The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-07-20 00:00:00

Mistelianenus

HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL.

A POPULAR DELUSION.—Among the most common
of popular delusions is the idea thatwomen who engage
in any public work are necessarily undomesticated
(says the Echo). A sexagenarian, in an article on the
late Mrs. Balfour, whose natural grace and refinement
attracted large numbers to her lectures on Temperance,
and other social reforms, says :—" I bad an amusing
proof that she attended to domestic duties, in a fact
narrated to me by a friend who went to seek her for a
lecture, and found her on her knees scouring the floor."
Nor was Mrs. Balfour a solitary exception to the rest.
" Would you mind waiting till I have given the
children their dinners?" was the remark of a lady who
takes an active part in public affairs, when a gentle-
man recently called upon her in reference to some
political movements. Mr. Punch's typical strong-
minded woman is certainly an exaggeration, if not an
imposture.
OLD HERRING LAWS.—I am desired by Mr. J. J.
Colman, M.P., to say that he has been looking at a
book entitled "The Herring-Biesse Trade," written
by Simon Smith, Agent for the Royal' Fishing, Lon-
don, 1641, in which there are some curious particulars
relative to the fishing trade, and among them—" The
states Proclamation and Ordinances, translated out
of Dutch, concerning the taking, salting, etc., etc., of
herrings," issued by the States of Holland and West
Friezlan Prohibition I. runs—" That no man shall
presume from hence for wards to dresse or to make wet
any nets for to catch herrings before St. John's Day,
at midsummer, but upon the same day and after that
till the last of January, included, everyone may freely
dresse or make his nets."—ALFRED C. CULLEY, in Land
and Water.

„ .
Tun Co FLOWER m GERMANY.—The preference
shown by the Emperor William for cornflowers is
well known. The consequence is that in Germany
the flower is now being largely used in bouquets,
and in the newly invented and most charming
"flower cushions.” The people of Berlin in their
demonstration in honour of the Emperor's escape from
the assassin, employ cornflowers broadcast. The late
Queen Louise of Prussia had the same preference for
cornflowers. It suited her very well to wear them,
being fair' and the colour of the flower corresponding
with the blue of her eyes. Standing one day at a
filte by the side of Frederick William M., and wearing
a• white dress spotted with cornflowers, she was told
that some French generals had dared to scoff at her
simple drees, which, they said, was, being without
diamonds, very mean. The Queen replied, "Since
French horses have trampled down our fields, corn-
flowers belong to the jewels of Prussia."—Mayfair.

TUE LATE QUEEN OF SPAIN.—The succession of
Queen Mercedes has been already settled. As soon as
the Duke de Montpensier learned that an inventory
of the property of his deceased daughter was about to
be made, he announced his intention to not accept the
inheritance, and expressed his desire that King
Alfonso should retain it. The latter at first refused
in order not to prejudice the interests of the children
of his brothers-in-law, but the Duke insisted, and, sup-
ported by the Countess de Paris and the Princess
Christine, overcame the scruples of the King. Alfonso
XII. will therefore remain in possession of the palaces
of Castlilleja and Cuesta, near Seville, and the jewels
of the late Queen. The Rente which had been paid
for the dowry remains intact, and the Kix% has ordered
that uW bo diatributod to tho poor.

HAMLET OMITTED.—At the last dinner at the Ries-
sian Embassy at Berlin, Lord Beaconsfield, Prince
Gortschakoff, and Prince Bismarck were all three con-
spicuous by their absence. This might fairly be called
a dinner a la Busse—without the pieces de resistance.
Punch.
IMPORTATION OF MEAT.—A return relative to the
importation of meat during the years 1876 and 1877
has just been printed as a Parliamentary paper. The
total quantity of dead meat imported into ports of the
United Kingdom during 1876 was 1,167,580 cwt., the
value being £2923.184, whereas the quantity imported
in 1877 was 1,581,420 cwt., of the value of .24,117,808.
Last year more dead meat was imported into Liver-
pool than into any other port in the United Kingdom,
the total quantity amounting to 718,100 cwt., valued
at £1,761,393; 415,647 cwt., of the value of £1,113,177,
were imported into London and 282,019 cwt., 170-lued
at £757,112, into Glasgow
To BEE, OR NOT TO BEE ?—Mrs. A. : "Now, Blrsli
8., will you come and see our apiary ? "—Mrs. B. (who
has been putting it off all the afternoon) : "Well, Mrs.
A., the thing is you know, I'm—l'm rather afraid of
monkeys."—Fun.
A HINT FOP. BOOKMAKERS !—Here's a hint for book-
makers—not betting ones (says the Whitehall Review).
Let examiners keep a list of all the different answers
submitted to them, and when they have a good collec-
tion publish some of the choicest. Joe Miller would
hardly be in it against such a compilation. This is
what an overtaught child wrote down as being a suc-
cinct account of Oliver Cromwell: "He was a good
but stern man. He wanted to be king of England,
and cut off King Charles's head to further his design.
Having done this wicked act he was seized with re-
morse, and wearing armour next his skin lay all day
on a cushion, declaring that at his death the word
Chawles ' would be found engraven on his heart. In
his mental anguish Oliver Cromwell would exclaim,
'Oh ! had I but served my God as I have served my
king, He would not have forsaken me in my old age."
How TO SWIM.—A correspondent writes—Whi e the
Americans tell us that we are the only islanders in the
world who are utterly ignorant of the art of swimming,
surely the following directions for keeping afloat in
deep water cannot be too well known at every boating
and bathing station :—Any human being who will
have the presence of mind to clasp his hands behind tho
back and turn the face towards the zenith may float
at ease and in perfect safety in tolerably still water—
ay, and sleep there, no matter how long. If, not know-
ing how to swim, you would escape drowning when you.
find yourself in deep water, you have only to consider
yourself an empty pitcher—let your mouth and nose,
not the top part of your heavy head, be the highest
part of you, and you are safe; but thrust up one of
of your bony hands and down you go—turning up the
handle tips over the pitcher.
FRESH AS PAlNT.—There is One thing which goes
straight to the heart of the hunger, when he, as usual,
leans against the nearest pillar-box and asks his
friends "If there is anything fresh that morning? "It
is to be told in cynical tone. "Yes, the paint which
you have put your back against."—Fun.
SOMETHING TO DRINK.—The Globe publishes the
following from a Correspondent :
Sir,—Having seen some letters in your valuable paper with
the above heading, may I ask you to allow me to submit to
your readers who want "something to drink S' which will be
harmless and refreshing in this hot weather the two follow-
ing prescriptions, viz. :-1. Boil about two ounces of best
rice in about a gallon of pure watey for an hour or two, then
strain off the water, and let it cool, and drink it without anY
seasoning whatever. The rice itself will be a very good
substitute at dinner for potatoes. Or, 2. Get one ounce of
best citric acid, one pound and a half of best lump sugar,
pour on them about squirt of perfectly boiling water, or as
much less as will make a syrup, add a small teaspoonful of
essence of lemon. When cool, decant it into a wine
decanter. About a tablespoonful in a tumber of cold
water will makes delicious lemonade. lam sure that your
readers who will try these drinks will be greatly pleased with
them.
A SLIGHT MISTAKE!—Rather a good story of General
Grant, who is in Paris, is now being told. The general
attended a Ministerial reception. On his arrival a
most portentous-looking major-domo, gorgeous in silver
braid, announced in a stentorian voice, "Monsieur le
Gen6ral Grant, former President of the United States
of America." The general was so taken aback at
hearing himself thus pompously announced that, in-
stead of mounting the stairs he slipped into the
smoking room on the ground floor, where he was sub-
sequently found tranquilly enjoying his cigar and
brandy and water. Meanwhile the Ministers and
"big people" upstairs were warmly shaking hands
with a bearded gentleman who had entered immediately
after the announcement of General Grant, and who
bears a striking resemblance to the ex-President, but
who, unfortunately, turned out to be manager of the
refreshment department—the foreman, in fact, of the
firm of confectioners with whom the contract for the
evening had been made. This worthy tradesman was
astounded at his cordial reception and at the empress&
ment with which the galaxy of dignitaries were Wel-
coming him back to France.
AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN.—The follow
ing are the average prices of British corn for the week
ending July 13, as received from the inspectors and
officers of Excise :—Wheat, 445. Bd. ; barley, 395. 10d. ;
oats, 265. 4d., per imperial qr. Corresponding week
last year :—Wheat, 628. 6d.; barley, 345. 7d. ; oats,
288. 10d.
RELICS OF ANCIENT BRITAIN.—An ancient British
sepulchral or cinerary urn, containing burnt bones and
wood, has just been dug up in the churchyard of
Shaw-cum-Donnington, near Newbury, but, unfor-
tunately, it was much broken in removal. As near as
can be ascertained, it was fully 18in. high. It is orna-
mented with the usual herringbone or zig-zag lines,
and has a central band formed by impressed thumb
marks. Mr. Walter Money, F.S.A., has found
number of well worked implements in close proximitY
to the spot where the urn was dug up, and has also
picked up various portions of Roman pottery and
glass in other parts of the churchyard where altera-
tions ate being carried out.
CHANGE or TlTLE.—There is an annual sacrifice
performed at the end of every Parliamentary Session!
known as the "Massacre of the Innocents." We would
suggest a new name for this solemn ceremony—a name
frequently heard during a recent debate in the House
of Commons—the "Compulsory Slaughter."—Punehe
LARGE CARGO OF AMERICAN CATTLE.—There wag '
landed at Liverpool on Tuesday morning the largest
consignment of live cattle that has yet arrived in this
country from the United States. The conveying vessel
was the steamer Massachusetts, of the Warren linee
She came from Boston, and had on board 550 head el
oxen. The largeness of the cargo caused much far,
portance to be attached to the venture, but on arrive;
it was found that not a single death had occur rea -
amongst the animals, which appeared to be in a veil
fine state. They were immediately despatched t°
Manchester, Wakefield, and other towns.
CHOLERA IN INDIA.—The laundry arrangements - of
India seem to be almost on a par with those of Bug'
land, to judge by an incident mentioned in the last
report on civil dispensaries issued by the Madrae
Government. A small village, not far from Cohn'
batore, was attacked by cholera. The number of tht
inhabitants of the village was only one hundred, an
such was the virulence of the attack that more thad
fifty of them were seized with the illness; and with/1
the two months of February and March a third of the
villagers died. A supply of medicines was despr.itehed
to the sufferers under charge of a hospital assistant,
who on his arrival at the place found several villagers
employed in washing the cloOes of the cholers.
patients in a large well from whence they derived
their supply of drinking water. This proceeding svel
at once stopped, the well was closed, and a supply 01'
water obtained from an uncontaminated source, thy
result being the speedy abatement of the epidemic."
Pall Mall Gazette.
RECRUITING SERGEANTS.—In the House of Comnaos3s
on Monday evening, Mr. Ritchie asked the Secrete 4
of State for War whether the recruiting sergeants o_l.
the Line regiments have any right to interfere with .01°
Militia regiments attached tothem as regards induell
men to enlist for the Line during the periad thte
regiments are assembled for training ; whether tin
would state to whom the recruiting awards fcr 017
enlisting into the Line from Militia regiments are p 1,11;
able; and whether any portion of such recrultir,
rewards can, in any circumstances, be claimed by' te'...„
Line recruiters; to which Colonel Stanley replie°
During the period of training of a Militia regireqb
the Line sergeants are not permitted to interfere W!,.,
the men with a view to inducing them to enlist intoy,
Line. The recruiting rewards for men of the DOT;
enlisting during training periods are payable to T:te
Staff of the Militia regiments. If any portion of rla
reward were claimed by the Line recruiters, it vidw
certainly not be given them.
DEATH FROM EATING KERNELS OF STONE FRUII'7O§,
It ia a known fact that the kernels of certain stone fra!'„;
especially of apricots and peaches, contain an inflil
simal dose of prussic acid; eaten, therefore, id rtr
quantity they are apt to prove hurtful, but the
sequences are rarely fatal. A child, however, has iti7r.
died in France, his death being the result of
ordinate love for these bitter almonds (says the Eva"
Standard). His mother, who had received efecetee
baskets of apricots and peaches. stoned them wiw:fie,
object of making preserves. Her son, a boy of
was a witness of the process, and collected togetheruej,
stones cast aside, anti which he secreted in hie "hi.
room, awaiting a favourable moment to enjoY
contemplated feast. The desired opportunitY 9,4
sented itself a day or two later, and the child, ilevotS
broken the shells with a hammer, ate their conteto
with avidity. When his mother returned some 110 rd
later she found her son writhing on the ground,
to the most horrible suffering. The patient beol
rapidly worse, and before the medical man, who 05
immediately sent for, could arrive all hope of Pro.
the poor lad was lost. The symptoms wer!eueecl
nouuced to be absolutely analogous to those
by prussic acid, and the doctor, on learning the
r,ive quantity of peach kernels the child had dev'tie
declared without hesitation that these apparel
offensive almonds had occasioned the boy's death. ~,,Et•
BEE-DRIVING.—One of the most practical e_ef Bywof
masters givee the following account of his aTiegho
driving bees (says Land and Water). "Ona biva
day, between eleven and one o'clock, turn Ow° oaf:
from which the bees are to be driven bottom uP
it
in a shaded corner of the garden, and place I°ol,
another hive of the same size. They must fit c
' and to make the union or junction more contfle"
a cloth round the hives where they meet. 'I fat
fa
two sticks keep up a gentle but continued tePliseso°
about ten minutes; by the end of that time tr ths
will have mounted to the upper hive. This beircil.'iteA
case, take it directly to the place where the
hive was brought from, and put it on the 5e01.,!, 13.7
board. Then carry the driven hive siety yert'w becio
away, and place it on a fresh floor-board. Aeolit, se,
will probably be still in it, but they and so t tiosv
work will return to the driven bees. The eexe„ eel
is to empty the driven hive or its store; then
after sunset lay two sticks on the ground abotie_...fa!
inches apart, opposite the stock to which yott
join the driven bees, then with a smart stra.e„
out the bees, and instantly, but very gentlY, Pe "'"iese
stock they are intended to enter on the sticlec)ee
tij
them for the night, and in the morning, be; TA/10;
rise, replace the stock in its original position. „flee, f
be peace. There will be an increased popuorwA
t it
stock thereby enabled to stand through the ,e,011),
much better, and to send out earlier swarinsr;
the union had not been effected. Septemb_e
_lO
best time for bee-driving, and the process 11.9:5 f fr
cases I know of proven very successful. 20,
butte's than tiguathorkais the pou; LI&&1O blw