The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-03-12 00:00:00

Ouc Yonhn Corrtsponbnit.

IN° deem it tight to state that we do net at all times
Identity OUT6C1••• with our correspondent's tliuiuila I

Parliament has been hard at work during this first
month of the Session; and it may be doubted whether
any previous Session for along time past has displayed
more actual work. This may be partly attributed to
the Conservative party not having exhibited anything
like factious oppeition. Ministers certainly cannot
complain tif any unfair treatment. There will be
severe skirmishing, however, on the second reading of
the Irish Land Bill, though there may be no intention
of having a pitched battle. Writing on the eve of the
renewal of the great di bate of the Session, I can but
hope that its issue may be a measure which shall
greatly benefit the Emerald Isle, "first flower of the
earth, and first gem of the sea."
The House of Commons, which recently declined,
and very properly, to pass a bill to compel railway
directors to place foot-warmers in the carriages, might
turn its attention to the subject of compensation for
acrid* uts. The directors of the Brighton company,
which has so heavily suffered recently, are said to be
preparing • et.atenarnt on the subject, and it is be
lieveil that in this statement it will be shown that for
every 'lOO paid by the company rift is absorl eil by
the law). r- ! Sr, ty Parliament could simplify bade
matters, aml niean while why not settle the claims by
arbitration ? A great deal of money would thus be
saved.
I suppose few people will deny that drunkenness is
one of our notional failings, to use no harsher word, and
that it is snore prevalent in the United Kingdom than
abroad ; but the proposition that has just been made
In the House of Commons "to legislate for the proper
reception, detention and managemcnt of habitual
drunkards " seems beset with insuperable difficulties.
Mr. Dalrymple, against whose good intentions nothing
can be, sail, proposes the establishment of reforma-
tories, to which drunkards should be sent and where
they should he detained a sufficient time to cure them
of their passion for drink ; that the property of drunk-
ards should while they are detained be vested in
trustees; that pauper drunkards should also be legis-
lated for ; and that magistrates should have the power
to commit habitual drunkanls to the reformatory
wards of workhouses or to special reformatories. And
he believes that such institutions might be made self-
supporting, as they are said to be in the United States.
Now it is noteworthy that of late years we seem to have
had a tendency to rely more and more upon Govern-
ment, endless ups in Ii ridual or collective effort than
formerly. Would it nut be well in this matter
to try voluntary organisation first? No doubt
there are many people in this country, who, knowing
and lamenting their passion for intoxicating drink,
woul,l. voluntarily submit themselves to a course
of restraint and curative treatment ; indeed,
something in this way is already done, but it is
confined to those who have the means of pay-
ing handsomely. Some benevolent persons might
combine to extend and develops the system. But to
call on Government to institute drunkards' reforma-
tories seems going far beyond what the piddle can
agree with. Where are we to begin, and where are
we to stop? Habitual drunkards are unhappily so
numerous that the expense of keeping them—for
months and perhaps for years—would be enormous;
and who is to pay for it? It is all very well to talk
about vesting the property of such persons in trustees,
but what is to become, for instance, of the wives and
children of such persons? And what if they have no
property? This is by far the most common case.
Poverty sometimes causes drunkenness, and more
frequently causes it, but in the great majority of
Cases the two things are associated. I think we must
for the present, rely on such restrictive measures with
regard to the sale of intoxicating drinks as Govern-
ment have under consideration, and en the spread of
education, which Government are also endeavouring
to effect.

The public and the press together are exercising a
wholesome influence over the administration of the
telegraphic service. It has often been said that the
Poet-Office is the best managed of all the Government
departments, and this is true enough. The cause is
obvious—because the public has such a hold upon it.
The non-delivery, mis-delivery, or delay of a letter
almost invariably brings a complaint to the Post-Office,
and the officials find that it is much leas trouble to do
their work properly than carelessly. The same "pressure
from without," and the same feeling among the tele-
graph officials is gradually producing the beet possible
effects. Since the Government took the telegraphs
Into their hands the change on the whole has certainly
not been for the benefit id the public. There has been
a ton rigid economy—an effort to do too much with
too few k`Allas, aid as managers and woikers have
been to a large extent new to the work, errors and
delays have been numerous; and added tu this the
time of the department has been much taken up by
complaint* and inquirios into them. But gradual im-
provement is taking place, and ultimately there is no
doubt the change from private enterprise to Govern.
ment control will be a great national benefit. It is
reported that the Post-Office has completed the mega.

tiations for the purchase of Covent Garden Theatre,
which is to ho converted into a central telegraphic
depot. There are so many theatres in that quarter
(and more coming) that we can well afford to part
with one; but still London playgoers will be rather
sorry to hear of the decease of one of our finest
theatres. The position is not particularly good for
the purpose named, and the word " central " is
scarcely applicable.
I am glad to see that an action is brought against
Mr. E. N. Buxton for an alleged trespass on a piece
of land called the "flushes,' sail to be part of the
ancient forest of Waltham—not because I desire that
this gentleman, who has fought for the people's rights
In this respect, should sutler any annoyance, but
because thus we shall arrive—at least, it is to be hoped
60-- at the truth with regard to the rights of the Crown,
of lords of the manor, and of the people. I believe it
was this very " trespass " as it is called, which led to
the subject being rought before the House of
Commons a little time ago, and which resulted in Mr.
Gladstone undertaking that the Government would ,lo
what in their. lies to preserve the rights of the people.
With our increasing population the matter becomes of
daily increasing importance.
The protracted inquiry into the case of the Welsh

"fasting girl" is in one respect unnecessary, for it can
only prove what nearly everybody already is convinced
of—that the poor girl was starved to death ; but in
another respect it is important, inasmuch as it will
bring out where the fault lies. I say "nearly every-
body," but it seems that there is at least one person
who believes that the girl really did fast for the time
her parents stated, and that they are not to blame,
The coroner beg received a "well-written letter" from
some person who says this much, and who adds that
he has had great experience in protracted fasting, and
that he is willing to fast "under the strictest surveil-
lance for one month." He should communicate his
discovery to the St. Pancras poor-law guardians. A
foolhardy fellow in the reign of the 'merry monarch"
stood on his head on a steeple, and then applied to the
King foe a reward. The sovereign, "who never said
• foolish thing, and never did a wise one," thereupon
offered him • patent, that nobody should do it but
hinutelf A similar reward might be conferred on the
man who says he has found out how to fast for a
month I
Cowper's hackneyed line, "the cup that cheers, but
not inebriates," is just as applicable to coffee as to tea.
But where shall we get coffee? A scientific writer in
the Fcad Journal has analysed forty-seven samples of
"coffee" so called, bought at the same number of
shops in the metropolis, the prices ranging from Is. to
2s. per pound. He finds that only sixteen samples out
of forty-seven were pure and good; that eleven con-
tained pure chicory, and seventeen chicory with other
adulterations. Among materials employed he men-
tions roasted grain, parchment, sand, "stinking
berries," and foreign roots. Such facts are not
pleasant to read, and they suggest the reflection that
we are still without a practical remedy for adultera-
tion.
The great annual University elght-oared race is so
honoured ly conducted a contest, and excites so great
an interest anion f. all classes, that it is pleasing to find
that, all run ,ours to the c ,ntrary notwithstanding, the
race is now fixed to take place on the 6th of April.
The ladies will, almost to a man, as an Irishman once
said, hope that Cambridge may win, if for no better
reason than because they have so often lost. By the
way, is there to be another Anglo-A inericsn boat-race?
The correct thing would be for Oxford to go over to
New York, and there be beaten by the Harvard men.
This wool pet Brother .T,,nathan in a good humour
with us, and Oxford has gained so many victories that
she can off t-,1 one defeat.
Is chess on the wane? It would seem so from tbe
fact that the London Chess Club, after an existence
of sixty-three year., h.s jt 1,, en dis.olved. Perhaps
we are too fast now-a-days for so slow, thoughtful, and
absorbing • game. Whether chess is or is not declin-
ing, it is certain that billiards is becoming every day a
more popular game. The marvellous play of the pre
sent champion (who lately made 512 in a break, the
largest break on record) has drawn attention to the
game, and this may partly account for its increasing
popularity.

It is stated that James Marshall, the man who first
discovered gold in California, is now in Inch reduced circum-
stances that he is obliged to work for food and clothing.
tol. other peoplo remark. the Coto, ../Ournall Are in the
of '41.4 at, •
.• honors, to/

THE MORDAUNT CASE.

On Tuesday, Lord Penzance made an orderin Cham-
bers that Sir Charles Mordsunt be entitled to be beard,
before the full court, on the question whether the
petitioner was entitled to proceed with his suit, not-
withstanding the insanity of the respondent.