The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-01-13 00:00:00

Mistet am alls -`•) ntelligtrat,

1710'AE, FOREIGN, AND COLONIIL:

London:

TOILET REQUISITES.—LittIe Girl: Penn'orth of
flour, please.—Baker: Don't make a penn'orth, my
clear. Little Girl: Oh, mother says you must, for
'he's going to a party, and the chemist's shut up, and
she's got no violet powder.—Judy.
DISCOVERY OF ANCIENT CAVALRY SHOES.—During
the excavations in connexi ,n with the construction of
the new drainage system at Brentford a large number
of antiquated horse•shoes, of various shapes were
found, embedded at a depth of eight feet in the gravel.
Antiquarians in the district suppose that they are the
shoes of the cavalry horses which took part in the
battle at Brentford in 1642 in the war between Charles
I. and the Parliamentary party. Some of them are
completely eaten through with rust and surrounded
with, besides the gravel, calcareous matter, which
would seem to suggest the presence of decayed bones.
A number of old coins have also been unearthed during
the progress of these works.
A REASON.—Earnest Spinster. "Since you sympa-
thi,e so much with the Blue Ribbon Army, why don't
you join us, Miss Masham ?" Frivolous ditto. "So
I would; only the ribbon is really such a very dreadful
blue ! "—Punch.

A FATAL FIRM—An alarm of fire was raised on
Tuesday night at 5, Albion-dwellings, Bethnal-green,
London. Smoke was seen issuing from the front room
on the ground floor' and upon an entry being effected
in was found that the clothes of a woman named
Andrews, aged sixty-two years, had caught fire. The
flames were extinguished, but the woman was dead,
hiving been suffocated. She was also burned about
the hands and body.
A TRAITOR.—Fare (noticing the decoration). " Oh !
so you belong to the Blue Ribbon Army 1" Cabby.
"Yes, Sir, I wear the Ribbon. It indooces
men to temp' me with a drink, which I generally
accep's, Sir ! "
--Punch.
THE TRANSIT or VENUS.—The Panama [tar and
Herald of December 14 teports that "the transit of
Venus was distinctly seen by almost all the inhabit-
ants of this city. The day was bright and clear, the
sun shone with full tropical force, and through
smoked glass; binocular or telescope, the round black
speck which represented Venus•was easily followed
from the moment of contact, shortly after nine a. m.,
until a few minutes before three p.m., when it termi-
nated its interesting journey. The planet became
first visible low down on the right lower limb, and,
apparently, although not in reality, made a short
qearter circle until it made its exit apparently at the
extreme base of the sun. Now that it is over all must
regret that no expedition has been stationed here, as
it is probable most accurate observations and photo-
graphs would have been obtained.
Tiin GOOD START.—Visitor (cheerfully) : "Ah !
you don't know my name, I'll bet, young fellow?"
Y. F. : "Pr'aps I don't, hut I know what my sisters
call you." Visitor (more cheerfully) : " What's that,
then ? " Y. F.: " Stoopid !" Visitor (with diminish-
ing cheerfulness) : " Oh ! "—Judy.
FOUND DEAD IN BED.—Mr. William Carter, coroner
for East Surrey, has held an inquiry at the "Queen
Viet°, ia " Tavern Southwark-park, relative to the
death of Mr, Robert Franklin, 58, superintendent of
the Stamping Department at Somerset-house, who
was discovered dead in had on Wednesday morning in
last week. It appeared from the evidence of the eon
of the deceased, that the latter had enjoyed good
health till of late when he had appeared somewhat de-
pressed in spirits. On Wednesday morning witness
went to his father's bed-room to call him, as usual,
and upon entering the room he found the deceased
lyioe in bed on his right side, hut lo eking 'Foy
strange. Being alarmed, he sent for Dr. Cooper, who
on his arrival proeoudeed the deceased dead. In reply
to the coroner witeees paid that he was not aware
that his ether was in the habit of taking Teudnnum,
but he had seep bottles labelled' laudanum in the
house: A letter had been found writen by tt e deceased
in which he stated he was tired of his life. It was
not dated. Mr. Cooper, surgeon, stated that he was
called to the deceased, whom he found in bed dead, as
described by the last witness. Witness had previously
attended the deceased for gout, and had often given
him, when he complained of sle.eplessness, sedatives.
lee was pot aware that deceased took laudanuna for
ally purpose. Wituese hed made a post-morym ex-
amination, and failed to trace any signs of opium
poisoning. The cause of death was fatty degeneration
of the heart, and the jury returned a verdict in accord-
ance with the medical evidence.

MR. FAWCETT'S RESTORA.TION TO HEALTI4.—The
Pall Malt Gazette of Monday says :—Mr. Fawcett to
the amazement of friends and physiciAns, is well
enough to day to leave London and stand the fatigue
of a railway journey of three or four hours. He may
perhaps think that it was almost worth while to run
the deadly peril from which he has just escaittd merely
for the sake of fin ling out the hearty regard in which
he is held, and the extraordinary interest and sympathy
with which his illness has been followed by many

thowande of men and women of all parties, creeds
and conditions. The courage and the simplicity of
his career have touched the imagination of tho world
in a sicgolar degree, or in a degree that would be
singular if these two virtues were not both of them
not too common in public men.

A GENEROUS GlFT—Recently Mies Baxter of
Balgavies, si.ter of Sir David Baxter, and aunt of the
Right Hon. W. E. Baxter, and the late Dr. Baxter,
Procurator FiEcal of Dundee, gave jointly £150,000
for the endowment and erection of a college in

. _
Dundee. - Buildings have been acquired, professors,
appointed, and the work of the college will soon be
begun. On Tuesday Miss Baxter rve another
£lO,OOO to provide a laboratory, and til4 trustees of
the late Dr. Baxter also £lO,OOO to found a Chair of
Law.

CURE FOR ROUP IN FOWLS.—FowIs, says a corre-
spondent of the Graphic, may often be cured of roup
by means of a dose of chlorodyne. "A hen I found
in the roost neatly dead. The breathing was very
difficult, and there was severe rattling in the throat.
I placed her in a hamper with straw near the
kitchen fire, and gave her six drops of chlorodyne in
about a teaspoonfull of warm water. I repeated the
dose at night, and a third dose the next day made a
perfect cure."
- -

PRINTERS' NEW YEAR'S COLLECTION.—It is pro-
posed that a Printers' New Year's Collection shall be
at once instituted, and that on Saturday, the 13th
January, 1883, a simultaneous appeal be made in
"the Chapel" of every printing office in the kingdom.
The suggestion emanates from "The Printers' Pen-
sion, Almshouse, and Orphan Asylum Corporation,"
now in the fifty-fifth year of its existence. A com-
mittee is formed, including besides the executive of
the corporation, the names of many well•known print-
ing firms. The collection will be devoted to assisting
the charitable objects of the Printers' Pension Corpo-
ration. Communications are to be addressed to the

Secretary at Gray's-inn Chatnbers, 20, High Holborn,
-

UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IN GERMANY.—The Berlin
Correspondent of the 'Standard say :—The attendance
at the German Universities bas been increasing of late
years to an extent which causes no little alarm in some
quarters. The number of students has gone up from
fifteen thousand one hundred and thirteen in the
summer of 1872, to twenty-three thousand eight hun-
dred and thirty-four in the summer of 1882. This in-
crease amounts to no less than 57.6 per cent. That
tho demand of modern life for men of education has
_

increased Ix; such an extent as this is regarded as more
than doubtful by many authorities. ' An official warn-
ing has just been issued against students taking up the
law as a profession, as its ranks are already hopelessly

overcrowded.
A DISMAL PROSPECT —Mamma (to Little Girl, who
has asked for more); Good graciows, Edie, what a lot
you are eating this morning !—Edie : Yes, mamma
ain't I? (A pause.) I suppose we shan't ever be lull
till we quite leave off eating, shall we, mamma?—
Judy.
JOINT STOCK ENTERPRISE IN 1882—In, reviewing,
the transactions of the past year, the Investors' Guar-
dian Newspaper of January 6th states that 1,471 new
companies were registered under the Limited Liability
Acts, in London, during 1882, with a total capital of
£216,561,926. In 1881 the total number of companies
registered was 1,385, with a capital of £167,892,941.
A classification' under 16 different headings, shows
has the run as been chiefly upon electric, agricul-
tural, land and property, manufacturing,
shipping, and trading enterprise. The aggregate of
these six classes was 558 companies during the first
six months, and 586 during the last six months of the
year.

TRH RAG TRADE IN AMERICA.—The rag trade seems
to be a profitable business across the Atlantic, to judge
from a recent report. The amount paid for rags in
New York City is said to reach £600,000 per annum,
and it is expected to be doubled within the next ten
years. The rags are divided into two classes' woollen
and cotton. They are principally gathered from the
Eastern and Western States, as the tariff prevents the
iuiportaticn of wosllen cuttings from abroad. Cotton
rags, on the other hand, are duty free and comes from
all parts of the world, and the money realised in this
last business reaches £4,400,000 per annum, the mate-
rial being made into paper. There are about 800 rag
dealers in New York City, but the chief trade is only
in the hands of a few. The pickers, who are mainly
Italians, gather about £150,000 worth yearly on the
roads, and have the monopoly of the streets. Women
•mor era get £1 awe : thepatchers, mostly men, from
£2 81. to £2 16s. a v•_tk. It has taken twenty-five
years to develop this trade, and large fortunes are now
being made in it.

THE ORIGIN OF THE Poreero.2---At the last meet-
ing of the Californian Academy of Sciences, Mr. John
0. Lei:ninon reported the results of a summer's tour
of botanical exploration among the mountain ranges
along the Mexican frontier of Arizona. Among his
discoveries were two or three varieties of indigenous
potatoes, fourel erewing abundantly in high moun-
tain meadow, ee .oueded by peaks attaining a height
of 10,000 ft. above the sea level. The tubers were
about the size of walnuts. Mr. Lemunon brought
home a supply which will be carefully cultivated.
The Scientific American remarks that this interesting
discovery goes far to settle the long-vexed question of
the origin of the potato.
THE UNITED STATES ARMY.—In his report, recently
issued, the American Secretary at War states the ex-
penditures of the Department for the fiscal year to
have been 45,349,319- dole., while the estimated ex-
penses for the present fiscal year will amount to
about 6,500,000 dole, less than this sum. The report
says that the General of the Army urges strongly
that the limit of the enlisted strength of the Army be
fixed at 30,000 instead of 25,000 men, and the Secre-
tary concurs in this recommendation.
THE SOLAR ECLIPSE IN MAY.—The Panama Star
and Herald says :—t'he total eclipse of the sun on the
6th ot May next will last six minutes, and no longer
one will probably occur within the next 100 years. It
will be partially visible in many places, but few will
see it in its entirety, as its path lies almost entirely
through the ocean, touching land nowhere but at a
little island in the south Pacific called Caroline Island,
which is out of the track of any established commerce
or travel. The French Government has determire d
to send an expedition to that island, it is almost cer•
tam n an American party will go thither' and it is mote
than probable a grand international gathering of
astronomers will take place at the Caroline Island to
take part in this scientific quest.
MAKING THE MOST OF IT!— The dreaded taran-
tula has been converted into a profitable article of
c nemence by an ingenious Southern Californian IDA
A short time since he noticed that the tarantula's
curiously-contrived nests were much sought after by
naturalists and relic-hunters, so began to collect them
for sale, while as the trade proved lucrative he thought
of capturing the insect itself. By injecting arsenic
into the spider he destroys the poison, while admirably
pi eierving the creature, which can then be handled
with impunity. As the tarantulus abound in certain
localitiPs the industrious hunter can catch two dozen
in a day, these bringing him in £1 4s. when neatly pre-
pared and mounted.
THE PREVENTION OF FLOODS.—The Mornine Post
says:—" The rainfall, instead of being temporarily
retained or absorbed by forests and marshes, now
flows freely over the surface of the ground, or by
means of artificial drainage into streams which feed
the rivers, and hence the entire volume of rainfall
reaches the latter within a comparatively short period
after it quits the clouds. Assuming that this is the
true explanation, it is not so easy to suggest a remedy.
The forest and swamps cannot be restored, nor is it
expedient that they should be; but it would be
possible, by increasing the number of plantations and
preventing the further destruction of timber, to
mitigate to some degree at least the immediate conse-
quences which now succeed exceptional rainfalls."
THE POWER OF THE FIDDLE.—It appears that the
fiddle has net unfrequently played an important part
in contests in the Southern States. A member cf the
Georgia Legislature has thus given his electioneering
experience :—My opponent was a good man and a good
farmer, but was not a practised speaker. 1 felt that
speaking might be considered a sort of natural gift, or
due to a profession—so I didn't press him on this
point. But playing the fiddle was a purely acquired
accomplishment, and incidental to no profession; and
as many of my younger conatitnents are fond of
dancing and like the music of the fiddle, I crowded
him on that. And you eheuld have seen the look of
silent despair on that good man's face as he stood in a
corner of a room, while I sat on a box, like a king on
his throne, and made my old fiddle talk, while the boys
and girls danced to my music. I made it a rule to get
every girl to promise to make her partner in the reel
vote for me before she would dance with bitia.
THE YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. General
Sheridan, in a repot to the War Department of the
United States in connexion with this public place of
resort, states that the park is rented out to private
parties, who are using it for money-making purposes,
and that claims and conditions will probably arise in
consequence which the Government may find it hard
to shake off. The present disposition of the place
will impair, if not destroy, the character of the
park in the future as a unique national possession.
It appears that since its discovery as many as 4,000
elk have been killed by skin hunters in the park, and
that during last winter alone as many as 2,000 were
slaughtered, besides mountain sheep, deer, and other
animals. At this rate there will soon be little game
left to preserve. General Sheridan recommends that the
park be extended in an easterly direction about 40
miles, BO as to add 3,344 square miles to its area, and
make a preserve for the large game of the 'West now
so rapidly clecreatong. lle aleo suggests that the irn-
proverneuts in the parks should be national and con-
trolled by the Government, and that small appropria-
tions be made and expended °ace year on roads, trails,
Sec. A small body of troops would keep out the skin
hunters and all other hunters, and make the park a
safe resort for the game now drifting towards it.
A CALIFORNIA TREE —rhere was recently felled in
Sonoma County, California, a tree which cut up as
follows. The Petaluma Argus seys that the details
eau be relied upon. The standing height of the tree
was 347 feet, end Ito diameter riser the ground was 14
feet. In falling, the top was broken off 200 feet dis-
tant tram the stump, and op to the point of breaking
the tree was perfectly sound. From the tree
saw-logs were cut of the following lengths and
diameters : —lst, 14 feet long, 9 feet diameter ;
2:e2., 12 feet long, 8 feet diameter .' 3rd, 12 feet long,
7 feet 7 inches diameter; 4th, 14 feet long, 7 feet 6
inches diameter ; sth, 16 feet long, 7 feet diameter ;
6th, 16 feet long, 6 feet 10 inches diamater ; 7th, 16
feet bug, 6 net 6 inehe4 diameter; Bth, 16 feat long,
6 fee t 4 inches diameter ; 9th, 16 feet long, 6 feet 3
inches diameter ; 10th, 18 feet long, 6 feet diameter;
11th, 12 feet long, 5 feet 10 inches diameter ; 12th, 18
feet long, 5 feet 6 inches diameter. It will thus be
seen that 180 feet of this remarkable tree was con-
verted into saw-lop,

'PHE EXCITING PROPERTY OF OAT& —A most in'
tereeting q estion which has &ten exercised the minds
of the owners of horses seems to be at last in a fair
way of receiving a conclusive answer (remarks the
Pall Mall Gazette). Is it better to feed horses with
oats whole or crushed ? A series of experiments have
recently been undertaken by M. Samson to new
sure, by the aid of a graduated electrieal epee'
retue, the nervous and muscular ex i ability pro-
duced by oats on horses. He has diacovered
that oats eaten whole produced touch more ex-
citent power per hour than crushed oats. The
latter, however; produce a more immediate effect,
although it is neither so strong nor so dureble. M.
Sanson believes that the extetiug principle in oats is *
substance which he calls " avenine." It is a brown
nitrogenous substance, uncrystallizable, finely granu-
lar, and apparently belonging to the family of
alkaloids. nark oats have more " avenine " than
white. If this discovery is confirmed, oats will soon
be sold like manures on the strength of the certificates
of analytical chemists.
DEPOPULATION IN THE HIGHLANDS.—The Times of
Monday said :—With regard to the cominunicatione
of the Duke of Argyll, Emeritus Professor Blackie,
and others, which have appeared in The Times in con*
nexion with this subject, a statement appears in the
January number of the Celtic Magazine, that since
the census of 1831 the population of Argyllshire has
actually deelbed from 100,973 to 76,468 ; a-.d as to
the latter number, no fewer than 30,387 are classified
as urban. The conclusion arrived at is that the rural
population has been reduced in the course of the heet
50 years from 85,973 to 46,081, or nearly one half.
A MARRIED " MASlLSR."—lndignarxt Wife.—" And
pray, Algetnon, what do you mean by coming home
at this time of night?" Festive husband.—" Ever/
other P-p-place was shut up, my love ! "—Punch.
THE "CLAIMANT."—The two sons of the "
ant," Roger and James, have been allowed to visit
their father by a speeial order of the Home Secretoil.
he bays were accompanied by Mr. S. Pearse. late
Under Sheriff of Southampton. The Claimant"
looked well, and had no complaint to make as to his
diet or treatment. When asked if he had any objec-
tion to his sons coming to see him, he said, "Dr*
years ago I told Mr. Guildford Onslow that I shoula
not like them to see me in the prison dress, but then I
thought I should never live to s2rve out my sentence;
Now that I feel well again I have no such objection.'
He also said that he approved of his son Roger writing
to the Home Secretary and asking for a remission of
his sentence, on the ground that he and his brother
and sisters were growing up and ought to have *
father's care and supervision.
SUPEREROGATION.—Humanitarian. "Couldn't you
manage to put a little more flesh on your poor horse'e
bones? He's frightfully thin !" Car-driver. " Bedaa.
surr, what's the use of that? The poor baste can
hardly carry what he's got a'rearly ! "—Punch.
THE ART OF BREAKING IN EXPLAINED.—SOMebOar
wrote to the editor of an American paper to ask hovr
he would break an ox. The editor replied as follows
"If only one ox, a good way would be to hoist him,
by means of a long chain attached to his tail, to the
top of a pale forty feet from the ground. Then hoist
him by a rope tied to his horns to another pole. Thee
lower on to his back a tive-ton pile-driver; and if theft
fails to break him, let him start a newspaper an
trust people for subscriptions. One of the two will°
will do it,"

RAILWAY SERVANTS.—At a meeting of the engine;
drivers, firemen, goods and mineral guards, so'
shunters, employed by the Ntrth-Eaetern Rai'waif
to consider the reply of the directors to the men'e ,
memorial, resolutions were unanimously passed re'
gretting that the directors decline to receive a depute"
tion from the men concerned in the present move'
ment, and asking them to receive another deputation,
inasmuch as the concessions granted were far short of
what had been applied for. Failing to obtain th•
intereiew the meeting recommended that both WO"
motive and goods men should treat with their 'Tepee' ,
tive managers, and further urged upon the various
local committees to hold together until a satisfactori
settlement was affected. The opinion was al°,
expressed that much delay would have been avoideo
if the men had been organized similarly to other
trades. The meeting, therefore, recommended tb!
men to connect themselves with the Amalgamate*
Society of Railway Servants.
THE FESTIVE SEASON.—Tommy (criticising till
menu of the coming feast): "Very good Tray bong
And look here, old man! Mind you put plenty of rule
into the Baba—Dolly and Molly like it, you knove"-* •
and so do I I "—Monsieur Cordonbleu (retained for the
occaeio, ): " Certainement, mon p'tit rani? But are
you and ces Demoiselles going to Dine viz de cotc"
pagnie?"—Tommy : "Oh nong But just ain't IY!
going to sit on the stairs outside, that's all !
RAILWAY FATALITY. Mr. Edward Hawkine
solicitor, residing at Stoke Newington, was killed of*
Tuesday afternooon at Dalston Junction railway ete'
tin. He had been observed upon the centre plat'
I mien, and as the 2 45 train for Blackwell came in be
fell in front of the engine which, with four or Ve
earriages, passed over him. He was conveyed to tile
German Respite', and found to be mortally injurea;,
his body being nearly cut in two. He died at foe
o'clock, having in the interval since his accident bee!
speechless and only partially conscious. He was reboil*
thirty years of age.
PREDICTED STORMS.—Dr. Wiggins, of Ottowea
predicts a storm the like of which has never yet bee' '
seen, on the 11th of March next, has also predicted e
few preliminary storms of a very disaz-eeeable cb
racter. Mr. Haswell, oity surveyor, of New Yorlt '
who has the direction of extensive marine works
dressed a letter to Dr. Wiggins the other day, callt"fee''
if he would recommend the stoppage of the ev°l-0
until after the frightful storm that is to take place °
mr The
the 11th of March. In reply, Dr. Wiggins rays,
~11.
coming winter will be remarkable for heavy and wna
defined storms. If I were the owner of ships 141°',43
not allow one of them to be on the Atlantic Ocean 'or
the Bth of February, or on the 9th, 10th, arel lith ,6
March ; though the former storm will be inferior
latter. You may begin marine work with safety
the middle of April next. Take my advice and 0a
your thousands."
*WO
THE INCREASE OF THE JEWS.—The Lyon, Auv;.al
states that in general throughout Europe the iLear"-S.
among Catholics, Protestants, and Jews is as lm A'e'
In France and Austria the increase of the Jewle,
seven and four times that of the Catholic populat"-ei ,
At the same time, the actual birth-rate of the Jelyte
as a rule lower than that of Catholics and Preiestanj
but illegitimate births are very rare among dews,:5
1, ,
the infant mortality is very much less. In ge,e`elfli
among the Christian population, the number
and boys is nearly equal, the boys being slightly leo
numerous, the figures being 105 to 100; but arnongoo -
Jews of Russia, Prussia, Austria, fluegarY., 130
Verona, the proportion rises from 110 to 120 An°
boys for 100 girls.
,ote
HIGH ART INDISPENSABLE.—Lady: But, Proieetee,
how came you to offend Mrs. Smithl—Profamsor:
I vill tell you, Madame Smit she come to meoNfee*
she say I do vent my daughter to sing so higli iS
e
Brown: and she fly in one rage, and say as dfe,rolf
nosing low in har fa miliy, yen I say Mewl Sill"
haf a low voice Fanny Folks,
..,
GAME IN AMERICA.—A Philadelphia catereLea
nouncee that the supply of wild game is gsw-te"-16
diminishing. Last year venison sold at fNewrieel:
to 18 cents. per pound by the quarter ; now it
18 to 20 cents. While a few years ago wildt bet
fur
of almost all kinds could be procured not •e,
west than Prtteburg, now most cf the arforee
comes from Indiana, Illinois, Minnesota, an" eter
Ontario. From these sections come deer, env.
lopes, buffalo prairie chickens, quails, and pheaBi'wee
Scattered floc'ke, cleared forests, extension of railir
and other advances of civilizAtion are gradually 476,
ing game further and further away. The year leo*
he says, was a very proiiic one for wild game. A 60,000
time in that year he had in his refrigerator fully 1 bed
dozen of quail, and he does not believe that he hae •
that many altogether since.
SUFFOCATED BY GAS. The other evenan. 01/1
Hyman, a monetary agent, residing in Mg/give. .0
Birmingham, retired to rest somewhat earliecjob;*
usual, leaving a gas-jet burning in his roona• Pob•
time afterwards the servant turned the gas Otfe!
meter, according to custom of the house. et'oo 5*
morning the servant, as usual, turned the ges tb!
time meter, when it of course escaped throegh e 4,000
open jet into Mr. Hyteran's bedroom. About ha" err
eight the family were startlad by bearing groao
ceemling from the bedroom, amid on hastening tfe b 0"
Hyman's assistance they found him lying on t'euffcr
in au unconscious state, with the room tilled t° pro'
catien with gas. Medical assistance was at one; RSA
cured, but in spite of all efforts death restated
half an hour.
peFtgr°
REGULATED ENTHUSIASM. —The Russian .00.-
state that them administration of the Imperial t,bereefil
have determined that "call' for popular peri°,:es o 0
shall not be extended beyond three re-appearenl,, re'
the stage. Actors and actresses are accordingf "teeir
quested to disregard the enthusiastic plaudits oes ree9
admirers after that point, so that perfornaaneeeteeeee
not he unduly interrupted or the space of time"'
the acts inconveniently prolonged. s
AN ALARM OF Fax.—ln London, 011
afternoon, when the Weetnainster Aquarium Tsgernel.
thranged with an audience, composed largelY 0 sneer,
and ohildren, witnessing the "variety perfornief th;
attention was directed to the gallery, where one 0i•
curtains round a box was seen to be in 1311010' oa
person was seen to be pulling the curtain cloy/11'5 efet;
an instant the other was seen to be in flarnes civet,
and the flames were mounting rapidly. Theoeien
audience rose at once, and there was, for a ft_3., Wert ,
every prospect of a panic. The burning cort•a,lfe seal
however, palled down, while at the sanie tri„1:0015
ready. witted persons shouted "Sit down.' v
0.
continued ',hying and the performers, four J
„,be * •
girls, continued their dancing on the t•taue. "-„urtibik
gen; of a panic were thus averted, and other
were removed so as to prevent the occurrence ot
ot
accident. spen"m
-fol
SLAUGHTERING BY ELECTRICITY.--
corre tion
.f the Daily Telegraph, writes :—" The suggel3 •ty b •
rapid kilti:q; of anim sls by means of electrieglojf
-
been actually carried out. Some Years 09 r
Richardson made use of the large induction nth, eel, •
the Royal Polytechnic Institution for testing le lel to
Goa, and killed Several sheep and other aciio3l,o evbi p
electric shock. The experimehte led to reell;ci to_g•
were, to a certain degree, promising.. eAisclien;
me tam he electri.o:'
always succeeded in striking the I 0
5I
insensibility, and in many inatancee tbeerher;e3o
P.ei itk,ll were pcsitivrly ; but el se
stances, !Ater the temporary production "I ) very,
of (Isith," there wtr • n'' II! of re(oe,
that the death had to be completed by otheir
trnoreboe.s
tuutio 040 cii4t, 0.., tua.s intenclt(!
_etc, solp
consumptian as food were killed by the ellyiines
Parts of the animal were marked by der%red *vtio
-pots, which to a considerable extent inept t
a tb*- tio
the sale of the carcases. Lastly, it was foulleseetoV
,!angers to the workmen attendant on the re affereoe
ii,tr,•floction of the method into general 119.e.t. AV,130
an important reason for nee reeomeuerdlingiPt, sulwree
841118 thee the question remains stet) ill'ex'ietY lee*
a:ouncil of the 1.4.)nd0n Mude AbL:ttoir
poses to aoneicier the elec+ric with otheembeite.
methods of taking away the life of those natbeir
the inferior creation which minister during
to our pleasures or our necessities."

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