The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-08-09 00:00:00

SHORT SEA TRIPS.

The restorative influence of a voyage acrxis the At-
lantic and back in cases of breakdown from over-work
is not only a recognised fact but is becoming more and
more a favourite prescription with physicians who
have to treat these cases of "chronic fatigue." But
the expense of such a voyage is not within the nom-
pass ot all, nor can time always be spared from
business or professional avocations. We would,
however point out the facilities that exist for
shorter trips attended with slight expense. It
is quite possible to make the complete cir-
cuit of England and Scotland within a fortnight, and
for a less sum than six pounds cabin fare. This can
be done by taking the London boat for Edinburgh or
Aberdeen, and catching the Shetland mail steamer for
Stornaway at either place; from Stornoway to Glasgow,
round Skye; from Glasgow to Dublin, and from Dublin
to London, round the Land's End, touching at
Plymouth and Southampton. The perpetual change of
scene and interest that such a trip would include, to.
gether with the bracing sea air, would prove most
wholesome and beneficial to over-strung nerves. Nor,
unless the traveller was exceptionally predisposed,
need he have much fear at this season of the
year from sea-sickness. The steamers are large, and a
very considerable part of the voyage is made under
shelter of the coast, so that, unless he were particu-
larly unfortunate in point of weather, many days
would be passed in comparatively smooth weather.
But shorter trips, involving absence from business
for nearly three or four days, are also to be made,
as the run to Hamburg, Antwerp, or Havre. it
only requires that the steamboat companies should
arrange the hours of sailing to suit the general
convenience of the public, and act liberally in the
matter of return fares, to make these short sea trips
from Friday or Saturday till the Monday extremely.
popular, The monopoly of the fresh sea breezes, un-
tainted by the sewage of a large town or the defective
drains of a lodging-house, should not be left to the
wealthy yachtsman, but all classes should be en-
cour.aged to avail themselves of the opportunities
our insular position and well organised packet service
to our numerous ports afford for obtaining that best
of all tonics, sea air on the open sea.—The Lancet.

THE HOMELESS POOR IN BERLIN.
The association for providing night refuges for
homeless persons of both sexes in Berlin has just pub-
Halm' its report for I'lB, whence it appears that in the
course of the year 120,720 persons, of whom 106,183
were men and boys and 14,535 women and girls, were
given a night's lodging. This association was founded in
1869; and since that time 548,919 men, 70,555 girls, 67,461
women, 19,534 children, and 1,108 infants in arms
have received eheller in the two houses, one for males
and the other for females, which have been erected at
a total cost of £10,060. The refuge for women is
open from six in the evening until eight in the morn-
ing during winter, and from seven to seven during the
summer months. There is always a crowd at the
doors long before the time of opening, and when the
hour for admission arrives each woman is received upon
entering the house by the housekeeper (llausmutter),
and compelled to wash her face and hands, while
baths are provided and dry clothes for those who
are considered to require them. The women are
given soup and bread for supper, and before they leave
in the morning they have coffee and bread. The
housekeeper is forbidden to ask them their name and
address, all that they are required to state being their
age and the number of nights they have already
passed at the refuge. The latc question is asked be-
cause it is one of the rules of the association that the
same person 011111 not sleep in the refuge more than
five times in a math, though this rule is relaxed when
the refuge is not overcrowded. There is a reading.
room and a workroom for the use of the inmates.
There are four dormitories, two larger ones containing
eighty beds each, while the two smaller ones have
only forty each. Upon the floor below are dining-
rooms, kitchens, baths, and infirmary, with a padded
room for the use of patients who may chance to be
mad; and it is evident from the report of the asso.
ciation that they are doing a good work Indeed in a
very unostentatious manner,—Pall Mall Gazette.

THE HARVEBT IN SCOTLAND.—The Glasgow Herald
publishes reports from various districts in reference to
the harvest prospects throughout Scotland. In con-
sequence of the unseasonable weather the crops have
not nua,de that progress towards maturity which, would
insure the present year's harvest being up to time;
and as 6' a late harvest is always a risky one," it is
calculated by experts that the proti.nce of both the
cereal and root crops will be abOut a sixth part in
value below the average returns of previous Scottish
harvests. Oats will prove the best grain crop of the
season, the wheat fialcis as a rule ant loolsir.g so well as
in many former years. No disease has yet appeared
among the potatoes, but it is feared they will speedily
become. affecte4, by., tip autlerabluilfsincia of inisture
- with which earth itilraYnfited. Gigit tlifficultles
have been encountered with the turnips, many of the
fields having been thrice sown. Hay is plentiful, but
is suffering sadly from the wet season. A few weeks ,
of good weather would even yet ensure a fair although
not a full harvest.