The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-11-04 00:00:00

CARRIAGE WINDOWS.

One of the excitements of railway travelling that
may occasionally enliven a long journey is a dispute
that may some day be known as the carriage window
question (says the Globe). It is one of the strongest signs
of modern civilisation that theproblem has not already
led to some notable quarrel. In a more chivalrous
age duels have been fought by the dozen upon far. more
trivial grounds than the question whether a window
should be opened or shut. In effect, the matter is
not so simple as at first eight it may appear. On
one of these wintry days, with a keen north wind
sweeping along, it is no joke to occupy a carriage
of which the windows are inexorably kept open
by the stalwart and hardy passengers who happen
to sit nextiao them. On the other hand, it may be
almost equally unpleasant to find the windows on each
side obstinately drawn up, and to feel assured that no
request, either mild or forcible will persuade the occu-
pants of the corner seats to let in a breath of air.
Happy are those travellers whose fate it has never
been to travel from Continental station to another
with windows and ventilators jealously guarded,
and the carriage filled with fat somnolent Germans,
devouring at intervals the sausage of the Father.
land. It does not appear that there are on the
generality of railways any positive rules or bye-laws
providing for the management of the windows. In
England, by a sort of tacit convention, the corner
occupant of the carriage who faces the engine is
allowed a discretionary power, and the company,
unless there its any strong reason to the contrary,
acquiesces in his decision as to having the window
"up" or "down." But it is obvious that such a rule
may be easily abused by any malicious or extra-selfish
person. The Paris Figaro, commenting on the conduct
of one of such individuals, suggests an expedient more
original than useful. It recommends the passengers
aggrieved by the opening of one window to turn the
tables on the aggressor by opening both, and mentions
a case where these tactics were pursued with the result
of punishing the offender by an attack of influenza.
The plan is something like that vulgarity called
"cutting off one's nose to spite one's face."

PEOPLE WHO COMMIT ATROCITIES
(Not a Hundred Mika round St. Paul's)
People who put their dirty boots on the seats of the
Underground Railway carriages.
People who enter the wrong side when taking their
tick ets.
People at foreign restaurants who alternately dip
their knives in their mouths and the salt cellar.
People who speak bad French in a loud voice to
waiters who perfectly underatand English.
People grumbling at foreign dishes who generally
live on c)id mutton at home.
People who buy alpenstocks with the view of showing
them off in their halls.
Too many, alas! of those connected with the thea-
trical profession.
All who say a word against the Ever Young and
Lovely Judy. —Judy.

THE FIREIT NATIONAL EXHISITION. The
Philidelphia Press thinks that King Ahasuerus orga-
nized the first national exhibition, quoting from the
first chapter of Esther to prove the point :—" In the
third year of his reign {about 519 years before Christ]
he made a feast unto all his princes and servants; the
power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of
the provinces being before him. Then he showed the
riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his
excellent majesty many days, even a hundred and four-
score days." The Press grows enthusiastic over the
fact that Ahasuerus' exhibition Was kept open 180
days, precisely the time fixed for the duration of the
Centennial show. The Press record is deficient in one
thine'. It fails to give the verdict of King Ahasuerus'
juries upon the pianos, rifles, sewing-machhw, steam-
engines, &c., of his Medo-Persian exhibition.
AITEMPE TO UPSET A TRAIN. —Two boys, of
the age respectively of eight and pine years, were
brought up at the Birmingham Police court on Mon-
day, charged with causing an obstruction upon the
London and North-Western Railway, by placing a
Piece of metal upon the metals near Nechells, on the
7th inst. A gentleman observed the prisoners place
something upon the rails, and a train gave a "great
jump!' as it, passed • the spot. Ha
•then ran up to the
boys and took from them a portion of a large ;eon
screw which they admitted having placed upon the
metals. The offence was not denied, but the parents
pleaded the youth of the children and urged that they
could not have known what they were doing. The
magistrates, taking all the circumstances into con-
sideration, let the youthful prisoners off with a caution
and a fine of ss. each, the parents promising to take
better care ot them lo Mersa