biglam/hmd_newspapers huggingface dataset:
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-11

POETRY.

IN THE MIDST OF LIFE WE ARE
DEATH.

ilev. T. C. Dixon, M A , L L.ll , Viear Id Quarry
Hank (as a pers.msl seknowl dgniut .1 Owio.a fic.ig-
shie z... 1 he ui,ny vet,. diy.E,h)e.l ia
slug uvou Col minds of his 11.1.:k the plain. Imre,
uusliaistleate,l truth. of Christiauit:), this pros is
resp,cludy iaLeribett by his hutuble servaut, the
suLhor.

The becchen boughs in summer's verdant hues,
And pleasing fielili. net with ambrosial dews;
The Mashy brake, whose snake-like crawling string
Entombs the music of the rippling spring;
Von neiglib'ring wood, whose mighty beeches rise
Defiant 'hove the mist to lii.,s the skies;
Sweet, savoury fragrance on the liquid air
Wafted from myriad flowers, in truth prepare
Their song of woe, whose warning precept saith
" Beware ! 'ln the midst of life we are in death.'
I wandeed by the gently rippling streams
Where purple violets bask in Pikebus' beams,
And tempted by the sweet and fragrant smell
Of nature, strayed unto • lonely cell.
Whose many stones in tufted moss arrayed
Told of days past, and kingdoms long decayed.
Around this cell grave monks were wont to stray.
And glancing up to Jove, Hie works survey,
And listen to • voice whose precept saith:
" Beware ! 'ln the midst of life we are in death.'
But now the scene is changed, and I confess
My blood congeals, amid this loneliness.
I turn and gaze upon the sun, whose beam
Reti eating. bathes the clouds in gold The Queen
Of Night appears, and casts her lurid ray
O'er Faith, and tells the death of one more day.
But I must go, the clouds of night appear,
A scene like this for me is fur too drear ;
" Stop l" saith a voice, in hoarse and quiv'ring breath
"Beware ! 'll2 the midst of life we see in death !'
I turned, 0 horrors ! what a ghastly sight
Met my distracted gaze. There, rob'a in night
Stood Death, with scythe in hand, and thus he said :
"Know thou I come from regions of the dead;
There in embattled squadrons stand the Kings
Of Barth. There fiend, in madness clap their wings.'
But why do you in such a frame appear,
To fright us souls, and make the night more drear ?
I said ; thus answered he, in gasping breath :
"Beware! 'ln the midst of life we are in death.''
"I come from regions where my power is known;
I rile the circuit of the skies; am blown
From globe to globe. I ride upon the wind
O'er blighted battle-fields, and none can find
My dark aborte (whose walls are steep'd in blood)
Unless I guide.- My hair with terror stood.
I look'd, the scene bad melted into air.
Henceforth mine only thought, mine only prayer,
Shall be to teach the word whose precept saith
" Beware ! 'ln the midst of life we are in death.'
.1. V. B. de V. DEELEY.
Quarry Bank, Feb. 6th, 1871,
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-11

A I'LEASANT REVIEW!

The Kiel Gavite thus reviews the seven menthe cam-
paign In the present wu 23 battl.s have Me' fought,
Choir order beloz—Weimeabrirg, Woerth, Spichernn, range
Mande- hour, Gravelutte, Beaumont, Aedan, notsrevlile
(More Me's), the three battles of inleens, Amiens,
Chareptgey ard Brie (befere NAIL Beaugenuy, Itupaume,
Vendome, Le Mang, htelfort, 61 Quentin, and the great
sortie agaitat S Cloud. At Gravelotte nearly bolt a
million of men cuntrouted each other—viz , 270,000 German,
against 210000 Frenchmen. At Sedan there were 210.18 M
Germans against 150,060 Irene), and In the third battle of
Orleans 100,060 or 120,000 Germans against 200,000 or
210,000 French. The disparity of numbers wes,greatees
at Mars-la-Tour and Belfoit In the nemer 46,000
Prnreans fought from 8 a us. till 4 p.m., st lint, agslnet
160,100, and by noon against nearly 260,000 Wrench In the
latter early tee® or 36 ow (Vulgate 111 liudeners cen-
t, ;Medi-OSLO or 120,000 French.
_The three lottles before
. .

Metz—Eat ge, Mare-is-Tour, and Gravelotte—show the
largest losses on totb sides, the loss of the Germans In the
second °log GOO officers and 17,000 men. Of all the bst.les
dash- g the past century, only the storming of Planchenot In
the ba tla of Belle Alliance, Borodino, Eylau, Slot Zwndort
ceo rank le the same ea, egory with the battles before Mete.
Th,.v have been to engagements, some of them retembling
battles, end 20 successful slew s, including Earls, tho 11r,t
stronghold In the world, and Mete and Strasburg, fortnwses
of the first rack. Only Bak rt Is at present te•teged, while
Bache Is invested nod Manbeuge, GlNct, and Combust are
ruiriked and watched.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-11

CAB, CAB, AND POSTING ESTABLISHMENT.
MRS. A. BROWN, in returning thanks to
the Public for the support she has received iv
the shove Business, begs to announce that she has trans-
ferred the Business to hit son Themes Brown, on u hove
behalf she would solicit a continuance ef past favours.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-11

FWD FOR REELECTION.

111, curious, bet true, that Paris has raroly been seen in
distinctness of late days, even when the weather was pro-
misSug and clear outside writes The Tts.ee' Special Correa.
pendent . The proud beauty veils her face, but she may be
assured there Is no degradation or dinhoucur In store for
her—a word of shame or accent of offence. It Is certain, I
think, beyond dispute that Paris yielded to famine alone—to
extreme starvation—and that the bonsbardnseiss slid nothing
but stiffen the backbone and harden the arm of the defence.
The Emperor William went over the Fort with great interest,
and examined all the positions around It. Count Moltke, by
his side or behind him, took note of every point, and once
when peeringlisto the slung gem ss Valerie," a clever artist
caught. glimpse of him and took a sketch for an illustrated
contemporary, which he christened, "Mind and matter."
The pines Is in such n wretched state that Colonel von Eber-
hardt rnarthed half his men out of It to the villages
below for the sake of deoent cover. Go the night of the
occupation there was a strange birth inside the
Fort. The wife of a taarketender, who had been living
for four mouths under the storm of shell with the
regiment to which her husband was attached, wan confined
in one of the barracks-3 child born under Mars, very
surely. The last year and the opening of the present have
been smite enorgh under the influence of that deity. Let us
hope that the god of battles ban had his w.sy long enough,
and that peace on earth and goodwill among men may come
before 1671 has seen Ito springtime pass away. If the
Emperor could have seen well the havoc done In part of the
city, he might leave regretted that he had not trusted to
hunger as his moot politic General and councillor, but it
must be considered that public opinion in srnsany
clamoured for the hombardmant, and that this German
army is—as It in boasied to be—the German nation,
mohilized for war. There Is some food for reflection In thin,
for It surely Is not safe for a General to disregard the wishes
of his soldiery when the General is a King and the soldiery
are his suojecta. There was a French King once wh • Bald
the smell of • dead enemy was always sweet; hut the Gor-
man Emperor mnst surely have deplored the necessities of
war as he passed through St. Cloud and Montretout, and
looked out on Parts, still smoking.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-11

A SUGGESTION FOR A SENSATION
NOVELIST!

The New York Correspondent of the London Stand,:rd
sends over the following

It has been long since New York has known such
a scandal as that which ties transpired within a few
days past. A bigamy case has been brought to fight,
in which all the parties were of the highest respecta-
bility. On the 2fith of November last a young man
of fashion was married to a young woman of beauty
and gosd birth at the altar of the lovely irie.windowed
church of St. Thomas, in the Fifth Avenue, by the
Rev. De. Morgan, the rector, than whom New York
has probably not a more excellent or eloquent divine.
The married couple went to a fashionable hotel, where
luxurious apartments were provided for them, and
where the husband left the wife a few days afterwards
to see him no more. After his flight the lady went
back to her relations, by whom his desertion was
kept secret, though the canoe was speedily re-
vealed to them in the existent* of another
wife and a child, living in an hotel in •
different quarter of the city. Strange to say, this
family had been long inmates of the very comfortable
and respectable house in which they were found. The
child, a hey, was five years of age, and yet not one of
the hu d' sbane friends or kinsfolk had the least know.
ledge of them. The puterfamillas occupied lodgings
is a boarding horse two miles away, and was regarded
as an ingenuous young man, whose ages& Is manners',
eleeant tastes, handsome person, apparent wealre, and
exemplary habits might make him a desirable parer for
a maiden inclined to wed. The most extraordinary
thing connected with the whole sad busineso is that
the offender was clerk in a banking institution upon
salary of only two thousand dollars a year, and that a
careful examination of his accounts disclosed no deficit.
'The wife of five years was penniless and wholly de.
pendent upon him, and though he was connected by
marriage with the great ehteemodore Vanderbilt he
received nothing from that millionaire, BO that his pro-
fuse expenditure in dress, aterriages, and other means
of t elf-indulgence, and in the maintenance of his wife
and child, Is something mysterious. The daily papers
are just now filled with all the details of the scandal,
don, into dramatic form #f interviewers, who have
penetrated the apartments of every private family even
remotely aceiciated with any one of the parties, and
who have driven the worthy landlady of the bigamist's
boarding-house well nigh to despair. It is said that
the guilty man confessed that he went up the aisle of
St. Thomas's Church in apprehension of m tmentary
exposure, and especially in lividly dread that seine one
would step forward at the proper time and forbid the
marriage' in which case it had been his intention to
blow out M. brcins, on the very steps of the altar,
with a pie•el which he carried in his pocket for that
purpose. What a suggestion is hews for the sensational
novelist!
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-11

THEY WAITED QUITE LONG ENOUGH!

A Berlin paper having blamed Count Bismarck for con.
Clotting the recent Convention in French, urging that it was
high time, even on such occasion., to use the language of the
victor, the seml.nilicial Cron Gazet!, reuruks :—"Our con-
temporary mite giving an opinion as to whether Ciunt
B'sruarck should, In the national interest. have waited I,r
the Capitulation till M. Jules Fevre had learnt Gorman, for
It was impossible at onee to conclude the Convention with
anybody else. lets well known that the Count took successful
ruessunli several years ago to pat limits to the exclusive use
of the French tongue In diplomatic intercourse." To Liala it
may he added that the War, according to the Letpsic
Ilgetnaine Zeitutp. baa given a cleat impulse to the study
of German by the French. While In the German anodes
Many thousands understand French, modern languages have
hitherto teen the weak side of French education, but in the
occupied provinces there Is now a brisk demand for German
grammars and dictionaries, In addition to which many of the
prisoners Interned In Germany are engaged in learning the
language of the victor.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-11

PITEOUS APPEALS.

The third and last barrier on the Pruselan side had been
pulled down, and a passage levelled to admit the carts,
wamona, and artillery which had omit+ down by the ateep
upper road fr.nn Lo CAle St ('tout, In order Ire avoid the
village through which we pasted on lint A few Frenchmen
had wandered out of Parts as far as this, and, standing
round the phlegmatic sentries, formed a ne at melancholy
group. • Would monsieur have the goodness to sneak for
me?' said one poor fellow, standing cap in hand before me,
with the tears trembling In his eyes. 'Sly wife, children,
mother, all my family I lift at st. Gormaln nearly boo
months ago. I have never once heard of them thou. I
do not know whether they be alive or dead—whether
they want food or money.' • For the love of God,
sir,' said anal- er very well-dressed man, • Get me leave to
go thrcugh. I have two little el Wren at hone—their
mother is hot late!), dead, aid they are starving; but, ivy
God ! my God ! they are dying there before my face for wan;
of food, and I have plenty of money, bUt cannot get meat
for them. I only want to pate out to buy something to eat,
I shall be back in half an hour, and I sh all save the chtldrea's
lives. Of course nothing could be done Lir there pot
suffering people. The strictest orders had been issued that
no one should be permitted to pue--1 most necessary pre-
rittliCitittvg.hlte; 7as. n ohan'o tirteeri=ra's
quickly as possible from such a melancholy scano."—C,rre-
spoudcht c f baify Telegraph,
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-11

CRADLEY.

YOUNG MEN'S SOCIETY.—On Saturday evening several
highly interesting and well written essays were read by
the following members of the society :—Mr. T. Cramp-
ton, on "Music ;" Mr. A. Crtindall, on "Summer
Parties;" Mr. John Homer, on 'The Sun ;" Mr. T.
Teague, on" Trees ;" Mr. C. Bache, on " Books ;" Mr.
J. Griffin, on "Conversation." Each essay was duly
criticised, and the meeting proved very benificial.

ANNUAL TEA klitientio.—The annual Congregational
Tea Meeting was held in the Baptist School-room on
Monday evening, when about three hundred partook of
an excellent tea. Afterwards addresses were deliverod
by the Revs. M. Morgan and G. Cosine, Mr. J. Lewis, and
other gentlemen. The addresses were pointed, and not
only amused the audience, but highly interested them.
pleasant evening was spent, and the meeting closed
with votes of thanks, dfc., and the benediction.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-11

- --
GALLANT RESCUE.

One of the most gallant of the many gal tnt lifeboat
services that are from time to time recorded was per.
formed a few days ago on the east coast of Scotland, in
the neighbourhood of Montrose.
F. 4' two days previonely a strong gale hal blown
from the south-eant, and a tremendous *et was every-
where breaking on the shore. At daybreak a partially
diemnsted schooner which turned out to be the Minot,
of eliroskjobing, in Denmark, was observed to be at
anchor in Bervie Bay, about twelve miles north of
Montrose, in a very dangerous position. The rocket
apparatret from the nearest Coastguard station was
anon on the spot, but the vessel being too far from the
shore, to he reached by it, a telegram wan at once sea
to Montrone for thelifeboat aud a steamtug to come to the
aid of the vessel and crew. An soon as practicable the
lifeboat, Mincing Lane, of the National Lifeboat Institn-
Vela wa e launched, manned by the well-known and skilful
Ferryden tist semen, and was towed to the harbour's
month, when it was found that the sea on the bar waste°
heavy to admit of the steamer being taken through it.
After some consultations and an only natural slight
hesitation the coxswain and crew of the lifeboat de-
termined at all risks to cross the bar, if possible, and
perform the service withont other aid than their own
strong arms and wills, and e if they went, followed by
the anxious gaze and hopes of the spentatore on
shore. The sea on the bar is said to have been
rritic, yet as each broke heavily over the boat, one
throwing her up almest perpendicularly, she neve rthe•
trendily surmounted them, and whenever the heavy
lines of surf on the bar her oare were taken In and
sails were set, and in an hour more she had reached
the dOressed ship. Owing to the heavy se* it was still
a work of no slight difficulty to get her crew on board,
who, standing on the stern, had to avail themselves of
the brief moments when the boat was raised high on
the summit of a wave, sod thus one by one they
jumped into her, and all got safely on board. It had
been thought that the lifeboat would then have to run
to Stonehaven, ten miles further north, with toe
rescued men ; but, fortunately, the wind had veered
more to the east, and she was enabled to return with
them to Montrose, to the no slight joy tend relief of
those who with anxious and wistful eyes had been
wattling for her relate*
The lifeboat's crew were toed in their pralees of the
behaviour of their boat, both under tart and nails;
yet what would be the value of evert such boats
withont the daring courage and skilful management of
such men? When the character of this service is
c nesidered, agsinst the al weielly dangerous seas which
In en-shore gales of wind break wildly on the bare of
all rivers on so (xi- nied a coast, and the long diatanoe
of twelve miles on a lee those, which had to be tra-
versed, it will be readily conceived that it would be
difficult to speak in too high terms of the noble courage
and herdihood of the brave fellows by whom it was
performed.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-18

FRENCH GRATITUDE.

The Bile Committee of Help to the wounded have
received the following letter from M. Erckmarin' who
shares with M. Chatrian the authorship of those
delightful national romances, "The Conscript,"
"The Blockade," "Waterloo," &c., and who has been
elected for the department f the Haut Rhin in the
present Assembly :
Phalaburg, Jan. 28.
_

-
Gentlemen,—The unfortunate Inhabitants of this town,
which ham Buffered so severely by the war, thank you for your
benevolence. It is through dire misfortunes that one learns
who are one's real friends. The hearts of Frenchman will
never forget with what generous readiness you have hastened
to hold out to us the hand of brotherhood. Accept our
thanks in the name of country, religion, and humanity.
Other benefactors have lent us their help amid the disasters
of the last few month.: but when the evil la without limits,
when after destruction by fire comes disease, and when amid
all our sufferings requisitions of every kind are heaped upon
us, then are we compelled to Implore those in whom our
confidence Is placed to continue their good work Do not,
therefore, forget our poor fellow-countrymen, who are worthy
of your remembrance en account of their courage, their
patriotism, and their gratitude for all your past and present
goodneas.—Accept, dcc., MILLIS ARC/IMAMS.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-18

THE FRENCH PRISONERS AND THE
it EN IS WANTEI ?-ILadies in or out (
k limouess preferred), in every town and village i NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.
tiraat Britain cud the Channel Islands ; to introdu, LEIWMC, Friday.
Foreign articles in great demand amongst the Ladle
Profits certain £2 to £3 per week. Samples sent to The Petition to the National Assembly for dr.
Ladies post free.—Address. Mr. Knight, lti,Coalbarbol,r
culation among the French prisoners declares
Lane, Brixton, London, S.W.
j that they will obey whatever Government France
may choose; but they demand that the Govern-
ment shall be chosen by universal suffrage, the
question being--tirst, monarchy or republic ?
'2uti, time name of the monarch, if monarchy be
chosen?

THE NATIONAL STEAM SHIP COMPANY
Having First-vines Steamers every Wednesday from
LIVERPOOL TO NEW YORK,
Desire to appoint an Active
PASSENGER AGENT

GERMAN ILL-FEELING TOWARDS
ENGLAND.

Tho Times Versailles Correspondent telegraphs
that the absence of any cordial mention of the
German successes in the Queen's speech, is not
liked.
Fuel is still wanting in Paris.

GENERAL NEWS.

'WU releyr.lllls.:
FRIDAY.

ACTION FOR LIBEL BY MR. SAL..

The action for libel by Mr. Sala against
the publishers of Ham Friswell's book of" Men
of Letters Honestly Criticised," resulted to-day
in a verdict for plaintiff.—llaninges .1500.

THREATENING TO SHOOT LORD
CONYNGIIAM.
Lord Francis Conynghatn, of Mount Charles,
County Donegal, has received a letter, the writer
of which threatens to shoot him.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-18

HOW TEE VOTES ARE TAKEN IN
FRANCE.

The Times' Versailles Correspondent thus describes the
',sodas operandi of voting in Francs:—
The votes are being taken at five different sections
or voting p`acee. One is the theatre, and if I descri
themode of proceeding there the description will suit
for alltive. On reaching the entrance the rerson going
is handed papers by a number of men and love. 1 was
presented whh seven, each cintaining a duff i rent list
of eleven candidates. I ascended to tte foyer where
the votes were taken, and found the apartment fitted
up with a table at either end. The firetof these tables
was close to the door. On it were three ink bottles,
three sand boxes, pens, and ruled papers, the lines
being numbered from 1 to 11 inclusive, aod blanks
being left for the names of such candidates as the
eleetor wished to fill in. Each paper was headed
" Bulletin de Vote." I did not see any ODD use one of
those papers. Each voter entered the room with a
folded list in his band, and also a pink card. On the
latter is printed, "Ripublique Fran cabs, Ville de Ver-
sailles, einquienie section. Election d'onze representants
ill' Assemblee Nationale. Le illercredi, 8 Ferrier, 1871.
Au Four du Grand Theatre. Carte d Electeur. Xo,
' Then follows on separate lines the names, the
age, the profession, and the residence of the elector. The
name of the Mayor, and the Ewald the town of Versailles
are minted below, and a foot•note directs the voter to
preserve the card in case a second scrutiny should
be requisite. The voter with his list and card pre.
ceeds to the upper end of the room, in which WM
a square ballot box, inscribed "Cinquiente Section."
Behind the box stood an official, appointed by the
Mayor, to whom the elect, r handed his list. The
moment he did so the official held it over a slit in the
top of the box. There were two other officials at the
table, one of whom had a scissors in kb hand and a
heap hornets of pink cards before him, the other a
large manuscript book. The voter handed his pink card
to the official with the scissors, who cried out the
number and name on it. The official at the book turned
lathe corresponding number in the book, and if all was
right a corner was cut off the voter's card, the rest of
It was handed back to him, and at the same instant the
official who held the list of candidates over the alit
dropped it into the box. The whole process occupied
lees than a minute, and his vote thus deposited the
elector at once left the room. I did not hear a word
of conversation between any voter and the officially. I
was the only spectator present during the half hour 1
was there. I could not have supposed that polling of
any kind could be conducted with such regularity,
rapidity, and tranquillity. Should the ballot be
adopted in England we may well take a lesson from
the French if the voting at Versailles may be taken as
a specimen of what is going on all over France toeday.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-18

ARMY REFORM.

Mr. Trevelyan u ill move on Tuesday. that no
army scheme can be regarded as complete which
does not alter the tenure of the Command-in.
Chief, so as to place at the dismiss' of the War
Secretary the best administrative talent in the
British Army.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-18

A SUGGESTION ABOUT VALENTINES.

From the Pall Mali Gazette)

We look in vain among the advertisements of velem
tines for any announcement of the political and official
valentine; yet what valuable hints might be conveyed
In a pleasing manner to many public men by a free dis-
tribution of these missives. For instance, if the Home
Secretary reusived a sachet, scented with a combina-
tion of the peculiar smells which pervade the fever
courts in this and other towns in the Trotted Kingdom,
and adorned with an illustration of a yew tree and a
funeral urn, it would doubtless recall to his remem•
brance the fact that the health of the community is
"much aa usual," namely, that thousands of lives are
being annually sacrificed which might be saved by his
interference, and that thineande have read the Queen's
Speech carefully through in hopes of diacovering some
promise of a measure of sanitary reform, hut have been
grievously disappointed to find it is only conspicuous
by its absence. Again, a valentine with an illustra-
tion of a polluted river meandeting through a district
the inhabitants of which are drinking its turbid waters
and dying on its banks, would recall sweet memories
of bygone hopes. Mr. Gladstone would be gratified
beyond measure at receiving a valentine of a released
Fenian from General Butler, with a few lines playfully
comparing the lot of the lucky one with that if the
starving pauper and the dismissed dockyard labourer
owing to the afßctionate sympathy of his eminent
friends. In fact, p ,litical valentines, would diffuse •
vast amount if pleasure at a very trifling cost, and
would serve as little memorials to statesmen which
they might treasure as a solace in their declining years
of all they had done and left undone in the halcyon
days of official life.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-18

QUARRY BANK.

PROTESTANT Issoaninon thocrtry.—A lunaro wee
delivered on Monday evening, at gamy Bank, by the
Rev. M. Crosse, BA., subject—. The Protestant Refor-
mation." The chair was occupied by the Ito,. Dr. Dixon.
The lecture was S very interesting one, and listened te
with much attention. The addres wee of a deeply inter-
esting absrocior, giving u outline of the effort. and ad-
cancel of the Romish Church of late years in England;
of the reasons, doctrinal, moral, and political, cm aernasit
of which Romanians' abould be oppoaed ; and, lastly, of
the operations and successes of the Protestant Reforms.
lion Society in opposing Romsnism and Ritualism. The
lecturer, in concluaion, strongly urged the claims of the
society upon all true Protebtants for their aid and em-
pathy in the prosecution of its work. The addresses
were interspeted with accounts of several striking ind-
dents connected with the operations of the society, and
the lecturer was prevailed upon to promise to repeat his
addresses at an early date.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-18

SATrIMAT, lIIIRtrAZT 18, an.

Annnat Sozaas.—lt will be seen in our advertising
columns, that the Church of England Annual Tea Party
and Soiree takes plum in the Corn Exchange on Monday
evening next. Miss K. Phillips and Mrs. Fennell will
take part in the musical progromme.
PIDNORII Um:ann.—lt will be seen on referring to
our advertisement columns that St. Peter's Church,
Pedaiore, which has been rebuilt, will be consecrated on
Tuesday next, by the Lord Bishop if Worcester, who wiil
also preach the consecration seem n, and the church will
be opened for Divine service on the Sunday following.

upon Mr. Hinton'a tuna, ha l
ad t.llllllllCM°llMillitain this Aden& ant did not go there for the express purpose of
for game and before the magistrates could conviet"retwbiJ have to be shown clearly that he did so. The hare caught
was trapped upon Mr. Whitehouse's land, who was the
employer of the defendant, and thertore the latter was
entitled to follow it. upon the ground of ownership. He
(Mr. Young) conaiderel that the witness for the -•
tion could not tell whether the &Maul was dead or not,
being a considerable distance from the defendant. Kr.
Young concluded by stating that the defendant wan an
honest and very respectable man, sad that la Mold*
after the traps be was acting in asoordanee with insfrae-
tions.—Evldence in support of his statement wee gelled,
and the magistrates, after some deliberation, glawalssed the case.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-18

THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE

ASSOCIATED INSTITUTES.

The annual meeting of the above Institntions was held
in the Lecture Room, on Moodiy evening. Previoue to
the amalgamated meetmg, the mechanics held their pre-
liminary one at seven o'clock. The amalgamated meet-
ing was held at eight o'clock. There was a fair attend.
acme.

Mr. C. Evers proposed, and Mr. Pagett seconded, that
Mr. E. B. Marten take the chair.

Mr. Evers stated that he -bad received letters of ape.
logy from Mr. Foley, Mr. G. K. Harrison, and Mr. braids
Kern. The lant-named gentleman had kindly enclosed
a cheque for £2, for any purpose to which the members
of the Institutions may think proper to direct it.
The Chairman said Mr. Y.Trre had kindly told hitu it
was not necessary to burden them with n *peen, sod,
therefore, be would not do so. It was needless to en•
plain what good such institutions bad done ais far as
education was concerned. They had heart a great deal
about education lately, and lie hoped they would hear
more neat week. He thought the work of Mechanics'
Institutions dttring the last 20 years had done mach to
improve the minds of the people. and had a great deal
to do with the passing of the Education Act last year.
He was very much struck by a friend who had returned
from the seat of war telling him of the difference in the
education of the soldiers there. Many of tha Henn An
private soldiers were educated as gentlemen, and onl3 4
per cent, of them could not read and write. They acted
sail talked like gentlemen amongst the French peasant)y.
He hoped the education of the country would he tmo,
looked to ; and concluded by calling on Mr. C EY,
the secretary. to read the report of the Mechanic',
Institute for the past year which was as follows :
STOURSHITIOE MECHANICS' INSTI rUTK.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-18

LIANOFORTES and HARMONIUMS
I' :y
be bad on the NEW SYSTEM of HIRING, for , x
e Years; after which, and without any further , •
meat, to become the property of the hirer. All In
ments had on this system, or otherwise,
' Exchanged any time within six months for any oth.
not approved of, and returned carriage free. And
titer, after a trial of three years, any Pianoforte or
monium would be taken back, at its original cost,
the money returned, deducting the °suet charge fort
thus offering greater advantages than the London or
thioset..—Apply G. F. GREEN, Piano!
TI.:{C her and Tuner, Music Warehouse, 260, Csatle-st.
Dudley.
e_'l (1() 0 PIANOFORTE S & HARMO
1
S have been TUNED by ti. F. filtl
Prufes,onal 'lnner, 260, CAFTI E-STREET, DIM
Piano} -rte, d, In-,trung, the Ilaminets Re-
-red a 01 Put. it J . it. as usi ti by the noel eminent 0

.to,tdi,lcl for Two Stanips.
TO THE NERVOUS AND DEBILITATED.

EAD TIIE " SECRET FRIEND,"
L lacr.S, isho Imo for years given) iii.
. .

• n•utio,, t Dro treatment of Nersons Debili
I. :.land Physical Depression, Palpitation of the H.
io the Ilead and Ears, Indecision, Impab
Abrid aml Memory, Indigestion, Prostration, Lassitu,
of Spirits. Loss of Energy and Appcti
I;,inq in the Dock And Limbs, Timidity, Self-Distrti
!,.7.ZirI..SS, !Ate of Folitude, Groundless Fears, and nut
•11,,,r ailments, soict,il neglected, bring the sufferers
0 esrly Watt.

Ifix valuable Ivork, " THE SECRET FRIEND,"
,ila4tl ated with 1; IMICTOUR cases and testimonials, and p
gives the eatoe but the means of cure. Handle
St 011(11 bel been thought hopeless have beset,
!oc •cl to perteet health and rigour after all other nua
:0.1 filed. Sent post free on receipt of two stamps.
Address, Dr. BARNES, 80, Thornhill Crescent, Cal
loolao Road, London, N.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-18

THE WATERLOO CUP.

For the deciding course, Lord Lurgan's blk
w d Master 316rath, by Dervcek—Lady Sarah,
beat Mr. Punchard's f 1 p Pretender, by Ewes-
dale—Peeress, and won the cup for the third
time.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-18

THE GERMANS IN BNGLAND TO

THE EMPEROR.

The following is a translation of an address t the
German Emperor now lying for signature by German i
residents in England n various towns in this
country :--

Most °radon/ Emperor and King,—We the undersigned
Germans resident In England, impressed as we are with the
awful and marvellous Aaracter of recent events, desire to
present to your Majesty the assurance of our deep respect,
and our most hearty thankfulness for the manner in which
your Majesty has led and controlled our arms and policy
We nave watched with feelings of pride and gratitude the
victorious advance of the German armies from those vine-
clad hills threatened by the insolent foreigners to the walls
of Parts We have seen with feelings t f patriotic erno-
Con the foe swept from before our standards to the
stream of the Loire and to the shores of the
Atlantic. Oar hearts have been filled with pride as we
witnessed the heroism and devotion of our brethren, and
their well founded confidence in the wisdom and forethought
of their 'eaden. Already before the last efforts of the enemy
were baffled, and before Paris had yielded, Germany offered
your Majesty the Imperial Crown &tithe symbol of the unity
and the might of our Fatherland, and with that reliance on
the Most High, and with that firmness of purpose which hove.
abled your Majesty to achieve victory, you have placed your-
self at the head of Germany, and fulfilled those aspirations
which filled her heart even In the days of her deepesthumUla-
Hon. The Wigan, of your royal anceston—sot only valiant ,
In bank, bu dliglinguungZ3.aln4Sblol Ilivlatelits4ol

—development, sad thaterlaproapoitiaiSebilibteots—givec
on the beet guarantee of •itiorious future for the Imperial rule.
While despotic power and violence placed the Gallic Emperor
on. throne which Crumbled beneath the Teuton sword, the
national strength of Germany haa raised your Majesty to the
leadership of en Empire which, powerful both materially
and Intellectually, will be a tower of freedom and right for
all time. We, too, although resident In a foreign lend, hell
you.. Emperor; we hall the hour in which the bond. were
broken and the spell destroyed which barred the great
Teutonic people from their proper place and ilifilleoC. In the
world, and we prey the Almighty, who blessed our arms, to
grant to your Majesty a long and peaceful reign over a
regenerated Fatherland.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-18

A FEARFUL SCENE.

On Friday a man named Champion, who had been
sentenced to seven years' penal servitude by the Re.
eerier of Windsor, was being taken to Reading by the
Great Western Railway in charge of a police sergeant
named Field. diverted the sergeant's attention for a
moment to the right-hand side of the line, and imme-
diately made a dash at the opposite window, and,
although he was suffering from a broken leg and walked
on crutches, scrambled through it. Field managed to
catch bold of one of the mane legs, and succeeded in
keeping his bold for a considerable time, while the
prisoner was hanging half out of the window. Even-
tually the prisoner's clothes gave way; the sergeant gave
him a jerk in order to prevent him getting under the
wheels of the carriage, and he fell on to the ground.
At this time the train was travelling at a speed of from
twenty to thirty miles an hour, but Field contrived to
gain ta- attention of the engine driver, and the train,
after it had run &bait a mile, was stopped. About a
mile from th 3 spot where the prisoner made his escape
Field saw him being led into a wood by a couple of
labourers employed upon the permanent way, re.
captured him, Pt.i took him on to Reading gaol. The
prisoner seemed little, if any, the worse for his adven-
tute. It e' Luis that when apprehended by Field in the
first ins, Anse be broke his leg by jumping over a high
wall in his endeavour to escape.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-18

BIIIERLEY HILL.

DRUNK AND RIOTOCC—At the Petty Session* held ou
Thursday, before I. Spooner, Esq., Stipendiary, George
Edwards was charged with being drunk and riotous, on
Tuesday. I'3lice-eonstable Mee proved the offence.
!tined 5e

CLANGS OF ASSAIILI.—John Hall was charged with
&moulting John Bray, on the 6th inst. Complainant said
he worked at Messrs. Brown and Freer's. The defendant
wanted him to pick up his tongs. He refused, and the
defendant struck him with the iron tongs and several
times with his fist. Fined Is and costs, Ills 6d,
CRUELTY TO A HORSE:a/obn Hill WU charged with
cruelly Unreeling a horse on the Bth lust, by working it
while in an unfit state. Police-constable Mee said he
was on duty at. Brettell Lane. He found the defendant
working a horse in a cart. It had three wounds—Joseph
Cox, the owner, was charged with allowing the horse to
work on the Bth just, while in an unfit state. Hill was
fined El and costa, or three weeks ; and COI £3 and
costs, or six weeks imprisonment,
CHARGE OF STEALING • SHAWL.— ElOnla Bragan, a
married woman, was charged with stealing a shawl, on
the Thursday before Christmas, the property of Margaret
Ann Pargeter. Mr. Waldron defended. From the eel-
dunce it appeared that the offence was of a trumpery na-
ture, and defendant receiving a good character, she was
bailed out for two months to appear to answer the charge
if called upon.
Fowl. STIALING.—George Blakeway was charged with
feloniously stealing a fowl, on the 14th just, and Thomas
Tomlinson with receiving it, well knowing it to have been
stolen, the property of George Baiter. Prosecutor said
be is a farmer residing at Kingswinford, and the two pi-
Boners were in his employ. On the above date he missed
the fowl produced from his farm. flaw the prisoner
Tomlinson take it, and followed him to his home. Did
not see the fowl. Gave information to the pollee, and
went to Tomlinson's house, who said that Blakeway gave
him the fowl. Other evidence was called to prove the
offence, and that the fowl was found in some pig weak
near where TOlnlinSOn lived. Tomlineon, who had been
previously convicted, was sentenced to three months'
hard labour, and Blakeway was ordered to appear next
Thursday to receive sentence.
_

Aust:Le Cssit.—Joseph Williams was brought ap on
• warrant charged went assaulting James Conotable, on
the sth inet. Complainant said he was going home with
others, and went into the defendant'. father'. house.
They began to play at cards. Told defendant he was
cheating, when defendant struck him several times, sod
blackened both his eyes. Edward Harris wee called to
prove the case, but aa defendant bad been in prison sines
Tuesday night, he was discharged.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-18

THE ANCIENT WALLS OF
JERUSALEM.

Dean Stanley, In his " Recovery of Jerusalem," made the
following remarks on the course of the ancient walla :

- -
"The course of the ancient walls, on which hangs
the much disputed question of the possible authen.
ticity of the Holy Sepulchre, still remain unsolved, or
rather so much additional progre6s has been made
towards its solution that as far as the excavations have
as yet gone they disparage rather than conhrm the
alleged proof that the walls excluded the site from
their compass, and therefore admitted of its genuine.
nese." Oa this the Saturday Itcricta made some com-
ments, to which in a note to the preface of the
second edition Dean Stanley thus replies ;—" A
critic in the Saturday Kra?, of Feb. 4, 1871, has
written an elaborate attack on the pre face to this
volume, founded on the assumption that the above
paragraph is intended to maintain the identity of the
Dome of the It with the Church of the Holy
Sepulchre. It is hardly necessary to say (except for
the sake of pointing out the reviewer's error) that it
has not the remotest bearing on that queotion. I
remain of the came opinion on the untenable character
of Mr. Fergusson's ingenious hypothesis as I ex.
preseed in the final chapter of my work on Sinai
and Palestine ; and the above paragraph has reference
exclusively to the argument for showing that the
Second Wall of Jeruealem excluded the site of the
present Church of the Holy Sepulchre."
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-18

For the second reading, 13; against, el ; majority, 41.

-
The bill was then read a second time, - -
Leave was given to Mr. Heron to bring Li a bill to ex-
tend to Ireland Clause 610 the 'intorno and Inland Revenue
Act, 1870, and to enable farmers in Ireland to germinate
grain to be consumed by animal. ;—to Mr. George Gregory
tor s MU to dlooontlnue the registration of deeds and wills
In Middlesex ;—to Mr. 0 dt, a bill to amend and define the
law relating to private chapels, and chapels belonging to
colleges, scaoola. Loipitals. asylums, and other public In-
stitutions ;—to Mr Russell Gurney, a bill for the appoint-
ment of public prosecutor. ;—and to the Attorney-General a
bill to repeal Section 22 of thin "Juries Act," 1870. These
bills were read a first time and the Rouse adjourned.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-18

THE GERMAN TERMS OF PEACE.

After pointing out that the canton of Alsace and Gorman
Lorraine is an indispensable condition of Peace, the semi-
officlai Prooinzial Corresponde nz say.:—
"In other reepects also Germany will in the nego•
Cations for Peace claim her full rights, but ehe will
ceitisioly do so with the moderation which excludes
any thought of degrading, or even humiliataig the
enemy. France cannot be spared the payment of a
pecuniary indemnity also for the great sacrifices
which have been imposed upon our people by the
wantonly provoked war, and it is manifest that
in this respect the account of the German people
ham increased considerably since September. Apart
from payment of the immediate costs of the war, and of
the obligations impoeed upon the State in conneriumiceot
the War, Germany w ill necteearily demand the paym-nt
of many claims founded upon riht and justice. But
even in Bail respect the good senee of our Government
and the ye lot of the German people give eecurity that
the conditions of Peace will not exceed the bounds of
justice, and will not be deficient in consideration for
the condition of France. Germany, for her part, will
not forget, in concluding Peace, that the two neigh.
boning nations ought not to look forward to lasting
discord and hostility—ought noi to aim at mutual
destruction, but to look forward to a higher and nobler
struggle in the common fartherence of the well-being
and intellectual development of nations. After the
immediate security of Germany, the greatest bleeeing
that Peace could bring us would be the firm establish-
ment of this nobler purpose in the two great nations,
and, and by its means the foundation of a true and
lasting Peace."
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-18

CRADLEY.

Enuesnow.—On Saturday evening at the Young Men's
Improvement Society, • paper on the above 'abject was
written by Mr. John Woodhouse. The subject was very
ably treated, and provoked an interesting discussion,
was almost unanimously in favour of the Longue peso-
.l.
WiILITAN BAND OF HOPl.—This society which exists
for the promotion of temperance principles among young
people, and the members of which are pledged abstainers,
was startad in Autumn last year. It began with twenty,
but through the. untiring efforts of Mr. Henry Cleft and
other friends, it has increased to nearly a hundred mem.
bers. On Monday last the first annual tea meeting of the
society was held in the Wesleyan School-room, Cradley.
The provisions were kindly given by Mr. Wm. Downing.
After tea a public meeting of • very interesting charac-
ter was held. Speeches setting forth different points of
the temperance question, were given by Messrs. E. Bra-
zier, S. Perks. and Barker, well-known advocates of
the cause. Several temperance recitations and songs
were rendered by the members of the Band of Hope, and
a few of the Lye Waste 'temperance Choir, who were
present, enlivened the meeting with glees. At the close
of the meeting a distribution of cake, apples, and nuts
took place, and with the promise of a einnlar treat every
year from Mr. Downing, the little band of " Coldatream
Guards," with light hearts and merzy faces, passed away
to their homes.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-18

OLD HILL.

ASSAULT CASE.—At the Police Court, on Wednesday,
before Mews. F. W. G. Barra and E. Moore, James
Young was charged with assaulting Charles Birch, on
the 14th instant, at Tividale. Complainant said on the
above date he was at work with the defendant when he
hit him with a hot tongs and burnt him on the back.
John Bolles corroborated complainant. Defendant called
William Adley, who said defendant pushed the iron at
complainant, and burnt him. Defendant was fined 10s
and costs; in default 21 days.
NEGLECT or WORK.—George Shepherd was charged
by William Mills, coalmaster, Rowley, with neglecting
his work. Our readers will recollect that this caie was
adjourned for seven days for the banksman to attend.—
After hearing his evidence, the Bench dismissed the
case.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-18

A NEW JERSEY FISH STORY.

The last fish story comes from New Jersey (says the
New York Timis). Lately, in the interior of that
State, a mild•looking countryman entered a railway
car, bearing a bundle tied up in a handkerchief, which
he placed under the mat at the end of the After
travelling along for about half an hour, a Lai; :king
in front of the countryman was ober,. 1 to WO,. 0"
easily in her seat, and to cut savage glances at
seemingly respectable man Bitting ‘ly nor sides In A,
few minutes afterwards another lauy, still farther to
"became uneasy," aod atla.. riming in her
seat, some gaulaws". in the csi'-,otild Wo•
Mot her from au elderly•looking gs.-tfoom. by
and whom sue stated had insults,
17ersons 'tiered their assistence, aro '4l. •
n,nidepee's in hia own defame his hat
ilLi eyes mu ne s dragged t, the r,

tAere, hod c.sanYwn on Ina *waggon

words as to what the indignity meant, still another
lady rose, also seated further up the car, and accented
a gentleman sitting behind her with improper conduct.
A rush was made for the insulter number two, but
that gentleman vigorously defended himself with a
large walking stick he happened to have (and which,
by-the-by, was one canoe of the last troubles, his
accuser stating that he had indecorously been rapping
her ankles under the seat with the same), and, while
the struggle to get at him was still in progress, some-
body in the front of the car shouted "There's- a snake
on the floor." A scene then ensued. The ladies in
the car clambered up on to the seats, and many got on
the arms and backs of the same. One elderly maiden
managed to stand on the backs of two seats in the
best circus manner possible under the circumstances,
while a young mr-ther threw in r baby into a parcel
rack, an then hung con vssisively to a ventilator.
The confusion awoke the cotintryman, who, on being
told of the snake, first felt in his lir: vile, and then ex-
claimed, " blamed if that old eel hain't sot loose f'
started for the front, and soon returned graspifiF firmly
an immense eel, which he had first caught while out
fishing, but which, when brought into the car, had
managed to get out of the bundle, and had wended its
way to the front, lovingly caressing the different varieties
of ladies garters which he encountered on the stay.
Apologies given and received straightened everything
in that car but the hat that was jammed down, and the
countryman leaving at the next station no blood was
drawn.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-18

Soulan istrict

BOARD OF GUARDIANS.

The weekly meeting of this Board was hold
yesterday; Mr. Granger in the chair. There
were also present:— Messrs. Brooks, Griffin,
Bird, Darby, Fereday, Guest, Homes, Oliver, T.
H. Pargeter, Paskins, Powell, Rhodes & Wright.
The minutes of tho last meeting were read and
confirmed. Admitted into the house during the
week, 8; dead, 1; discharged, 19; remaining,
461. Corresponding week last year, 460. Out.
door relief, Kingewinford district, £42 18s id;
Stourbridge district, £26 15s 9d; Halesowen
district, £24 4s sd; total, £93 18s 3d, against
£94 38 6fd last year.
. .

The county rates, Stafford, amounting to £566
17s Id, and the Worcester, £246 Os 7d, were
ordered to be paid.
A complaint was made by Mr. Oliver, of Crad-
ley, about the alleged inattention on the part of
Mr. Bloxham, surgeon, to a pauper. The Clerk
was ordered to request Mr. Bluxintin to attend
the next meeting.
Some desultory conversation took place about
the boarding-out system introduced by Mr.
Emit, but nothing was done.