Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 05.djvu/274

* COMMUNITY OF PROPERTY. 226 COMONFORT. eifically makes it the exclusive property of the donee is exempt t'rum the operation of tlio doctrine. The survivor takes one-half the prop- erty after their joint debts are paid, and also has certain homestead rights. The heirs of the deceased sjiouse take one-half the common property remaining after the payment of debts, subject" to the survivor's homestead rights, if there is no real property. This doctrine was introduced from the French and Spanish law into many of the Western States, including Loui- siana, biit is generally regulated and somewhat modified by statutes. '(See Husband and Wife; ' Ganan'CIAL Sy.STEM.) The expression community property is sometimes used to describe the hold- 3ng of property in common by communistic socie- lies, such as the Shakers. In such communities there is a sort of general partnership in all property, each adult individual owning an equal share by virtue of his membership. The owner- ship isin the nature of a tenancy in common, and is not subject to the rules of the civil law above dcscrilied. COMMXT'TATIVE LAW. See Associative Law. COM'MUTATOR. See Dtnamo. COMNE'NUS (I,at., from Gk. Kom>";i"5s, Kom- nCiios). The name of a family, originally from Paphlagonia, of which several members occu- pied the throne of the Byzantine Empire, from 1057 to 1-204. and that of Trebizond, from 1204 to 1461. After the fall of Constantinople one branch of the family settled in Saxony, another in Corsica ; but the attempt which has been made to trace the descent of the Bonaparte family from a branch of the Comneni is not supported by valid evidence. See Alexis ; Anna CoMNENA; Byzantine Empire. CO'MO (Lat. Comvm). The capital of the province of the same name in north Italy, sit- uated at the southwestern end of Lake Como, at a distance of 28 miles by rail from Milan (!Map: Italy, D 2). The sun-ounding country is of great picturescjueness. The city is sur- rounded by hills covered with gardens and groves and contains some buildings of consider- able architectural merit. The marble cathedral belongs to ditTerent periods and is built in dif- ferent styles. It was begun in the Gothic at the end of the' fourteenth century ; the larger portion was constructed in the Ilenaissance style, mostly by Rodari during the fifteenth century, while the dome is of relatively recent origin. The interior is decorated with rare pictures and monuments: in the main entrance are placed two statues of Pliny the Elder and the Younger, both of whom were born at Como. The Basilica of Sant' Ab- bondio, a building of Lombard origin, rebuilt in the eleventh century and recently restored, is of great artistic value. The Church of San- tissima Annunziata, situated on the promenade outside of tlic town, is remarkable for its rich decorations of marble and gold. Adjoining the cathedral is the city hall, a large, arcaded struc- ture, built of different-colored stone, and com- pleted in 1215. Other noteworthy buildings are the theatre, built in 1813: the lyceum, founded in 1824: and the city museum, with its collections of Roman antiquities, arms, and coins, opened in 1897. Como has extensive manufactures of silk, velvet, and knit-ware. The commerce is also of considerable importance. The ancient Comum was a city of the Insubres, occupied by the Romans in B.C. 196, and colonized by Ciesar as a military post to repress the Alpine tribes. In the ^Middle Ages it was a stronghold of the Ghibellines and the 'open door of the emperors into Italy.' In 1127 it was destroyed by the Milanese, and rebuilt by Frederick I. in 1159. Later it was ruled by the Rusca family, and in 13'55 came into the possession of the Visconti. from which time it shared the fortunes of Jlilan. In 1850 it was a centre of the agita- tion headed by Garibaldi. Como is the seat of a bishop and the birthplace of Innocent XI. and Clement XIII. , the historian Giovio. and Volta. Population, in 1881 (com- mune), 25,.500; in 1901, 38,895. COMO, Lake. (It. Logo di Como, or il Lario, Ger. Comer iSec, anc. Lacus Lariiis, praised by ^ ergil (Georg. II., 159). The most beautiful and celebrated of the Italian lakes, situated in Lom- bardv. at the western foot of the Bergamese Alps" 30 miles north of Milan (Map: Italy, D 2). Its elevation is 650 feet; its area, about 00 square miles; its greatest length, 30 miles; its greatest width, not quite 3 miles: and its great- est depth, 1340 feet. The southern part divides, at Bellaggio, into two arms — the eastern called Lake Lecco. the western retaining the name Lake Como, and having the city of Como (q.v. ) at its extremity. Between these two arms lies the fruitful district of Brianza. The river Adda enters the northern end of the lake, and leaves at the southeastern extremity, near the charm- ing town of Lecco, The beauty of Lake Como, with its rich shifting, marvelous colors, and its picturesque mountains ( 7000 feet ), clothed with the vivid green of the chestnut, varied with the delicate gray of the olive, has long been extolled. The cypress, aloe, laurel, myrtle, and oleander add their effects to the luxuriant landscapes which are embellished by numberless costly villas, with gardens, terraces, and vineyards, of distinguished or wealthy families that have been attracted from many countries by the delightful region and the indulgent climate. The lake is especially the resort of the ^Milanese aristocracy. A number of the villas, possessing worthy art collections (including particularly several fine examples of Thorwaldsen and Canova), are opened regularly to visitors. The most attractive towns on the lake are Cernobbio, Tremezzo, Cade- nabbia, Jlenaggio, Bellano, and Bellaggio, the loveliest point on the lake. The steamboat ser- vice is excellent. The industrious inhabitants along the shores are chiefly engaged in silk pro- duction and manufacturing. Fish are plentiful and of m;iny varieties. The artistic articles made of olive wood and offered to the tourist at Bellaggio are well known. COMONFORT, kO'mon-fort'. Ignacio (1812- 63). A Jlcxican statesman. He was a member of Congress in 1842. and a Senator six years later. In 1854 he assisted Alvarez against Santa Anna, and, on the latter's abdication (1855), became Provisional President. He was pro- claimed President in 1857. but in 1858 was driven into exile. In 1863 he commanded an army to oppose the French invaders who in- tended to establish the Emperor Maximilian in power, was defeated by Bazaine near Cholula, and shortly afterwards was killed in an ambus- cade bv bandits.