the prisoners bOdyguard
Some interesting particulars Of projected
South German waterways which would
cost S4S. 900 600 to complete were given
the other day in lecture at Ulm by In
spector Eberhardt Of Stuttgart. The first
of the canals planned is TO effect junction
of the rivers Neckar and Danube. Il would
be seventy miles long. cost s2s .OOO. 600 and
render the Neckar available for ships OF
900 tons as far as Neokar-Rems. whence a
canal would be carried through three
tunnels past the windings and shadows OF
the Rems to Gmund. TO pass by means Of
a thirty foot cutting into the valley Of the
Kocher at Aalen.