The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-24
Superstition Mainly Responsible
for Custom of Ancient
Origin.

BY IA MARaUIsE DE FoNT11NOf.
n uPERSTlTION Is mainly RESPONSE.
BILE for the extraordinary car,
~ which is taken after any success
| iul, or even unsuccessful, attempt
to assassinate rulers or members OF
the relEnlnG houses OF Europe. to de-
stroy the firearms or the knives that
nave been chosen by the ASSISTANTS.
Immediately after the trial Of Dalba
the youth who fired threo shots at the
King and Queen of Italy last week at
Rome, trial at which his cxtraordi-
narily expensive revolver will figure as
the piece dc conviction. the weapon will
be Immersed in a, basin Of sulphuric
acid, IN order to insure its dissolution
into nothingness. Tho custom is of an
cicnt origin. and extends not only to
the weapons OF reglcidcs, but also TO
the surgical instruments employed by
surgeons In treating tho injuries of the
iilustrious victims of these outrages, or
in royal post-mortcm examinations ana
embalming.
| In oldsn times the weapons and in
struments used to he filed to powder
or ground TO pieces. When, however
the Priest Martin Merino attempted TO
murder Queen Isabella II. of Spain, 1t
was found that the blad, of the poig-
hard which he had used was Of such
eNquisitcly tempered steel that II re-
SiStei every lie and stone. This was
related in the ncwspaps rs and super
stitiouS Spania:ds became so excited
mat the Cabinet was forced TO take
steps for The destruction OF the knife
by sulphurc acid, TO allny public feel
ing, and TO rcmov. the impression
that there was, something supernatural
ana magical about the dagger. Since
then sulphuric acid has always been
used to destroy these weapons.
1t was employed for the destruction
OF ths sharpened file with which En-
press Elizabeth was assass!natcd. and
OF the surgical instruments employed
ny tho physicians who made the post
inortem examination, the weapon being
destroyed In the presence of the Au-
other representatives OF Francis Jos.
eph, who had been summoned to Gen
eva.
deserted the Unionist party, of which
lie was one of tho shining lights, and
mas Joined tho Liberal camp. has taken
this step more on account OF hts CON
version to the cause OF home rule than
TOR any other reason. During his long
stay In this country last ycar--hc is n
frequent visitor over here--hc saw
much of the leading Irish. Americans OF
New York, and of the other big cities
OF the Union. and their pcrsuaslons
nave been brought TO fruition on his
return to England. by the extraordi-
nary attitude of Sir Edward Carson,
and of the other Ulster Unlonist lead
ers. VINO have preached armed rebel
hon rather than submission 10 any
mont.
Sir Frederick pollock's accession &c
the home rule party is an affair OF
some Importance TO the latter. for he
G enc, TIA, his opinion cnrries very grea,
weight. Sir Frederick is known tC
every lawyer OF any standing. not only
In Great Britain. but also In the Unit
ed States and Canada, ns the editor
of the English Law Reports" for tho
past eighteen years. He is professor
oxford one Of the few foreign mem
bers oil the Institute of France. and re
nowncd as the most skilful tenccr In
ENGLAND Last year King George ap.
Council, thanks to which ne is en-.
titled to the prefix OF ".rhe Right Hon.
orable" 10 his name. and he has re-
ccived academic honors from Harv-
ara, and number OF other big Amer.
ican and Canadian universities, be.
sides having been invited on scvcra'
occasions to address the American Ban
Association at It's annual meeting
Sir Frederick is descend ed from David
Pollock one of the best saddlers in
ENGLAND, who kept the lending sad
diery SHOP In London. Mt Charing Cross
AT the close of the eighteenth CEN
fury OF his three sons. one became
heid marshal and constable Of the Tow
ei of London. another. Chief Justice OF
bombay, and tho third, lord chief bar.
on OF the Court OF the F.Xcheuuer
The latter received the baronetcy OF
which Sir Frederick Is the third hold-
er, his fathar having been for several
years Queen Victoria's remembrance
and senior member of the Supreme
Court Of Judicature. He is married tc
the daughter of John Derell of Cal
cutta, and. onA of his brothers. Wal.
ter, was formerly editor of the sat
urdnY Review
The difficulty in connection with the
successorship 10 the post of prince as
sistant OF the Holy Seat, resulting from
the death without male issue OF the
iata Don Mare Antonio Colonne. ms
been settled by the action of his next
brother and heir. Don Fabrizzio Colon
ma. surrendcrinE his rights of she
ccssion TO this loftiest of the lay dig
miles of the papacy to his eldest son.
Marc Antonio Colonna. hitherto known
by the title OF Prince and Duke Of
iaiiano. He is man of about thir-
ty-two years of age, and married I'm
1909 tho enormously wealthy hejrcss
of Levantine OF the name of sur
sock. who had accumulated fortune
OF many millions of dollars. at Rev
rout. In fact. the marriage was a
good deal of n mesalliancc, and da
aged as such the prestige OF Prince