biglam/hmd_newspapers huggingface dataset:
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-01-11

EXECUTION OF MONCASI.

The Correspondent of the Standard gives the following
particulars respecting the execution of Moncasi, who
attempted the life of King Alfonso :
Montag was executed this morning (S iturday) at a
quarter to nine o'clock. The scene of the execution
was a small plain known as the Campode Guardias, a
dreary spot outside Madrid. A vast crowd had as-
sembled on the spot, amongst which were many
women.
The culprit, whilst in the prison yesterday, exhibited
the same composure which has characterised him
throughout, although he accepted the consolations
offered him by a priest aud heard Mass. He also
wrote several letters to his parents and to his wife.
This morning he received the Sacrament and sub-
mitted quietly to the preparations of the executioner.
Ha was dressed in the costume of a penitent—the
robe; tap, cord, and belt. He told the executioner
that he forgave him, and descended without support
to the prison door.
lhe journey to the scaffold was made in a closed
c‘rriage, drawn by two mules. He was accompanied
inside by two priests, while outside, bearing the cross
and tapers, were a priest and several members of the
Brotherhood called Paz y Caridad. The escort was
composed of police and a detachment of infantry.
Around the scaffold some cavalry and soldiers of the
line formed a square.

The convict ascended to the instrument of death—
the garotte—and was quickly strangled. The body
remained exposed until dusk, when the Brotherhood
took it away tor burial.
Moncasi died without making any signs of rearet for
his crime, and without making any revelations.
The execution has caused a deep impression, and the
Madrid Press is very reserved in commenting upon the
incident.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-01-11

CAPTAIN BOYTON'S LIFE SAVING
DRESS.

Captain Boyton, who has just returnecLto New
York after three years' absence in Europe, during
which tine he has been engaged in demonstrating the
value of his "life-saving dress," appears to be well
satisfied with the result of his expedition. He has, as
he informed the reporter of one of the New York
papers, visited all the principal countries in Europe.
Tne French Government has adopted his life-saving
dress, and he hats been drilling the French sailors in its
use; the English Government "has it in hand ; " the
ItOan Government is delighted with it; and as for
till" ...Russian Government, Captain Boyton says
the first Turkish gunboat blown up in the Danube
was destroyed by a torpedo guided by a Rus-
sian sailor dressed in the life-saving costume.
Captain Boy ton has done an immense amount of
swimming in his dress. He crossed the English
Channel in twenty-four hours, floated down the Rhine
a distancs of 400 miles, swam the Danube from Lintz
to Vienna and Buda-Pesth in eighty. eight hours ; and his
journey on the River Po in November, 1876, amounted
to a total distance of 740 kilometres, which he
swam in 179 hours. On the Arno, from Florence
to Pisa, in December, 1876, he swam 100 kilo-
metres in sixteen hours; and on the Tiber,
from Orte to Rome. 200 kilometres, in thirtrosse
hours. He swam from the island of Capri
to Naples in sixteen hours ; traversed the Straits of
Messina from Scylla to Charybdis in five hours; went
down the Rhone from Seyssel to Lyons and Arles in
sixty hours; swam from the Chateau d'lf and the
White Rocks to the port of Marseilles; went down
the Somme from Amiens to Abbeville in twelve hours;
swam the Loire from Orleans to Nantes in six days;
crossed the Straits of Gibraltar in stormy weather in
seventeen hours; and swam down the Seine from
Nogent sur-Seine to Parisin seventy-five hours, besides
taking several other voyages. He has been decorated
in every country, and when in "full fig" is, as he re-
marked, "blazing all over with medals and crosses."
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-15

. - -

THE IRON TRADE.

WOLVERHAMPTON, Wednesday.

There was a fair attendance on 'Change to-
day, and a more cheerful tone pervaded the
meeting. The pig makers ware considerably
hopeful of the future owing to the further rise
in the value of the Middlesbrough pigs yester-
day. Some of the agEnts of Cleveland iron
manufacturers were instructed to cancel some of
the forward orders if they possibly could, and
to refuse all orders for delivery over quarter
day at current ratio. This improvement in the
prices in the North of England has naturally
strengthened the bands of local manufacturers,
some of whom are seeking to put up their quota-
tions ; but this was only with regard to part-
mine ond cinder-pigs. The makers of best
native pigs declined to sell at ruling prices, bo.
lievinn that quotations will shortly be advanced-
In finished iron the inquiries were principally
for small lots, the demand for tees, ongles, cast
tribe, ship and girder plates being most marked.
Makers of marked bars are receiving a full
numbered of orders, but they are principally for
their spepialities. Tin plates keep in good re-
quest, with prices very firm. The coal trade
n.ruaiiis very flat, and the supply, if anything,
is more ahundant.—The Mines Drainage Co,n-
missioner propose to levy a rate in the Tipton
district ot 3d. per ton on fire-clay and lime-stone
and 6d. a ton on coal and other minerals.

BIRMINGHAM, Thursday.

Finished iron as well as pig, iron was a little
firmer in price to-day, but the orders booked
were scarcely so satibfactory as a week ago in
regard to number or bulk. Common and me-
dium class iron was chiefly in request, and there
was .41 diminished demand for branded iron.
Plaparolled and corrugated sheets were freely
bought, the wagon companies and galvanisers
heing the principal purchasers Plates fcr
,oilers, gasometers, and water-tanks were also
a shade brisker in demand. Nailrods, on the
other hand, were extremely slow in moving oil,
the depression in the local nail rtade and Belgian
competition affecting this brunch very consider-
ably. Confidence is strong in the stability of
of the Staffordshire iron trade, and the system
of sh,rter credits which has generally been
adopted is operating to the general advantage of
the district. There is a large amount of capital
unemployed in the district, and when trade stirs
it will speedily seek investment. At present the
stocks of finished and crude iron are sufficient to
meet any immediate requirements, and further
stocking upon any extensive iscale will hardly be
resorted to until a more decided improvement in
trade is manifect. Coal is dull, and unremune-
rativo in price. The warm weather is curtailing
the demand for household sorts.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-15

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Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-15

MR. REED, M.P., IN JAPAN.

Mr. E. J. Reed, C. 13., M.P., who is on a visit o
Japan at the invitation of the Minister of Marine,
has been most kindly received and entertained there.
A wing has been added to the Minister's residence for
the accommodation of Mr. Reed and his son, and
furnished throughout in European fashion, but exclu-
sively with the production of Japanese workshops. Some
of the choicest works of Japanese art, in the form of
bronzes, porcelains, paintings, lacquer-work. &c.,
have been collected for the ornamentation of the new
building as an exhibition of the best productions of the
country. The Mikado gave Mr. Reed an audience,
and thanked him personally for his exertions in de-
signing, building, and sending out three highly
efficient men-of-war, and informed Mr. Reed
that the undertaking had been placed under his
sole responsibility by his Majesty's own desire, and
that he was greatly pleased with the result. At a
dinner given by the Minister of Marine to the members
of the Cabinet and to several Princes and Princesses of
the Mikado's family the Prime Minister, Sanjo
Saneyoshi, drank to the health of Mr. Reed, speaking
of the ships in the same sense as His Majesty, and
stating that he and his colleagues desired to facilitate
in every way Mr. Reed's opportunities for seeing the
country and enquiring into everything that might
concern or interest him or his countrymen.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-15

THE END OF A SNAKE STORY.

A despatch from Poughkeepsie published in the New
York papers, states that seven or eight years ago
much alarm was caused along the line of the Housa-
tonic Railroad by the appearance of a tremendous
snake. The reptile 'seemed to make its home in a
dense swamp near the railroad track. It had been
seen by different persons, who were terror-stricken
by its wonderful size. At various times the snake
was shot at by hunting parties, but it always
managed to get away safely. The track of the
Housatonic road runs directly through the swamp
named. Early one morning, as a passenger train was
proceeding on its way, the engineer discovered a long
black object lying across the rail a and he shut off
steam and whistled for brakes. While the speed was
slackening the engineer saw that it was the snake
about which so much had been said, and he put on
steam again, intending if possible to run it down and
cut it in two, but just before the engine reached it the
end of the tail slid off the rail, while the head was
already hid in the dense swamp. Four or five years ago
two men were riding along a road which skirts the
swamp, and looking ahead they saw a dark object lying
across the roadway. As they neared it it began to
wriggle slowly away, and then it was discovered to be
the famous snake. It slowly disappeared into the
deep underbrush, and the men were certain from
the measurement of the ground where they first
saw it stretched out that it was over twenty feet in
length. Parties were organised to hunt the reptile,
but without success. Two men, named Kelly and
Smith, both well and favourably known in the neigh-
bourhood, went into the swamp on the 15th ult,
with a yoke of oxen and a sled to get a load of wood,
the ground being frozen so hard that there was no
difficulty in passing over any portion of ;it in safety.
They came to a large button-wood tree, which, becom-
ing decayed, had fallen to the ground. They dis-
covered that it was hollow, and in order to handle
it easily they applied a woodman's saw to it. They
had sawed nearly through one part of it, when suddenly
the saw grated as though it had struck a stone. They
plied their axes and split the tree, when to their
astonishment the obstacle which the saw had struck
proved to be bones. Then they opened the tree as far
as they could find bones, the length opened being 21
feet. The bones proved to be ithose of the monstrous
reptile so often seen. The largest bones measured six
inches in diameter, and from that tapered down to
smaller sizes. The tail of the snake was found em-
bedded in the upper part of the tree. There is no
doubt that this large tree had been the snake's winter
home for many years, and in it he died. The bones
and other remains have been preserved, and will be
sent to the Society of Natural Science.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-15

[From Punch.]
THE SMOCK-FROCK AND THE
SUFFRAGE.

HAWFINCH sings—
Mozus Maypole 'a works on Squire Saunders's farm.
Some larnun' praps oodn't done Mozus no harm.
'A was sent to play scarecrow instead o' to school,
And bred up as a plough-boy, like any born fool.
As I wus a gwaiun 'cross Durnbledore Down,
I mates that there moddle of a true country clown,
A shoulder'n his whip as in 's smock-frock a' strode,
Longzide of a cart in the midst of the road.
"How be, Mozus ?" I sez to 'ln. "Young Mozns, how be '
"Putty chuffish, Mate," Mows made answer to me.
"Wot's the best news?" he axes. "Most news is so sad,"
I replies, "that the best on 't is but 's the laist bad.
"The County Refarm Bill the House ha' throw'd out,
'Cause they wun't yield the Franchise, they says, to the

Lout."
"The Franchise?" sez Mozus, at sea all afloat—
" Ah ! The Franchise," sez I, "for to gie thee a vote."
"Yaa!" cries he. "All I cares for a vote is this here:
If I'd got one to gie I should gie un for beer.
For a quart 'gin a pint; 'gin a quart for a ga'an
They as stood treat most LiVral be they as should ha'n."
"A fine fellow thee'dst be, then," sez I, "for a vote;
All the good as thee'dst ha' from 't 'ood goo down thy droat.
But if voters their rasons was all to assign,
There'd be lots wi' no better, if not wus than thine.
"If they only was 'franchised as know'd who was fit,
And 'ood honestly vote for the men as should sit,
Wot a small and select band the voters 'ood be I
As it is, there 's few, Mozus, mach litter nor thee.
"But thee now for the franchise wi' patience must 'bide,
Till the Tories be fain to outbid t'other side,
And enfranchise when Party's occaalshion shall call,
Roughs, cads, tag-rag, bobtail, clod-hoppers, and all."
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-15

BRIERLEY HILL.

DOG CASES—At the Police Court, on Monday,
before Messrs. H. 0. Firmstone and L. Freer, the
following persons were summoned by Superintend-
ent Woollaston, for keeping dogs without a license,
Henry Worrell, fined £3 ; John Anson, fined 20s;
James Handley, fined 20s; William Taylor, fiued 20s;
Henry Southall, fined 20s; Hannah Westwood, fined
20s; William Bray, 20s; John Stanton, withdrawn
on payment of costs ; Samuel Dunn, 20s; and
Richard Danby, 20s. . . .

COMMITTAL- FOR ALLEGED ROBBERY.—At the
Public Office, on Thursd .y, becore Mr. Issac
Spooner (Stipendiary), Benjamin Haddock, iron
roller, was charged with stealing a quantity of engine
brasses, belonging to Messrs John Bradley and Co.
Mr. Holberton prosecuted.—Prisoner was appre-
hended in the act of collecting the brasses, for
removal. He was committed for trial.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-15

V

TO LET.

rro LET with immediate possession the very
1. convenient DWELLING-HOUSE and Garden,
with G:eenhouse, Stable, CoachhJuse and Piggeries,
situate at High Park, Wollaston, lately in the occupation
of Mr. H. J. klainge.
For particulars apply to Miss Woodward, New Street ;
or Mr. Price, Solicitor, Stourbridge.

STO URBRIDGE.
S"4RIOR APARTMENTS TO LET, for
a Gentleman.—Addreas, Liam' Vili,29, flagley

11110 GLASS CUTTERS.—An Experienced
-a- China Polisher Wanted; good character indispeu-
sible, regular work and good wages.—Apply John Rose
and Co.. Coalport. Shropshire.

TO BE SOLD BY PRIVATE CONTRACT.
1. A HOUSE, containing 8 Rooms, 4 up. and 4
auwnstairs. Bowling Green Villa. Bowling Green Lane.
Air. Bateman, Longlands, Stourbrid ge

eLtw
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-15

THE LATE SHERE ALL

Glimpses of the personal life of so prominent a
public character as Shere All (late ruler of Cabul) and
his son possess a curious interest at the present
moment when all the world regards them only as an
ex-Ameer and a Prince in arms against us, Yakoob
Khan, so a story that comes to us from Candahar
declares, refused to come out of prison for several
days after being formally released. "My health
is ruined and my throne lost—why should I come
out?" And then, so the story goes, the mother
of the late Abdalla Jan went to the sulking hero
and coaxed him from his prison. Another romantic
episode from the same source is, that when the news
of the Peiwar fight was received in Cabal, no one
dared to tell the Ameer. He was sitting in his council-
room, waiting for the news, but who would brave the
madman—for " dewana " Shere Ali is everywhere
called—as he sat there, tulwar on lap? And at
last Abdulla Jan's mother came to the rescue,
and sent her child, a little girl, to tell her
father. He was busy in eager talk when she en-
tered, but, child like, she kept trying to blurt out
her mission—" My mother says lam to tell your High-
ness--" but the Ameer kept putting his hand on her
mouth, for the discussion on hand was important. But
at last he was free to hear the child, and, turning,
said, "Well, what is it, little one?" And the child
came sidling up, all eyes on her, "My mother says I
am to tell your Highness the Sahibs have crossed the
Kotul !" An instant stampede from the neighbour-
hood of the Ameer closed the conncil.—Civil and
Military Gazette.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-15

AFRICAN EXPLORATION.

At a monthly meeting of the Royal Geographical
Society held on Monday evening at the Hall of the Uni-
versity of London, a paper was read by Dr. James
Stewart on the second circumnavigation of Lake
Nyassa, with notes of an itinerary on the western
shore of that lake.
Premising that recent information had led them to
shift the position of the lake, on the map 24 miles
further west, Dr. Stewart stated that the exploring
party started in a steam launch called the Ilale from
Livingstonia, at the southern end of the lake, on the
17th September, 1877, and that the object was two-fold
—one being to convey Captain Elton and a party who
were going to make a further exploration inland,
and the other to make a closer survey than had yet
been made of the northern end of the lake. On the
12ch of October, having on the voyage touched at
various points on the coast and once :rossed the lake
and returned, they arrived at the north end, and there
they discovered a lagoon called the Kemtire, and a
river called the Rombushe. They landed and saw a
herd of 200 elephants, and they came to a village
which was deserted, and the people had driven their
cz.,.%tle away. The discovery of the lagoon he regarded
as of considerable importance, as vessels could find
shelter in it from the storms which Swept over the
Cape. Instead of bsing ten days or a fortnight
groping their way in unknown waters they could now
go from one end of the lake to the other in from forty
to fifty hours, and, with the exception of about seventy
miles parallel with the Murchison cataracts, it was
possible now to sail from London docks to the north
end of the lake, passing through the Zambesi ad
Shire rivers.

A diacuAion followed. and at the close a vote of
thanks was given to Dr. Stewart for his paper.

111

.i•'l_
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-15

TIALESOWEN.

DRUNK. AND DISORDERLEY.—At the Police Court,
held on Tuesday, before Messrs. F. D. L. Smith, E.
Gem,and E. B. Plaillips,Williaru Robinson was charged
by Superintendent Kemp with being drunk and dis-
orderly on the highway on the 3rd inst. Police-con-
stable Ball proved the case, and said the defendant
was very abusive. This was corroborated by another
officer. Defendant admitted being drunk. Fined
5s and coets ; in default 14 days.—Alfred Perry was
charged with being drunk and disordeily on the high-
way, on the 7th inst. Police-constable Barley proved
that the defendant was drunk, got his clothes .if ani
wanted to fight. Defendant roused to go home for
scone time He put his band on the defendant's
shoulder to tell him to go home, when the defendant
struck at him. Pleaded guilty. Fined 2s 6d and
costs ; in default 14 days.
CAvriorr To CARTERE.—SamuoI Jones, of Cradley,
was charged with 'being drunk on the 22nd February
while in charge of a h irse and trap. Police-constable
Parkes proved the case. Defendant pleaded guilty.
Fined 2s 6d and costs.
CHARGE OF DRUNKENNESS.—JOhn Hadley was
charged with being drunk on the 22nd ult. Police-
constable Pikes proved that no saw the defendant at
Spring Hill drunk. He was on his hands and knees,
and could not walk. Defendant had previon-ly
convicted several times Defendant said 11,3 thought
i. very hard to be brought before the Magistrates so
often. If he only had a pint of ale he was watch. d
by the police and summoned Superinrend,,nt Kemp
said the defendant was an habitual drunkard. Fined
2s 6d and costs, and the Magistrates told defendant
if he came before them again they would commit him
for 14 day& imptisownent without the option of
Aim
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-15

DR. HENRY SMITH, 8 BURTON CEMENT, LOWDON,

NOTICE TO COUNTRY INVALIDS.
Consultation by Letter without Fee.

DR. HENRY SMITH, (By Diploma of the
Royal University of Jena) who has devoted
THIRTY YEARS to the Special Treatment of Diseases
of the Nervous System, resulting from Exhaustion of
Nerve Power, Lees! Weakness, lee., will for the benefit
of Country Invalids, on receiving a statement of case,
send his opinion, with Advice and Instructions, which,
f followed, insure a Cure; a Personal Interview and
expensive Consultation-fees are thus avoided.
" Confidential " form of Corresr rdence to assist
the Invalids in describing their case sent Pobt Free.,
DR. HENRY SMITH, 8, BURION CREbCENT
LONDON, W.C.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-15

TOBACCOS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION

B. kiii.RULD COX, OFFICIAL LIQUIDATOR,
iLL,. Last .tenive Lt.,.mbers, 1111.te Friar's btrert.
LW:U.)I4 buunid bn cc I.,ttie.tu by Wlii eb: or other
chtticuities persoually or by letter. tdoobui:::::ous Free.

S. klt 111
TOBACGONISI,
92, MGR STREET,
STOURBRIDGE,

HAS JUST RECEIVED A LARGE
CONSIGNMENT OF

PLAIN AND FANCY
CIGAR AND CIGARFITTE HOLDERS,

And Every Description of

TOBACCONIST'S GOODS.

ALSO A FINE STOCK OF

FLOBILINH !—Pon THE TEETH AND BEEATHO4I
few drops of the liquid "Floriline " sprinkled OE
wet tooth-brush produces a pleasant lather, whiek
thoroughly cleanses the teeth from all parasites or
impurities, hardens the gums, prevents tartar, Stolz*
decay, gives to the teeth a peculiar pearly-whiteness,
and a delightful fragrance to the breath. It removes
all unpleasant odour arising from decayed teeth ot
tobacco smoke. "The Fragrant Floriline," being
composed in part of Honey and sweet herbs, is deli-
cious to the taste, and the greatest toilet discovery Of
the ago. Price 2s 6d, of all Chemists and Perfumers.
Prepaml by Henry C. GALLUP, 193 Oxford-S°A
tem,
THE HAIR.—For 40,years Mrs. S. A. ALL it,
WORLD'S HAIR RESTORER has received the cormeouatioc.
and favour of the pub,ic. It has acquired the h.iattest
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andcontributed to the adornment of tens of tboussiols of
persons, who have the proof of its servicable character.
It It will positively renew and restore ?h,;,?rir•:7,71.
nrt colour of grey, trbite,. and fa ;01.,
- in
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oaration can produce thesanl.e e _t _ • bold
alliChemists and Perfumers, large ba ties, 6s. peota
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ciul re-No aui

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Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-15

CO-OPERATIVE TRADING.

On Tuesday night a deputation of the Executive
Committee of the Conference of the Metropolitan
Delegates who have been consulting upon the subject
of Crown servants conducting trades had an interview
with the First Lord of the Admiralty and Sir Charles
Russell, in the conference room of the House of
Commons.

The speakers all touched upon the subject of Crown
servants trading with the public and equality of taxa-
tion; and they urged that the use of State names for
titles by Crown servants trading with the public should
be prohibited. They particularly desired that the terms
of the reference to the Committee on Co-operative
Stores should be enlarged.
In reply, Mr. W. H. Smith said that he felt deeply
the distress and the disarrangement of affairs which
had been produced by these associations. They knew
perfectly well that he never had any sympathy with
those associations whatever—very much the contrary.
The effect of the motion of Sir Charles Russell would
be to give a full and free opportunity to the traders of
the metropolis and the whole country to lay their case
before the House. They would have an opportunity
of laying before the committee evidence which they
could state in a succinct and careful manner, so as to
convince the country of the goodness of their case.
Sir Charles Russell said he had endeavoured, and he
was sure the Government bad endeavoured, to give a
strong, and honest, and independent committee, with
a view of having a most searching inquiry into this
matter, He was sorry to hear that they considered
the terms of his motion too narrow. It began with
"the constitution and action of certain trading
societies trading under the name of co-operative
stores." That gave them the widest opening in the
world to point out what they wanted. They must get
as good and as clear evidence as they could, and they
might be sure that the committee would be very
patient and anxious thoroughly to sift the whole
matter; and their organization would be useful in
finding witnesses with evidence to lay before the com-
mittee.
The deputation then withdrew.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-15

CRADLEY HEATH.

OPENING or A COFFEE HousE.—On Wednesday
last, a coffee and cocoa house, was opened at the
Four Ways, Cradley Heath, through the kindness of
Mr. Strawson. Ithas long been felt desirable that if
a coffee house were opened in the district, for work-
ing men, it may in some instances prevent them
from going to public-houses, to spend their mouey
in drink. A number of ladies and gentlemen were
present at the opening, the chair being occupied by
Mr. Strawson. Several speeches were delivered by
Mr. J. Homfray, Rev- G. Homer, Dr. Ker, Mr.
Whitley, and the Rev. Taylor, advocating the open-
ing of coffee houses, which would materially effect
the drinking traffic of public-houses. Mr. Taylor
declared the coffee-house duly open, and a good
business was done, and no doubt it will meet with
that success it deserves.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-15

THE LORD CHANCELLOR ON
INTEMPERANCE.

Lord Cairna presided at a numerously attended meet-
ing at Exeter Hall, assembled to hear an address from
the temperance lecturer Mr. J. B. Gough, who, at the
request of the Committee, of the Young Men's
Christian Association, consented to deliver a special
oration, entitled "Now and Then." The chairman
was supported by the Earl of Aberdeen, Sir Wilfred
Lawson, Sir Arnold Kemball, Sir Castles Reed,
Captain Chapman, Canon Fleming, Prebendary
Cadman, and Prebendary Billing.

The Chairman said that it always gave him great
pleasure to meet with the young men of the Christian
Association, but never more so than when he found
them assembled for the promotion of the great cause
of temperance. At the present day no question, in
his opinion, so deeply touched the moral, the phy-
sical and the religions welfare of the country as the
question of temperance. It occupied the attention of
moralists, of statesmen, and of divines; and it had
been under the investigation during the two last ses-
sions of a Committee of Parliament, which had col-
lected a mass of evidence as to the crime, the poverty,
the sickness, the suffering, which intemperance had
caused, and was causing in this land. He, however,
had little hope of making men sober or temperate by
Aet of Parliament He looked rather to the effect of
other causes and other influences; to the power
and force of persuasion, of conviction, and of
example. He looked to a change in habits,
in feelings, in tastes which came when there was
brought to bear upon the heart of man the light and
power of the Gospel of our Blessed Saviour. He
looked to the efforts of the rising generation, and
especially to the efforts of the young men of England,
in whose hands mainly the future of their country was
placed. He looked to the effect of such powerful and
thrilling addresses as they had heard before and hoped
to hear again that day.

Mr. Gough then proceeded to deliver his address, in
which he reviewed the progress that had been made
by society in various ways during the last five-and.
twenty years and contrasted it with some of the social
evils that still existed in undiminished force. Among
the chief of these was drink.

At the close of the lecture the Lord Chancellor pro.
posed a vote of thanks to Mr. Gough, and expressed a
hope that this would not be the last occasion on which
he would address the Young Men's Christian Associa-
tion.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-15

KIDDERMLNSTEK SCHOOL BOARD.

The monthly meeting of-the members was held
on Monday afternoon.

From the minutes of the previous meeting it
appeared that the salary of the Clerk had been
raised £4O per annum to enable him to procure
additional clerical assistance.

The report of the Finance Committee stated that
£4 48 per year was being paid to Mrs. Marsden for
teaching French at the New Meeting Board schools
Mr. Torukinson and the Rev. L. F. Torond ex-
pressed suri,rise, and said it was the first time they
had heard that French was being taught in the
schools mentioneo.

Mrs. Talbot stated that French was taught before
the schools were transferred to the Board, and that
th, latter took to them with all their engagements.
Mr. Parry proposed that the teaching of French
be discontinued.

This was seconded and carried.
It was decided that the question of dismissing
Mrs. Marsden should be referred to the Sehools
Management Committee.

The report of the Finance Committee was adopted.
A letter was received from the Mistress of the
Hume Street Schools, stating that they were not
filled as they should be. and suggesting that they be
converted into a mixed school, for children of both
sexes. This question was also referred to the
Schools Management Committee.
A lengthy discussion ensued as to the proposed
appointment of an additional assistant master in
the Coventry Street Board School. It was stated
that there were already three masters, two pupil
teachers, and a monitor in the school, and this
number was in excess of the minimum permitted by
the department. It was generally considered that
it would only be advisable to make the proposed
engagement temporarily.
The Visiting Officer reported that the total num;
ber now on the rolls of the elementary schools is
3,978, against 3,781 for the corresponding period a
last year.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-15

LYE.

WomENS QUARBEL9.—At the Police Court, yester-
day. Mary Pearon, of the Lye, was charged with
a-;aulting Carolin Hart, on the 11th inst. Mr.
‘Valuron defended. Complainant said th it she lent
the defendnit two tubs. Sue went to ask for them,
when defendant said she had no tubs belonging to
her, and commenced t., beat her, and blackened her
eyes, and a-saulted her until she became insensible.
She did not strike again. Cross, examined : Ily
husband was summoned in the County Court by Mr.
Pearson, and he had a ton of hay in settlement. Did
net make the marks on the defendant's face, neck,
and arm. Did net throw the brick produced at the
defendant. Did not
.fight any rJunds. Itlijah Skeld-
ihg gave corroborative evidence, us to the defendant
assaulting complainant in the house, but did not see
the row in defendant's yard. Mr. Waldron ad-
dressed the Bench for the defence, and said that the
complainant was the aggresor ; that they fought
three or four rounds, and complainant got the worst
of it, and now came before the Court to get defend-
ant convicted. He should call some independent,
witnesses, and the Bench would be able to judge
which spoke the truth, and called Mary Bills, who
said that the complainant come to the defendant's
house. They had a row, when Caroline Hart
picked up part of a brick to strike Mrs. Pearson,
who put up her hand to prevent the blow, when
they both began to fight "manfully," and had three
"jolly good rounds." Jane Wooldridge gave cor-
roborative evithnce, and said they both fought
"gallant." The Bench considered it a disgraceful
row, and bound both parties over, in one surety
each, to keep the peace, and pay the costs between
them.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-15

HIMLEY.

THE ASSAULT BY A POLICEMAN.—At the Seclgley
Petty Sessions, held on Monday, before Mr. I.
Spooner (Stipendiary -Magistrate) and Mr. F. A.
Homer, Wriliam Enoch, a married policeman,
stationed at Swindon, near Himley, was charged on
remand with indecently assaulting a young woman
named Alice Cook, in the Himley-road, Himley, on
Sunday, the 16th ultimo.—Mr. Stokes, of Dudley,
appeared for the defendant. —The complainant, who
was respectably dressed, said she resided in Brook-
sa.cet, Gornal Wood, and on the night in question
she and five other girls went a walk in the direction
of Askew Bridge Pool. On returning they met the
defenlant and a gamekeeper. They made way for
the defendant to pass, when, without making any
observation, he caught hold of witness and two of
her companions, named Catherine Wakelam and
Martha Bates. They shouted and the two com-
panions escaped and defendant afterwards took
complainant into the middle of the turnpike road
and indecently assaulted her. Defendant also
knocked her hat oil her head and caused
her hair to be disarranged. —ln answer t 3
Mr. Stokes witness said that she and her com-
panions were singing a hymn when defendant met
them, and were not cursing and swearing and shout-
ing. The two companions partially corroborated the
evidence of the complainant, and other witnesses
proved hearing the screams of the complainant, aud
also hearing her complain of the defendant's conduct.
—Mr. Stokes said it was a most serious charge, and
contended that there were many discrepancies in the
evidence. The facts of the case were that the de-
fendant was in the neighbourhood of Gornal Wood
for the purpose of obtaining some particulars in
reference to a poaching case, and on returning
ee heard a score of boys and girls shouting out and
using improper language. On meeting them he
asked them why they were making such a noise, and
struck several of them with a cane, but did not corn-
mit the assault complained of.—Cliarles Weiiesbey,
a gamekeeper in the employment of Lord Dudley,
residing at Green's Forge, said he was with the de-
fendant, at the time the assault was anger' to have
t +ken place, and all that he saw the defendant do
. as to strke some of the girls who were shouting
with a cane.—The Bench believed that a common
assault had been committed, and fined defendant as.
and 18s. 6d. costs, or fourteen days' imprisonment
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-15

DEATH OF MR. ELIHII BURRITT.

A telegram from New York says that Mr. Elihu Burritt,
the American scholar and journalist, died on the 7th inst.,
In his sixty-ninth year.

Mr. Burritt, known as the "Learned Blacksmith,"
was born in December, 1810, at New Britain, in
Connecticut, and was consequently in his sixty-
ninth year. While working at his trade, Mr.
Burritt applied himself with so much success to
linguistic studies, that he is reported to have been
acquainted with fifty languages by the time he
had reached middle life. He resided in England
about a quarter of a century, during a great part of
the time acting as American Consul at Birmingham.
He was a great advocate of peace and temperance,
and the establishment of cheap ocean postage. Mr.
Burritt was the author of nany works, among the
best known being "Sparks from the Anvil," which
was very widely read and translated into several
languages.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-15

[From Punch.]
SAVINGS IN PROSPECT.

With the greatest possible difficulty the Militia has
hitherto managed to pick up, and keep up, the rudi-
ments of drill in twenty-seven days' annual training.
This year, for economical motives, the time thus
expensively employed by this branch of our Reserve
Force in learning its military business is to be reduced
by one week.
As the penny-wise principle has been applied in this
case, it ought surely to be carried further. Mr. Punch
would humbly suzgest that—
In future, on Her Majesty's Ships of War arriving
in harbour, the pay of Chief Engineers and navigating
Lieutenants should be stopped.
That Iron-clads, during the summer months, should
carry no coals, and in winter should send their sails
into store.

That the Royal Horse Artillery should cease to be a
mounted force, and return at least half their guns to
Woolwich.

That private soldiers of the Line should carry either
a rifle or a bayonet. The extra arms thus placed at
the disposition of the authorities, to be returned to
the Tower.

That the brigade of Guards should be decreased by
half its rank and file, and the number of its com-
missioned officers considerably augmented.

That considerable saving should be effected in the
expenditure on tar in Her Majesty's Dockyards.
That scabbards without swords should be served out
to the Cavalry for the future, till they are ordered on
active service,

And lastly, that the great expense of Naval and
Military Audit should be reduced by the abolition of
the department hitherto charged with that trouble-
some branch of the public service.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-15

*ocal martrtct
ACDMENT AT THE GAS-WORKS.

An accident occurred on Tuesday at the Stour
bridge Gas Company's work at Amblecote. In one
part of the yard there is, or was, a lorge:iron tank
for the purpose of storing ammoniacal liquor, and
it was capable of holding 12,000 gallons of the
liqu.d. A slight leakage had been noticed, and
Samuel Moody, the foreman, and David Robinson,
the blacksmith, were examining it on Tuesday
morning with a view to the leakage being stopped
when there was a sharp crack, as if a stone had
been thrown against it. Without any more warn-
ing the sides gcve way, aud the liquor, which
tilled it to the top, rushed out in a torrent. Moody
•Ind Robinson were both thrown down and badly
injured, a.. the stream escaped into the road. It
rushed into ~ie, aouses near the gas-works, and a
great part to:lnu its way into the canal, poisoning
the fish. Robinson received a severe and appi.
rently dangerous scalp wound, and Moody was
injured in his eyes. The cause of the,tank bursting
is not known. It was only erected in the Autumn,
and was apparently fully strong enough for the
purpose it had to serve. The two meu are pro-
gressing favourably.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-15

KIDDERMINSFER, COUNTY COURT.

CLAIM FOR ALLEGED INJURY TO A HORSE.—Guest
V. tlasell.—At the County Court on Wednesday,
before Mr. R. Kettle, Judge. Tuis was an t‘ction
in which the plaintiff sought to recover ..t5 is. 6d.
for alleged injury to a horse through defenuant's
careless and reckless riding. Mr. IL Saunders, jun.,
was for the plaintiff, and Mr. M. Corbett for th, de-
fendant.—llefenciant, who is a trumpeter in the
Worcestershire Yeomanry Cavalry, hired a tiorse
from the plaintiff (a car and cab proprietor) on the
29th of October last He took the horse to Hagley,
where he, in company with other members of the
troop, acted as escort to Lord Lyttelton. It was
alleged for plaintiff that he brought the hersP home
in a lame condition, both shoes being off its tore
feet, and it was rendered unfit for work for ten days.
It was contended that this state of things was caused
by the reckless riding of defendant. The evidence
did not. however, bear out this view of the case, as
there was nothiug to show that the animal had been
recklessly ridden.—Plaintiffs witness, a blacksmith
named Parker, admitted that the horse had what is
called "pumice" feet and that it had cast its shoes
on two or three previous occasions.—His Honour
gave a verdict for the defendaat.

- THE KIDDERMINSTER GAS COMPANY V. EDWARD
GIIEST.—In this action Mr. Perry, of Stourbridge,
represented the plaintiffs, and Mr. M. Corbet was
for the defendant.—Mr. Perry stated this was an
actim to recover Lti for rent of spay occupied in the
plaintiffs' works by a boiler and two cupolas belong-
ing to the defendant. The effects of an insolvent
person had been sold on the 13th of March last year
and amongst tho,e effects were a boiler and two
cupolas, bought by the defendant subject to the
condition that they were taken away in seven days
from the date of purchase. They had not been
removed, however, up to the present time. The rate
at which they charged the defendant was os per
week for rent for the twenty-four weeks which had
elapsed since they had warned him to remove the
things spoken of. Mr. Corbet contended that de-
fendant would have removed them, but plaintiff's
manager declined to allow him to do so It tran-
spired that defendant had taken a wagon to the
place, but as it was 6 feet 6 inches in width, and the
gate was only 6 ;.eet 10 inches wide, the manager oi
the works, Mr. Dougall, declined to a,.10w him to
take the wagon into the yard lest he might injure
the wall or buildings in doing so.—Witnesses were
called to prove these facts, and after the case had
been argued at some length, Mr. Corbet, on behalf
of the defendant, said he would consent to an arrange.
taunt fUr giving .24 to the plaintiffs if the latter
would undertake to move tue boiler, &c., to the
entrance of the gate, so that defendant could get
them placed on a wagon—This was agreed to, an,.
his Honour gave a verdict to that effect.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-15

SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT IN THE

IRON TRADE.

The Times of Monday, in their City Article, says
"There seems at last to be a general belief in the iron
trade circles that the worst of the depression in this
branch of industry has been passed. The price of pig
iron both in the North of England and at Cleveland
has further advanced from 6d. to is. per ton. This
favourable change is due to gradually returning
confidence, as a result principally of the quiet and
continuous fulfilment of the engagements embodied
in the Berlin Treaty. It is stated that merchants
desire at the existing low prices to buy, but makers
now hold back. Both home and colonial orders are
known to have been held back for some time past from
distrust, and manufacturers are in consequence hopeful
that this spi ing will show that prices have at length
touched the bottom. The depression in this important
branch of our industry has had one good effect both
upon our masters and workmen; they have been com-
pelled to find out how it was that the Belgians were
able successfully to compete with them, not only in
foreign markets, but in their own home markets. One
Sheffield firm, employing 2,000 workmen, sent agents
to the Belgian works and made the important dis-
covery that they possessed more economical heat-
ing apparatus. The result has been that all the old
furnaces have been replaced with those on the Belgian
model. Further, 100 of the workmen, who declined to
believe that their work was equalled by Continental
productions, were sent to the Paris Exhibition. Their
eyes huve been opened, and they are much less inclined
to strike than before. Periods of depression will from
time to time overtake every industry, and the best use
that can be made of them is to find out in what re-
spect we are competing with other nations at a disad-
vantage, and endeavour at once to supply the de-
ficiency and enlighten the workmen, as has been done
by the Sheffield firm to which we refer."
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-15

Kingdom when the tolling notes of sorrrw
were again sent forth, this time upon an
atmosphere charged heavily with mate ial
gloom The tale which they conveyed was
that of the death of the Queen's husband,
and of the casting of a life-long shadow upon
the path of the most illustrious lady in the
land. From that hour the conditions of
court life have never been the same. The
wedding of the Princess Royal was the only
one which took place in London, for these
were the old and happy days when the Court
was kept at Buckingham Palace. Before
the time came round for another of the
Queen's children to be married, death had
twice entered the Palace, and claimed not
only the aged, who must expect the call, but
the apparently strong man of forty-two, with
every agreeable surrounding of life, and,
counting human probabilities, with at least
a quarter of a century of existence still be-
fore him. But it was not to be ; and so when
the turn of the Princess Alice, who had so
devotedly nursed her father in his last ill-
ness, came to enter the marriage state, the
Queen was wrapped in those habiliments of
woe which she has never since been able to
cast aside. A new sorrow was added a few
weeks ago by the death of the Princess
Alice herself, a noble instance of self-sacri-
ficing devotion to her husband and children,
who had been stricken down with a danger-
ous and remorseless illness that proved fatal
to the wasted strength of the watchful and
too anxious wife and mother.

The weddings of the Queen's first and
second daughters, separated by a period of
less than four years and a half, represent a
singular and suggestive contrast. That of
the Princess Royal, which was the only one
witnessed by the people of London, was con-
ducted on a scale of magnificence completely
befitting the occasion. All was joy and con-
gratulation, merrily rang out the marriage
bells, and not a cloud was to be seen upon
the horizon. But the wedding of the now
departed Princess, in the private chapel at
Osborne, her Majesty attending in the deep-
est mourning, was typical of the gloom
which has settled down upon the Royal
House, and has never been shaken off. Other
children of the Queen have been married, in
spring, in summer, and in winter, but as
the wedding of the Princess Royal was the
only one celebrated in London, so it was the
Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and
the end of that unalloyed rejoicing which
ought to be the invariable accompaniment
of a nuptial feast. Her Majesty's life is no
longer mirrored in the sunlit surface of that
historic stream which forms so conspicuous
an object in the landscape of Windsor; it is
no longer typified by the length and radiancy
of bright summer days. It rather resembles
that of the broadenino, river upon whose
bosom are reflected the gathering shade: of
eventide, when only memories remain of the
brightness of the passing day.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-15

GREAT FLOODS AND LOSS OF LIFE IN
HUNGARY.
The following is from the second edition of Wednesday's
Daily News:—
" SZEGEDIN, Wednesday, 8 A Is.

"After a fearful night of anxiety all efforts proved
useless, and the water broke through with immense
force at three o'clock this morning, carrying away part
of the railway stations embankment, and stock.
Within three hours the town was many feet deep
in water. Terrible suffering is commencing, and
the shrieks and cries of thousands of souls are
heard. Houses are crashing in by the score, in many
cases carrying the inmates with them. God knows
what we shall do to-night. There is no gas, the factory
being fifteen feet in water, and I fear we shall run
short of food, One boat was just going to save a large
houseful of people, when a fearful crash carried with
it the whole living freight. The scene is simply heart-
rending. Over 80,000 people are out of house and home,
and hundreds are drowning. The water is still rising
rapidly."