The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-05-27 00:00:00

S.A.TUBDAY, MAY 27, 1876.

CRUELTY To .ANIMALS.—The Bishop of Oxford
presided on Saturday at a meeting of the local branch
of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals. In moving the adoption of the report, his
lordship said, that witl4-regard to the general purposes
of the society there were many persons who had not
been accu,tomed very much to consider what was due
to the creatures around them, and they thought it a
matter of small importance whether there was more
or less suffering inflicted on them. Cruelty was a
character, a state of mind and habit of acting, and
although now and then a cruel thing might be done in
thoughtlessness, the general commission of acts of
cruelty indicated a temperament of which cruelty was
the characteristic, and it was quite ceTtain where
there was cruelty it was not confined to animals. Toe
temper and character which produced these acts were
just as dangerous to man and woman as to the animals
whose cases they had particularly in view; and when
they had succeeded in repressing acts of cruelty to
animals, they should keep =der central and in check
that temper and character which made homes mieerable
and led to acts of fatal violence.

A BLIND CLERG/MAN.—The Rev. Norman
Frederick M'Neile, M A., who has been appointed to
the stipendiary curacy of the church of St. Paul,
Prince's Park, Liverpool, officiated for the first time
on Sunday. The rev, gentleman, who is one of the
sons of the Rev. Dr. M`Neile, late Dean of Ripon,
and brother of the Rev. E. H. M`Neile, the incum-
bent of St. Paul's, is, says the Liverpool Mercury, per-
fectly blind, and read the service from a "raised"
prayer book. The reverend gentleman recited rather
than read the service, and was most effective when he
announced that the Queen desired the thanksviving of
the congregation upon the safe return of the Prince of
Wales from India.
DEGREES OF : "Morning,
James, I see your gals ha' got a new guv'ness ; what
sort of a pusson is she? "—James: "Well, hi can't
zackly say, as hi don't 'ave much to do with 'er class,
but hour ladies down stairs don't think much of 'er !"
—Fun.

PRISON REFORM IN STAlN.—Three great and.
fearful abuses connected with the prisons and penal
establishments of Spain having been brought to light,
three great reformers—very Howards of Spain—have
arisen (says the correspondent of The Times). Senor
Silvela has taken up the cause of the gaols, or smatter
prisons, where at least 2,000 or 3,000 hapless beings
are lying from year to year untried and uncondemned,
In filth, and without beds. St nor Villalva, the In-
speetor-General of Penal Establishments in Spain, is
at work night and day. I visited the large convict
prisons (500 men, 600 women, roughly stated) at Alcala
de Henares, an hour's run from Madrid, on Sunday,
and saw Selir Villalva, and inspected his plans for
improving the large convict establishments of Spain
and Spanish Africa. His reform has commenced at
Alcala, and architect and builder are at work there.
His plan is based on the separate sleeping system of
English prisons. Stilor Lastre has taken up the cause
of the lads under eighteen years convicted of their
first offence, and a reformatory for boys on the French
and English systems will be built soon in Madrid, the
first of its kind.

HOW THE WIDOW CAUGHT HIM.—A gentle•
man of an autobiographical turn relates how he was in-
structed in the custom of taking toll by a sprightly
widow during a moonlight sleigh-ride with a merry
party. He says :—" The lovely Widow L. sat in the
same sleigh, under the same buffalo-robe, with me.
Oh 1 oh! don't, don't,' she exclaimed, as we came to
the first bridge, and at the same time catching me
by the arm, and turning her veiled face toward
me, while her little eyes twinkled through the
moonlight. Don't what ? ' I asked, 'l've not
done anything." Well, but I thought you were
going to take toll,' replied the widow. 'Toll?'
I rejoined, What's that?' I de,:lare !'
cried the widow, her clear laugh ringing above the
music of the bells, you pretend you don't know what
toll is !" Indeed I don't. then,' I said, laughing;
explain, if you please." You never heard then,' said
the widow, most provokingly—' you never heard that
when we are on a sleigh-ride the gentlemen always—
that is sometimes—when they cross a bridge claim a
kiss, and call it toll. But I never pay it.' I said that
I never heard of it before;—but—" here the story
abruptly ends.
JUDICIAL LENIENCY.—A sentence of imprison-
ment for 99 years was passed at St Louis in April upon
a negro who confessed that he had killed his wife. The
St. Louis Republican states that he was allowed to
avoid risk to his neck by pleading guilty of murder in
the second degree; and there being a law of the State
of Miasouri that a person sentenced to imprisonment
for life can claim his discharge at the expiration of 15
years, the judge passed a sentence longer than for life.

" PORTABLE " PROPERTY. —A correspondent I
writes to The Times :—" It will surprise the majority
of your readers to hear that the gold in the vaults of
the Bank of France at the present moment exceeds 500
tens in weight—ln other words, it weighs about as much
as 20 locomotive engines of the fist size. What were
the treasures of Solomon or Crcesus to this? To trace
the process by which this immense macs has, as it
were, gravitated to Paris, would be no easy task.
£150,000 weighs over a ton; £75,000,000 would there-
fore weigh 500 tons."
REGISTER.ED ELEcrol!.s.—The number of elec-
tors on the register for England and Wales now in
force' according to a Parliamentary Paper just issued,
Is 2,340,763, of which 843,803 are in counties, 1,484,844
In boroughs, and 12.116 in Universities. In Ireland
the number is 230,773, of which 173.860 are in coun-
ties, 53,590 in boroughs, and 3,323 in Trinity College,
Dublin. In Scotland the number 15295,420, comptising
86,412 in counties, 198,725 in burghs, and 10,283 in
Universities.

QUAKER CHARITIES.—The Charity Com-
missioners have compiled a list, or digest of endowed
charities in England and Wales intended for the
benefit of members of the Society of Friends. The
list is long, but consists chiefly of small charities, many
of them designed to meet wants not requiring a large
sum. There are endowments for paying the expenses
of Friends attending yearly or quarterly meetings;
for "buying hay for Friends' horses in stable at meet-
ing ;" for those who entertain public Friends on re-
ligions service; for the entertainment of such strangers
as shall come to visit Friends at Arundel. Another
trust, which we hope may b 3 ranked as obsolete, is for
the relief of poor Friends or prisoners "suffering on
account of truth." There are several charities for the
encouragement of marriage among poor Friends—a
marriage portion fund in the metropolis produces £3BO
a year. Charities producing nearly £9,000 a year are
for distribution in money among poor Friends; there
is about £B,OOO a year applicable to education, and
g 5,000 for the maintenance ot meeting-houses. The
total gross income of the charities reaches £27,425 a
year.
NEW DISCOVERY.—A man has just discovered
a substitute for bread. As bread is a tning of the most
world-wide consumption, he expects to make his fortune
immediately. The substitute consists of rumpsteak
and potatoes; and the inventor says the addition of a
little beer helps matters along. He has tried a lot of
things, he ears, but this is the only substitute he can
recommend.—Judy.

THE LOCK TRADE.—An important labour
reform has just been initiated in the lock trade at Will-
enhall. The lookmakers have by a large majority resol-
ved to abolish the system of " hiring " which for a very
long period has prevailed in the trade. By this system a
workman engages hisrutelf to an employer for a term of
years, in consideration of a loan of money—ranging
from £5 to 220—t0 be repaid by weekly instalments.
Owing to the scarcity of skilled workpeople' employers
have lately been outbidding earth other in the offer of
loans, and not only has the trade become disCirganized,
but the social effects of the system upon the workpeople
themselves and their wives and families have been un-
satisfactory. Mr. Isaac Spooner, the sti,,endiary
magiArate for South Staffordshire, has repeatedly
condemned the system as being little short of "white
slavery."
FATAL CARRIAGE A CCIDENT.—A n accident

took place on the Alcester-road, about six miles from
Birmingham, on Monday, by which Captain Thornton
lost his life, and the wife of Major Briggs was
seriously injured. Captain Thornton had been on a
visit to Air. Mole, of Beoley Hall, and on his return,
while driving a dog-cart down hill from the " Maypole"
Inn, the horse being frightened, dashed down Lime-
kiln-lane. Captain Thornton attempted to draw up
the horse to a dead wall, but the force of the collision
was such that he was thrown out, falling on his head
and the trap over him. He died in two hours. Mrv.
Briggs was also thrown on the ground. She received
severe face and internal injuries. Captain Thornton
was about 32 yeart of age, and leaves a widow and
three children.
A SAD ACCIDENT.—The correspondent of the
Daily News, writing from Alexandria on May 15,

says :
On Thursday an English family of this city, and indeed,
the entire English community, were shocked by a sad acci-
dent. Mr. Robert Atkin, brother of Mr. Atkin, manager of
the firm of Whitworth Brothers, was taking his usual after-
noon dip in the sea at Ramleh, and after a time was seen to
be struggling, unable to reach the shore. Two gentlemen
from a neighbouring villa at once gave all the assistance in
their power—one plunging into the sea, the other sending for
help Mahe nearest coastguard station A small boat was
launched by two Greeks, but before any of the means em•
ployed could avail, Mr. Atkin had disappeared. Some time
elapsed before the body was recovered, and on the arrival of
the health officer life had long since ceased. Much sympathy
is felt for the family in their bereavement, the deceased bang
in the prime of life and universally esteemed. The funeral
took place at the cemetery on Friday, more than one hundred
gentlemen beiug present at the grave.
THE AVERAGE PRICE OF BRITISH CORN. —The
following are the average prices of British corn for the
week ending May 20, as received from the inspectors
and officers ot Excise :—Wheat, 445. ; barley,
355. 5d.: oats, 265. 51. per imperial qr. Correspond-
ing week last year : —Wheat, 425. 0d.,; Parley, 38s. 3d.;
oats, 31s. 3d.

WORKING MEN'S LORD'S DAY REST ASSOCIA-
TION.7The nineteenth annual meeting of the members
and friends of the above association has been held at
Exeter Hall, the Earl of Shaftesbury presiding, sup-
ported by a number of friends of the movement. The
hall was densely crowded.—Mr. C. Hill, secretary,
read an abstract of the report, which stated that by
the efforts of the association on behalf of country post-
men 321 receiving post-offices had been entirely closed
on Sundays, 300 new rural posts had been established
without a Sunday delivery, 100 rural post messengers
had been entirely released from Sunday deliveries,
361,000 publications had been issued, 60 lectures had
been given; the income had been £1,085, the expendi-
ture £734--Mr. S. D. Waddy, M. P., moved, "This
meeting declares its opinion that one day's rest in seven
from toil is an absolute necessity for the physical and
moral welfare of all clatses, and that the opening of
museums, gallesies, aquariums, and other places of
amusement on Sundays would enormously increase
Sunday labour and inflict a great moral and physical
injury on those large sections of the community whose
bread is earned in ministering to the amusements of
the people." This was seconded by the Rev: W. 04.
man and adopted, and eventually the following resoyi-
firm was agreed to :—" That, owing to the extensive
provision always made at or near places of amusement
for the sale of intoxicating drinks, the opening of places
of amusement on Sundays would greatly increase Sun-
day drinking, and be an additional barrier to the
closing of public-houses on that day."—The meeting
concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman.

HOMOGENEOUS IRON RAILS.—Mr. George
Leeman, Chairman of the North-Eastern Railway,
favours us (The Times) with the information that the
North Eastern Railwe.y Company are now engaged in
experiments upon a large scale under the superintend-
ence of Mr. Lowthian Bell, M.P., the eminent iron.
master, for making homogeneous iron rails from Cleve-
land pig, and that the experiments, so far as they have
gone, are highly encouraging. Should they result as
is very confidently anticipated, the advantage to the
Cleveland district must, Mr. Leeman says, be very
great.

THE PLAGITE.—The Levant Herald of the 10th
instant states that, while still conhned within its
original topographical limits, the plague has slightly
increased in virulence at Bagdad. According to the
last weekly bulletin of the Sanitary Board, the number
ot deaths in that city from the 23rd to the 29th ult, in-
elusive, was 399, or on an average 57 per day. At
Hillah, on the other hand, the mortality has been rather
less in comparison with the deaths of the previoas week,
148 persons, or about 21 per day, having died there
from the 23rd to the 29th ApriL In the same interval
eight deaths from plague we registerd at Imam-
Mouse, and ten fatal cases at Nedjet. Taking all in
all, the plague mortality in Mesopotamia has increased
by 52 deaths as compared with the returns of the pre-
vious week.
AFTER-DINNER SONG.-
-Fun.
TRIPLE MURDER IN THESSALY.—A letter
I
from Thessaly describes an atrocious murder which has
been committed at the village of Volo. A man about
sixty, with his wife and an adopted child, a boy of
seven, were living in a cottage near the will stream,
the noi.le of which is supposed to have prevented any
cries for assistance heir g heard. He had engaged
some women to work in his vineyard, and as no ad-
mittance could be obtained when they came in the
morning, they called some neighbours to force the door.
On entering the house a horrible sight presented itself.
The woman was lying in bed with her throat cut, and
one or two wounds on the head; near the door, as
though attempting to escape, lay the little child, also
with its throat cut. The man had been stabbed and
then hanged. Fire and petroleum had been placed
1
under him, evidently with the intention of burning
down the house, but the rope burnt through, and the
man fell, carrying part of the flooring with him, into
, the cellar, after which the fire smouldered, and smoke
was still ascending. Information was at once sent to
the authorities. As no robbery took place the crime is
supposed to have been done from revenge.

"In nappy moments."

PRESENTS FROM INDM—The princes and dis-
tinguished natives of India who showed their loyalty to
the throne of England by lavishly bestowing presents
on the Queen's eldest eon (remarks the Overland Mail),
will be interested to know that their valuable gifts
have all arrived in London. Many of them have been
placed at Marlborough House, others—many waggop
loads—have been deposited at the galleries of the
Exhibition building at South Kensington, adjoining
the Royal Albert Hall. In these spacious galleries the
articles of the India klusenm are now seen by the
public; and here the presents for the Prince are being
opened, and after his Royal Highness has seen them
displayed, they will be for a couple of months at least
open for the inspection of the public, who will judge of
the handsome manner in which their Prince has been
entertained in India by what he has brought home.

A SHORT COURTSHIP.— The New York papers
report the death of Barney Williams, a popular Irish
comedian, whose real name was Bernard Flaherty. He
left his wealth to his wife and daughter, Marie !Cath-
leen, his real estate alone being valued at over 81,000
dots. The following novel incident of Barney's court-
ship and marriage is told :—" In 1859 Barney and Joe
J-ffarson, who has since become famous as Rip Van
Winkle, were both playing in the stock company of
the Chatham-street Theatre. In the same companY
was a very pleasant young widow, Mrs. Mestayer, and
Barney and Joe had both cast slyglances at the widow,
and neither suspected the other of being smitten. One
evening Joe asked Barney, as they were dressing for
the stage, to make Mrs. Mestayer an offer on his be-
half. Barney was staggered, but horoically re- -
solved to abide by the lady's decision. He fulfilled his
task between the first and second acts of the first piece,
saying, "Mr. Jefferson has commissioned me to offer
you his heart and hand.' 'I am sorry," said she, as
her lively face clouded with mingled regret at the
necessity of rendering Joe unhappy, and the seeming
indifference of Barney. I respect and admire Mr.
Jefferson, but I can never become his wife.' Then
will you have me?' eagerly inquired Barney. I will,'
she said, brightening up, as Barney seized her hand.
A clergyman was sent for, and the couple were married
between the second and third acts."

JUDICIAL EXPENDITURE. Mr. M`Laren,
M. P., has obtained a return to an order of the House
of Commons, which was issued on Saturday, as to
"Judicial Expenditure." In England, in the last year
given-1873, the gross total expenditure was £1,227 273
18s. 7d. ; the fees, stamps, &c., amounted to £900,144
5. 2d., leaving the net total expenditure £327,129
13t 51. In Ireland the gross total expenditure Was
£282,617 17s. 3d., and the net expenditure £211,935
10s. 9d. In Scotland, in the same year, the gross total
expenditure was £161,981 12s. 10d., and the net
£145,978 ss. 7d. In the year ended the 31st of March
last, in England, there were 32 judges, whose salaries ,
amounted to 167,500, with an addition of ten annuities
amounting to £39,750; in Scotland, 13, at £42,3001
with an addition of two annuities, making in all
£46,800; and in Ireland, 21 judger at salaries,
£78,515 17s, with an addition of four annuitiee
amounting to £12,697 Bs. Bd. There are exceptions
made as to officers below superior judges, which are •
given in the first part of the document.
STRANGE, BUT TRUE.—In these days, when
everything is done at railway speed, a great maul
people are met with who, you find, are, as they sal,
tied to time." And yet, in spite of all these ob-
stacles, how Time flies !—Judy.
THE MUNIFICENT GIFT BY MR. BAIRD.--Tile
Dundee Advertiser mentions a rumour that Mr. Baird;
the ironmaster, has in contemplation the bestowal ol ,
another half million sterling to Presbyterian USI3E---.
largely but not exclusively for the benefi; of the Church
of Scotland. The munificent donor is said to desire
the advancement of the higher education of the
ministers of all Presbyterian denominations, and to be
devising means whereby those of the-Free and United
Presbyterian Churches might participate in the advan"
tages of this second munificent gift without any cony
promise of principle on their part. Although the
precise nature of the endowment and the method of
its application may not be finally determined, tbe
Dundee paper adds, "we believe we may safely fore'
shadow the general intention to devote anothe,r,
£500,000 to the advancement of Presbyterian culture.
THE CAT OUT.—Servant (to old lady freill
whom there are " expectations ") "if you pleaset
Mrs. Jones, missis has sent you a couple of fowls with
her compliments and many returns of the day !"--
Sharp and delightful Child (extra sharply) : " Ah yot
but I heard pa say she was to pick out the skinny ones;
and that they were too good for an old cat who 'a
made up her mind to live for ever and cheat the under'
taker ! "
—Fun.
RECRUITING IN THE NAVY. —A Parliamenthri
return just issued states that a general order was given
on the 18th of January, 1876, to the Home ports, the
CJastguard, and Marine recruiting officers in the fa''
lowing terms, viz. :—" Until further orders, the stair
dard height for boys of sixteen who enter the NavY
to be reduced from 51t. lin. to sit. ; and the qualifies'
tion as regards reading and Writing dispensed with
the case of boys who are otherwise desirable."

REMARKABLE ANTIQUARIAN DISCOVERY.—The
Norddeutche Allgemeine Zeitung records the discoverY,
of some remarkable antiquarian remsine made in a field
near Oos, in the Grand Duchy of Baden. A well-Pre-
setved skeleton embedded in the soil at a depth of
hardly two feet was dug out. Lying at its feet were
discovered a complete hut rusty suit of armour, a long
sharp pointed sword, a battle-axe, a shield, a spear or
great length, and an arrow bead. The sword was tone;
mented in various and coetly ways; a thin plate or
gold, with curious streaks, covered the hilt. Thor°
were also two silver-gilt ornaments for the ecabbero;
which, however, was missing. One of these was inlaio
with three polished valuable red stones. The skeletou
was laid with its feet pointed towards the east, the
head towards the we:et, with the face, as is generalli
the case in Germanic sepulture, turned to the north.
The armour is of a Teutonic or Frankish character, tbEe
ornamentation coinciding exactly with similar speev
mens discovered in the Germanic sepulchres rest
Pfullingen, in Wurtemburg, now deposited in tile
museum at Stuttgart.
TOMB MICH.—The Burials Bill may well be
called " a Liberal measure " when its promoters
demand for every man six feet in a church Yard.
Fun.
STRUCK DUMB.—The Panama Star reports
a remarkable case of sudden loss of speech. A sailor
on H.M.S. Repulse, in port at Panama, was engaged
on Sunday, the 2nd of April, in polishing his shoes
preparatory to attendirg the church service on board.
ne was In apparently perfect health, laughing and
joking with his shipmates in the usual seamanlike
manner. After an interval, in attempting to eePIX
to something that was said he found that be'
power of articulation had gone; not a word or intelli-
gible sound could he utter. His general health war!
unimpaired up to the'2lst, and the medical officers er
the ship wera unable to account for the sudden-con.
veysion of a loquacious fellow into a mute, uttering
only guttural and unmeaning Bounds.
A DAUGHTER OF ERIN.—The new cook (on
receiving " short " notice to leave with a hint that she
has given a false character). "An' is it me false
character ye're afther casting in me teeth I As if ra
be bringing me thrue character wid me, to lose it /0
your dirty service l"—Punch.
SUFFICIENT FOR A BEGINNING !—The
tifle American gives us an account of an excellent nevi
device for making sham meerschaum, horn, and coral
out of such humble materials as potatoes and carrota
(says the Standard). The process is admirably simple
and the results are unexceptionable. For making
meerschaum the potatoes have to be peeled ana
macerated for thirty-six hours in water acidulated
with 8 per cent of sulphuric acid. They are then taken
out and dried on blotting paper, and in hot sand under
heavy pressure upon plates of chalk or plaster /ne
several days. These supporting plates have to be
changed every cliy. The result of this simple Pre"
cess is a material of the appeararce of meerschaurag
and quite as easy to carve. By substituting a
per cent. of soda for the sulphuric acid in the
macerating liquor, and following in other respect°,
the same treatment, a material is produced of natin....°
greater hardness, whiteness, and elasticity, and awl
may, perhaps, one day develop into something feet
carving billiard balls. This material can be converted
into au imitation of horn by the not very troublesome
expedient of boiling it in water containing 19 per cent,
of soda. The imitation of coral is produced by the
substitution .of carrots for potatoes. With well
examples before us it seems hardly -too much to
prophesy that before long we shall be able to diepenen
with what are called natural processes. The alchemist°
who wearied themselves in the vain search for mesa
to transmute base metals into gold seem to have bell
not so much visionaries, as to have gone the wrong Iva,
to work. They wanted to take the last step first'
From carrots to coral is quite sufficient for a beiU
ning,