The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-03-20 00:00:00

EPITOML OF NEWS,

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.
The Budget, it is said, will erotist . a small increase
of the income-tax, rendered necessary by the heavy cost of
the Abyssinian war.
On the occasion of the burial of Fuad Pasha, the
harem of the late mintier distributed 50,000 piastres amongst
the poor.
The Pall Mall Gazette states that Mr. Miall's success
at Bradford was owing in some measure to the ladies, who
held meetings in his favour and subscribed £340.
A letter from Batoa, in the province of Constantia,
states that the country is again menaced with a plague of
locusts, as immense heaps of the eggs of [ll4 insert have
been discovered underneath the soil A reward of 500 f. for
every 100 kilogrammes has been offered by the authorities,
and the natives arrive daily wbh mules heavily laden. The
eggs are then carefully crushed and mixed with quicklime.
A suspension of the manufacture of the Palliaer
chilled shot has been ordered in consequence of a report
mode from Shoeburyness of the breaking of several of them
In the bore of the gun when tired.
The Worcester Society for providing cheap literature
for the blind will shortly issue in the Roman type, the Book
of Proverbs at the low price of Is. 6,1.
A terrible explosion tuok place on Tuesday night at
the chemical work, of M. Pelletier, at the Place de la
Sorbonne, in Paris. Seven persons were killed.
A Sergeant employed in the Ordnance Office
Dublin, has committed suicide by stabbing himself.
The Empress Eugenie intends to pass the coming
bathing season at Eughiendes-Bains, which is situated on the
Lake of Si. Graben, about half an hour from Paris
Another death in the hunting, field is reported. Mr.
G. J. More, formerly sub sheriff of the county of Limerick,
Cad just cleared a low fence near Ballingarry, when
he fell from his saddle dead,—it is supposed from disease
of the heart.
At the Bishop of Down's Diocesan meeting on Toes
day, the bishop spoke of preparing like prurient men for the
coming day, and having an honourable conference with Mr.
Gladstone. Upon this the whole assembly of clergymen and
laymen rose to their feet, shouted " No! " and hissed. The
mention of the word "negotiations' at a later stage of the
proceedings produced similar demonstrations.
A girl nine years of age, nameil Elizabeth Sydney,
has been burnt to death under the following circumstaaces
The deceased was a scholar in the Green-coat school, where
It seems tlb-re is a rule for the children to take turns in mak-
ing the fires ant cleaning up the school. It was tire de-
ceased's turn, and it would appear that In lighting one of the
tires on Monday morning she had placed in front of lint
shawl in order to ereate a draught. This WU drawn up the
chimney arid the flames caught deceased's pinafore and in it
moment she was all ablaze.
The Cornish Mackerel fishery during the past week
showed as important falling off in supply, many of the boats
owing to the boisterous wear her, not venturing out. Never-
thele,s, a few tuns of splendid fish were forwarded to
London.
During the pad week 40 wrecks have been reported,
making for the present year a total of 591.
A. new Pairiaian journal, entitled Journal des Femmes,
has appeared. It proposes to instruct the fair sex in
politics, science, and arc, and to raise generally their social
condition.
In the House of Commons, the other evening, Mr.
Gregory pressnted a petition from Boners*, in India,
praying for the repeal of all laws that prevented the pi see-
able practice of astrology The notice was received with
much laughter by the House.
A domestic servant has been convicted at Greenwich
of having obtained a situation by means of a forged char.-
ter She was sentenced to pay a line of £OO and the costs,
wbh the alternative of three mouths' imprisonment with
hard labour.
At Birmingham a butcher has been charged with
exposing the carcase of a iliseoved pig for sale in the market
at Birmingham. It appatred that Elie nicat was discoioured
Alid decomposed, and that the pig hail died of disease. Ile
was sentenced Loa mouth's imprisonment without the option
of paying a tine.

The Reform League is
.c.lissolved. This. resolution

was come to at a meeting of the general council and metro-
politan delegates, on the ground that the objects of the
original programme having been substantially accomplished,
im 'further agitation con lie usefully carried on. The League •
has been in existence nearly four years, having been estab-
lished in May, Mk.
Manager Smythe, of the American Theatre, at
Pittsburg, was severely wounded one night recently by being
shot hi the thigh by the cantain of a fire company, who had
been ejected from the theatre by Mr. Smythe'. order.
Robinson, the assailant, Immediately fled.
"All accounts agree in representing the present
state of Greece as unsatisfactory in every respect, except as
in giving hopes that the worst is past. Greece has a baokrupt
exchequer, a discredited policy, a languishing agriculture,
and provinces infested by the most barbarous brigands in
Europe. The Rellene hes the mortification of finding that
his country is regarded by foreigners as one of the worst
governed and most politically immoral in the world, and of
feeling that the opinion is not unjustified."—From a leader
In The MINS.

At the Manchester assizes Michael James Johnson,
awed 20, has been indicted for the wilful murder of Patrick
Nurney, in Salton', on the 26th of December last. The evi-
dence showed that the prisoner hal stabbed the deceased in
a heerhouse, and that death ensued airnost immediately.
The Jury having found the prisoner guilts, the judge sen-
tenced him to death.
The Feniane in New York are preparing to give a
reception to Warren and Costello, whose arrival in the
United States ix soon expected. Cooper Institute, the largest
hall in New York, has been engaged for the occasion.
We rewi that the Marquise de Cans ( formerly Machine
Patti Is positively the rage at St. Petersburg. Her concert
for the poor brought £1,090. She walks about enveloped In
sables of the densest bl ,ck, and consequently of the most
rare quality—on her head a bajilik, her face protected by a
black velvet mask—escorted by the Emperor and Granthlulte
Vladimir She tinge three nights Of the week at the opera,
and it is sa diticult to secure places as on the hut day of ler
assival