The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-07-30 00:00:00

Our fonbon ofotresponbtnt.

177 e deem It right to state that we do not at all (hoes
ireutity ourselves with our correspondeut'a Opillio..l

Whatever maybe the opinion of this or that journal,
In one respect all the newspapers in the country
fairly represent public opinion—in the amount of at-
tention devoted to the war. To say there is nothing
else in the newspapers would be to say too much, but
undoubtedly this one great subject elwarfa all others.
Nor can we wonder at the deep interest that the public
feel in this absorbing topic. The war series likely to
be one of the most sanguinary on record. The nnmeri-
cal extent of the forces engaged and the fright-
fully destructive character of the modern wea-
pons of war must combine to produce this
result. And then we naturally feel deep inter, at
in the struggle owing to the great issues that
are certainly involved in it. We cannot expect that
the war will terminate without considerably modifying
the map of Europe. Contrary opinions are held as to
the causes of the war, and blame is meted out varniusly ;
but nothing that I have read precludes my belief that
it will prove a wicked, cruel, and unnecessary war;
that there really is no sufficient excuse for it and that
the misery, ruin. bloodshed, and desolation which it
will cause cannot be compensated for whatever may be
the result of this awful struggle. But mean while
everything that relates to the war is eagerly read. And
we may safely de pend on having plenty to read about
it. The contending armies may strive all in their power
to prevent news transpiring, but they will not be able
to do it, The French have officially announced that
no correspondents are to be allowed to communicate
intelligence, and that there will be an official " service
of publicity' organised, while Marshal Le Peed
frankly says that he would be very glad to permit the
journalists to ply their avocation if they would
soMmunicate nothing but lira—thus showing that
it is the truth that is feared. Farther than this, some
correepondents who have endeavoured to follow the
French army have been aerated and sent away with
fleas in their ears. Even if the Prussians act in a simi-
lar way, it will be founi that somehow or other special
correspondents will wee. Such men as Dr. Russell
and Mr. Sala will by hook or by crook procure infor-
mation, and we shall have a plentiful supply of special
correspondence ; nor will sketches of the scenes of
operations be wanting, for numerous artists as well as
special correspondents have "gone to the war." What I
these correspondents will have to record, what these I
artists will have to sketch, who shall say? Earnestly
is it to be hoped that at any rate we may be able to
keep clear of the actual war, but some of us are not
going the way to do this. Neutrality and nor-inter-
vention is our policy, and people ought to support
Government in this policy. It is, in my opinion, a
great pity therefore for the working classes to hold
meetings in favour of Prussia and against France, as,
to say the least, is contemplated ; it is sail that in Ire-
land a large crowd should ham serenaded the French
Consul-General, and that other demonstrations in
favour of France sheuld be contemplated. This
sort of thing widens the breach that exists be
tween a section if the Irish population and England
while cur strong Prussian sympathies tend to create
an illftelir g between the French and English working
classes. It woul Ibe far better for us all to maintain
a strict and a sorrowful neutrality. Tne balance of
wrong may be on the side of Prussia or ot France -the
reader must decide for himself; but it can scarcely be
denied that there is wrong on both sides. It may be
too late for mediation, but it is never too late for nem
trality. England, it is certain, will suffer whatever be
the course or the pshot of this cruel war. She is,
Indeed, suffering already in the recurrence of com-
mercial panic ensuing at a time when trade and com-
merce were reviving, and confidence was becoming
firmly established; in the rising price of the necessaries
of life ; in deactened enterprise, and in depressed
business. But worse than this must follow. Thousands
slaughtered; homes desolated; wives widowed; child-
ten made fatherless; war taxation ; and the gloom of
ruined trade—these mast c one in the ordinary course I
of events. If the war is destined to be fierce and
furious, Heaven grant that it may at least not be of I
long duration.

At last the Education Bill has passed the Commons,
and will come before the House of Peers in a form that
will make its acceptance almost a matter of course. It
cannot be considered a plrty measure as it now stands,
for it has recsived so much modification at the hands of
the Conservative party in the House of Commons that
it must commend itself to noble lords of that persua-
sion in the Upper House. May the bill soon become
law. It will cire u immense facilities for unsectarian
education, governed cn popular and local principles,
and will prove of an expansive and elastic character.
Doubtless, many defects will be discovered in it as soon
us the measure gets into working; but at the same
time it will undeniably prove a great boon to the
country in removing from us the aft ma of being be-
hind continental nations in the matter of popular edu-
cation. If we once get this bill into working, the
people will assuredly make great alvances in educa-
tion, and any modifications which may subsequently be
found necessary can be effeAeci. Our laws are not like
those of the Medea and Persiana.

The gathering at Wimbledon this year has certainly
been at least as successful as any former meeting, and
has been brought to an appropriate cone'usion by •
very good review. The war has had a dec'cledly bene-
ficial effect on the spirit of the volunteers, who have
felt that they may—Heaven grant that they may not
—have to put into practice their motto of "defence,
not defiance." The unhappy war that is now rsgiug
gave especial interest to the review of Saturday last.
On the other hand the melancholy and fatal accident
which has befallen the Hon. F. Charteris, eldest son of
Lord Echo, threw a gloom over the whole camp. On
the whole this annual volunteer c ncAmpment and rifle-
contest have ehown that our citizen soldiers more than
ever deserve the thanks of their country.

The great topic of the day overshadows all other
and less ens the interest in every other public event ;
otherwise sleep interest would be felt in the trial for the
Denham murders. No surprise can be expressed that
Jones, or Owen, has been found guilty of the murder
of seven persons; nor can any surprise be felt that
the ti ial for this dreadful crime should have been
witnessed by a large num er eif persons wha crowded
to hear the proceedings. Many perhaps will take ex-
•wption to the fact that two-thirds of the gallery space,
sad a number of reserved seats on either si le of the
bench were occupied by ladies. But why, it may be
asked, should not women as well as men assist at the
trial of this notorious criminal? Reading the account
of this awful case, the conclusion seems inevitable—
that the terrible word "Guilty" conveys the truth.
No other conclusion could be arrived at by the jury
or the pubic. But what is difficult to understand is
the extrsiardinary harrlihoi d and levity of the pri-
soner. It is astoundirg to think that when Ben-
..

e.
tome of death was passed upon him he should give
a military salute to the judge, and exclaim, "Thank
you, sir !" that he chock] habitually joke about his
awful situation alluding, for examplc, to hie
leaving off cinching, as he had resolved to do, on
a certain day, that being the day of his execution
Let the advocates for the abolition of capital punish
ment say what they will, it muat be confessed that the
world can well spare such a man.
• •

Six children burnt to death in a louse close to a I
fire.erigine station ! That is a remarkable fact, and
suggestive of grope n, glect or mi-maragement some-
where. Pending the j quest, all surmises as to the
cause of these children not being saved would be out
of place, but it is clear that houses might be so built—
especially with regard to trap-doors and moveable wire-
ladders for fire-escapes—that such terrible calamities
nerght not to be possible. And yet, taking the dwell-
ing-houses throughout the country, what provision is
there for escape in case of fire? Very little. It would
not be • bad thing, by-the-bye, could the condition of
oar dwelling-houses in this respect be ascertained
while taking the next Censnr. Of course the sugges-
tion would I,e laughed at as impracticable or foolish,
but there are two opinions about that. It is worth
thinking whether we can avoid such a holocaust as
this.

We do not make use of mushrooms in this country so
much as we might do, rr airily owing to the difficulty
a telling the true article from others which nearly re.
;tenable it, exlept intheirpoiaonousor del.:Wiens effect.
So a medical journal kindly tellus how thiaisto be done;
and thusepeaks the oracle : —"The true mushroom, as it
developes itself, ruptures the ovoid wrapper, or vulva
leaving the remains entirely at the base of the pedicef
while in the false mushroom the debris of the vulva
are found not only at the base of the pedicel, as in the
real Agar ic, lot even upon the red surface of the pileus
itself." is this bringing down science to the meanest
capacity ? The best of the jke is that this labs aired
information is intended for the special bAgetit of
children.
In the interest of at least a million and a half of
Londorarr. it 14 earnestly to be hoped that the
Government bill for the preservation of what remains
of Epping Forest may be hurried through Par-
liament. The importance of the object aimed at can
scarcely be overrated, and it is not indeed too much to
say that it affects the entire nation. Year after year,
and bit by bit, the once glorious Epping Forest. is
being taken away from the people, for whose health
and recreation the forest is invaluable. No one can
fully appreciate the value of this great play•ground
and holiday resort onless he has seen the denizens of
eastern London enjoying themselves there. Any one
who has once seen that pleasant eight, though he may
himself reside a hundred miles off, must heartily d: sire
that the bill brought in by Mr. Glad4one and some of
hi, e tecone law.