The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-12-15 00:00:00

Our fonbon Corrtspoubtnt.

(We deem it right to state that we do not at all times
,-!denticy ourselves with our correspondent's opinions.]

The Speakership of the House of Commons is one of
the most dignified positions to which a member of that
assembly cm aspire. By many it is held to exceed in
honeur and in importance an office under the Crown,
which is as a rule conferred upon the recommendation
of the Minister of the day. The members of the
Cabinet, fur instance, are selected at the suggestion of
the Premier for the time being. But the Speaker of
the House of Commons, being chosen by the House
Itself, has no occasion to go back to his constituents
for a ratification of his election to his high office ; he
is the mouthpiece of the House, and not a servant of
the Crown. For a long time it was the custom for the
Speaker to represent a county censtituency—Mr.
Shaw Lefevre, now Lord Eversley, sat for North
Haute; Mr. Evelyn Det icon, the late Viscount
o,eineton, represented North Notts; Sir Henry Brand
is the Liberal member for Cambridgeshire. Mr.
Arthur Peel, the new Speeker-nominate, is a borough
representative. He was elected in the Liberal interest
for Warwick at the general election of 1865, and comes
therefore as a break after successive Speakers returned
for the shires.
The Lendon shops are already beginning to indicate
the approach of Christmas, especially in the show of
artistic knick-knack, which for some recondite reason
or other are thought to be seasonable presents at
this season of the year. In view of an unusually
heavy pressure, the Post-office authorities are making
preparations to meet the emergency, but it is probable
that, notwithstanding all their calculations, the re-
sources of the department will be taxed to the utmost.
For it mu-t be borne in mind that this year, in ad-
dition to the annua ly increasing numbs r of Christmas
cards which have to be dealt with, the Parcel Post is
likely to be largely employed for the delivery of more
substantial forms of compliment and seasonable com-
fort In the interest of a hardly-worked body of
public servants it is, therefore, desirable that every-
thing which can be sent early should be forwarded a
few days before Christmas.
Among the Christmas annuals at the Metropolitan
places of amusement the pantomime at Drury Lane
deservedly takes first place as a spectacle. A state-
ment has been made, but with no degree of authority,
that among the novel effects to be introduced in
" Cinderella " at the historic house this year is a
hunting party with a pack of hounds in full cry.
Having witnessed a rehearsal I can state that this is
to be the case. There will be no fear, however, of the
dogs bounding over the footlights and creating a
panic among the audience. A tempting piece of
meat hung within eight of the animals in the oppo-
site " wioge " will be sufficient to make them chase
acrose the stage in the most admirable style. Mr. E.
L. Blanchard, who has provided the libretto for
something like thirty years, has again written some
pleasant lyrics, although such a number of panto-
mimes may well have become a weariness to the
flesh.
Among the most interesting and popular collections
of pictures at present on view is that of the series
representing scenes on the Taamee, painted by Mr.
Keeley Halswelle, and now being exhibited at Messrs.
Agnew's Gallery. These pictures represent six years'
work on the river, during the greater part of which
time the artist has lived on the Thames, in a comfort-
able house-boat of his own design. This boat, some-
thing in the fashion of the Noah's Ark of childhood's
happy hours, is sixty feet long and comprises a
comfortable saloon, two bedroom., kitchen, and all
necessary offices. By living so long on the stream and
watching all her varying moods, Mr. Halswelle
has become thoroughly imbued with what, for want of
a better term, must be described as the spirit of the
Thames. His lovely pictures and his experience will
probably induce many other people who are not artists
to establish themselves occasionally in a scene where
the rate collector ceases from troubling. It has for
some seasons been a favourite holiday with a few lovers
of Nature and quiet to spend a week or two on the
river, and in one instance a couple, well known in
society, thus enjoyed their honeymoon. There is little
danger, however, that the quiet reaches of the
Thames will become a fashionable and therefore
crowded holiday resort.
In a city so large that it has more Irishmen than
Dublin, more Scotchmen than Edinburgh, and more
Jews than Palestine, it is not surprising that bad
characters of all sorts and nationalities should abound.
Some rEcent trials and Incidents have indicated the
existence of a large body of conspirators whose
prcssnce excites some amount of alarm, and gives
considerable trouble to the authorities. The houses
in which these men, mostly Continental refugees,
are in the habit of meeting have been pretty well
ow n for some time, but of late the authorities
hava taken secret precautions to have these rendezvous
more carefully and systematically watched. The
reason for this is that it is believed an intimate con-
nectien exists between the secret societies cu the
Continent and thcsa in London, and that there is a
desire to slrike at authority generally apart from
specific wrongs or grievances. At the same time a
Tuo=e careful guard has been set on several eminent
ts.ereonages, who it is thought may be the objects of
attack, not SO much as individuals but as part of a
Pthalle of terrorism.
Cricketers will be glad to hear that a result of the
interchange of crieketing competitions between Ens-
land and Australia has in one instance at least in-
creased the attachment between the colony and the
mother-country. It is announced that that popular
piayer, the Hon. Ivo Bligh is to he married at Mel-
bonrne in February next to Miss Florence Morphy, an
attractive and wealthy young lady. It is to he hoped
that Mr. Bligh will not be induced to wholly desert the
ground at Lords' or the Oval.
Cattle Show week is an event of greater interest to
a large number of Londoners than many people in the
country would imagine. In the first place it is some-
thing so different from their usual everyday experience
that it has an interest peculiarly its own to people who
have not the remotest idea of the difference between
Herefords .end Devons, or swedes and mr.ngold
sgurzels ; othera like to revive the remembrances of
the time when in their youth they went "to call the
cattle 11:)me ; " some go with friends from the country

to whom their ignorance on subjects agricultural is most
• amusing; while still another class visit the Agricultural
Hall because of the man i Fold other attractions and enter-
tainnoente which the place contains. The streets of
London this week also present quite as characteristic
an appearance as do the principal thoroughfares with
the clerical elemert3 during the May meetings. The
restriction on the movement of cattle, owing to the
existence of foot-and mouth disease in some districts
2.oes not seem to have had any appeeciable effect on
this year's exhibition, whilst the instances of the undue
de, e-lopment of adipose tissue have been as wonder-
ful as ever. One is induced to think that the minimum
of hone with the maximum of flesh must have been
attained.
The anniversary of the death of the late Prince
Consort this week finds the members of the B,oyal
Family assembled at Windsor as usual to commemo-
rate that sad event. Unhappily, her Majesty,
although her general health is fairly good, is still
suffering from the accident she eggerienced some
months ago; there is, indeed, a fear that lameness of
such long-standing may become chronic, It is now
twenty-two years since the Prince Consort died,
Princess Beatrice being then less than five years
Since that sad event death has made but one breach in
siegularly united and affectionate family—the late
Princess Alice, the publication of whose biography at
this juncture has appropriately shown how real and
unaffected was the love of Her Majesty's children for
their father. This year the Princess Louise is again
resident in England, but the Duke of Connaught is
now serving his Queen and country in our far-off
Indian Empire.
Some comment has been made on the circumstance
that the Crown Prince of Portugal, who is now
visiting England, was not lodged during his
stay at one of the Royal Palaces, for instance, at
Buckingham Palace, vehich is now so rarely
tenanted. It is underst md, however, that the
arrangement meets the Prince's own wishes. The
visit not being of an official, state, or complimentary
character, Ilia Royal Highness desired that fuller
freedom of movement which he could obtain by living
at one of the palatial hotels. He is thus enabled to
move about with much greater facility than would
otherwise have been the case, and has availed himself
of the opportunity to see many of the sights of London
which would net have been convenient for him in the
character of a State guest. He has been in the pro-
viecea visiting the great centres of industry where
he has had an unmistakably hearty we:come.