The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-03-23 00:00:00

ATTACKED BY A BABOON.

Zoologists do not usually include the baboon in
their catalogue of dangerous animals—the gorilla and
the mias are apes, of course. But in South Africa
this absurd brute is something more than a
nuisance. He dwells gregariously in a kloof, or in a
fissure of the mountain side near a highway for
choice, and plunders all the cultivated ground about.
To attack one of the " mob " brings all the rest
galloping for rescue or vengeance, and months
after a fight the baboons will keep watch and
ward, rushing down at every passer-by. In the
less settled districts it is not rare to find a
path or an easy defile abandoned for no better reason.
On this account travellers of sporting taste are strongly
urged to leave the baboons alone, and force has been
used when entreaties have failed. We conclude that
Mr. John Pringle, "the guest of Mr. Christian Neser,
on the Hantam," is a stranger in the colony. An
Africander' hunting for'stray sheep, would not have
thought of firing into "five full-grown male baboons,"
upon a mountain side. The injudicious Mr. Pringle did
so, and one dropped, whilst the others ran a little dis-
tance. He approached his victim, but two of the survivors
dashed out, and though he fired away at close quarters,
one sprang at his face, griping his shoulders with its
hands, and his waist with its prehensile feet. In a
moment it ripped off coat and waistcoat, and seized
the man's throat in its jaws. Most luckily he wore a
woollen "comforter " twisted several times about his
neck. The hrute's enormous teeth got entangled in the
folds, but Mr. Pringle must have been overpowered
had he not tripped and fallen violently. Theobaboon's
hold relaxed for an instant, enabling the man to grasp
its throat in turn, and by his weight to roll it over.
Then he crushed its head with a stone. The three
surviving baboons did not interfere, which is a strange
thing; had they done so, Christian Neser would have
missed his guest that night. Mr. Pringle we learn, is
young, active, and very powerful, "standing several
inches over six feet in his stockings. He has several
times had to struggle hard with a strong man' but he
never had a tougher job than to master that baboon."
It is safe to predict that one experience has made this
gentleman as prudent as any Africander born, who
now conscientiously refrains from, meddling with the
cynocephati on his estate.—Evening Standard.

THE MARRIAGE OF THE EARL OF
ROSEBERY.

The Evening Standard of Wednesday, gives the fol-
lowing interesting account of the marriage of the Earl
of Roselo,.ry to Miss Hannah de Rothschild, which
took place in London on Wednesday morning
"Never since the legislation in th; .; country of the cere-
mony of civil marriage did a register ,ffice present such an
animated picture as the sight witnessed this morring in
Mount-street, Grosvenor-square, on the occasion of the
marriage of. the Earl of Rosebery and Miss Hannah de
Rothschild. The prominent position which the young
earl has already won for himself in the House of Lords,
as well as the reported almost fabulous wealth of
the fair bride, in a great degree accounts for the very
general interest taken in to-day's proceedings, not only by
members of the aristocracy but by the people at large. It
Is some five years now since a Gentile bridegroom and
Hebrew bride, holding a prominent position in society, were
publicly married after the form of civil law, and then,
strange to say, as was the case to-day, the bride was a
daughter of the House of Rothschild. On the
former occasion the ceremony was of a less at-
tractive character, there being no floral decorations,
or preparations in any shape suggesting a public
display. Such was the great interest, however, known
beforehand to be taken in to-day's proceedings from the
numerous applications made to Mr. Thomas Worlock, the
superintendent registrar, for cards of admission that it was
deemed necessary, with the consent of the Registrar-General,
to fit up a large room adjoining the ordinary register office
for the occasion. And this was done in excellent taste.
The large room so obtained was carpeted throughout, the
walls being bordered with evergreens, at intervals lighted up
with spring blossoms, whilst the registrar's table was a very
garden of exotics, roses, azaleas, lilies, and geraniums, with
their fringe work of ferns and dwarf palms springing from
China vases.

"The marriage was announced to take place at a quarter
before ten o'clock, and ten minutes before that time the
Earl of Rosebery entered the room, which was already
nearly filled by those who had been fortunate enough to
receive invitations, amongst whom were Lord and Lady
Leconfleld, Viscount Lascelles, Lord Carington' Miss Sarah
Cohen, Mr. B. F. Primrose, Mr. and Mrs. Sas.soon, Mr.
Christopher Sykes, and Mr: John &Linnet. Shortly before
the appointed hour the bride, accompanied by Miss Lucy
Cohen, arrived at the entrance in a carriage and pair, and
on alighting at the entrance was received by Lady Leconfleld,
by whom she was conducted through the entrance hall, which
was carpeted with scarlet cloth and sentinelled by tall ever-
greens, to the registrar's room. She wore a white brocaded
silk costume, a cloak of grey cashmere trimmed will silver
fox fur and lined with ermine, and a white bonnet of pearl.
grey trimmed with rose-coloured ribbon, white ostrich
feathers tipped with pink, and a border of pearls. The
only ornament observable was a plain gold bracelet worn on
the right arm. The ceremony, which is a very brief one,
was then gone through. The bride and bridegroom ap-
proached the registrar's table tcgether, and, standing on the
right of the official, who explained that the form did not
partake of the character of a relrgious ceremony, one after
another made the necessary declaration prescribed by law—
the bridegroom first saying, I do solemnly declare that I
know not of any lawful impediment why I, Archibald
Philip Primrose, Earl of Rosebery, may not be joined in
marriage with Hannah de Rothschild. The bride then re-
peated the declaration, transposing, of course, the position
of the names of the contracting parties. Tiley then joined
hands, and the ring, which had been previously handed
to the registrar, and by him placed upon his book, was
taken up by the bridegroom, who placed it on the fourth
finger of the left hand of the bride, repeating after the
registrar, 'I call upon those persons here present, to wit-
ness that I, Archibald Philip Primrose, Earl of Rosebery,
do wit-
ness,
this Hannah de Rothschild to be my lawful wedded
wife.' The bride having made a similar statement, the
Registrar said, The marriage is now completed, and I hope
your lordship may live long and be happy.'
"The newly-married bride and bridegroom having then
received the congratulations of their friends, the Countess
was conducted to her carriage by the Earl of Rosebery, and
in company with Miss Lucy Cohen drove to her house, 107,
Piccadilly, the balconies of which were gay with the blended
colours of spring flowers and hothouse plants.

"Long before the hour announced for the religious portion
of the ceremony (a quarter to twelve), the sacred edifice in
which it was elected it should be performed, Christ Church,
Mayfair, was crowded with a congregation representing the
laity, rank, and fashion of the metropolis. Admission was
only to be obtained by ticket, and so numerous were
the applicants, that the most rigid supervision was necessary
at the doors, every available seat being engaged. Amongst
the most prominent of those present were the Prince of
Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, Lord Henry Lennox, Lord
Lascelles, the Marquis of Hartiugton, Mr. C. Sykes, Dird
Stanhope, the Duke of Cleveland, the Hon. E. Stanhope,
Lord Colvile, Sir Coutts Lindsay, and many members of
the family. At half-past eleven the bridegroom, attended
by Lord Carington, arrived and took up his position at
the right of the communion table in front of the
altar rails. A few minutes later, and a slight bustle
at the entrance doors announced the arrival of the
bride, who was escorted up the aisle by the Earl of
Beaconsfield, the four bridesmaids in attendance being
all children, the daughters of Sir Coutts Lindsay, Lard
Leconfield, and Lady Stanhope. The bride wore a dress
of white satin, nearly covered Siith Brussels lace, with
rows of orange blossoms alternating with the flounces, and
a splendid veil also of Brussels lace. Her only orna-
ments were a wreath of orange blossoms in the hair, and
a pair of pearl and diamond earrings. The bridesmaids'
costumes were of white silk, with threa-comered hats
trimmed with swansdown, similar to those worn in the
reign of George 111. Each wore a locket, the gift of the
bridegroom, having the monogram 'A. 11. the two
former letters in diamonds and the last in rubies, a diamond
tie of the period of Louis XVI. surmounting the whole.
The ceremony, which was of the plainest character,
was performed by the Rev. Wm. Rogers, of Bishops-
gate, Prebendary of St. Paula and Chaplain to the Queen,
the bride being given away by the Prime Minister. At
its conclusion the bridal party proceeded to the vestry to
attest the register, whilst the organ, 'presided over by
Signor Randegger, pealed forth the strains of Mendel-
ssohn's Wedding March.' The witnesses to the mar-
riage were their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales
and the Duke of Cainbridge, the Duke of Cleveland, Earl
Beaconsfield, Lady Lecontield, and the Hon. Everard Prim-
rose. The music in the earlier portion of the morning con-
sisted of an allegretto from the Lobeseng, an offertory in A.
by Welch, and the march of the priests from Athalie, per-
formed by Mr. Stokoe, the organist of the church. After the
marriage, the company were conveyed in carriages to the
house of the bride in Piccadilly. where the wedding break-
fast took place. Later, in the day, the bride and bride-
groom left Victoria Station by special train for Petworth
House, the seat of Lord Leconfield, from whence they will
journey to Scotland to complete the honeymoon.

"By far the greater number of the glittering and almost
priceles presents offered to the bride were displayed on an
inclined table, covered with blue cloth, in the back draw-
ing-room, the place of honour being given as a matter of
course to those given by the noble bridegroom. On this
centrepiece, which was the first feature to attract the ad-
miring eyes of the guests, were the Rosebery family jewels,
comprising a tiara, comb, collet, pear-shaped ear-rings,
and cross of brilliants, a splendid group by a new parure of
brilliants, formed of a tiara of large stones, a double heart
bracelet, with two drop-shaped stones, a bracelet of three
rows, a necklace of three rows, with clustres at the sides and
back, a pair of ear-rings, a magnificent pearl necklace of
five rows, the snap being a portion of the family diamonds,
a bouton suite, consisting of a bracelet of eight large pearls,
each surrounded by brilliants, a brooch formed of one
superb pearl in a double circle of brilliants, and earrings of
the same character. There was also a large brilliant spray
brooch, in form of a rose berry,' a pendant containing a very
large and deep-coloured sapphire and flue pearl, set with
brilliants, which are completed by four gem rings, severally
composed of rubies, emeralds, sapphires, and diamonds, all
being large stones. Specially interesting in the display were
the exquisite box of enamelled gold surmounted by a portrait
of Marie Antoinette; a painted fan which belonged to that
unfortunate Queen; and an old Italian mirror, with pair of
candlesticks, the silver work being wonderfully elaborate
and minute. In addition were a stomacher of roses, four
hoop rings with diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and sapphires,
as well as the monogram brooches worn by the bridesmaids
at church.

"Prominently noticeable amongst the numerous gifts dis-
played were an extremely beautiful and curiously-formed
green case of dressing instruments, mounted with quaint
silver work of the Louis XVI. period, presented to the Earl
of Rosebery by the Prince of Wales, and a turquoise and
diamond ring presented by the Earl of Beaconsfield to the
Countess of Itosebery. The other gifts were from various
members of the nobility and other persons of eminence and
distinction, the whole in money value representing what in
all probability may be modestly set down as representing
a quarter of a million sterling."