The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-06-17 00:00:00

Our woribon ktorrespoubent.

[We deem It right to state that we do hot at all Wu, a
Identify ourselves with oar vorrespoutlent a opinion.. j

If unhappy, dismembered, shattered, and still
bleeding France can tide over her present difficulties
till the 2nd of next month, that will be an important
day in her history, seeing that that is the day fixed for
the supplementary elections to the National Assembly
Meanwhile political parties—and it 1. an unhappy
thing for France that she should be split up into so
many—are Intriguing for the advancement of their
several "platforme." as the Americans would say.
The Imperialists are evidently strong not only in the
Assembly but in the country at large, and especially in
the provincial districts, and the Imperial idea of com-
mitting the destinies of the country to a pbbiscite, •
vote of the whole people seetua fair in itself and also
appears likely to gain ground. But both the Legiti-
mist and the Orleanlst parties appear to be gaining
ground also, and if the elder and younger brandies of
the Bourbons can agree in terms by which the
"legitimate" claims of the one and the natural
aspirations of the other would lie gratiticd, their
united ',firths might prove dangerous alike to
Imperialist pretensions and to Republican sway. Ilut
_French politics remind one of a whirpool, a hurricane,
all ever-changing April day, and half-a-dozen other
things characterised by excitement, change, and un-
certainty. During the last century France bas been
all things by turns and nothing long —that Is long in
the history of nations—and whatever form of Govern-
ment she may next adopt is scarcely likely to secure
the confidence of Europe. England heartily wishes
well to her excitableneighbour, but as England wattles
her internal struggles, it is with sorrow and misgiving
mingled with hope.
I have taken considerable pains to endeavour to
ascertain the opinions of the working classes here,
relative to such gatherings as that which took place
last Sunday, on Clerkenwell Green, and although 1
do not pretend to be in any way their exponent,
I may modestly state my conviction that the
great mass of the working class is utterly op-
posed to such demonstrations. Of the opinion
of the upper and middle classes there can be
little doubt. The scene last Sunday wee as disgraceful
and contemptible as anything we have had in London
for years. The alleged object of the meeting was to
discuss a proposed demonstration in Hyde Park—of
wane on a Sunday— and to protest against the extra-
dition of foreign refugees. All Attempts to ascertain
what was decided failed me, but though no definite
conclusion was arrived at, I have no doubt that a de-
monstration In the Park, en Sunday the 25th, will be
attempted, unless Government previously prohibit it.
Much might be said for and against such prohibition,
And my own opinion is that Government owe it to the
country to forbid such a demonstration In favour of
the Communist., and that the nation at large would
heartily second such Ministerial firmness. We have
had more than enough of thoee dangerous demonstra-
tiona—and at such a time as this &Communist demon-
stration would be more dangerous than ever,
That miscellaneous entity which we call "everybody"
Is to be congratulated that the said everybody may sell
postage-stamps at the offices as heretofore, and the
. . . . .

„
Postmaster• General may be praised for having had the
wisdom to withdraw an unwise prohibition. But tbere
Is yet scope for further wisdom. His new money-order
system will be in some respects an improvement on the
old, but in other respects it will be comparatively die.
advantageous. He ought to give us a cheaper and lees
complicated plan than that proposed. And when, let
me ask, are we to have cheaper telegraphic messages'
Daring the week ending the 3rd inst., the number of
such messages was 202,049 ; during the correspond-
ing week of the previous year it was 191,44:1, thus show-
ing an increase of 10,600. This is so far satisfactory,
but the increase is very different from what it would
have been bad we uniform sixpenny telegraphic mes-
sages, as we were promised—some day. The Poet
Office, you will remember, declined to adopt a uniform
cheap rate at the time of taking over the business of the
companies, on the ground that the sudden influx of
business would be too much for the department. This
reason was universally admitted to be sound, but surely
the Post )1-tice has now had the telegraphs long enough
in hand to make the deeired change.
The enormous waste of bankrupts' estates through
the operation of the present laws and through the
delays and formalities of the Bankruptcy Court, are
well known, and I have heard it seriously argued that
there are more waste and extravagance now than
tinder the old law. Be this as it may the present state
of things reminds us too much of the old juke of the
Court taking the oyster and awarding plaintiff and de-
fendant a ahell each; and it is well perhaps that an
association has been formed for conducting bankruptcy
hominess much more speedily and cheaply than at
present, If this association can carry out its promises,
its operations will be • great boon to the trading com-
munity, One leading idea is to supersede estates being
thrown into bankruptcy at all. Whether such promises
can be realised remains to be seen.

There is a prospect of our some day or other having
a few statues of statesmen stuck up in various nooks
and corners in the precincts of the Houses of Parlia-
ment, but the prospect is not a particularly clear one,
and few people will care much about that. But visitors
to London next summer—when I say this I mean the
;summer of 1872—for the advent of that of 1871 seems
very doubtful—may see two additions to our stock of
statuary, at present rather a dirgrace than an honour
to the metropolis. There Is to be placed in the circus
at the west-end of the Holborn Viaduct a statue which,
judging from the model I saw the other day at the
artist's studio, will be exceptionally fine. It will be
an equestrian figure of the late Prince Consort. Ile
Is In military costume, and is in the act of saluting
the passers-by. This will have a pleasing and unconven-
tional effect. It is to be in broo se, but the sculptor, Mr.
Bacon, proposes that it shall be gilded! This will be
another novelty. Fancy an equestrian statue more than
tife-sizs, apparently in solid gold! There in also in the
same studio a model of another splendid work, a group
of statuary for the Thames Embankment—Edward the
Third, Queen Philippa, the Black Prince, Chaucer,
‘Viclif, An. I notice these works because they bid fair
to do something towards raising England's very sorry
reputation for her statues.
A di-ear-coat, lavender kids, and white neck-tie, are
articles that some of us very seldom have occasion to
employ; we are not very frequently called on to go to
the funeral of a friend—that is to say, to put on
mourning habiliments for one day only; and my
lady readers will admit that a bridal veil is not
often used in the lifetime of one person of the
feminine gender. And so there is some excuse
for an advertiser who spiritedly offers to lend
;any kind of dress that may be required, be it for
n wedding or a funeral, a ball or a christening, a court
e.,...,"tnu2y or a grand dinner. Very accommodating,
ll seeing that, although we have become a little
Iris etzeit„!aced than formerly in the matter of dresr,
these of the Le' -we of fashion which remain are still
Inexorable.
-

Though the weather of late has been anything but
favourable to travelling, people are beginning to think
ef their vacation rambles, and some of them have
already set out, numbers of persons having gone to
Faris to see—l was about to say the Ph, enix that has
arisen from the ashes, but that hackneyed classic
simile is a great deal too strong—Paris as it is after
the fearful havoc that the Communists have made.
The French capital will doubtless have an immense
number of English visitors this year, and the Hock of
tourists " up the Rhine "will probably be larger than
usual, owing to the enforced absence of last year. But
there is one permanent cause for people preferring conti-
mental to home travel, and that is the heavy charges
Ist our hotels compared to those of France and Ger-
mzmy. Some readers may dispute this, but, adding
the experience of many friends to my own, I am cer-
tain that the average charges at first-class English and
Scotch hotels are higher than those of the same class
In France, Germany, and Switzerland. It is a great
pity that this should be so. Oar hotel-keepers, lam
pe,-suaded, would find their account in the long run
in more moderate charges, while if anything could be
done to iniluce our middle and trading classes, who now
spend so roueh money abroad in travelling, to spend
some of this at home, the class below them would
materially benefit by it. Apropos of holiday travel-
ling, we are expecting a great influx of provincial
visitors during the Handel Fistival at the Crystal
Palace, the directors having arranged for excursion
prices on all the lines, and having, moreover, provided
numerous attractions over end above the charms of

this great trienniel musical gatLering. CertaMly no
period could be more favourable for a visit to the

metropolis.

.
All will be glad to hear that Mr. Spurgeon is lnit•
proving in health and contemplates the early resump-
tion of his ministerial duties. Ile has had a very
severe illness and from a very painful cau.ve, rheumatic
gout. Ile has been earnestly advised to desist from
preaching for a month or two, but his heart is in hie
work, and he has no intention of abandoning It just
yet. At one time, it may be remembered, the then
young preacher had several aristocratic hearers,
and more than one celebrated statesman frequently
went to hear him. This class of attendants havo Lung
wailed to patronise him—a deprivation for which, I
dare may, he cares nothing—but his congregations have
certainly not fallen off, tradespeople and the working-
class forming part of his hearers. By the way, what-
ever he or his congregation may think of Sunday
trading generally, they don't object to Sunday riding.
London cabmen and omnibus-drivers know "the
Tabernacle" am well as any place In London.