The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-21 00:00:00

stitutes, which now seem a long way off. Since these
were established the conviction has been gradually
strengthened in the mind of the statesman as well as
of the philanthropist that a working man requires not
only sustenance physically and mentally, but that a
good home and recreation are also essential to the
preservation of his health. When the railway
companies first began that process of extension
in the metropolis which has since received such
a great development, hundreds and thousands of
houses occupied by the labouring population were
swept away. Superficially, and upon first impressions,
this was regarded as an advantage in the clearing away
of rookeries, but it was very soon discerned that the
persons who had been dispossessed took up their
quarters in districts already crowded, so that an evil
which it was hoped was undergoing removal, was
actually being augmented. The wise action of Parlia-
ment, philanthropic enterprise, and private munifi-
cence, such as that of Mr. Peabody, have lately done
much to mitigate this substantial grievance. And now
a most useful organization—the Working Men's Club
and Institute Union—are enabling the artisan and his
family to reside a week or two at the seaside on mode-
rate terms. Feeling how often the health and strengt4
of the mechanic would be preserved from serious injury
by such a provision for needful rest and change of air,
they have established and completely furnished a Sea.
side Home at a price which is attainable to most of the
steady and industrious representatives of the artisan

In some of those years when there has been a super-
abundance of rein, the scientist and the philosopher
have inquired whether it is not possible for the hay
and the corn harvest to be saved by artificial means.
Why, in such an age of mental development and in-
tellectual skill, allow the hay to rot in the fields, or
the wheat to "grow out," as it lay unsaved in an
unwholesome and humid atmosphere? Man had
achieved many triumphs ; he had bent the
lightning to his will, had impressed steam into his
service; thus upon the land annihilating time, and
upon the ocean bidding defiance to winds and tides.
Thus independent of two powerful forces, which had
controlled the course of navigation during countless
ages, why, when the heat of the sun was withdrawn,
not invent a substitute, and on an emergency do with-
out that luminary? The question has not yet re-
ceived a practical answer; and to a very great extent
the agriculturist is still dependent upon the weather for
the success of his year's work. He makes the most of the
shining hours when they come, and glories in the light
of the harvest moon during the hours of the night.
But the harvest moon, like all others, wanes away;
and some of our enterprising agriculturists, if they
cannot dry their corn by artificial heat, can at least
save it by artificial light, Electricity has been applied
to the illumination of some of the London streets;
every pedestrian along the Strand at eventide has seen
its effect outside the Gaiety Theatre. It is certainly a
novel experience for the electric light to be trans-
ferred to the harvest field, but it has been done, man
being thus enabled to score one more victory in his
long struggle with the forces of Nature.