The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-11-19 00:00:00

Our youbon Correspubtnt.

We atom It ilea to state that weo,do not at all times
!kb:Addy oarsel.Js with oar correspoutleut's opluivos.l

A hitherto unvarying series of successes f; the
German arms has at last been followed by a defeat,
and the re-capture of Orleans by the French shows
that it is !tut possible that the tide of fortune may
turn, after all; but it certainly is far from probable.
Opinions much differ as to the moral effect of this one
French victory, end I have heard persons whose
sympathies are with France express their sorrow at it,
believing that it will tend to prolong the war without
altering the ultimate triumph of Germany. (in the
other hand, though the event naturally raises the
spirits of the French, it may have the effect of render.
log the Prussians more desirous than they now are of
peace. For the present, however, all hopes of peace
must be allandoned. The speeches at the Guildhall
banquet, the other day, show that our Government
did all they possibly could, but that there were insuper-
able obstacles in the way, and Count Bismarck's cit.-
cular. plainly shows that the chief obstacle was the
provisioning of Paris—the very point where it was
generally expected M. Them s would break down.
Speculation is now rife as to the possible fate of that
beautiful city. A dispatch from Berlin states that
Paris Ls net to ba bombarded, Count Bismarck having.
+tries Ma negotiations with M. Thiers, acquired I.l'
conviction that it was only provisioned for one mont
(from what particular date is not stated), and that
its capitulation must shortly take place. On the
other hand, a leading Pruseisn journal says it has
good reason for expressing the conviction that there
will be no false generosity, "hut that the bombard-
ment of Paris will shortly commence." In connectiori
with the speculations on this subject, the question is
often mooted, why do not the troops in Paris make a
desperate sortie and endeavour to cut through the in-
vesting army ?—a question very easy to ask, but ditli-
cult to answer. What is absolutely certain is that
both Prussians and French are becoming weary of
this war ; that disease and privation are playing havoc
with both armies ; and therefore, that we have reason
to hope that the was will not last very much longer.

I confess to have very little faith In the heading that
Is now frequently seen, "by balloon Foot," as though
the so-called " balloon mail" were as certain as a wail
train ; and an amusing story in support of my in-
endulity conies to show that &recent balloon dispatch,
said to have come from Paris. the balloon descending
on Clifton Downs, was a hoax, the balloon having been
sent up only a few miles off. Nor have I much faith
in an advertisement in French, inserted in some of
our papers, stating that "persons who desire to send
to Paris letters, not political, or demands for money,
can remit them, till the 16th, to the office," kr., and
that "a messenger will leave on that day. l'rice for
Bending a letter, 12s. 63." It would be interesting to
know how the advertiser guarantees delivery !
It is unpleasant to hear that the Princess Louise, in
whom so much interest has recently been taken by the
public, continues so unwell that the return of the
Court from Balmoral is postponed till the end of the
week. The marriage of the Princess will undoubtedly
be popular, and who shall say that it may not be made
a precedent with cases of the Doke of Edinburgh,
Prince Arthur, and the Princess Beatrice? There is
a tumour by the way that on the Marquis of Lorne
being married, he will be made Viceroy of Ireland, but
it is a rather doubtful statement, as it is thought by
many that he is too young for so important a post.
The public are indebted to any one who has the
courage to bring an action against a railway company,
whatever may be the result, for railway companies
are so powerful that very few people like to at-
tack them. Thanks then to Mr. Buckmaster, of
Framlingham, who has enabled the Court of Ex.
chi quer to give a decision on an important point. He
arrived at Framlingham Station in due time for
his ordinary train, provided with his season ticket,
but no train was ready, and, having to attend the
London corn market, he engaged a special train for
which he had to pay £39 its., arriving at his destina-
tion nearly two hours after the right time. As a
matter of course, the Great Eastern Company pleaded
that familiar notice to the public—that the tables show
the time at which the trains may be expected, but
that the Company would not guarantee this, or be
responsible for delay or any consequences arising
from It. Mr. Baron Martin's summing-up will be a
caution to Railway Companies. He decides that com-
panies are answerable for avoidable negligence, re-
marking, "People guilty of negligence always say,
'Mind, I won't be responsible for it.' That is nonsense;
it is like a man striking another on the head, and then tel-
ling him he will not be responsible for the consequences."
In this case one of the consequences was that the Com-
pany bad to refund the £39 14e. paid for the special
train, and pay 1:10 for plaintiff's " loss of market."
And the public generally will say, that the Company
pay a just penalty for their carelessness. This case
well be "amoral and a caution 'to Railway Companies,
as it a ill form a precedent. Anyone who, arriving
much too early for a train, we will say, has read those
formidable bye•laws which are SO demonstratively
posted up must have noticed how one-sided they are—
all against the Public and in favour of thee Company. It
is well, therefore, that the Court of Exchequer should
show these Companies that they have their duties as
well as their rights, and that the Public have their
ridtts as well as their duties.

Considerable interest is being taken here in the
approaching elections for the School Boards; the seve-
ral candidates are urging their claims to the con.
fidence of the electors, and the addresses that are
posted on the walls show that each candidate is
specially fitted for the post that he seeks? So
that we may reasonably expect that as soon as
the elections take place the vas o school hoards will
diligently set to work under the wholesome in.
licence of competition. The putting into motion of
the new educational maehinery will mark an important
era in the history of our country. The Elementary
Educatien Act will, of course, be to a great extent what
the people make it, but if it be energetically worked
there will be no excuse for the wolking classes allowing
their children to grow up without elementary educa-
tion. There is little doubt that if the ratepayers will
put the Act into thorough working, it will prove •
blessing to the country, and speedily remove from us
the reproach under which we have long laboured.
A great deal of dissatisfaction has been expressed in
variouit quarters, at the recent alterations in respect to
the Inland Pattern and Sample Post. The charges in
the postal system that have recently taken place are,
on the whole, of great public benefit, but it is a pity
that they are marred by alterations for the worse in the
departments alluded to. Pressure is now being
brought to bear upon the Post Office to induce the
authorities to reconsider the new restrictions on sending
samples and patterns by post, and as the Pest Office
is always specially ready to listen to public opinion
there is a very good prospect of these restrictions
being modified. There is one very unreasou•ble com-
plaint that people are constantly making against "the
department," and that in, that where a stamp in placed
partly on the wrapper and partly on the enclosure, the
G. I'. 0. stamps it "closed against inspection," and
charges the lette: rate. But considering that to affix
the stamp in this way is contrary to wall known regu-
lations, It is not easy to see what people have to
grumble at.
That some ladies—and they are not always ladies
without husbands or lovers—are extravagantly fond of
little pet dogs is well known. A lady advertises that
she wants a small and rare specimen of a toy terrier,
and she is very particular about his characteristics. It
must be "a male and not exceeding three pounds in
weight; he must be between fifteen months and two
years old" (a day over two years old would doubtless
be fatal te his claims) ; he must be " healthy and
sprightly, black with no white hairs, eyes black, and
mule; must be thoroughly clean and domesticated, as
a drawing-room dug." The lady demands "full par-
ticulars" from all applicants, and warns off all per-
sons who cannot exactly meet her views. No one need
apply, she rays, "respecting an animal which does not
answer the above description." I hope some poor man,
or, tettar still, some poor widow, may have just the
very identical toy terrier, and get an extravagant price
for It