The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-12-30 00:00:00

.)Ilisttliancaus

ROME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL.

A MANCHESTER BENEFACTOR . —Tuesday's
obituary announces the death of Mr. Barne:,, of
Fallowfield, Manchester. Mr. Barnes was a native of
Mwichester, and was born in 1800. His father was a
hanker at Kendal, but his two sons, Robert and
Thomas, entered into business as cotton spinners in
51anchester, and realized considerable fortunes. In 1851
Mr. Robert Barnes was elected Mayor of Manchester,
but, subsequently, he purchased an estate in Hertford-
shire, where he went to live ; losing his only son at
college, however, he returned with his daughter to
Manchester. He spent the later years of his life in
acts of benevolence, and founded the Convalescent
Hospital at Cheadle a few years since at a cost of
MAO, and a certified industrial school at Heaton
Mersey, at a cost of f:28,000. He was liberal of his
gifts to other local charities. Mr. Barnes never took
a prominent part in local affairs or in politics, but was
for many years as highly respected citizen. He leaves
an only daughter to 'lament hie loss.

PEARLS VERSUS BRIDGES. —Mr. Frank Buck-
land writes in LI, ad aad Walcr

"In passing over Moy-bridge, near the junction ef the
rivers Islackwater and Connor, Sntherlandshire, a gentle-
man who was with me told me that that part 4,f the river
we were then crossing was once celebrated for the number and
quality of its pearls, but of late years they have diminished
both in quantity and quality. The reason assigned for this
was remarkable accordiug to the local theory, ' the building
of bridges diminishes the number of pearls in the river.'
former times bridges Were nut very numerous in Scotland,
mei tho cattle passing the rivers by means of the fortis trod
upon the mussels, and injuring their shells caused them
to form pearls. After the bridges were built the
cattle no longer went across the fords, hut over tho
bridges. PIO MOW'S, not being any more injured, ceased
to secrete the pearls. There was formerly an obi flail at this
place who gained his living by collecting these pearls. The
per fellow was blind, but nevertheless he continued his oc-
cupation as pearl catcher. Ile used to wade into the river,
and pick up the pearls off the bott. au with his tons, his wife
standing on the hank, telling him in which direction to go.
When he had filled the bag which he carried round his
reAt with the pearl mussels he brought them to the bank
for his wife to open. A pearl the sizo of a pea was worth
M. 1 seas very sorry to hear the tragic end of this poor
man. lie got out of his depth, fell Into a deep hole in the
river, and was drowned.'

- •
Tot: KITTEN AND TUE BEAR.—The other day
(says the Swin Tim(s) a little kitten unwarily playing
on the edge of the bear pit at Berne full between the
bars into the area beneath. The spectators held their
breath; but the kitten, t y no means overcome by its
foe's appearance, bristled up both coat and tail in
courageous wrath, and with such effect, that lituin,
when quite within reach id the tempting morsel, was
sufficiently discouraged to turn tail and walk quietly
away, leaving the little kitten master of the field.

Too FAT !—A very distinguished and very fat
Sikh officer of a cavalry regiment has been removed
from the service on the ground of undue obesity. So
(remarks the Dalian Daily New*), it was in olden days.
Spartans who presumed to get fat were soundly
Whipped. One INauclis, an extremely stout individual,
was publicly exposed, and threatened with perpetual
banishment if he did not quickly regain a proper and
Spartan figure. More lenient, we pension Nauclis. It
is not many months since a medical board sat in Cal-
cutta upon an officer and companion of the Order of
the Bath for the same fleshy failing. The Govern-
ment desired to know if Colonel could possibly
discharge the duties of a field-officer. The reply was,
"I 'ertainly, if a horse strong enough to carry him can
be found.'

-
--
THE AKRE'S title, when he goes to the
Upper chamber, is to be Baron Commentsay.—
Yisock
EDUCATION Itsrus.—At Fenton Police-court
Mr. Adams, china and earthenware manufacturer,
was summoned for having refused to pay an education
rate, amounting to 4s. tit. .'lr. Adams resides in
Stoke.upomTrent school district, and he and Was Noneoufortnists reecutly dodared at a public meeting
that thy should redst paydnetit of any rite under the
Elementary Education iket, as rail was to he icndered
to denominational schog4o out of the sch‘sd rate. Mr.
challinor (magistrate) said he supposed the rate hail
been duly laid, and on receiving an affirmative reply
Ire advised that Mr. Adana should lay it, and be satis-
fied with a public protest against it. Mr. Mains said he was actint. with a large number of Nonisonforink,
who weie determined to refuse to pay, and he could
not consent. 'l r. Cliallinor said the rate was a legal
one, and persistent refusal to pay it would be regarded
as VeXlltionet. After some further conversation it was
discovered that there Wini some informality in the pio-
ceedings. The collector was instructed to take out a
fresh summons, the magistrate again advising Mr.
Adams to pay a rate which he said could not he
evaded.
Fox THIS ONCE ONLY !—The followingancc-
dote is related of the htpe
The Mari:hen di Itudini, wife of the young Sicilian deputy,
who was Mr some months Prefect of Naples, and held °thee
for a short time as Minister of the Interior, went some few
days since to the Vatican and naked for an audience of the
Holy Father. " What do you want, Madame la Nlarquiser'
asked the Pope. "Your saintly benediction for inyself and family," replied the noble lady. " For you, certainly," said
limogiviug Li, howthetion " hut for your hushand
it is quite a different thing " Ile 10n110 et seeing the con-
law-nation of the martmise when ohs heard ids intentlen
art
to confer the heuoihtiou on her bushatid, but utterwanis
added, " Well fur this once I will bless your 1111shand." The
marquise kissed the hands of Ida ss, nun as she aaa
leaving the audience chandler lie said, " Yes, for your hus-
band too, but for this once only."

TIIE PROTESTANT SECTS IN AUSTRALIA.—Tho
religious etatistics of South Australia possess a special
interest inasmuch as they show the relative propor-
tions of Protestant sects in a country peopled from
our own, but pos,essing no State Church. There deso
not ai,pear to be anything in the circumstances of
South Australia likely to favour one body of re
ligioniste more than another. Out of the total popula
tion of the colony as estimated this year—namely
185,626—there were no fewer than 5,436 who declined
to " ticket " themselves, and 3,802 in addition who
could not Aix a name to their particular views. Of
the remainder, 50,849 persons are described an belong-
ing to the Church of England. Roman Catholics
come next and number 2s,felB ; and then the
Wesleyans, 27,075. The other denominations have
very few members, except the Lutherans and the
Presbyterians, who are returned respectively at
15,412, and 13,371.

HEIRS TO THE CROWN WHO HAVE
Frederick Prince of Wales, son of George IL, was
killed by a blow from a cricket ball in 1751, and his
eldest eon passed to the throne as George 111. in the
twenty-third year of his age. Prince Frederick, Prince
of Wales, was in his forty-fourth year. Queen Anne
survived all her children, with the exception id Prince
George, who reached the age of eleven years; they died
in infancy. Henry, eldest son of James L, died before
his father; and so I lid Prince Arthur, heir to Henry
VII. The earliest instance of the death of an heir to
the Crown, who left a son to succeed him, is that of
the Black Prince, who died in his forty-sixth year, his
son, Richard IL, coming to the throne when eleven
yearn old. On the death, in 1751, of Frederick Prince
of Wales a bill was at once introduced, providing for
the possildlity of the young Prince's arriving at the
throne during his minority, appointing his mother, the
Princess of Wales, Regent, and a Council of Regency,
consisting of the Duke of Cumberland, the younger
brother of the late Prince, the Lord Chancellor, and
other great Ministers of SW*. In 1831 the next heir
to the throne was the present Queen, then a girl of
ten and a bill was passel providing that in case 0f the
King's death a Regency should be appointed.
TIME OF THE MEETING OF PARLIAMENT.—
From Is4o to 184;0 Parliament always met on an
earlier day in the new year than the date fixed for
1°72---viz., the fith of February, eu-rid inc year when
Parliament had to be called together before I Inistmes;
rind excluding such exceptional years, the time of
meeting was as often in January as in February. Tut
since IS6O Paliament has never met in January. of
the three Sessions held under the present Ministry, the
first, being the Session after a General Election. began
in December. The other two Sessions—viz., 18i0 sod
1871, began at a later date than that at which Parlia-
ment met at any other of the last 30 years, except
when there had been a sitting before Christman.

CRRII4TMAS BOX FOR MR. LOWE (WI MaFier 0
the Mint.)—One of the worn-out 14.kponee,.—ruodt

• • •
LIVING AND DYING.—The Rev. Henry Ward
Beecher, in a recent sermon, said that it was no evi-
dence of Christian grace to be willing to die.
It was far better to be willing to live and do the duties
of life. In the course of his address he mentioned that
his brother Charles, who was always in a dying mood,
once congratulated their father, old Dr. Lyman
Beecher, on the fact that he eetthin't live much longer,
"Cuipl;," said the old man, "I don't thank any of
my boys for talking to me in that way. I don't want
to the. If I had my choice, and it was right to choose,
I would fight the battle all over again."

A FROZEN CREW.—The X,cY,r Trii,;(e of
the 12th publishes the following from Chicago :
.

: "Lying in the river near the lighthouse is a vessel clot
from hull to topmast in a thick coating ot lee. She left this
port on the god of Meduher, hailed with 2tl,ooti bushels
of corn, sailing before a pleasant breeze, and with
every prospect of a successful voyage. Towards
night snow began to fall, and at dark a Ilene storm
of sleet br die upon the ve,sel, oNoing every rope
and sail with ice. With mat difficulty the top
rigging was secured, and then attempts were Made to take
In the frozen canvas. One sailor ran promptly aloft, Inn in
a short time was frozen stiff and motiomb.ss to the
cross-tree. in lowering hint to the deek the mate
and several men were badly frost-bitten. The insensible
man was revived a little by vigorous and long-co:dinned
rubbing with snow, bid his legs are so badly frozen that
Ids recovery is scarcely pcssible. The storm continued link
unabated fury, the iceelad vessel sinking deeper and deer or
as the waves washed over it. The course was changed for
Chiaago, where the vessel arrived on the evening of the ith.
Every Inenther of the crew, • !dicers RS Wen no Then, was Morn
or less frost-bitten, as each had taken his turn Mott to
watch for landmarks. As each came down he had to he
rubbed with snow to bring luck circulation to his b., inoleit
limbs. Allot the men are suffering int, ! ,
the exception of the one who was tint 1 . , • : 'Hy
injured. The barque, w Melt is named tic ; .is
sow having the ice stripped elf, after a hi.la Isot
up till opting.

- A FISHIONABLE QUARTER.-A corresp,-:eit
1
of the Sea Francieu Bulletin gives an account of a
recent visit to the California State Prison. He says
that room No. 3, occupied by about 40 whites (though
only 24ft. by Mt, and 9ft. high), is the most
attractive, and, indeed, the fashionable quarter of
the prison. Hero "two native Californians gave a
delicious duet on the guitar, and the Glee Club
followed with 'Come where my love lies dreaming r
and other familiar ballads, rendering the music in
good style. Lulr in the evening the occupants of
No. 3 held a ball, which was well attended. Some of
the prisoners were dressed in female apparel, with
Grecian bend, high-heeled shoes, and jute ad lib. Two
guitars a violin, flute, and triangle furnished excellent
music for these terpsichorean festiv kir., and an indivi-
dual of a retiring dispiAtion did the calling. The
writer did not ask the character of the crimes repre-
sented in the quadrilles, but could not help thinking
of the lines in Harte's ' Her answer to his letter'
' The time I went down the centre
'With the wan that shot Sandy /*Mee.'
_ _

At nine o'clock, the usual time, lights were extin-
guished, and the prisoner:s retired to their bunks."

A SINOrLAIL DIFFICULTY.—The Chicago Relief
Society are now hampered by a singular difficulty. It
is the absolute impossibility of obtaining in the mar-
kets of this country or Canada, or even Europe, a
sufficient quantity of the common articles of necessity,
particularly bedding, stoves, and blankets. The stores
of the United States Army have been drawn on, and
the Society has purchased every one of these articles
accessible in our own markets. But the supply never
was intended to meet such a sudden and overwhelmiw
demand, but was only calculated to replace the natural
wear and tear. Further contribute .us of these articles
would therefore be a genuine benefit, which would be
wisely applied.

- - -
AN INDUSTRIOtS YOUNG JORIC.—In any the
week of the year Mr. Poach would shudder at an epi-
gram in which the word Turkey was made to do orni-
thological, as well as geographical duty. But at
Christmas people's intellects are usually somewhat
dulled by the eelebiations of the season. So he per-
mits a wit to remark that "the Bibs of Beef at a
Christmas Dinner are a Joint Intssrvention in favour
of Turkey, to prevent its total dinuemberineut." Only
this once, mind.—Punr4.

THE SMALLEST ENcINE IN THE WORLD. —A
Boston (U.S.) paper says :

Mr. D. Buck, Jeweller, of Worceater, has built the smallest
Cllgille It, the world. It is made of gold aloi silver, and
fastened with screws, the largest I d %Melt is one-eightieth of
an inch in size. The engine, boiler, governor, and pumps,
Stand in a Space IieVCII-SlYteeldliS of an Inch square, and are
five-eighths of an inch high Perhaps a better Idea of Its
smatititw Jay saying that the • hide affair
Inlay ne completely covered by a coitillo/11 LdloeS thimble.
The crijdrme alone weighs but fifteen grains, ate! yet every
pert is complete, as 'nay be seen lay a micros, opie erarmina.
than ; anal it ntay be set ili Moth.nr lit tilling 60,, with
water and ng applying heat, bei sapid ed with all valves, ttc.,
to he found upon an ordinary upright engine. To attempt
an estimate of its power would seen] like rather small busi-
ness, but for a guess, a span of well-fed fleas would furnish
more force if they were properly harnessed anal shoal. Thu
little thing would tug away several minutes if encouraged by
• drop of water heated by the application of a limit finger.
BREAciI 01 PROMISE CASE.—On Tuesday, in
the Court of Session, Edinburgh. before the Lord
Justice, clerk and a jury, acme was heti il, in which
Mrs. Asher, a widow re,iding in Gle-gow, tlaimed
13,000 from Mr. John Rennie, a retin .1 merchant in
Glasgow, for breach of promiseof marriage. This was
the second trial of the case, a verdict !going been re-
turned, in the beginning f Noventb, last, for the
defendant. That verdict was net adle I.y the t 'ourt as
being contrary to the evidence. and a new trial was
granted. At the close of the hearing of the cane,
the jury unanimously returned a verdict for the
plaintiff, assessing the damages at 5:75t.1.
THE KING OF CATS ISO Moue. !—A meta -
choly death is reported in the Scotch papers. An
immense cal, the property of a hairdresser in Princes-
street, Edinburgh, breathed his last a few days ago.
This animal was, it is stated, one of the sights of
Edinburgh, was a model of beauty, and was the king
of eats. So highly was he esteemed by his fellow-
citizens that he was not permitted to take part in the
cat show the other day in London, it loving considered
that, in consequence of his extreme obesity, the jour-
ney would prove too fatiguing for hint. Maud a
month ago he began to show signs (it !ruling health,
and was removed from the shop to the prwate residence
of his owner, in the hope that change of air might
prove beneficial. These hopes, unfortunately, were not
realised His illness increased daily, and it wars found
necessary to call in the ait of three veterinary sur-
geons, who, for the last few days of his life, prescribed
a teaspoonful of port wine to be taken every quarter
of an hour. All that skill and science could do for
him was done, but it wars of no avail; he died last
Tuesday, aged fifteen years and a half. A post-mortens
examination revealed the fact that too much fat wee
the actual cause death.