The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-10-07 00:00:00

Itlistellancous

HOME, FOREIGN, AND COUNIAL.

NEW STYLE OF ARCIIITECTURE.—Mrs. Mala-
prop has been staying in the country for a few days,
at an old-fashioned house, all over Gabriels, with
millions in the windows.—Peisch.
AMENITIES OF AMERICAN JOURNALISM.—The
Louisville Courier Journal says - " The report that a
Georgian is suspected ef cannibalism springs from the
fact, we presume, that 11fr. Stephens has been trying
to clam us up." Vhereupon the Chirafto Post retorts
with the following We submit that this effort does
not prove that Stephens is a cannibal. II only proves
that he is not a Jew."

POSTAL REDUCTION.—A very important re-
duction in the is:stage of letters came into operation on
Thursday. The half-ounce weight now elisappears
Iron: the postal scales, and the halfpenny stamp romes
into use for letters above an ounce weight. 'I he letter
postage will still be a penny, lint the penny stamp will
cover all letters not exceeding an ounce; while
only an additional halfpenny stamp will he re-
quireal for letters above one ounce and under two.
The following are the details of the new tariff :-
For a letter not exceeding 1 ounce, Id. ; exceed-
ing 1 ounce, but not exceeding 2 ounces, lL ; exceed-
ing 2 ounces, out not exceeding 4 ounces, 21. ; exceed-
ing 4 ounces, but not exceeding 6 ounces, 21.;
exceeding 6 cunce.,, but not exceeding S ounces, 3d. ;
exceeding s ,Since, but not exceeding 10 ounces, 31,1. ;
exceeding ten ounces, but not exceeding 12 ounce., 4d.
Thbi tariff is limited to twelve ounces, and letters
above that weight will be charged at the rate of a
penny MI ounce.

- -
A CoslMi,ilsT It ESURR ECTIoN. —A curious
case is, it is stated, likely to come before one of the
Versailles courts-martial shortly. It is of a young
man who was seized by the troops 1m their entry at
Auteuil as he was in the act of carrying ammunition
to the Federate gunners. He was tried at once,
sentenced to death, and shot. Seven balls struck him,
and he fell senseless, but as he made a movement a
soldier stepped up to him and gave him the final shot
in the head, the bullet passing through the face from
right to left, so that Le was supposed to I,e dead. How-
ever, a young surgeon, imagining that life was not
quite extinct, had the body removed to an ambulance,
and succeeded in accomplishing a cure. The executed
man is now rpilte well, but experiences some difficulty
in six:taking distinctly.
AMERICAN V. CAPE DlAMONDS.—Americans
hold that neither they nor their country can be sur-
passed in anything. We, (Anglo Ameriran MOPS')
have heard a great deal lof the diamond fields at the
I 'ape, but the champion diamond field has just turned
up in the Union. The Dakatian, of Yancton (Dakota)
says :--" A rough I liamond was found on the bank of
Jim river, and sent to an Eastern jeweller, who semis
back word that it is a genuine diamond of the first
water, and very valuable." It is mid a Yancton
jeweller values the stone at 100,000 dots.

MARPJAGE OF JEROME BONAPARTE PATTERSON.

A New York paper says :

Jerome Lonapaite. Vette-mon (old Jerome's grandson) has
just married one of Daniel Webster's granddaughters. The
lady is a widow of about 30 years of age, extremely beautiful.
nut,,, possession of great wealth. vile is the daughter of
Julia. Daniel Webster s only daughter. whodied after tivo years
of marriage. They say Jerome Patterson is about to Jar-
in state near Roston, and intends to invite his rm-
i,llunde uod aunt to pr.ss next summer with him. lie
,Iv 01,11,0 11141, than .wee I, aunt Eugi,e,"ti
111,• or ii, lik.neht of tini•hiag the Cllll,2ltholl
Louis, in the I 1110,1 Slag,. 50 tree eit u and oilightened
Ilevies of the great world of humanity." it is not Lawn
what reply aim,. Eugade will venture to the pnmosition after
the visit to spate and the attent: from royalty received
there.

- -WAIF FROM THE SEA.—The following message
was found in a balo on the south side of Cape Clear
on the 9th ult. : --" May 25th, 1871.---Barque hatstia
from Boston, with cotton, bound to Liverpool, burnt
to the water's edge: captain and four men overboard,
all others in despair; will go down in a quarter of an
hour. JOHN STEPHENsoN, chief officer."

NAVAL UTILITY.—iIIe First Lord ,f the
Admiralty lately made a speech in which he said that
" The Navy of England WAS made to be used." Very
well, and let us hope that in tithe of heed it will not
prove useless. —Punch.
SINGCLAR AND FATAL RAILWAY ACCIDENT.
—AU accident occurred three days back on the Medi-
terranean Railway, near the Era Station, to the train
which left Mentone for Nice at 11.40 at night. A
minims of rock had rolled down from the mountain on to
the line, and caused the engine and three carriages to
run 03 the rails. Mdlle. Antoinette Gena, aged 22,
of Nice, was killed on the spot, and her sister, Mdme.
Farrand, received severe contusions in the leg. M.
Rolland, innkeeper of the same town, aged 30, re-
ceived wounds of which he has since died, and M.
Praton, of Negropont, Greece, was also severely hurt
in the leg. The other passengers escaped with slight
bruises.

MR. VOYSEY IN LONDON.—On Sunday even-
ing. the Rev. Chariot Voysey, UlO has been deprived
of the vicarage of Ilealaugh, Yorkshire, by a recom-
mendation to the Queen from the Judicial Committee
of Privy Council, opened regular services in St.
George's-hall, Langhom place. Mr. Voyrey stated
that the principal is,into of his teaching would be—
'l, that it is the right and duty of every man to ex
ereise his private judgment in matters of religion ; 2,
that the character and dealings of Gal are infinitely
higher than the ; pular views represent them to be :
that it is necessary to practise virtue and brotherly low
in order to understand the love and goodness of Goa'

DEATH AT THE AGE OF 103 -YEans.—A-m-an
named William Smith, an inmateof the Bethnal-green
Workhouse, in London, died last week, at the age of 103
year's. The deceased went into the house when he Was
only 27 years of age, and he bad remained them veer
since. When he was admitted he appeared to be
thorsughly worn out and destitute, but in two years he
had so far regained his strength that he was mailesjwcial
messenger to the clerk, and he always said it was the
kind treatment he had received in the workhouse which
had prolonged his life.
MR. BRUCE'S "HOLIDAY." The Scotsman
states that during the past few slays, while Mr.
Bruce has been the guest of Mr. Spier, convener if
the county of Renfrewshire, at Bumbrae, the postman
between Paisley and Johnstone has had to dispense
with his usual letter-bags, and has been carrying sacks
containing the despatches, letters, and other communi-
cations for Mr. Bruce. The idea f poor Mr. Bruce
having to carry the office about with him, like an old
man of the sea, does not give an alluring picture of the
life of the heads of the Government departments. A
daily budget of cares sufficiently heavy to incommode
a postinvn's shoulders cannot be conducive to lightness
of heart or spirits."
MR. BUTT ON "HOME RULE."—BI ft new
Trish National organ printed in London, Mr. Isaac
Butt sets forward his plan for "home rule." /le pni.
poses that the Inqarial Parliament shi add slim:ohs' and
give 'into an lush Parliament the power of legislation
on matters that affect only the internal administratii
of Ireland, while it would retain all its present powers
in matters of imperial concern. Ile contends that this
does not mean the withdrawal of Ireland from the
authority of the British l'rown ,nor even the breaking
up f the Imperial Parliament but it does mean that
the Irish nation should enjoy the right of managing
Irish affairs a right withsut the concession of which
Iceland can never be happy, contented, prosperous, or
free

..„
llArm. MAN !—The Times of India says :
" It is rumoured that the eldest son of the Rajah of
Jodhpur leaves the eapital shortly towed the daughters
of three different rajahs—all in one tour."

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE OF A CONVICT.—A re-
fract,ry convict under punishment for insubordination
ha attempted suicide at Portland, in a manner very
similar to that adopted by the convict King wow:
niontlie ag. Having been conveyed to the cell he
knocked out the glawi of the window, put 111,4 sheet
through the bars, and but that the warder had watched
him through the inspection bole would have hanged
Being a very short man, he would not have
been hindered by his feet resting upon the ground. lie
appears to be a man of very violent temper, and is con.
stantly lwing punished for insubordination_ lie was
immediately marched off to the separate cells.

A LAKE DRYING UP !-A remarkable geo-
graphical phenomenon has lately been presented in the
district of Telchef, in Lithuania. :'s'ear the little
town of Wromin, on the road from Telchet to Koyno,
was a lake eight versts in length and five in breadth,
noted for its abundance of fish, the fishery of which
was worth 1,500 roubles a year. A few weeks since,
during a perfect calm, the waters of this lake rose and
were agitated 118 if by a violent tempest, while a strong
sulphurous smell rising from them pervaded the lo-
cality. After two or three days this ebullition ceased,
and the surface of the lake was covered with dead fish,
ionic of which were tio large as to weigh 200 lbs. each.
Fearing their decomposition would breed pestilence,
the inhabitants of the neighbouring villages were
called upon to collect them, and they were buried
with a goodly covering of lime. Since then the Like
began to sink, while tbe sulphurous odour increased
daily, and the lake at the latest accounts had become
nearly dry. It is supposed that the limestone and
chalk bottom of the lake had given way, and the
waters hare sunk into a subterranean canal.

--- - -
INCIDENT uF TIIE AUTUMN t.:AMFAION.-1110
llog's Rack bristled with bayonets.—Pvtick.
THE BENEFITS OF CAMPING OLT.--A VnllLtl-
teer, who lifts taken part with fifty o.lllr:idea in the
autumn campaign just macluded, writes :
" I feel that camping mit has done me a t.reat deal ot
good. I wood adv6e ith)bOdychit WlaltS a charie nt this
tilt,.' of the year to (onoa lay example. Let theni live in •
tent, pallor,ii real hind tianual labs,ar pi its unwashed as
a gipsy, and live oil the diet Of the Pmdigal Will Mi.,
4111 BUM cdl 11.. them Rinig g..,1 than a three weeks' so-
punt hi a crowded watering-place, whence they Play have to
write to The Tinter of impure water, scarlet fever, ewall•pox,
ruinous hotel charges, 111141 °Manicure lauded proprietors.
: Everyone tells ine how well Imu looking, and never re-
-1 member to have felt In better health. My hands are dirty
and grimy with my work, and it will possibly he some time
before they again become what &witty calls ' preamitabl,'"
We wish it had rained all the time to add to the
amusement of this satisfied and agreeable gentleman.
CATS !--The Chancellor of the Exchequer is
nominally taking a holiday, but every member of
society must 1,1 certain that his thoughts arc always
fixed on lais neat Budget, sleeping or waking, by nigtt
or by day, in his drive,, or his 111.01111,,, in the hours of
social interyourse, te: in the retirement of the study.
The Mau,. I 'at has before how been suggested to him
as an animal on whose back a tax would sit lightly. If
Mr. Lowe is musing over tits suggestion, he ought to
be made acquainted with an important piece lif statis-
tical information which has lately been published, as it
would probably putan end at 11111.• to all his doubts on
the etibteet -in London alone there are said to be
7)0,000' 'ats —Punch.

LOOKING A-HEAD !—Tlic Russian War Office
has recently been earning out a series of works for the
purpose of strengthening the various fortresses in the
empire, so as to enable them to resist the heavy artillery
which the Prussians found so useful in besieging the
old-fashioned fortresses of France. The escarpments
of the fi utress of Cronstadt have been covered with Leos
plates in the places which would he most exposed to
an enemy's fire • but it is found that these plates are
not of sutficienethickness, lUD i they are to be replaced
by others eighteen inches thick, which have suesese-
fully withstood very severe tests. The artillery depart-
ment has also recommended that 1,000,000 ponds of
gunpowder should always be kept in store for the
requirements of the various fortresses, awl the teceesary
steps have been taken for carrying out this recommen-
dation. The tell batteries are to be increased by sixty
of eight guns each, which will snake the Russian field
artillery stringer by 600 guns than the German.
PETITIONS TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.—A
return of the number of public petitions presented and
printed, with the total number of signatures, shows
for the Session of 1870, 17,500 petitions presented,
1,046 of them printed, number of signatures 2,853,221.
The annual average for the four years 1868-71 was
18,332 presented, 953 printed, signatures 2,797,816.
The annual average for 1:•63.1i7 mi. very muds less :
petitions presented 10,661, printed 796. signatures
1,371,378. Since 1862 126,636 petitions have been
presented to the House oft 'ommons ; 7,802 prin: ed ;
and the total number of signatures in the sine years
1863-71 has been 18,049,161.

SAL! -A N'etts.paper Correipondent, writ-
ing of Margate, sms that he ,4ees "no reit.snn at all why
the salt of the earth should abandon it." But Margate
has a greater source of prosperity than even the salt of
the earth would be—it ha,: the silt of the sea.- Pesch,
- -

- -
LoNte,N Rorcits.—On 3beelay afternoi in a
chaise, drawn by two ponies of Lilliputian dimensions,
containing two ladies, st.ppeil opposite a shop in
Cranbourne.street, London. The ladies alighted, and
instantly the ponies and chaise were own sualeil by a
crowd of is iughs, many of them, from their appearance,
persons who ought to have known better. In a short
time the ladies wished to return to their chaise, but so
dense was the crowd that it was only with difficulty
that they could reach their seats. As they drove off
they were, of course, followed by a troop of dirty
ragged little street "Arab.," who formed the nucleus
of a second crowd when the fair Jehu and her coins
panion again stopped.
ENGINEERING UNDERTAKING IN MASSACHr-
Sens. —The Hwton Traiwript says that the I 'unlink.
shiners upon the reduction of Bunker-hill have made
their report to the city government of Charlestown.
The total cost of the undertaking is estimated at
3,271,771 dols. From this should lie deducted the value
of Mill Pond lands and Mystic River flats to be filled
in, 1,7211,174 dols. which will leave the net cost
1,545,04 dolit The street opposite St. Frances tie
Sales church is to be lowered 44-; feet, and other points
in decreasing proportion. The lowering of the
Catholic church, and the removal of the adjoining
cemetery, which contains nearly S.OOO corp-es, are
among the most formidable ob,tacles of the enter-
pi to. The district priqosed to be reduced contains
ale sit -1:i acres. The arcs of the Mill Pond lands to be
tii!ol is 1,5411,600 squaie feet; the fiats adjoining,
1,nte.....-.21 square feet. A marginal street, 3,300 feet
in lez.gth and fin feet in width, with 15 lateral streets,
each OW feet in length, are to be laid IPUt tipon the new
territory. The area of Mats in Mystic River to be
filkd in is 2,551,1,7 square feet. The number f build-
ings in the district which will require to be lowered is
473. The contemplated improvement will add about
1:;0 acre:, to the territorial limits of Charlestown.
Bunkevhill has already been lowered 14 feet, and
should this plan be consummated it will have been
lowered ill/ feet from its orighal height at the summit.
The Commissioners recommend that the project be sub-
mitted to a vote of the citizens.

THE DEAR CREATURM—The Income-tax
paying portion of the People will be relieved of mane
apprehensions by the estimate, made by parties likely
to know, that the expenses of the Hampshire Cam-
paign will fall within t 100,000. What is td GU,OUU
A mere goat-bite. Why the whole amount of that
money invested in the Three-per-rents would yield an
income of only £3,000 a-year ; not enough, in these
days, to marry an ordinary expensive girl mi.—Puede.

STORMING • SMALL-PDX HOSPITAL !—During
' the beat of the battle in the neighbourhood of Alder-
shut, on the 21st inst., the Smallpox-Ilospital, recently
erected by the Farnham Pseud of Guantians, was be-
sieged by a number of troojis who were ignic ant of the
character of the building. The place waifly sun
rounded by the Tower Ilandets Militia, whose military
ardour led them to seek the advantage if its elevated
situation fix the purpose of firing from the windows
upon the advancing enemy, a memorable precedent for
Which was afforded by the Prussians at a farmhouse
in the vicinity of Sedan. In vain the two nurses re-
monstrated against the expressed determination of the
besiegers; the order had been given, and the first duty
of a soldier was to obey. The doors were closed, awl
persuasion was about to be succeeded by force, when
one of the nurses happened to remark incidentally, and
for the first time that the object of attack was "a
small-pox hospital" The expression produced a
magical effect ; the order to secure possession of such
an advantageous position if not countermanded was
instantly forgotten, and the invaders beat a hasty re-
treat towards the foot of the lull on which the hos-
pital stands. Fortunately no patient was at that time
in the building. The hospital, which closely resembles
a couple of soldiers huts, is constructed of wood, and
WWI built in May last, since which time upwards of
40 patients have been successfully treated for small-
pox, while six deaths have occurred there.
COTTON BILLIARD BALLS.—We have in this
city, says the Albany Arfnu, a manufactory of billiard
balls, which, after some trials, has turned nut a pe-feet
success. The balls are made of cotton fibre or Asiatic
hemp, which, when submitted to hydraulic pressmy, be
come KR solid as stone and as elastic as metal. The
ivory ball is liable to warp. AWL so bmximes uncertain in
its movements. 'Mien this happens it bast° be turned,
and is thus reduced in size. The colour, too, is only
surface deep. The new patent gives a ball of standard
weightiand equal thickness of absolute hardness, and
if a colour that permeates die whole enamelling. It is
received with great favour by players, and finds a
market in the Pacific States, the Mississippi 'Valley,
New Orleans, and Texas. Nearer home it ia not yet mu
general use—lint the few defects that attended the first
exlieriment are now amended, and it is destined to sup •
plant the ivory ball everywhere, for it costs only half
the price of the latter.

SIIIP AND ScIIOLARSIIIP.—The establishmea
of a Naval University at Greenwich would certainly
prove an excellent way of utilising G reenwich
'That magnificent but unoccupied building, however,
stands on tem' firma. Should not a Naval University
have Ships for Colleges, and be all afloat--Punch.

•
A DANISH PRINCESS'S St ITORS.— Rumours are
afloat as to the marriage of the Princess Tama of Den-
mark. The G tdois asserts that a marriage is all but
arranged between her Royal Highness and Prince
Arthur. The American papers, r contra, have got hold
of a report that the King of Sweden is a candidate for
her hand. The last story is upon the fact-of it some-
what improbable. His Majesty ('harks XV. is now
dr, years of age, while the Princess Thyra only reaehisi
her Isdli birthday on Friday last, And to am it may
Is. wide,' that the Princess Louise, the only dan!lterof
his l'ilajesty of Sweden, was martini in 'flO to Frederic
William, I 'rown Prince of Denmark, so that by the
marriage at which the American impels hint, the King
of Swtsien would have his own son-in-law for a brother-
in • law, awl would be brother-in-law to his own daughter
a ten-lilt- complication of relationship. Hitherto a
singular good fortune has attended upon the Royal
House of Denmark. Next to the Crown Prince HI
order of birth comes the Princess Alexandra, then
King George of Greece, then the PIHIC,siI Daginar,
who wax married in 'flli to the present Cesarewitch,
then the Princess Thym ;old, lastly, the Princess
Wahlci mar, who is at present hardy thirteen years of
age. The rumours of a marriage between tile Princess
Thyra and Prince Arthur cars at present, of c,arse, ab-
solutely conjectural ; nor is there the least oecashoi as
yet for Mr. huger to bestir himself, remarks the
Obanwr.

TIIE IMPEItUicIS AND THE AEMT.—TIIO
Mirk relates the following :—" We are t. 0.1 that ther.:
is no 11,,napartist conspiracy afoot. It is •,s(saildu.
lint it cannot be th denied that e agents of the Emperot
are hard at wick among the army. The following in.
client cannot be denied. (In Tuesday lost, at the
Camp of Satory, there was a growl r, at which
were present many officers of the old Imperial army.
During the dinner all kinds of hard things were said,
of coun.e, a..ainst M. Thiers and the RepubSc. At
dessert the health of the unlucky hero of Sedan was
drunk. At midnight the company separated with
cries of " Tire r Empertur." The Government th(-
neat morning sent off to the Loire one of the nvimente
in camp at Satory. The Government acted pro.
dently, and we cannot but approve this step."
A SELF-TA Ci: HT PA Ell 4TE'I Illus.
Barker, a self-ta.ght nuttlosnati, tan ;VA pl KUM engi-
neer, has plat rnded his (lays as a " poor brothet
the Hospital of the Ci a• torrouso. Ile wrs ?Ile eon of
a tamer at (MI Park, Durham, and the ("Intim( of
many 14 the most difficult pn.blems inthe e.arlbr .tns(Pa
of railway run-eying and comdruct.on was due to his
genius. It was he who invented tic, celebrated meth.
of laying down railwavcorvm, mid the Durba m Adrer-
t jeer says that he "Ishfout the Sts;ekton and Darlington
Rai way, the first line in the kingdom," He
out the atmospheric line from DAUM to Kingstown ;
and in the infancy re the milniad sy-tein he was lar,,ly
engsared in wally pars of the kingdom. The 1 ct line
which he survv3 ed was that projected by Mr. (le rga
Hudson for connecting Lowestoft wit 4 London, and
for making that town on the East. in coast a second
Liverpool, a project which the ruin of ths "Railway
King" extinguished. Mr. Parker was the author of
several works on mathematics, both theoretical and
Fraction's