The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-06-02 00:00:00

niisttlianeoits

HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAI.

EXPLORATION OP GERRNLAND.—Fine opportunity
for Residential Flats. —Punch.
FROGS As AN ARTICLII or FOOD.—The taste for
frogs' legs ia now spreading rapidly in the United
States, after a long period of comparative stagnation.
One of the largest dealers in the country has set a hun-
dred expert frog.catchers at work in the New Eng-
land States, and estimates that the demand this summer
will be double that of last year. An experiment in
breeding bull-frogs in England is about to be made,
and a considerable supply of spawn will be sent over
for that purpose next month.
MoscurTonslN Ausnrcsx Coax.—During the warm
weather of last week a number of persons in the north
of London were bitten by mosquitoes. Women and
children especially suffered, some being almost blinded
through the swellings caused by the bites of these
foreign insects. It appears that large numbers of
mosquitoes were brought over from America among
the corn, and they have been frequently seen to fly up
when the grain is being transferred for grinding in a
large steam flour-mill.

AN UNDERGROUND RAILWAY FOR NEW YORIE,—A
Bill for an 'underground railway in New York city has
already passed the House of Representatives, and, no
difficulty being anticipated with the Senate, it is ex-
pected that the work of construction will begin at
Diane. The proposal is to run an arcade road under
Broadway, from near Bowling-green, right through to
Harlem river. The capital is said to be all subscribed.
The new venture will be a formidable competitor of
the elevated roads, and its projectors claim that it will
not only be safer, but that it will be able to maintain
a much higher rate of speed, and to carry passengers'
for less than 10c. each.

A MEMORIAL OF THE AFGHAN CAMPAIGN.—An
interesting monument, sculptured in statuary marble
from the studio of Mr. J. Forsyth, has just been un-
covered in one of the bays of the north aisle of St.
Paul's Cathedral. It is in memory of the deceased
officers and men of the 7th Royal Fusiliers who lost
their lives in the Afghan campaign, 1879, 1880. This
work is of a sacred character. The subject chosen was
suggested by the text "Is not this the blood of men
that went in jeopardy of their lives?" (2 Samuel,
17). The base of the monument contains a trophy
with the badge and insignia of the regiment. Under-
neath the panel which contains the sculpture there is
a brass recording the names of those commemorated.
The memorial is erected by their surviving comrades
and friends.

FISHING FOR • REPLY. —(From a Correspondent.)—
Please, Sir, will the Lord Chancellor take the oppor-
tunity offered by the present Fisheries Exhibition to
show the Great Seal ?—Punch,
MODERN AMAZONS.—The Vienna Polittsche Come-
:Donde= reports, on the authority of its Constantinople
correspondent, that the female population of Kurdi-
stan had been thrown into a condition of violent
excitement by an attempt to take a census of them.
The Vail of Bittlie had directed the Kaimakam of
Rizsn to make the enumeration of the women of his
district, with the assistance of soldiers. But some
500 Kurdish women, assembled, attacked the soldiers,
and put them to flight. The census operations have
had to be suspended pending the arrival of military
rein f orcementi.
THE AGES O' REIGNING SOTEREIGNS.—AS he
movements of Royal personages have recently attracted
some attention, the following statement of the ages of
various monarchs, ranged from the oldest to the
youngest, may prove interesting :—the Emperor of
Germany. aged 86; the King of the Netherlands, aged
66; the King of Denmark, aged 65; the Queen of
Great Britain and Ireland, aged 64; the King of
Wurtemberg, aged GO ; the Emperor of Brazil, aged
57; the King of Saxony, aged 55; the King of
Sweden and Norway, aged 54; the Emperor of
Austria, aged 52 • the King of the Belgians, age 4, 48;
the King of iortugal, aged 44 ; the King of
Roumania, aged 44; the Sultan of Tutkey, aged 40;
the King of Italy, aged 39; the Emperor of Russia,
aged 38 • the King of Bavaria, aged 37; the King of
tbe Helenes, aged 37; the King of Servia, aged 28;
and the King of Spain, aged 25.

A WEDDING " OAKII."—The Bridegroom I—Funny
Folks.

THU FATE OF LA PEROIISE.—The relics of another
unfortunate exploring expedition—that of La Perouse
at the end of last century—have just come to light. A
French missionary to the Samoa or Navigators' Islands
in the Pacific informs the French Geographical Society
that the remains of De Lang le and several other of
La Perouse's companions have been found, together
with dates, proving that they perished in December,
1787. French search expeditions in the early part of
this century had already proved the destruction of the
two vessels bearing the expedition on the coast of
Mallicollo, one of the New Hebrides, but nothing
further was discovered respecting the explorers them-
selves.
BISIC BESSEMER STEEL—Authentic returns of the
production of basic steel by the 17 firms who are
making it show that the annual ontturn is at the rate
of 558,800 tons. • In the six months ending with
March the precise tonnage was 279,400. It was made
to the extent of 57,911 tons by the one firm in Eng-
land ; 5,962 tons by two firms in France; 12,786 tons
by the one firm in Belgium; 152,479 tons by the nine
firms in Germany; 37,476 tons tons by three firms in
Austria; and 12,786 tons by one firm in Russia,

THE SAFETY OF RAILWAY PASSEN 9 ERE —As a
result of the inquiry concerning the tire in one of their
cars the Midland Railway Company have adopted
the following rule for the guidance of engine-drivers
and guards :—" When the driver hears the whistle on
his engine sound he must instantly shut off steam,
and after looking carefully along his train, bring it to
a stand with as little delay as possible, having due
regard to rule 223 in the Company's book of rules and
regulations. When the guard hears the bell ring he
must at once look along the train, and, if he sees no
reason to anticipate evil consequences from its being
stopped, he must bring the train to a stand as soon as
possible, using for the purpose all the brake power at
his disposal, and calling the attention 3f the driver,
unless he is satisfied that this has already been
obtained. It is not desirable to stop a train in a
tunnel, and this must only be done in cases of great
easergestey.

T11,p)!I IN EAST SIZERIA.—The commerce in East
Siberia is for the greatest part in the hands of Ham-
burg firms. The total of imported goods in Viadivo•
stock amounted in 1882 to 3 389 602 silver roubles
(£ii0,000), of which more than ewo-thirds were on
account of the eight Harnhurg firms, and in their own
ships. A great part of the imported goods were Bir-
mingham hardware, Sheffield cutlery, and Manchester
cotton goods. Business in these goods increases daily.
PAPER DOMES.—The Americars have certainly
shown us the way in substituting paper for iron (says
Iron). We learn that the special feature of the new
observatory at Columbia College, in New York, will
be a Layer dome. This will be the fourth paper dome
in the United States, and in the the world in no other
country has paper been yet applied to such a purpose,
The first paper dome made is at the Tioy Polytechnic
Institute, the second at West Point. and the third at
Beloit College. While that at W i
West Point is the
' i
largest that of Columbia Cullege s the best n c.m-
structit m and arrange,' ent. The method used in the
manufacture of the paper is kept a SC ret, the makers
using a patented proce•s. 'the d Le is made in
sections—semilunes, Le they are called. There are 24
of these sections. They are bent over toward the
inside at the edges and bolted to rite of wood. The
thickness of the shell is only 3-32 in., but it is said to
be as stiff as sheet iron. On one side of the dome is
the oblong opening for the telescope, and over this a
shutter (likewise of paper but stiffened with cs cod
lining), which slides around on the outside of the
dome. The whole dome is so light that the hand an
turn it. The inside diameter is twenty feet, and the
height is eleven feet. The foor of the observatory is
100 feet above the ground. It was necessary to build
it 80 high because of the tall buildings around it.

Quens.—The Semaphore of Marseilles reports that
for some time past the various steamers arriving at
that city from Alexandria and Messina have brought
considerable quantities of quails, which are to be found
in abundance in the districts near both those ports.
Thc birds are caught in nets and conveyei in shallow,
well-ventilated boxes, and supplied with plenty of food
during the voyage, so that th. y may reach their desti-
nation in good condition. Each box contains an
average of 100 quails. Some Eteamers have brought
in this way in a single voyage as many as 20,000 quails,
and one of the Messageries Line landed lately 30,000.
The traffic began about the end of February with a
large consignment from Alexandria and a few boxes
from Naples. The number of these birds landed at
Marseilles in the second week of May amounted to
70,000.

ANTHROPOLOGICAL ExHisITION.—In London, on
Saturday evening, Senhor Ribeiro, who has resided
for a long period in the interior of South America,
gave a private view of a new exhibition at Piccadilly
Hall, bearing the above title, and consisting mainly
of five Indians of primitive type, from the Brazilian
provinces of Minus and Dpiritu Santo, and belonging
to a tribe called the " Botocudos." There are three
females and two males, all adults. Three of the
party consist of a mother, son and daughter, and two
of the females have the long protruding unier-lip
resulting from piercing and the wearing of dies of
wood during infancy and childhood. All are of low
stature and have black hair, mid their physiognomy
and tribal peculiarities can hardly fail to interest the
public. A canoe and many other adjuncts are pro-
vided to illustrate native life and habits.

PROSPECT OF THE FRETT CROP.—The fruit crop
cannot be measured until it is gathered, but there is a
fruit crop on which we may speculate that if the
summer is kind it will mike a great harvest (says the
Gardeners' Magazine). The present prospect in respect
of our home-grown fruits is altogether cheerful beyond
an average, and it must be evident to all observers
that the somewhat severe winter weather that
troubled us in the month of March saved the crop
by deferring the season of flowering. From all
parts of the country the reports are, upon the
whole, favourable. There is a declared deficiency
of apricots and plums, and nuts have Buffered
a diminution of the first promise, but this
will be a good fruit year provided a reasonable
proportion of the callow fruits that now adorn the
tree. attain perfection. Advice. from America sug-
gest that competition from that side is not likely to be
severe in the coming season, for on the western
continent the fruit-growing districts do not show a
great promise. Thus we have for the present not only
the prospect of a great crop, but also of prices above
the range of a season in which foreign competition
counts as a determining influence. But of the future
we know nothing, and we cannot forget that ten years
since the season began with a tremendous show of fruit,
but a spell of cold rain set in at midsummer and the
crop was all but annihilated.
A MONSTER EEL.—An eel of an enormous size,
weighing nearly a hundred•weight, was captured a few
days back by a Jutland fisherman. The monster was
observed close to the strand of the Jutland corset,
moving about with great difficulty between the large
stones protruding out of the shallow water. The
fisherman, after euoceeding in killing the eel, slung its
, carcase over his shoulders to carry it home, The
' monster was of such a length that whilst the head of
it was touching in front the knees of the fisherman,
the tail end was dragging along in the sand.—" V. B. "
in Land and Water.
THE EASTER MONDAY REVIEW AT BRIGHTON.—The
report of Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar on the
Volunteer Review at Brighton on Easter Monday has
been issued. The marching of the columns, he says,
was well organised, and "the order, discipline, and
soldierlike bearing of the Volunteers in Brighton
during their stay was admirable, thereby proving that
habits of discipline are carefully maintained and
exacted. The importance of this fact can hardly be
over estimated. In the forming up ef the different
corps at the rendezvous great punctuality and order
prevailed. The hours for assembly, formation, and
for marching off were strictly and exactly observed.
A wholesome spirit of emulation was observable both
in quarters and in the field."
MARRIAGES IN FRANCE.—The official returns of the
marriages solemnised in France during last year shows
a total of 279,530 for the twelve months. The greatest
number in one month took place in February, when
there were 34,157. Next come November with 32,074,
May with 28,273, January with 27,585, June with
27,216, October with 26,782, July with 22,626, Sep-
temb,r with 19,833, April with 17,034, August with
16,752, March with 14,211, and last of all December
12,987.
SAD OCCURRENCE.—PhiIip Bentley, blacksmith, lost
his life on Sunday under painful circumstances. A
little boy named Hartley, who was returning from
school, fell into the reservoir at Pendleton, and
Bentley who could not swim, heroically leaped into
the water and rescued the boy. Before he handed the
boy out inf the water he was much exhatfsted, and as
soon as the little fellow was dragged ashore Bentley
fell back, sank, and was drowned. He leaves a widow
and three children.

CANADIAN INDUSTRIES.—It appears from advance
sheets of the Dominion census just issued that the
total amount of capital inveeteci in Canadian industries
was, in 1881, 165,302,626 dole., or upward of
03,000,000. This was more than double the amount
invested in 1871—a fact which will well illustrate the
enormous development of the industries of Canada.
While, according to the last census returns, capital
invested in the United States increased during the
last decade by 30 per cent., in Canada the increase was
actually more than 100 per cent. The value of pro-
ducts in the Dominion has also increased 35 per cent.,
as compared with an increase of 27i per cent, in the
United States. The value of raw material used in
the Dominion industries in 1880 is calculated at
192,000,000 dole. ; there was paid out in wages during
that period a sum of 55,750,000 dole.; the hands em-
ployed in the factories numbered 158,000; and the
average wages were 350 dols, per head, or £7O per
annum,

Eiriairmlias IN CORN GROWING.—Some interest-
ing experiments in regard to the germination of corn
have, The Times says, been made and reported upon
by Dr. Sturtevant, of the New York Agricultural
Experiment Station. Dr. Sturtevant has proved the
power of the corn kernel to re-germinate after a
drought, and with a return of conditions favourable
to growth, thereby enabling the sower to plant corn
more shallow than is sometimes required for the
securing of permanent moisture to the seed in spring.
Some corn seed has the power to push up through
eight inches of heavy clay soil. The results gained
at the station last season showed a quicker vegeta-
tion and, as Dr. Sturtevant imagined, a better stand
from seed planted one-fourth of an inch deep than
from seed planted deeper. The experimenter, judging
from actual results, thinks it reasonable to believe that
the compacting of fine soil about the seed is of more
importance than the depth of planting merely.
A CORONATION INCIDENT IN THE OLDEN Trim —A
feat performed in the City of London at the corona-
tion of Queen Mary in 1553 probably equalled in
interest to the populace any of the pageants exhibited
at Moscow. It is thus described by Holinshed :
"Then there was one Peter, a Dutchman, that stood
on the weathercocks of St, Paule's steeple, holding a
streamer in his hand of five yards long, and waving
thereof, stood sometimes on the one foot And shook
the other, and then he kneeled on his knees, to the
great marvel of all people. He had made two scaffolds
under him, one above the crone, having torchers and
streamers set on it, and on the ball of the crosse, like-
wise set with streamers and torches, which could not
burne, the wind was so great. The said Peter had
£l6 given him by the Citie for his costs and paines,
and for all his stuffe."

VALIIIB OF THE SUNFLOWER.—It is stated that the
seed of this plant is the best egg-producing food known
for poultry, keeping them in a thriving condition and
largely increasing the production of eggs. The
Sciel.tifte American says that every poultry raiser who
tries it will find that this seed is the beet food known
for glossing the plumage of fowls, and is almost in-
dispensable to those who want to fit their birds for
exhibition to the best advantage. The Russian sun-
flower is easily raised, requires very little care, can be
grown in fence corners, or other places difficult to
cultivate. Its production of seed is immense, yielding
often at the rate of one hundred bushels to the acre.
It should be planted in hills four feet apart, any time
from May 10 to July 1. Three quarts of seed will
plant an acre.
AT THB FISHERIES EXHIBITION.—Country visitor:
"There, that dear little fish in the corner is the one I
should like—fried, of course I "—[And in the innocence
of her heart she acttially thought the tanks were kept
stocked simply to supply the sixpenny fish dinners.]—
Funny Folks.
Two CLEVER CATS. Here are two new stories
about cats and their cleverness. A farmer in one of
the American States had a fine Maltese cat, of which
he was so proud that he thought he would lend it to
the proprietors of a show in a large city eighteen
miles distant. So he put the cat in a bag, and
tarried it in his waggon to the showman, who
was delighted to receive so splendid a specimen
of the feline tribe. But the showman was not
destined to keep his treasure lung, for on the
third day after it was taken away from its old home
the cat appeared at the door, mewing for admittance,
having found its way through eighteen miles of country
which it had never before seen. In the second story,
a cat and a bag again figure, but this time it is the cat
which carries the bag, instead of the bag holding the
cat. A lady owned a young cat about twelve
months old, which had on several occasions
shown instinct of a very high order, and one
morning she heard her pet mewing loudly on the
doorstep. Upon opening the door she found the
cat holding a large bag, stuffed full of taper and rags,
which had been left in a firewood shed, about twenty
yards from the house. This the pussy had evidently
dragged to the door, with the view of calling her
mistress's attention to it for some special purpose ;
but the lady incautiously seized the bag, and opened
it, when to her surprise and terror, out jumped an
enormous rat, and before the cat had time to seize it,
it made its escape.—Little Folks.
ADVICE TO BATE ERS —The following items of advice
to swi,r fliers and bathers are taken from the report of
the Royal Humane Society, just issued, arid aill pro-
bably he both interesting and serviceable tu many
readers :—Avoid bathing within two hours a tsr a
meal. Avoid bathing when exhausted 1:y fatigue, or
from any other cause. Avoid bathieg ssl en the body
is cooling after perspiration. Avoid 1,...11 4 altogether
in the open air if, after having ban a - ti,, ,n
the water, it causes a sense of chitlint.-s 9. ith numb-
ness of the hands and feet. Bathe vlzi he b,..y is
warm, provided no time is lost in getting into the
water. Avoid chilling the body by sitting cr standing
undressed on the banks or in boats after having been
in the water. Avoid remaining too long in the water
—leave the water immediately there is the slightest
feeling of chilliness. The vigorous and strong may
bathe early in the morning on an empty stomach. The
young, and those who are weak, had better bathe two
or three hours after a meal ; the best time for such is
from two to three hours after htcakfast. Those who
are subject to attacks of giddiness or faintness, and
those who suffer from palpitation aid other sense of
discomfort at the heart, should not bathe without first
consulting their medical adviser.

GERMANY.

I

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You are invited to participate in the chances
a wianise i tka grand irawings of prizes
euaraeteed by the Sta. e of Hamburg in which
$ naiLions 858, 300 marks have to be won.

In the course of these advantageous drawings
chick contain according to the prospectus only
;2,500 tickets, the following prizes will be
..,rthei ruing, viz. :

l'he hie est prize will be ev. 500,000 Marks
Premium of 300 000 Marks.-1 Prize of
200,000 Marks-2 Priv3of 100,000 Marks
—1 rrize of 90,000 Marks— 1 Prize of
80,000 Marks-1 Prize of 70,000 Marks
---1 Prize of 60,030 Marks— 2 Prizes
)f 50,000 Marks-1 Prize of 40,000
'larks— 1 Prize of 30,000 Marks-8
erize of 15,000 Marks— 21 Prizes of
10,000 Marks-56 Prizes of 5,000 Mark,.
—lo6Pnzes of 3,000 Marks-223 Prizes of
2 000 Marks— 6 Prizes of 1,500 Marks
515 Prizes of 1,000 Marks-869 Prizes of
500 Marks— 65 Prizes of 200 Marks
63 I,rizes of 150 Marks— 26820 Prizes of
Marks 2450 Prizes of 124 Marks
—B7 Prizes of 100 Marks etc. etc. in all.
16600 Prizes.

.vhick will be sure won in 7 drawings within
the space of a few months.

The first prize-drawing is officially fixed and
he price is for
a whole original ticket only 6sl —d or 6
larks, a half original ticket only 3 sh—d or 3
Marks, a quarter original ticket only Ish Eid
or 11 Marks, and I will forward these
original tickets guaranteed by the State (not
prohibited promissory notes) even to the most
distant countries in return for the amount for-
warded prepaid. Every ticket holder will
receive from me gratis along with the original
ticket the original prospectus provided with
the arms of the State and immediately after
the drawing, the official list without any
charge.

The payment and forwarding cf the sums
won to those concerned will have my special
and prompt attention, and with the most ab-
solute secrecy.
tir All orders can be rent by the medium of
a Vogt Ofnce Order, ( r per cheque, or in
English Pobtfze Stamps, or by total Orders.
eir Please address the orders before the
13th of JUNE.
on account of the approaching drawing of the
prizes, in all confidene.3 to

SAMUEL HECKSCHER, SENR.,

ANKFR A N-1 E"CHAVGF. AGENT AT HAMBURG

WORTH A GUINEA A BOX)
BEECHAM'S PILLS.
ARE admitted by thou-
sands t , be worth above
GIIItild• A Box for Billions
id Nervous Disorders,
,ch as wind and Pain at
is Stomach. Stck Head.
;he, Giddiness, Fu ness
id Swelling after meals.
izzine-s and Drowsiness.
id Ch Ds, Flushings of
.eat. I oss of Appetite,
lhortness of Breath. Cos-
vere.., curvy. Blotches
the Skin D sturt,e,l
sep. Friiltful Dreams
,d .1 nervous and rem-
g -ensations. &c, ece.
, rel,ef is twenty minutes
:o fiction for they h ye done t in thousands
of csies. 1 e Proprietor . f the Pi s having obtained
is great expense) a P.-tent for • hem he chit lenges the
wt•rld to produce a medicine equal to them for
removing to sb ye named compla nts. and rt storing
the patient to soune and lasting health.
Every suff,-res is earnestly invite to try one box of
these Pills, and they will be acknowledged to be.

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