The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-07-27 00:00:00

Utisttliantolis (11-ttlligruce.

HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL.

A FRENCH OPINioN.—The Journal des Debats of
Sunday evening publishes an article upon the relations
of England and France, in which it says :

"We will assist the statesmen of England to draw closer
those good relations towards us which they manifest their
intention of maintaining. But Englishmen must not allow
themselves to be deceived in the matter. The secrecy and
mystery, the jealous and suspicious care with which Eng-
land conducted the Cyprus negotiationp, could not fail to
wound us. Let England reply to the following question:
If France in the days of her power had done what England
has just accomplished, and if she had done it in the same
manner, what would England have,thought?"

The Debats then proceeds to recall the charges brought
by England against France at the time of the annexa-
tion of Savoy, which, the journal observes, was legiti-
mate and correct from all points of view. In con-
clusion, the article contends that if Englishmen
reflect, they will admit that, if France had taken
Cyprus, they would have experienced feelings quite
as strong and, perhaps, more lasting than those now
evinced by the French.
WALKING ACROSS THE THA3IES.—Some thousands
of persons assembled on Greenwich Pier, the front of
the Royal Naval College, and other spots on the river-
side, on Saturday evening, in consequence of an an-
nouncement that an under-waterman, named Thomas,
was about to walk, under the water, across the
Thames, from Greenwich to the Isle of Dogs. Along-
side the pier was moored a barge, on board which was
the apparatus for pumping air down to Thomas, who,
attired in a diver's cownlete suit, slipped into the
water at twenty minutes past five o'clock, and, it being
nearly high water, a strong tide was running up.
The barge was towed across the river by men in a
waterman's boat, and Thomas reached the opposite
shore, off Pontifex and Wood's works, in about fifteen
minutes. He then went on the barge, which was
towed up to opposite North Greenwich Railway
Station, where he jumped into the water, and recrossed
to Greenwich in about twelve minutes, leaving the
water at Garden-stairs, adjoining the " Ship " Tavern,
where he landed amid the applause of the assembled
multitude. _ _

BREVITY.—A traveller interrogating a backwoods
man, received brief but pertinent answers, thus :
"Whose house is that ? ' " Meggs'." "Of what
built?" " Lngs." " Any neighbours ?" "Frogs."
" What is the soil?" "Bogs." "The climate ?"
"Fogs." "What do you live on?" "Hogs." "How
do you catch them ?'' "Dogs."—Live Stock Journal.
MUNIFICENCE.—NIr. Thomas Jessop, J. P., head of
the great firm of T. Jessop and Co. (Limited), steel
manufacturers, Sheffield, on Monday handed over to
trustees for the use of the public a magnificent build.
ing to be hereafter used as a woman's hospital. The
new building, which has been erected and furnished
throughout by Mr. Jessop, at a cost of nearly £30,000,
is intended to take the place of a smaller hospital,
which has been found too small and inconvenient.
While this was in the centre of the town, the new
hospital is in the direction of one of the best suburbs,
though unfortunately its architectural effect is marred
by the surrounding buildings.
TRIPLE BIRTH.—The Queen has bestowed her
bounty of £3 upon Margaret Wilson, a patient of the
Royal Maternity Charity, Finsbury-square. London,
who was safely delivered of three girls on the 7th init.

A POPULAR VOCALIST IN RETIREMENT.—Mme.
Rudersdorff, the popular singer, has settled down on
a farm of her own at Berlin, Massachusetts. She
manages her land entirely herself, and is solving the
seemingly
impossible problem of making money out
of farming.
Her dairy products and vegetables find
s
sale at higher prices than those of her neighbours.
Her house is full of Turkish and Persian rugs, old
china, and precious bric-4,-brac she has been gathering
up for years. She rises at five in the morning, and
works in her garden vigorously with a hoe herself.
Besides this, she trains in music young lady pupils
who reside with her, and she gives lessens in
languages.
ALL RIGHT.—M. Gambetta has shown himself at
the English Musical Entertainment in the Salle de
Trocadero. England and France are at concert pitch
again l—Punch.

SICKNESS IN THE RUSSIAN ARMY.—A recent num-
ber of the journal of the Russian Red Cross Society,
quoted in the Journal de St. Petersbourg of the 11th
inst., gives the following particulars respecting the
state of sickness in the Russian Army of the South.
The troops south of the Balkans have a total of
30,956 sick, 1,247 in the general hospitals, 6,858 in the
divisional ambulances, and 11,633 in the regimental
ambulances. The troops encwiped north of the
Balkans have a total of 10,298 sick, 7,476 in the
general hospitals, 1,056 in the divisional ambulances,
and 1,766 in the regimental ambulances. In addition
to the sick among the forces in Roumelia and Bulgaria,
there are 6,501 sick in the reserve of the army, 5,221
in general hospitals, 140 in divisional hospitals, and
to!otaduanlacs
the.
eta:dif
thisl
bi3e totalbeen
et) transported
arsnti
scapkr
no
roi
tune theamounted
etdo
'toorf
sickness
1,140 in
fe4liteshgoleifemsSsweonSuhettoVahmle rahet.:-2ts
Russia. The mortality was diminishing, and the kinds

CAUTION.—We, Punch, having received four
hundred and sixty-four variations on—
"Oh, lady, twine no wreath for me,
Or twine it of the cypress tree,"
apropos of the Queen and Lord Beaconsfield, hereby
give notice that any contributor repeating the offence
will be proceeded against with the utmost rigour of
the waste-paper basket. —Punch.

DOG LICENCE DIITY.—An account of the receipts
and expenditure under the Dogs Regulation (Ireland)
Act, 1865 for the year which ended December 31,
1877, shows that the total amount received for dog
licence duty during that year was £,5,726, while the
dividend on the investment of money received under
the Dogs Act amounted to £307. The expenses
incurred in the administration of the Act amounted to
£14,266, and the surplus moneys paid over to counties,
boroughs, towns, and townships pursuant to the
Acts 28 Vic., C. 50, and 30 and 31 Vic., c. 116, to
£21,767.

,
" BLENDED."—Lady (who has received character of
servant by post, and asked servant to call and see
her). "Well, I think on the whole I am satisfied with
your character; you seem to be honest and respect-
able."—Servant."Ys, main, I haves an honest prin-
cipal, mam—cleanliness is my delight, with respecta-
bility bleuded."—Fun.

_
A FLOATING BEEHIVE.—Our American cousins
have hit upon another novelty which is thus referred
to in a New York cnntemporary :—" A floating bee-
house has been constructed by Mr. Perrine a Chicago
honey dealer, large enough to accommodate 2,000
hives' which he is having towed up the Mississippi
river from Louisiana to Minnesota, keeping pace with
the blossoming of the flowers and thus stimulating the
honey-making ability of his bees. Returning, he will
stop about two months somewhere about St. Louis,
and will reach Louisiana in October. He wants to
take advantage of the autumnal flowers at each point.
The plan of moving the bees to get the benefit of
flowers has been tried in a small way in some parts of
Europe."

EXPIATING HIS FAULT !—The laws of the prevailing
fashion which condemn ladies to the wearing of skirts
so narrow that the French modiste does not misapply
the term sheath in describing them, have certain in-
conveniences when their fair wearers are brought face to
face with a street puddle of any dimensions. The
Insterburger Zeitung thus describes an amusing scene
related by an eye-witness in the Linenstrasse. A lady
dressed in the height of fashion had occasion to cross
the above-named street a few days since, the gutters
of which were swollen by a heavy storm of rain. She
was lingering in perplexity on the kerb stone, endea-
vouring to resolve the problem of how to clear the
muddy rivulet at her feet, shackled with her scanty
skirts, when a gentleman passing by took in the situa-
tion at a glance, and, moved by a desire to render a
service to the distressed pedestrian, unceremoniously
clasped her round the waist, carried her across
the road, and deposited her in safety on the
opposite pavement. He was going his way without
waiting to receive the thanks he anticipated, but which
his modesty desired to avoid, when his ears were
assailed by a torrent of angry abuse, mingled with
threats of the police proceeding from the lips of the
fair one he had aided. Annoyed at this proof of
feminine ingratitude, and anxious to repair what was
taken as an affront, he retraced his steps, lifted the
irate dame anew in his stout arms, and deposited her
on the spot whence he had taken her, with the remark,
"If you object to it, naadame, I will certainly not do
it." This time the lady's wrath redoubled, which
circumstance left the honest German lost in astonish-
ment. Ile had imagined, as he remarked to a by-
stander, that having in the first instance unwittingly
given offence by transporting the lady from one kerb-
stone to the other, the only possible way of expiating
his fault was to replace her where he had found her.—
Eventing Standard,

AMERICAN MEAT AND LIVE STOCK.—There arrived
at Liverpool last week, from the United States and
Canada, 4,032 quarters of beef, 75 carcases of sheep.
548 packages of fresh butter, 2,235 head of oxen, 641.
live sheep, and 850 live pigs, which show a considerable
increase when contrasted with the previous week.
The quantity of fresh meat, however, is not up to the
average, but the number of anintAls has perhaps not
been exceeded since the trade in live stock was com-
menced. Out of the 3.725 animals brought to Liver-
pool last week only one death was reported.

AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN.—The follow-
ing are the average prices of British corn for the week
ending July 20, as received from the inspectors and
officers of Excise :—Wheat. 448. 541. ; barley, 355. 5d.;
oats, 275. 7d. per imperial qr. Corresponding week
last year :—Wheat, 635. Od. ; barley, 325. 5d.; oats,
28s. oa.

A WATERLOO VETERAN.—On Saturday there died
in Dundee Alexander Ross, one of the 42nd High-
landers, who passed through the Peninsular campaign,
and took part in the battle of Waterloo. He was
84 years of age, and a native of Glasgow.
MisuNDEßsTooD.—Museular High Church Curate:
"Wonderful things ' Grace ' does !"—Low Church
Vicar (surprised at the serious observation from his
volatile friend) : " Ah, my dear sir, true— ."—High
Church Curate: "Yes. Only fancy, yiknow !
Ninety-two, and not out ! !"—Punch.

SOOT AS AN ANTISEPTIC.—We have received from
the manager of Anderton's Hotel, Fleet-street, the
remains of several pigeons which were found in a
chimney lately demolished at the rear of the premises
(says Land and Water). The birds, which appeared to
have lain dead in the chimney for a long time, were in
a wonderful state of preservation. They probably
either dropped into the chimney accidentally, or were
else nesting there when they were covered by an
avalanche of soot. The specimens were considerably
crushed, but the feathers remained intact. In one
instance the bird looked as if it had been stuffed by a
professional taxidermist. The specimens are extremely
interesting, as showing the wonderful antiseptic powers
of soot.

EXPEDITIOUS TELEGRAPHING.—The Agent-General
for South Australia sent a telegram to Adelaide,
South Australia, at three p.m. on Monday, from
Broad-street, London, and a reply to the same was re-
ceived by him at Westminster at 9.45 a.m. on Tues-
day.
A SNAKE IN • 11011SES EYE.—The Penn Yan
Express of a recent date says :—" The horse with a
snake in his eye was in town yesterday on exhibition
at the stables of the Knapp House. The reptile is
comfortably located in the watery humour of the left
eye, is perfectly formed, of a white colour, and about
the size of an ordinary darning needle. It is plainly
visible, and is constantly on the move, wriggling and
twisting in every direction. Its presence does not
seem to annoy the horse in the least, and has evidently
created no inflammation in or about the eye. It has,
however, changed the colour of the eyeball, which is
of a lighter shade than that of the right eye, and has
affected the sight somewhat. The snake was first dis-
covered about two months ago, when it was much
smaller than it is now. How it came in the horse's
eye is a question which puzzles scientists."

THE WANING OF THE HONEYMOON.—AngeIina (sup-
pressing an inclination to yawn). "How nice it would
be if some friend were to turn up; wouldn't it
Edwin ?" Edwin (after yawning elaborately).
" Ye-e-es !—or even some enemy ! "—Punch.
THE CLIMATE OF CYPRIMI.—In spite of the sinister
reports which have been circulated, it is not very likely
that Cyprus is unhealthy in the sense in which certain
spots on the West coast of Africa are unhealthy, that
is to say, absolutely poisonous to the constitutions of
Northern Europeans. No doubt the wasteful de-
struction of the forests, as in Greece and Italy, has
wrought much sanitary mischief. It is well known
that, especially in sub-tropical regions, when the hills
are clothed with wood, the rains fall frequently and
moderately, the air is kept cool, and the land is ferti-
lised. But when the forests are cut down, there are
long intervals of drought followed by torrents of
rain, which wash the vegetable mould off the
slopes into the valleys, thus leaving, on the one hand
bare rocks, and, on the other, miasma-breeding
marshes. This appears to be the case in some parts
of Cyprus; but it does not follow, because some dis-
tricts axe sickly that no available place for settlement
can be found in an island as big as half-a-dozen
English counties. Besides, draining and tree-planting
(especially of the Eucalyptus globulus) will soon work
wonders in the way of sanitary improvement. To our
soldiers, who are accustomed to endure the heats of
the Indian plains, Malta and Gibraltar appear as
health stations by way of co trast, and it is most
probable that in point of climate Cyprus is not very
unlike Malta and Gibraltar.—Graphic.

"ITS THE LITTLE MAKES THE Mucii."—A corre-
sondent writes to the Daily Chronicle :—"Economical
hard-working people who struggle for their existence
and endeavour, by small savings, to make their
receipts cover their wants, and especially those who
have families to feed, will doubtless be glad to receive
a hint, through your columns, by which they may
save at the lowest computation 2s. or 3s. per week. It
is well known that Englishmen and women love beer,
though many regret they cannot find a cheap sub-
stitute other than water, tea, coffee, or syrups. A
pleasant, wholesome, palatable, and cheap drink can
be quickly made by the simplest person by purchasing
a pennyworth of the best oatmeal and a little sugar,
and mixing a teaspoonful of each in a glass of cold
water. This will be found to satisfy the craving for
drink, without any intoxicating property, and is very
valuable for children. It has been called 'mother's
milk."

A DOUBTFUL PROSPECT.—By the Treaty of Berlin,
England has undertaken a serious responsibility in the
East. Let us hope it will not prove an Asia minor
evil.—Punch.
THE VALUE OF FRESH AlL—Recent statistics show
that the rate of mortality among grocers is as 76 to
100 among the general population of equal ages, whilst
the death rate amongst drapers is as 108 to 100 by the
same standard. On analysing the cause of this differ-
ence between the draper's and the grocers, it is found
' that it lies in the mode of living. The disease which
destroys the draper is pulmonary consumption, The
explanation is simple. The grocer lives in a shop, the
door of which is open the whole day, and he is very
active himself in business. The draper, on the other
hand, lives in a close place, with the doors of his shop
closed, and in a dusty, close atmosphere. No one
whose pleasure or business calls on them to enter the
majority of our large drapery emporiums in London
but will feel in a position to testify to the truth of
.this description. The heat and closeness which
is their usual characteristic sufficieotly accounts for
the general pallor and unhealthy appearance of the
male and female attendants in them.—Sanitary Record.

DULL TIMM—In quarters which ought to be well
informed it is rumoured that the whole of Lord
Beaconsfield's Oriental policy is not yet known to the
world. There are more surprises in store for us. It
is expected that there is an arrangement or convention
with France as to the East, probably concerning
Palestine. This is likely enough. It would not be at
all astonishing to learn that English merchants are
going to Jerusalem, for it is notorious that long ago
British trade has gone to Jericho.—Judy.
AN AGED COUPLE.—Up to Tuesday last there
dwelt at Woodbridge, Suffolk, probably the oldest
married couple in Her Majesty's dominions—Jonathan
Good, aged 92, and Sarah Ann, his wife, aged 103
The old lady died on Tuesday. They had been
married 69 years

AN OPEN QUESTION.—Are Lancashire operatives
accustomed to Peace-work ?—Fun.
A STRUGGLE WITH A BULL.—Last Friday, as Mr.
Walter Grey, Neston, was walking through Wepre.
park, Hawarden, he was attacked by a ferocious bull.
Mr. Grey, a one-armed gentleman, possessing great
strength, dodged the bull, but was eventually tossed.
The bull made a violent butt at him but he grasped
the beast by the nose-ring and clung firmly to it for
two hours, during which the bull madly endeavoured
to toss and gore him. He was found covered with
blood and frightfully lacerated. He received medical
attention at Connah's Quay, and was then ramoved
home in a critical state.

CAUGHT BY A DEVIL-FISH.-one of our American
contemporaries (says „Land and Water) gives an
account of an attack on a man by a so-called " devil-
fish" :—lt appears that Mr. Smale, a diver engaged at
the Moyne River, Belfast, Australia, had fired off a
charge of dynamite, and displaced a large quantity of
stones at the bottom of the river. He went down to
prepare for lilting these stones. While engaged in
rolling over a large stone, he saw something which he
supposed at the time was a piece of clean-looking kelp
moving about in front of where he was working. In a
few seconds this object came in contact with the
diver's arm, about which it quickly coiled, partly
holding him. Immediately Mr. Smale touched what
was coiled round his arm, he became aware of his
position, and strove to extricate himself from the
grasp ofa "sea-devil," but found it a far more difficult
job than he anticipated. Catching hold of the part
hanging from the arm, he walked along the bottom of
the river towards the end of it, when he was firmly
held by ono of the feelers of a large octopus. Mr.
Smale tried to pull the fish off from its hold of the
rocks, but without effect for some time. At last the
fish, thinking perhaps it had not got sufficient hold or
power r.pon its prey, loosened itself from the stones,
and quickly transferred its feelers or arms around the
diver's legs and body. In this position Mr. Smale
thought the best thing for him to do was to get on
deck as soon as possible, and he quickly made tracks
for the ladder which reached from the deck of the
punt to the bottom of the river. The diver was cer-
tainly a curious-looking object when he came up. This
huge, ugly-looking thing appeared to be entangled all
over him, holding hiin in a firm embrace. However,
Mr. Smale's fellow-workmen were not long in freeing
him from the unfriendly hug of his submarine com-
panion. Mr. Smale declares it was powerful enough
to keep three men under water.
A SMOKE-CONSUMING FURNACE.—The Cincinnati
Gazette describes a plan in use in that city for con-
suming the smoke of furnaces ol steam-boilers.
There are, it says, two fires, one under each end of the
boiler, fed from the side. When one fire is fairly
burning the second fire is kindled, and by shifting the
draught the smoke from the new fire is carried over
%he live coals in the furnace first started, and is con-
tinaed. The fires thereafter are replenished alter-
nately, and thus the consumption of smoke is con-
tinued. The device is in operation on a large scale in
the steam furnace of a heavy engine attached to one
of the inclined plane railways that lift Cincinnati
people to the tops of the surrounding hills. The
result, as vouched for by the proprietor of the con-
cern, is that the consumption of smoke is complete,
and the saving of fuel about 40 per cent.

Giurwr Wamuna FLAT..—At six o'clock on Tuesday
morning William Barnett, of Leeds, started at Mr.
Porter's enclosure, the St. Helena-gardens, Rother-
hitlie, to attempt the self-imposed task of walking
3 000 half miles in 3,000 consecutive twenty minutes.
W. Bainett is 29 years of age, stands 5f t. sin., and
scales 9 stone 411os. He is well known as a long dis-
tance walker, having in February and March last, at
the Wellington-street baths, Leeds, walked 1,200 miles
in 500 hums, at the same place 1,000 miles in 1,000
hours, and at Portsmouth 2,000 quarter miles in a
similar number of quarter hours. Barnett walks with
a short lively step. At a. rough average he takes a
shade over seven minutes in completing each journey,
starting sharp at the commenc?eraent of each twenty
minutes, thus walking ono mile and a half per hour.