The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-08-13 00:00:00

lur **lino n Qoitrsponbtnt.

(We deem It rie•.t to gate that we do not at at tiny.
(dentity ourselves with our correspondent': iiiinional

We are decidedly feeling the adverse influence of
war, and being a nation of shopkeepers we feel it °nen-
mercially. With the Bank minimum rate at 6 per
cent., which of course means even a higher rate for
ordinary trade bills, businese is naturally rendered
more difficult, and it is not surprising that there
are many failuree. And then the funds and public
securities are low; railway stocks, miscellanecus shares,
and foreign securities are drooping; and commercial
enterprise altogether is deadened. I)f couree certain
departments of trade for the present profit by the
war, but they are the exception to the rule. And
then there is an uneasy feeling with regard
to the possibility, not to say probability, of our
being dragged into the war. The large increase in
our army, the active recruiting, the signiticent hint
to eoldiere to make their wide, poor fellows ! the
activity in our military and naval eetebliebments - all
these thing. tend to produce an unquiet and restless
feeling. Nor must we leave out of consideration the
tact that the intense interest felt in the progress of
the war diverts people's minds from their orilinery
business. This interest is eepecielly manifest in the
extraordinary sale of newspapere. Whoever suffers
by war, the proprietors of newspapers ought to be.
and doubtless are, the pecuniary painere. But do
they not now contain mit, sad reading ? It
is lamentable, it is piteous and heartrending, to read
the details of this cruel, unneceesnry, and sanguinary
conflict between two of themmt highlycevilised nation.
on earth. Who shall estimate the cost of war in
human suffering ? Even it. money cost cannot be
arrived at. While, however, we are reading of the
horrors of the present war we have incidentally an
official statement as to the national °est of the Crimean
war. The Chancellor of the Excheqtyui tells Us that by
that war the debt, funded and unfunded, was increased
about forty millions sternly?, and that the rest- -about
as much more —was raised by taxes during the con-
tinuance of the conflict ; so that the Crimean war
cost us eighty millions! That is a very powerful in.
ducement to us to keep out of the present ward it can
be accomplished honourably.
Among the painfully interesting incident* of the war
is that notable episode of the Prince Imperial receiving
what his father calls the "baptism of fire." Very sensa-
tional and very dramatic in its tone was the telegram
from the Emperor to the Empress : Louis ha just re-
ceived the baptism of fire. He was admirably cool and
in no way affected. He has kept a bullet which fell
quite close to him. Soule of the soldiers shed tears on
seeing him so calm !" But can one believe all this?
How did the bullet fall "quite close to him?" It is
difficult to believe that the boy was in any danger of
being shot, though a correspondent of the Debate sap
that the Prince was with his father on the heights
where several shells were bursting. And then the sol-
diers shedding tears because the boy was so
calm ! Supposing these crocodiles' tears were
ready at command, the only wonder is that these
°eying, soldiers were not promoted on the spot. It has
been well observed that he rot only received the
baptism of tire but that of blood. A battery of
mitraillemes had been placed in position in presence
of the Emperor and the Prince. A Pruesian
detachment marched within range; "the mitrail-
lenses fired upon them, and in a moment the
detachment was dispersed, leaving half of their
number on the ground. A second detachment
(messed the same line and met with the same fate."
And this was the baptism ef fire and blood that the
Prince Imperial "received" or rather witnessed—nay,
even administered according to one account, for it is
stated that the Prince "in person fired the first shot
from our mitrailleuses, which literally mowed down
the Pruisians." What a horrid entranci into the
theatre of war!

After reading so much about the horrors and the
"glory "of war—abut the chassepate, needle-guns
and mitrailleuses, it is pleasant to turn aside and read
about another battle-field, the moors, and the shooting
campaign that is about to commence. It seems that
the prospect of heavy bags has seldom been better,
that no disease has shown itself; and that the birds
are so strong and wild that they will try the skill and
mettle of the sportsmen. Very agreeable news this
for those who are looking forward to the pleasures and
excitement of a season on the Scotch Moors and
pleasant, too, even to those who cannot go, some of
whom look forward ta welcome presents, while others
contemplate the grouse season from a culinary point of
view. Shall Ibe regarded as saying a very ill-natured
thing, if I add that it is to be hoped, first, that people
mending their friends presents of game will be particular
about secure packing, and always to write saying what
is coining; and, secondly, that railway directors ought
to look very sharp after some people—need not say
who—who have been known to stop game in transttn.
Finally, to persons about to send me game—do.

Au innovation—all reforms are inndvations—at one
of our theatres, the Olympic, is worth noting. To
go to the theatre this weather is warm work, as many
of the managers have found to their cost; and at the
theatre mentioned you have cool air supplied to you
always provided you take a private box. Fancy the
Indies punkah in an Engl oh theatre! But it is not
fancy, but reality. I have not enjoyed the refreshing
effect of these punkahs, no cannot speak from ex-
perience, but it almost makes one cool to read that
they are so arranged that, by a simple mechanical con-
trivance, a constant and most grateful stream of cool
and hr. ezy air is kept up the whole evening. The
hint uUght be taken elsewhere. Our churches and
chapels (luring the summer are frequently uncom-
fortably hot, and lukewarm Christians coolly say that
they cannot go on account of the heat. Could we not
have punkahs in cur places of worship? And the idea
is equally applicable to all other places of as-embly.
A perfectly unique challenge has been accep.ed, and
we shall have a contest worth watching. Mr. Hughes,
an English artist, challenged any artist in the world
to paint the best picture against time for £l,OOO, and
an American artist has accepted the challenge and
deposited the thousand pounds in the Bank of Eng.
land. The exact conditions of the contest are not yet
stated. but the preliminaries are certainly curious.
Supposing this match amicably conducted and decided,
the principle might be extended, and we might have
sonic poet, for example, challenging all the other poets
In the world to write the best epic against time. Very
awkward, however, would be the process. The rival
poets might possibly procure "thoughts that breathe
and words that burn" by biting the excle of their
pens, by pacing the room, or by the traditional process
of lying on the ground and kicking for an idea; but
then they might " hear a voice we cannot hear,"
crying " Time !"
The Workmen's international Exhibition here, which
for an obvious reason has not received that attention
horn the Press which it intrinsically deserves, has
nevertheless been largely attended recently, chiefly by
the working classes. Anyone visiting London certainly
(right to go and see it. I am glad to notice that the
committee for awarding prizes recommend that the
name of the actual maker, inventor, kc., (instead of
that of the firm) should be appended before they make
their award. As far as this feature has been already
carried out it has given special interest to the ex-
hibition.