biglam/hmd_newspapers huggingface dataset:
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

THE GUEST HOSPITAL, DUDLEY.

Mr. Charles Cochrane, of the Grange, Stourbridge,
presided, on Tuesday, at the annual meeting of the
above institution, and there was a moderate atteudance
of subscribers.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

RHYMES FOR TIMES.

Mem. for a poet who wants a verse :
When a man's christened he wants a nurse;
When he is married he wants a purse;
When he is buried he wants a hearse.—Fun.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

A HINT TO ROSE GROWERS.

An Austrian gardener has, according to the
Gardener's Chronicle of last week communicated to the
Wiener Gartenfreund a new and improved method of
propagating trees, and budding roses. At the begin-
ning of July he preppes beds for cuttings in the open
air, and covers them two inches deep with manure from
an old hotbed. Taking off the lower leaves he sticks
in the cuttings obliquely, at about two inches distance
from one another. Each bed when filled is surrounded
with a lath fence, so that shade may be given when the
sun is very hot, and the cuttings are well watered in
with a rose sprouted can. This completes the opera-
tion. The only further care necessiary is a sprinkling
overhead three or four times a day during the first week,
if the weather be very hot, and once a day afterwards.
In the course of five or six weeks, treated in the
manner indicated, the cuttings of most things will have
formed a callus, and further shading will be unneces-
sary. By this means it is claimed that in the next
spring the cuttings will be as far advanced as two year
old plants from ordinary spring or winter cuttings.
The new method of propagating roses is the insertion
of growing eyes early in spring, instead of dormant
eyes in the summer. They are inserted in the main
stem one on each side, to form symmetrical heads.
These make, it is said, as much growth the first season
as the dormant eyes the second season. The advantage
of such stimulus given to the stock of market gar
deners, and the gain to be derived by them from saving
a year's rent on the growth of trees and roses must be
obvious.—Standard.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

HOLLOWAYSLS

For all Liseasts (i.e t( ( 1 .
Kidneys, and Bowels.

These Pills can be -confidently recommended as the
most simple and certain remedy for all diseases affecting
Ike stomach, liver, and bowels. They do not distress
Igie system, or weaken the frame, but thoroughly invigo-
sate the digestive organs, gently excite the stomach and
aver, stimulate:the kidneys to perform their functions
aficiently, and act upon the bowels without griping or
Say other annoyance.

Diseases peculiar to Women .
There is no medicine equal to Holloway's Pills for cor
iscting the ailments peculiar to females. Their very
Wald and painless action highly recommends them to
every household, as they may be taken with safety for
say irregularity of the system. Any mother, nurse, or
roan g person, guided by the directions which accompany
sash box of Li ;iloway's Pills, has at once available means
for checking di,ease, purifying the blood, and expelling
(tom the system all gross humours.
Weakness, Languor, and Debility.
These famous Pills will immediately remove all symp.
Some of debility, languor, and weakness, no matter the
Gauge, as they quickly eject all impurities from the
system, give toae and energy to debilitated constitutions,
and brace and strengthen the nervous system in a mos
wonderful manner.

Biliousness ,Loss of Appetite, and Lowness of
Spirits.

The Pills effect a wonderful change in persona subject
tobilious attack, as they create a healthy appetite, cor-
rect indigestion, remove excess of bile, and effectually
cure jaundice, bilious remittents, and all the varietics of
disease generated by an unhealthy condition of the liver
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

ON THE 100-TON GUN.

They lay that Armstrong's latest gun
In war will cause seine dim fatality;
And England owns (now for a pun)
That Spezzia has her Spezzia-ality.—Judy.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

EFFICIENCY OF OUR VOLUNTEERS.

The Daily News says :—" According to all accounts
the numbest; of our Volunteers have not decreed
during the present year. The annual returns made to
the War Office by commanding officers are sent in at
the beginning of November, sad so far there is every
reason to expect an augmentation rather than a de-
crease in our citizen army. Last year there was a
total of 168,750 men of all ranks who had acquitted
themselves to the satisfaction of the War Office, and
had earned the capitation grant, a larger number
than had qualified for four years past. Of these
128,669 were infantry, and 31,823 artillery, the
remainder being Volunteer engineers or mounted
riflemen. In 11,71, however, there were, it seems,
as many as 170,600 efficient Volunteers ia this
country, but since that time the War Office has
been more exacting, and requires a greater
amount of work from the men before an efficiency
certificate is granted. Nowadays a Volunteer has
Los merely to !rove himself an adept at drilj and to
attend annually a fired number of parades, but he must
be a skilful shot, or at any rate do his utmost to l'ecome
one. If he has shown himself to be a marksman, the
War Office does not then require him to toil at the
butts day after day; but if he happens to be only a
poor hand at a rifle, then it is necessary for him to fire
away no less than sixty rounds at target practice in
order to prove that at any rate it is no fault of his if he
cannot hit the bull's-eye occasionally. It is only in
these circumstances that he is awarded a certificate
which entitles the corps he belongs to to draw the
sum of thirty shillings on his account. &rgeants
and officers who make themselves specially pro-
ficient earn a further sum of fifty shillings annually
for their regiments, and of these, according to
the last return there were no less than 15,000, of whom
5,000 were Officers and the remainder sergeants.
These we may cmsider, one and all, perfectly compe-
tent to discharge military duties and to take command
of the men under them, for the extra certificates are
only granted after a searching examination of the in-
dividual's capacities. A volunteer officer to qualify
and earn fcr himself the distinction of having a P. or
P.S. put after his name in the "Army List," must be
approved by a board of army officers,, while sergeants
have to undergo an ordeal of a similar characthr before
we
hee adjutantthe
assurance,an d
thereforeConarnan
d thati,n gh
officer.te Nut only havemen
o
t
168(117 1350 m
our volunteer army are efficient, tut that they are
commanded by sergeants and officers who know their
duty."

Mr. Gladstone having been asked to present a depn-
tat', n to the Qitetn on the subject of agricultural labourers'
gri procuring for
them replits that he has DO means ot
them any special access to the Queen. Bo fax as he knows
they can only transmit their memorial to the Home Secre-
tary.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

- SAUCE
IT ECLIPSES ALL THE CHEAP fq.IJOILS.
TAY rk. ~; • -
In bottles atfid., le. and SU:wk.

MAXIMACTIIIIRD BY
CHARM; MORRIS, READING
and toldotaa. by all WOW/ and Mau.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

THE STORM IN PORTUGAL.

A Lisbon Correspondent, writing on the lith inst., Says:—
" Por many years there has not broken over Lisbon
811,eb a storm as that which commenced with a gale of
Wind on Saturday evening and strengthened into a
nurricants after midnight, reaching its highest intensity
between one and two on Sunday morniug. The river ,
rose rapidly under the force of the tempest, ships,.
e°4l/nenced to drift, lighters were sunk, boats were
dashed against the quart, and cries, whistles, and
algnala of distress were everywhere heard on the water.
The scene, which was rendered more terrible by thunder
end lightning, was not one soon to be forgotten. The
BiglaalB at the Royal Arsenal indicated all Saturday
the approach of a storm, but, unfortunately, on the
l'agus there are no docks of refuge with the
exception of one or two, both small and inadequate
and boats, Lighters, and vessels are exposed to great
danger. The rain fell in torrents, and still continues.
Many houses in. exposed situations have been inun-
dated, and in some cases the inmates have fled. Some
country roads are flooded, and carriages are axle deep;
Walls have been washed away, crops destroyed, and cn
the Riba Tejci many fields are under water. A thunder-
bolt fell in the R3yal Arsenal, but did no dsmage be-
Pond the fright caused to the inmates, and two bolts
f!ll on the Serra do Monsanto. Unfortunately several
'lves were lost on the river, and it was pitiful to hear
on the quays the cries and lamentations of relaiives
aucl friends. In the Church of St. Paul corpses
'fere exposed for identification. The view of the
".ver and the look out seaward as morning broke
was grand and imposing. On all sides wreckage
Was ; the masts of lighters sticking up here and
there, and the debris of broken boats, vessels with top-
and booms gone, and the waves running like
°-ean rollers, and breaking against the sea walls,
covering.iie the spectators with spray. The frigate Dom
7*nando broke away from her moorings and drifted
l'w1:1 the river; the Norwegian bargue Abbot drove
:gainet the railway pier. The brig Courier, of the
F3'sle nationality, ealt laden, was abandoned and in a
inui,ihiag condition; and the damage to shipping and
Of Property are lamentable. About thirty lighters
007.„8,11. nk- Several from tike Liverpool steamer
r"tan are under water, AIM are said to contain
,:trniable merchandise, all of which must be lost or
"e"°aslY damaged.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

ADMIRAL ELLIOT ON THE NAVY.

At the annual meeting of the ?supporters of the
Portsmouth Royal Sailors' Home, Admiral George
Elliot, bommander-in-chief, who presided, in the course
of his speech said it was his duty to attend and
encourage as far as he could an institution of this
description. He perhaps had more experience, in his
position as commander-in-chief, of the effect of sailors'
homes and of the moral elevation of seamen of late
years than any person in the land. All the reports came
to him from day to day, and be saw what went on as
regarded the conduct of the seamen of that port, and
he was convinced that their character had immensely
imoroved. It was an old idea, which was still abroad,
that as they elevated the seaman he would become a
worse sailor or fighting man. Doubts were thrown out
by some as to whether educating and elevating seamen,
aa they had been and were still doing, and in fact giving
them greater comforts and indulgences of every kind,
was not likely to tend to injure their character should
they become in peril of war. He (Admiral Elliot) was
perfectly convinced in his own mind that if England
were brought into antagonism with a foreign power
to-morrow the superiority of their seamen and officers
over those of other nations would be proved to be as
great as ever it was in days of yore. (Applause.) He
believed them to be more scientific, and to have a
more thorough knowlelge of the weapons they had to
use, and that their moral elevation would give them
increased courage in their day of trial. Now-a-days
boys were taken and educated and trained with the
greatest care. It had been proposed, and he hoped
would be carried out, that the moment a young sea-
man was rated •as ordinary be should be eli-
gible for the good conduct badge, to encourage him
from the day of leaving the training ship to look
forward to the fruits of good conduct. Unfortunately,
he was bound to say that if there was one
blot on the conduct of seamen it existed amongst those
between the ages of nineteen and two or three and
twenty. It was those young men who were released
from the thraldom and restraint of the discipline of a
training ship, and who were thrown suddt-nly into the
life of a seaport, who forgot themselves. He had been
endeavouring to trace the origin of this, and to devise
preventive measures, and he had hoped that to a certain
degree changes would be made in that direction, and
that they might be successful. But he looked to the
older seamen of the fleet, who they knew were well
conducted, by their example and teaching to persuade
the young ordinaries to behave themselves better than
they did, and especially to repress the evil habit of
swearing. He appealed to the older seamen to join
with the officers in maintaining good order and dis-
cipline, and lessening to the utmost extent possible the
necessity for punishment.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

BROMSGROVE.

BOARD OF GUARDIANS.—The fortnightly meeting was
held on Tuesday, Mr. Reason in the chair.—The Chair-
man read a letter from the National Association for the
Promotion of Social Science, stating that a conference
would be held on the 6th proximo, when papers by Mr.
%V. Layton Lowndes and Mr. J. R. Holland would be read
and discussed, on the following subject Can this
conference agree to recommend to placed, either by reg-
ulation or by order of the Board, on the administration
of out relief ?" The chair will be taken by Mr. C. S.
Read, M.P.—A letter was read from the Local Govern-
ment Board stating that through the indisposition of
Mr. Knott, district auditor, Mr. J. R. Stanhope Knott,
barrrister, of the Middle Temple, had been appointed
temporarily to perform the duties—The Chairman ex-
pressed his sorrow at not being able, through illness and
other causes, to take his seat regularly at the Board,
but said he had attended the meetings of the Chamber
of Agriculture at N) orcester and the Central Chamber in
London and supported resolutions for the adoption of
County Boards, two-thirds of the members to be elected
by Boards of Guardians and one-third by Courts of
Quarter Sessions.—There were three candidates for the
office of porter, but as they were not present the matter
was adjourned.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

OLD HILL.

BRUTAL ASSAULT CASE.—At the Police Court, On
Wednesday, before Messrs. N. Hingley and W. Bassano,
George Maund was charged with assaulting Pollee-con-
stable Hicklin, at Tividale, on the 11th mat, and was
further charged with wilfully damaging Hicklin's cloth-
ing to the extent of gl Os 4d.—The officer stated that
he was called into the Brown Lion, Tividale, to eject
defendant. He put him out twice when defendant struck
him, blackened his eye, cut his face, bit his thumb, and
tore his clothing to the extent of £1 Os 4d.—Defendant
was sentenced to three months' hard labour, without the
option of a line,
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

THE INDIAN MIISSULDIANS AND THE
TURKS.

"A Mahomedan gentleman, on whore judgment
and knowledge I place (says the Calcutta correspon-
dent of The Tinto) much reliance, tells me I have
done injustice to the Indian Muesulmans in assert.
ieg that the bulk of them know little and care less
about Turkey. He alleges that there is a deep
feeling of sympathy with Turkey among the people,
and the present movement is by no means the work
of agitators. A declaration of war to protect
Turkey would, he rays, make England most
popular with her Mahomedan subjects, and he assures
me that Shias and Sunnis are both eager to render
assistance. Perhaps his own enthusiasm may have led
him unintentionally to over-estimate the populer feel-
ing, but, even allowing for that, I am now inclined to
believe that the feeling is, at least in Southern India,
more deeply seated than I had imagined."
The Calcutta Committee has collected a oonsiderable
sum, and has adopted an address to the Queen praying
her Majesty to continue a policy of friendliness to-
wards the Sultan whom it describes as the recognised
religious head Of forty millions of her Majesty's
subjects.
The lioneer states that the Indian Government
is preparing to despatch a strong contingent to Egypt
If war be declared in Europe, and that General Sir
Edwin Johnson will probably have the command.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

MR. GLADSTONE AT LIVERPOOL.

The Liverpool Albion says :—" Mr. Gladstone, on
t\e occasion of his vi,it on Friday night to the Theatre
Royal, stated to the boskeeper that it was just 50
years since he last paid it a visit. That was before he
wrote his essay on Church and State. Mr. W. H.
Pennington, formerly one of the tapers in the nth
Hussars, and who claims special honour as having taken
part in the memorable charge of the Light Brigade at
Balaklava, but who has now adopted the stage as his
profession, has during the last fortnight been fulfilling
an engagement at the Theatre Royal. Mr. Penning-
ton is, so to speak, a proage of Mr. Gladstone. Years
ago this artist's talent was brought under the right hon.
gentleman's notice 2 who gave him kindly encourage-
ment and support in the avocation upon which he had
entered ; and when it was intimated to Mr. Gladstone
that Me. Pennington was to take his benefit at the
Theatre Royal on Friday night, he at once generously
intimated his willingness to give his patronage and
his attendance on the occasion. This fact having be-
come pretty generally blown, the theatre was crowded
by a most enthusiastic audience, who assem-
bled not only to support the benejleiaire, but also to
give his illustrious patron a hearty welcome. Shortly
after seven o'clock, Mr. Gladrtone, accompanied by
Mrs. Gladstone, Mr. W. H. Gladstone, M.P., and
Mr. W. L. Gladstone, arrived at the theatre in a
private carriage from Court Hey, and on entering the
building was conducted to a private bo which had
Ilex?. specially reserved for the party. As soon as the
distinguished visitor was recognised, the audience
greeted him with hearty applause, which WAS repeated
eeveral times during the evening, and acknowledged
by the right hon. gentleman. Hamlet was chosen by
Mr. Pennington as the play in which to show his un-
doubted talent, and Mr. Gladstone and party evidently
took the liveliest interest in the generally excellent
performance. At the close of the play Mr. Pennington
melted 'The Charge of the Light Brigade,' which was
received with great applause. After this the right hon.
gentlemin left the theatre, and was greeted with
enthusiastic cheers by the large crowd which had
assembled to witness his departure."
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

The Kidneys—Their Derangement and Cure.

of these Pills be used according to the printed direction
sad the Ointment rubbed over the region of the kidneys
.rat least half an hour at bed time, as salt is forced into
eat, it will penetrate the kidneys and correct any de-
Ilangement. Should the affliction be storo or gravel, it
a particularly recommended that the Ointi—nat, in such
*axes, be used night and morning, as by its judicious ap-
plication the most astounding cures may be performed.

The Pill:. and Ointment are sold at Professor Homx-
IFAY's Establishment, 533, Oxford-st., London ; also by
aearly every respectable Vendor of Medicine throughout
She Civilised World, in Boxes and Pots, at is lid, 2s 91,
de 6d, lls, 225, and 33s each. The smallest Box of
Pills contains four dozen; and the smallest Pot of Oint-
ment one ounce.

Full printed directions are affixed to each Box and Pot
aid canbe had in any language,;even in Turkish, Arabic,
Armenian. Persian or Chinese '
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

PUBLIC FEELING IN RUSSIA.

The St. Petersburg correspondent of the Eastern
Budget, writing on the 15th inst., says :—" The Czar's
appeal to the patriotism of his subjects is being enthusi-
astically responded to by all classes of the population.
The idea of Russia solving by her own forces a question
which has baffisd the united efforts of all Europe for the
last twelvemonth is very flaterring to the national pride,
and at no period in Russian history has such perfect har-
mony beenmanifested between thepeople and the Crown.
Another great stimulus to the popular enthusiasm is
afforded by the fact that the Russian people are now
for the first time actively participating in the policy of
their government. This renders the task of the latter
far less difficult, for the whole Russian nation would
now accept the responsibility of war, and cheerfully
bear the sacrifices it would entail."

The Odessa correspondent of the Cologne Gazette,
writes under date of the 16th inst., that on that day
all public houses and places of amusement were to
remain closed until seven o'clock at night. Solemn
services were boing held in all Russian churches of the
city to call down the Divine blessing upon the Russian
arms.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

SATURDAY

Mold Argood Colliery Company, Mold," Pleusatly
surprised with the minute information."
Mac.onochie Brothers, Fish Factors, Lowestoft.
"Increase our subscription to One Hundred and Fifty
Pounds (050)."
Wallace, Bailey and Wilkins' Tanners and Currier',
160, Long Lane, Bermondsey, London, S.E.
"Information most securate—speedy.—Your Office tui-
qnestionably stands first. Increase our subscription to
Fifty round (£5O), Members 6 years.
Blade, John & Co., Boot and Shoe Manufacturers,
Worcester. "Increase our subscription to Twenty
Pounds (00)."
Briggs, Shera & Co„ Oak Works, Horncastle,
"In no one instance have we been deceived—correct—
reliable," _

Runde, and Palmeri, Biscuit Manufacturers, Reading,
" Spizeialite—most valuable in removing doubt as to real
positioa el parties.—Member 11 years."
Dewhurst, Hoyle and Smethurst, Colliery Owners,
Blackrod near Chorley and elsewhere.
"Where relied upon, your information perfectly safe in
orediting. Members 15 years."
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

ABSINTHE.

It is not very many years ago that a respectable
encyclopedist, while ignoring altogether the word
absinthe, gave the following account of the only
liquor which was known to him as being made of
wcrmwood. " Vinum absinthites," he says, "or
poculum absinthiatum, is much spoken of among the
ancients as a wholesome drink, and even as an
antidote against drunkenness." The ancients were
great physicians in their way, although it is the
fashion nowadays to disparage their merits in this
profession. They, at any rate, knew how to find
antidotes in many herbs and substances where we
can find nothing but bane; and absinthe was clearly
one of those substances
.whose primitive virtue has
now degenerated into a vice. The amount of mischief
done by the praetice of absinthe-bibbing in the Paris
restaurants is estimated by the most competent judges
at an appalling total, and no one hesitates to attribute
to over-indulgence in it a large proportion of the cases
received into French lnnatic asylums. A physician
attached to one of these asylums has just published a
work in which he gives the result of his experiences
respecting the injurious effects of the fashionable
drug, and specially compares its operation with that
of a beverage which should by ancient right possess
opposite qualities. The liquid which is thus dis-
honourably connected with absinthe is no other than
alcohol. Experiments which have been made on
certain dogs show that the difference bstween the
two drugs redounds no longer to the credit of the
" abainthiated draught," The effect of the injection
of pure brandy into one of the unlucky animals was
that it fell shortly to the earth in a profound stupor,
dead drunk, while his comrade, into whose veins
essence of absinthe had been infused, was seized with
terrific attacks of violent epilepsy. It is clear that the
treatises on poison, which have already included alco-
hol in the toxicological list, must. find a place in their
rages for the green extract said in French cafés. A
drug which was once reconpnended to drunkards as a
corrective, and was accordingly scrupulously shunned
by them, is now held up to their delectation as a rival
of their worst foe. And the. consequence is that it
obtains almost i
as many votaries as f it were the elixir
vike after which the "ancients " so vainly sought.
Globe.

During the last month or two there has been a very
rapid rim in the price et mar?
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

THE GREAT INCREASE OF THE
TOWN OF CREWE,

Some curious and interesting statistics have just
been published relating to the town of Crewe, whi h
may he described as virtually a railway colony (remarks
the Standard). Crewe is the s.at of the railway works
of the London and Nerth-Western Company, who
not only provide work for nearly the whole of, its.
inhabitants, but study their social and intellectual
interests. Thirty years ago the population of the
town only numbered some two hundred souls;
fifteen years ago the number had risen to twenty-
four thousand. Crewe is now an excellent work-
men's city, possessing a mechani34' institute, . baths
and washhousee, churches and chapels, and a 'savings
bank. All these have been instituted through the
instrumentality of the railway company, who have
also built cottages for the workmen, which are let out
at moderate rents. The workmen's children are edn-
eated in three great national schools provided by the
company, and when the sons of workmen have grown
' up sufficiently they are allowed to become apprentices
to the company without premium. Altogether, Crewe
would appear to have almost solved the problem of a
model town. The railway company make the gas fcr
the town, and have brought water into it. They also
afford facilities to their workmen for acquiring the free-
hold of the houses in whi oh they live, and as they allow
no public-houses to be erected on any part of their
property, there is every opportunity afforded for the
thrifty workman to become a good, moral citizen,
educated beyond the majority of his class, and with
some prospect of securing an independency for old age.
At the meeting of the Mechanics Institute last week
a great number of prizas were distributed, including
nine' y-five prizes and t o hundred and one certificates
given by the Science and Art Department—facts
demonstrating a satisfactory amount of intellectual
activity amongst the. working classes. Five pupils
of the InJitute have at various times obtained Whit-
worth scholarships, and seven are now pursuing their
studies at Owen's College, at the Royal College
of Science, Dublin, and at South Kensington: The
workmen of Crewe have £lOO,OOO deposited in the
savings bank, and at the meeting' referred to many
other facts were cited equally -to their provident and
intellectual reputation. The institutions at Crewe
may well be pointed to with pride by the London and
North-Western Railway Company, and their example
might with profit be imitated in many other villages
.and towns in the United Kingdom by the great em-
ployers of labour.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

PANIC IN A CHINESE THEATRE.

'The American mail brings particulars of the panic
in a Chinese theatre in,San Francisco and the loss of
19 lives, on the night of the 30th of Octob:r. ta
benefit performance was being giv.en at the Ec:eal
China Theatre, Jackson-street. More than 3,000
Chinamen and women, it was computed, were present.
Only two or three white men attended. About tw‘lve
o'clock some matting in the gallery caught fire from
the sparks of a cigar, and a panic ensued. Some 25 or
30 men from the lower part of the house reached the
door first, but they were almost simultaneously over-
whelmed by the crowd pouring down from the gallery.
The doors, which were 6ft. wide, were closed, but wan
afterwards the massive floor fell in, crushing several
persons. The staircase, too, gave way.. The noise and
the shrieks of the persons below increased the alarm
of those within, and the terrified Chinese rushed
liked madmen to the entrance, trampling and
crushing everybody in their way. The actors upon
the strge, ignorant of the cause of the panic, continued
their performance, and this had the effect of calmi g
many of the audience who otherwige would have Joined
In the flight. The passage of the dense crowds throuili
the entrance, and the shrieks of the crushed and dying,
attracted the attention of the police, who, having ob-
taieed assistance stopped the panic stricken crowd by
freely striking the Chinese on their heads with their
batons, and the remainder inside, realising that the
danger in the theatre was at an end (the burning had
been put out without difficulty by one man) fell back
and checked their frantic companions. When safety
was repssurred, 19 bodies were taken from beneath the
door and the broken stairway, and several persons
were found seriously injured. Death had in many
instances been caused by suffocation, but several of the
bodies bore marks of violence. The news of the panic(
having spread, a crowd of more than 1,000 Chinese
men and women lined Jackson-street, their lamenta-
tions mingling with the agonizing shrieks of the dying.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

THE LIFE OF A SAILOR.

In a leader noticing the recent storms and disasters at sea,
The Times remarks :

Any week of disasters at sea reminds us, not merely
of the inevitable perils of the sea, but also of the
national importance it is to us that they should not be
intensified by any falling-off in our supply of good
material for sailors. No doubt the life is in several
ways less attractive now than it used to be. Partly
because men are growing almost daily more keenly
sensitive to physical annoyances, partly becans other
professions are competing more •briskly, the sailor's
life is losing some of its old charm, and there are
signs in abundance that its new recruits are not
always drawn from the most desirable classes. . . . In
spite of all that can be said, and truly said, against it,
the sailor's life is still chosen for itself by many who
have other careers equally open to them. Whether it be
from the love of adventure for its own sake, or from the'
Influence of old traditions, or from acme powerful
undefined sense of a vocation, certain it is that, from
some cause or other, life at sea is in some men's eyes a
thing to be desired on its own account, and one which
it is worth any effort and any sacrifice to obtain. Its
occasional privations and the monotonous round of its
day's duties can never be pleasant, and must be often
hard to go through. Its positive dangers themselves
are, to a landsman's apprehension, deterrent, but at
least the sailor escapes many of the more chronic dun-
gers that abound on land. A medical Report on the
comparative unhealthiness of manufactures would go
far towards showing that, as a matter of sober cal-
culation, the seemingly perilous life of the sailor is
in reality by no means the worst secured. But
in whatever degree life at sea may be neces-
sarily unsafe, such an objection to it is, of all
'others, the least likely to be felt by the .stout-bearted
class it concerns. It is not by tales of wrecks and
storms, such as have filled our columns during the past
few days that new recruits will be frightened off.
They will demand, and reasonably demand, that in
every department of sea life, in the Royal Navy no less
than in the Mercantile Marine, proper care shall be
taken for their safety; but when this has been done
they will be ready enough, if only fair terms are
offered them, to face the dangers that must remain.
We have plenty of this good stuff still among us, and
we have received warnings enough lately that we might
do well to pay attention to it and to rely upon it more
exclusively.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

LYE.

CIIIRCE OF INDECENT ASSAULT.—At the Stourbridge
Police Court, on Tuesday. before J. E. Swindell, Esq.,
Benjamin Chapman was charged with committing an
indecent assault upon Emma Gordon, on the 15th inst.
—The assault was proved 'and defendant committed to
take his trial at the next Worcester Sessions.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

A BIRD CHARMER.

A Correspondent of the Court Journal writes :—I
witnessed the other day one of the celebrated sights
of Paris of which I have often heard before, but never
had seen. Crossing the Tuileries Gardena on one of the
late mild days, my attention was attracted by an in-
tense commotion among the sparrows which abound in
that locality. They were chattering and flying to and
fro, and finally collected in swarms at a single point.
There I saw the cause ef their agitation, the well-known
bird charmer of the Tuileries Gardens. She is a person
of about thirty years of. age, pale, very black hair,
dressed in the deepest mourning, and wearing no bonnet.
She was surrounded by birds that hopped and perched
right at her feet, or flew circling round her head; appa-
rently without the slightest fear. She would hold out
a bit of bread, and instantly three or four would hover
around it with rapid whirring wings, like humming
birds around a flower, some perching on her fingers,
while others would peck at the coveted morsel on the
wing. Then she would throw crumbs into the air,
which would be adroitly caught by the swiftest winged
birds before they reached the ground. A shower of
crumbs brought the little creatures to her feet like
chickens, nor did the presence of the bystanders, that
soon collected in great numbers, appear to terrify her
proteges in the least. They seemed to feel perfectly
secure while in the presence of their benefacteress. She
walked slowly on, followed by hundreds of the eager,
fluttering, chattering birds, and I lost sight of her in a
distant walk. lam told that she sometimes site down,
and that the sparrows will then perch all over her, and
will get into her lap and eat bread from her apron. No
one knows who she is. She never speaks to any one,
and pays no attention to anybody or anything, except
her beloved birds, which she feeds daily throu;hout
the winter.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

CRADLEY.

ENTERTAINMENT.—A. lecture and entertainment took
place in the New Town Schools, on Tuesday evening
last. The room was crowded. The subject of the
lecture was Turkey and the War. The lecturer, Mr.
Archer Clarke, a Stourbridge, who illustrated by the aid
of tho Lime Light and the phantasmagoria Lantern.
An approved form of apparatus over our old friend the
magic lantern of our youth, were interspersed by war
songs &c., sung by members of the congregation Some
excellent songs were w,rll rendered during the evening
The proceeds would go to the school prize fund.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

ADTICT TO I/urn:Ansi—Are you broken in yout
teat by a sick child suffering with the pain of cuttiug
teeth? Go at once to a chemist and get a bottle of
Mts. WINSLOW'S SOOTIIING SYRUP. it Will relieve
the poor sufferer immediately. It is perfectly harm•
lees and pleasant to taste, it Produces natural,
Quiet sleep, by relieving the chila from pain, and the
little cherub awakes "&a 'aright Iva button." It
Soothes the child, it P.:Atoms the' gums, allays all
pain, relieves wind. kegulates the bowels, and is the
Lest known ren,...3dy for dysentery and diarrhcef.
whether arisir4 from teething or other causes. lilt
Wilulow's Soothing Syrup is sold by Medicine dealers
everywhere at is lid per bottle.-31anufactuee4 is
lite/ qork. and at 493 Oxiord-ethreet4 Loudon.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

-

itab pistrict 'getvs.

BURIAL BOARD.

A meeting of this Board was held on Wednes-
day last.
Mr. J. B. Shepherd in the chair. Thcre were
also present Messrs. King and Platt.
Ihe minutes of the last meeting were read and
confirmed.

The Architect attended the Board and reported
the result of his communication with Oakey and
with other men of the same neighbourhood, lie
was instructed to make arrangements either with
them or Price of Basbury, and not to give more
than 4s per yard. The Architect reported that
80 loads of stone had been got within the last
fortnight, which had been weighed and trucked.
The Architect said the work at the Quarry was
going on to his satisfaction. The road at the
Cemetery was progressing, nearly two-thirds was
done. The hut was nearly completed.
Cheques to the amount of £37 4s was drawn
and signed, •.. . _

_
_ -
At the next meeting the Architect was requested
to produce plans of the Cemetery chapels and
lodge.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

TALLOW.

B. d. ..
I B. d.
Town Tallow, per ewt. 43 6 Itlugh Stuff, per owl.. 15 6
Rough Fat, per Blbs .. 1 10i Greaves 9, 14 0
Melted Stuff, per cwt SO 6 Good Dregs ~ 6 0.
Yellow Rusdan, new .... lis, 9d. per cwt.
Austriatan Mutton Tallow 445. W.
Ditto Beet Ditto 425. 91. ~
HAY.

WiIITECRIPEL, Saturday, Nov. la—There was a moderate
supply of hay and straw on sale here to-day. With a rather
dull trade prices were unchanged. Prime clover, 100 a. to
1351. ; inferior, 8.55. to 95t. Prime meadow hay, 90z. to Ms. ;
inferior, 555. to 755. Straw, 40z. to 481. per load.

ro TATO E.
There is still a great deal of disease among the potatoer,
and consequently anything good moved off without difficulty,
at full quotations: Kent regents, 1001. to 130 s. ; Essex ditto,
701. to 120 s. ; rocks, 60i. to 801. ; flukts, 120 s. to 170 x.
Yiatorias, 90s. to 1655.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

Bell Brothers, In:rimesters, Middlesboro'. " Very
satisfactory—have availed ourselves for 10 years or more.'
John Snowdon, Paint Manufacturer and Oil Merchant,
South Shields. Your Telegram received, and very
much obliged to you for your prompt reply—They won't
get an ounce of stuff from me. Yours drc.
Swann, J. E. and Brothers, Ironmasters, Middlesboro'
and Glasgow, "Satisfactory."
Bissell, James, and Son, Birchill Iron Works, Walsall.
" Great Value."
Darlington Forgo Company. "Prompt replies—ap-
prove of the Confirmatory style adopted."
Lackenby Iron Company, Middlesboro'
"Conscientiously recommended. Members 8 years."
Darlington Waggon Company, Darlington.
" Prompt—reliable information—various sources."
Stanbridge, Sydney, Esq., Maltster, Camberwell,
London, S.E. " Charges are higher than any other
office, but the results justify the additional outlay."
Oldroyd and Sons (Limited),Dewsbury. "Reliable."
Hudson, Sykes and Bousfield, Leeds, •' Satisfied with
the thoroughness of the manner you answer Continental
inquiries."
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

SEED.

LOrDoN, Monday, Nov. 20.—There was a moderate supply
of English Cloverseed ; fine red samples were disposed of at
very high prices. Foreign qualities generally were enhaneed
In value, with a good sale. White parcels brought the ex-
treme prices of last week. Trefoil was In good request, and
floe samples were again dearer. White Mastardseed reslissd
previous values for good qualities. Brown parcels, Dutch
as well as English, were still held too high for the views of
the large buyers Grass-teeds brought fully as much money
as previously, with a good sale. Winter Tares sold slowly
for seeond sowing, at moderate palms. Fine English Rape.
seed was fully as dear, and in fair request.

pO VISION.
LONDON, Monday, Nov. 20.—The arrivals last week from
Ireland were 804 firkins Butter and 4,60 bales of Bacon, and
from foreign ports 27,422 paskages Butter and 1,465 bales
Bacon. The Butter market ruled very itt, influenced by the
mild damp weather, and foreign generally has declined 6s.
to 10s. per cwt., Normandy/1 varying from 110 s. to 1525.,
according to qualities and repute et brands; beat Dutch
140 s. to 1441. The Bacon market ruled slow, and best
Irish deslined at the close of the week 2i. per cwt but there
was no change made In the price of Nombre'.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

"F IJ D GE!"

Orders have been given by the Czar for the mobilisa-
tion of part of the Russian army. Prince Gorts-
chakoff, in a circular to the Russian representatives
abroad, explaining the measure, gives his reason for
this course—viz., that the Czw "does not desire
war " ! A motive which agrees so admirably with the
step Prince Gortschakoff has undertaken to explain
will doubtless (?) be considered satisfactory by the
Powers of Europe; but one or two other reasons
(equally likely to be true) are here given, which will,
of course, be as much believed as the first. The
Russian army, then, has been put upon a war
footing—

Because the Czar has no idea of going to war.
Because he desires peace above all else in the Avorld.
Because it amuses the Russian soldiers to be
mobilised.
Because it amuses; the Czar to mobilise them.
Because the Turkish armies are disbanded, and the
Turkish soldiers gone to their homes.
Because the Russian soldiers have all new greatcoats,
and the Czar wants to see how they fit.
Because the last Turkish bonds were not paid to the
Engli3h bondholders.
Because the Servians—" oar brethren "—are all
heroes.
Because the English Arctic Expedition has not
reached the North Pole.
Because the Sultan has a lot of wives, and the Czar
has only one.
Because the territory presided over by the "Czar of
all the Russias" is limited, and he is perfectly
• content with it.
Because Christmas is coming.
There are a few more resii,ols, equally cogent ; but
enoughtlsihnag ths,oe si
f course, been
imraor
saidttiz
to preclude
n the .i eclindeanysceptic
frVicar
of Wakefield," and saying to both Prince Gortschakoff
and his Imperial Master, "Fudge I"—Judy.

In London, about twelve o'clock on Monday night,
a shocking suicide was witness, d by several persons passing
over Blackfriars Bridge. A well-dre!sed young man, appa-
rently about twenty-one years, mouuted on the recess near
the Surrey ride and leapt from the parapet tote the Thames.
The police on duty at the bridge communicated the fact to
the Superintendent of the Thames Police, when a boat's
crew commenced dragging for the body, but they failed to
mover 11;
I
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

THE LABOUR MARKET ABROAD.

There was a time when employers were ever and
again threatened with an exodus of their workpeople,
if they would not concede their demands (remarks the
Engineer). In the prosecution of this threat' union
funds were at one me spent somewhat freely. We
have knowledge of this in the iron trade; but the ill
reports which ironworkers usually sent home of their
altered condition in the good land, and the early return
of most of them, soon put a stop to the spending of
money in this fashion; and we now hear but little of
emTgration whenever disputes crop up affecting the
mechanical industries. Of this there should be no
surprise, when it is rethembered that from the United
States, which had at one time the reputation
of being the Paradise of labour, there have, in the
past two years, been more return emigrants of the
artisan class than was ever known; hardly a
Transatlantic steamer has arrived in Liverpool during
that time, which has not brought numerous passengers
of this sort. Lately, however, it has been the fashion
with a certain order of people to recommend
the British working man to make a home for
himself and family, not on the other side ef the
Atlantic, but at the Antipodes, where he would still
remain a subject of the Sovereign of the British
Empire. The progress sietich alike New Zealand and
Australia had made in civilisation was declared to leave
room there for handicraftamen and artisans as well as
mere diggers and delvers. It Is' not sufficiently known
that in following this advice many a skilled workman
who was doing fairly well in England has made a mis-
tako which he would now only too gladly retrieve if he
had the power but he is unable. Unhappily his family
suffer with him.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

ANTI-TURKISH ATROCITIES.

PARTIES there are cn words who play,
And pun like graceless knaves.
The Servians are no Serfs, they say ;
The Slave will not be Slaves.—Punch.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-25

HEOPS.

Rather a large business has seen lately passing in this
market, home growers having purzinted some considerable
supplies of Mid and East Kent hop produce. There has also
been a fair inquiry for 1876 hops. Some shipments of English
hops have been made to the Contineilt, and it is expected
that the bulk of the American exports will be forwarded to
the same destination. East Kent goldings. 1876, £6 to
£lO 15s. • Sussex, £6 to £8; Farnham!, £8 to £lO 106. ; ditto
country, to £10; Worcesters,' £9 to £ll Belgian, to
£6 es. •, English, 1075, £3 to £8 : foreign, £3 158. to £6 : old
hops, all kinds, 18s. to £3 101.
GAME AND POULTRY.
Pheasants, 2s. to 4s. ; black game, 2s. 6d. to Ss. 3d.: caper-
"orw
ditto, 2s. to 2s. 93 ; woodcock, 2e. 98. to 91 ; ay
cailz'e, Is. 81. to 7s. ; hares, 3s. to 4s. 4d..; white Scotch
ducks, 2s. to 2s. 6d. ; tame rabbits, is. 2d to 2s. ; wild
ptarmigan, is. 3d. to is. 81. ; grouse 2s. 3d. to 31. 9d. ; wild
ditto, 98. to 1,. 4d._ ,• turkeys, Gs. to S. ed. ; ditto hens, 4s. to
6des..etdo.
9,•
dg.osealinghs,;
3a.
adottio v7eLni.sponig,"B"2, Id. to is ; wild ditto.
to 10d. per lb.; larks,
is. 31 to is. ; and stints, is. to ls. 63. per dozen.
FISH.
Cod, £3 16s. ed. to £7 17s. per score; crimped ditto, 81. 6d.
tolls. each; soles, is. Si. to 4s. ed. per pair; whiting,
to 121. per basket; mackerel, 26. 6d. to Is. per dozen ; eels
sd. to 11d, per lb.; bloater., 4s. 9d. to 6s. per hundred ;
kippers, Is to 41. per box; turbot, 7s. Ed. to 173. ed each ,
lobsters, 12s 68. to ISSa. per dozen; crabs, 491. to 50s. per
kit; plaice, lt3s. to 221. per basket; red mullet, 611. to Si. per
score; kipper haddock, 805. to 425. Der barrel; native
oysters, £l2 to £l3 pee bushel; Dutch ditto, 6s. 68. to 121.
per hundred, .

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