The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-10-14 00:00:00

SATURDAY, OCT. 14, 1876.

THE BATTLE AGAINST SMALL•PDX.

In a leader on the possibility of an outbreak of small pox
in London, The Times remarks:—

We had a violent and destructive outbreak of
small-pox in Loudon half a dozen years ago, and we
may, not improbably, be on the verge of another.
But medical science seems to be unable to say
whether we are near such a trial or not, or whether,
when it comes, it will be widespread or fierce.
There is, however, one ominous fact which may be
worth the consideration of the public; and there is,
also, we think, one obvious inference which ought
not to be neglected. Small-pox is present and
menacing in London, and the increase of CaS6ll—mauy
of them most severe cases—at this season of the year
makes it only too probable that next Spring there may
be as disastrous an epidemic as that of 1871. We are
bound to ask whether the conditions which produce
aggravated outbreaks of this frightfal scourge have
been removed or lessened within the past five years,
and, if so, how far the preventive methods employed
us be extended and reinforced lt is clear that
a dangerous epidemic, at once violent and widespread,
can inily-be combated effectually by the enforcement
of " isolation " in almost all cases, Vaccination,

even among the

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A PAPER EGo•Our.—Mr. R. M. Washburn,
of Burlington, lowa, has patented a paper eggizis
which, besides being a really ingenious idea, Is
on sound theory, inasmuch as paper is a non-conductor
of heat; it is elastic, so that one cup will hold securely
an egg of any s;zs ; and it ig izoulded in corrugated
form, so that there is always circulation of air
between the egg and its vessel. Th: IMMO CUPS may
be used over and over again, or may be, thrown away
after each meal, their cheapness allowing otl3lis latter
disposition. They are handy for picnic partie: or 1,"
persons travelling, and as novelties for
restaurants, and even private houses. The materias
may be paper, muslin, or almost any fabric. Tinted of
different colours, the cups would be quite ornamental;
or they might serve as a medium for advertising, so
that the person using them may have food for digestion
mentally as well as physically. The invention is one
likely to be remunerative. It is just such cheap and
simple devices which, nowadays, are most in demand,
and produce the largest profit.
WHEELS Wurnm WHEELS. —We hear of
for discussion in bycicliog circles. Is-every
member of a velocipede club a epokesman.—Punch;
A-SELFISH MOTTO. —The nlottGf the present
hour is Every man for. himself (remarks the Argosy).
It cannnot be too often or too emphatically reiterated.
"What can I do? How shall I increase in importance,
in riches, in the honour and glory of the world! In
what manner can I further my happiness, my comfort
and welfare, gratify my senses ? " The question,
"What can I do to help others in a world labouring
in care and misery?" is passed over. Self-sacrifice he
not to be thought of or mentioned. "I have no time
for it," says the worldly man: might he not add "no
inclination?" "My whole days and nights are occu-
pied in the furtherance of my work, schemes, plea-
sures."

I meetings

A TEMPERANCE CELEBRATION. A great
temperance meeting took place on Tuesday night at
Exeter Hall, to celebrate the anniversary of the birth-
day of Father Mathew. The council and members of
the various leagues entered into the movement so
heartily that the large hall was filled to overflowing
long before the commencement of proceeding', nearly
a dozen bands of music having accompanied those who
took part in the meeting. Archbishop Manning
officiated as president, and his appearance on the plat-
form was greeted with loud cheers. Having explained
the object that had brought so Vast an assemblage
together, he entered into a warm eulogy of the character
of, and the good work effected by, the Irish " Apostle
of Temperance," adding that for some time prior to
his death, in 1856, he was incapacitated by ill-health
from continuing those labours which had proved so
great a benefit to the public at large. Several other
speakers addressed the meeting.

SERVICEABLE. Somebody advertises gal-
vanism as a cure for temporary insanity. There's one
kind of galvanism which is likely to bring it on—See-
vantgalvanism.—Fun.
Tan PRICE or MEAT.—" Cantala" writes to
The Times :—"Ax I had my doubts about the price oi
meat, I went last Saturday night to Smithfield Mar-
ket, between 7 and 8 p in., and, on inquiry, I was told
that meat was very cheap, and would be so till next
March. I bought 301 b. 3oz. for 13e. 2d. This con-
sisted of sirloin of small Scotch beef, at 7d. per lb. (this
is most delicious meat, I never tasted better) ; brisket
of ditto, 4d. per lb • legs and loin of lamb, 6d. per
lb.; leg of beef, 24d. per lb ; hands of pork, sd. per
lb. ; half a calf's head, is. 6d. The meat was delicious,
and is still all good. Had I been a butcher in a blue
smock, I doubtless could have bought at a very much
lower rate, and all Monday and Tuesday, at least, I
could have supplied my customers, leaving myself AB
encsmous profit, and what I could not sell in time I
might have salted down very profitably. lam hapP9
to say there were thousands of all classes -takivg
advantage of the opportunity last Saturday; but per
sons at a distance cannot benefit by these market sales,
and are completely at the mercy of the butcher, Who
can buy at•these prices and charge full rates. IWO
very much struck with the remark that "meat will be
very cheap till next March." I sincerely hope there
are true prophets in Israel. Surely between the ex-
travagant prices of the retail butchers and these quoted
market prices there should be a me= at which we
could buy good meat retail."

DOUBLE-EDGED NEWEL—According to neva;
from Nrigord truffles will be scarce this winter, the/
dry weather during the summer having been unfavour'
able to the production of the tuber Me. On the other,
hand, the quality will be exceptionally good.—rd,
Mall Gazette.

EXPERIENTIA DOCET. Irate Young Lady.
"Mr. Cox, I declare your machines are the worst I
ever saw I—There's not even a looking-glass I"—Pr°'
prietor of Bathing Machines. "Why, Miss, if there
was looking-glasses, we shouldn't get you ladies out of
them 'ere machines for homers and howers I "—Punch.

Tait POTATO CROP.—The Gardener's Magazine
says that the potato crop proves to be far better than
was anticipated. In Ireland the tubers lift well, the
produce generally being plentiful and thoroughly cleans
Everywhere in England, Scotland, and Wales the late'
planted crops are satisfactory, both in quantity ana
quality. Here and there disease is seen, but in such s
trifling degree at present as to detract but little froV3
the aggregate value of the crop.
PAPER COLLARS IN AMERICA. —Among other,,
curious machines now exhibited in the "Great Hal'
of Machines" at Philadelphia is one for the mann'
facture of paper collars, an enormous business in the
United States, producing no fewer than 200,000,0
collars a year. From a roll of thick calendered paro!t
faced with cloth the machine cuts the collars in a Pl'its
of cutting-dies, after stamping the stitch-pattern sus'
number upon them. Few, if any, collars made
entirely of paper are now manufactured, the cotton-
faced kind having driven them from the market. It
is estimated that the saving in washing from the toe
of these collars amounts to 6,000,000 dohs a year. The
company which exhibits these machines shows in °
glass case a collection of all the styles of collars is toe
for twenty-two years since the invention was made.
remarkable relic of patriotic fervour is the "For
Sumter collar," with the Stars and Stripes printed in,
colours on each side. This "sweet thing in colls.re'
had, it is stated, an enormous sale in 18.6 L It
strange that paper, which has so great a Power °
resisting cold, is not more extensively used (or cloth/Vg
among the poorer classes. Poor persons generally 11113°
, are unable to buy blankets would find sheets of coarse
brown paper sewn upon sheets an admirable substitute.
: for these articles of bed furniture.—Par,l .3144
Gazette.
STRANGE FACT IN NATURAL HISTORY.—A fey/
days since, a barque put in Ramsgate Harbour with °
large dog-fish on board, which had been caught brths
mackerel fishers, after having done great damage to their
nets. The peculiar part of the story is, that it was tr
barquethat hacithe dog-fish this time.; tvhereas; in to!:
ordinary course of things, it would seem more riatulw
for the dog-fish to have had the bark.—judy.
'LOST IN THE DESERT !—A despatch from
Angeles, received- at an Francisco on the 15th
Septembe,r, narrates a terrible tale of suffering on tel
Colorado Desert. Henry Smith, from St. Louis, Ish"'
one companion and a pack train, left Yuma for La!
Angeles and wandered four days on the desert withoo
water. Smith opened the veins of his arm and drank the
blood, which clotted in his throat. He then out hi'
windpipe to remove it, and died in a few hours after;
His companions reached the station in the last stage °'
exhaustion.
"THINGS WAS WORKING I "—An Americali
editor writes :—We have tried the Bogardus klcke!,l
we have kept a kicking mule in our room, we've
bull-dogs and kept shot guns, and still people who bo,;
nothing else to do will come when we are busy ari,
insist on having us atop work and listen to them " hi°vi
their horns" for an hour or two on a stretch. Wis
have invented a chair which is a success. It is n 311"
of iron, screwed to the floor near our desks and thl
seat is so arranged with steel springs that it "lets IV
every ten minutes after it is wound up. One windvis
will let her go three or four times, as it has the pool
of a three-year-old mule, no matter who sits on Lt"
when it goes off it "lifts " 'em, and flies back to ,w
harmless position. It went through its first oPeratioo
yesterday. A little chap with side whiskers, loin
Cincinnati, came in to talk to us. He took his seat
"our chair," and commenced telling us about
" flings "at the swillhouse below his native city. " ;
wrote away, while we knew "things was working.
sod
His ten minutes was up. Flip the machine acted„ .1
he was flung right through space, say fifteen yards mils
into a treacle-mash tub kept kindly at that distance
gently receive our visitors. He came out, run doirli
the street, but all the little boys were after him, anu
Insisted upon" licking" him, which we in our mildriesh
and in another sense had refrained from doing.
BATH FROM THE BIT& OF A CAT.—The
bits
of an enraged cat has in several recent instances prove
as fatal sits that of a mad dog (says a London canton;
porary). A sad occurrence of this nature has
happened in Paris, in which the victim is an o
child. Albert Pye, a lad of 14, was bitten sonsewh"
severely in the hand by a favourite cat about six week:
ago. The animal was killed, although it
thought to be mad, and the wound, well washed svi'
cold water, healed in a few days. On Monday
the fortieth day since the accident, the child appear,
unwell, and complained of an itching sensation in Ir.
hand. The wound re-opened, and the arm to
shoulder became much inflsmed. The siglit of vits,l4"
produced a perfect horror In the child, and notwisi;
standing that laudanum was freely used, he beast
wild and excited in his actions. The alarmed patTP'-'
sent for -as celebrated'"hydrepliobia " doctor Who, tl
ascertain the real state of the boy .begged him to El
his hands in a basin of water. He lipproachesi, iteM
uttering a screani ofhbrrdr sxlaieathatb_ rp,
a est atthe'bottool of the beide.' The; es* r Prua. ;
remedies were empleyed.ineffietos
lly,and WI °' •
expired two hours later 1n the most terriblesagoor- •
CROSS COUNTRY WORN.—lndignation Meet
ings.—Fun. 40.4.•4.¶ ;is r ,
TOBY lIIIEIBBECIYII4I - H I'M- SELF .—" Toby,' 11:4",
leungelephitnt with whom all visitors to the
d'Acchmatation in Paris, are so well acquainted/
been misbehaving himself (says the Standard).
account of his gentle playfulness and winning
Toby was a great favourite, and enjoyed certain Prthil
leges which were not granted to other animals. lii
early morning, before the arrival of visitors, be if 4
'allowed to roam about the gardens at pleasure, and P_s°'
friendly calls to his neighbours. The dromedaries' 1'5.71
iflosure was alone forbidden him, since a recent Tiss,
leresting event had taken place in the family whlis
rendered the female dromedary ill-disposed tows:pt
intruders. Toby, whose curiosity to penetrate int° :ha
inclosure seemed to grow in exact proportion to I:4
pains taken to keep him out, profited last Sunda„.9
an opportune moment when nobody was by to sess''' •
net
his wish. He paid dearly for his temerity. No soo
had mire dromedaire been made aware of the pssel
of a visitor by the plaintive cries of her young one, s •
she rushed on Toby, floored him, and trampled oil
, mercilessly. When the keepers arrived in haste
' separate the combatants, Toby was prostrate 123 a Pee
of blood. The dromedary had not escaped scot
itirvAs
either; she had been belaboured by her &deers I;
trunk pretty soundly, and was short of an eye. a
doctor' Mesnard, was quickly on the spot, and aftefLas
wounds of the two heroes had been hastily dressed siNl4
"
were removed, In a very crest-fallen oondition,
Infirmary,