The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-03-29 00:00:00

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ENO, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL.

THE "SHOE QUESTION" AT THE COURT OF BURMAH.
—ln a letter written from Mandalay, the Special
Cor-
respondent of the Daily News says :—" Among the
burning questions ' between the Court of Burmah
and British authority as represented by
From
Resident
m.
dfent
ranks first the great shoe question.' Fm
memorial the practice has been enforced that all
persons entering the presence of his Majesty of
Burmah, foreigners and natives
them outside
alike, shall first
take off their shoes and leave
the precincts of the presence
-chamber. Unofficial
foreigners going before the
continue to do
. King
both corn.
so to this day. Successveßrripthyr ee enivoye
plied with the regulation. Major jo
embassies, Colonel Fytche in his mission, alike entered
hi
the presece in what the Scotch call their stocking
feet, and Resident after Resident did the same. The
rule still holds, but our official people now, acting
under orders from Calcutta, decline to acquiesce in it.
It was in Lord Northbrook's time that the change oc-
curred. A Burmese mission was sent to Calcutta, and
its members were received by the Viceroy at Govern-
ment House. They came into his presence with
their shoes on their feet, and their heads covered.
Lord Northbrook said— Gentlemen, I observe that
you have neither complied with your Court observance
of leaving your shoes outside, nor have your complied
with ours in baring your heads.' And eo our Resident
at Mandalay was forbidden any more to take off his
shoes. The result is that the Resident never sees the
King. There was a relaxation in the rule, however, at
the late King's funeral. Mr. Shaw was asked to
be present, and was told that if he would come the
shoe' rule should be waived. The gentlemen of the
residency saw the funeral procession from the interior
of a structure like an opera box, the front of which
kept their feet out of sight. The arrogance of the
Burmese Court is on the wane with its growing anxiety
to stand on good terms with British officials, and it is
probable that soon as regards them the shoe regulation
will be done away with."
THE LONDON ENGINEERS' STRIKE.—LaSt Saturday
strike pay was given to about 920 engineers, composed
of 560 society and 360 non-society men. In addition,
is. each was paid for some 1,150 children, the total
amount disbursed in strike-pay being close upon £BOO,
which is a reduction on the former week, as some of
the men on strike procured situations at the old wages
during the week, and others emigrated to either
Australia or the United States. The amount paid to
the men since the strike commenced—six weeks ago
last Saturday—has been, in the aggregate, over £5,000.
A settlement of the dispute appears as distant as ever.
DOCTOR'S FEES IN PnussiA.—The German Corre-
spondent of the Economist Writes :---The Prussian
Minister of Pu)lic Instruction has laid a plan before
the Society of Medicine, according to whicil the regu-
lation of doctors' fees is to be done away with. There
is to be a tariff by which a judge can decide when ap-
plications are made in court; but in general doctors
ate to demand what they like. The tariff in question
is two marks for a first visit, one mark for every suc-
cessive visit. When consultations are neld, every
doctor is to get five marks for the first time, three
marks for the succeeding. In the physician's house
one mark 50 pfennige is the charge for the first consul.
tation, 75 pfannige for every succeeding one.

PILLAR LETTICII-BOX INDICATORS.—In Liverpool a
very simple system is in operatinn of showivg whether
any particular collection has been made from a pillar.
box. Every pillar-box in Liverpool and the suburbs
is fitted with an enamelled plate showing times of
collection; and attached to each plate is a small brass
receptacle, into which is inserted a tablet, made of
enamelled iron, bearing the hour of next collection.
The number of tablets for each box agree with the
number of collections shown on the plate; and every
time the box is cleared a tablet is removed from the

_
brass receptacle and taken to the post. office, and
another inserted, showing the next collection. By
this means an important check upon the clearances of
the pillar boxes is constantly maintained, and the
public are also supplied with information as to whether
a particular collection has been made, which must in
many cases prove very useful. A nearly similar plan
has been in use throughout France for many years
past.
AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN.—The following
are the average prices of British corn for the week
ending March 22, as received from the inspectors and
officers of Excise :---Wheat, 40s. Bd.; barley, 335. B'. ;
oats, 21s. id. per imperial qr. Corresponding week
last year :—Wheat, 48s. 11d. ; barley, 425.; oats,
248. 7d.

THE ELECTRIC LIGHT.—The Select Committee of
the House of Commons appointed to inquire into the
subject of lighting of towns by means of electricity,
and to which the Liverpool Lighting Bill was re-
ferred, has determined to go into the general question,
settle the principle, and then leave the 34 private Bills
which ask for powers to light by electricity to be dealt
with by the regular Committees of the House of Com-
mons. The inquiry will commence on the 31st inst.
As the evidence will be lengthy and the committee
will probably report late in the Session, it is expected
that no powers will be granted this Session for lighting
by electricity.
EARTHQUAKE IN PERSIL—At 12.35 a.m, on the
22nd inst., an earthquake traversed Northern Persia,
taking a direction from Tabreez to Zendjan and
Mianeh, and shocks continued with more or less
severity until Sunday, the 23rd. Several strongly•built
houses were thrown down at Mianeh, and in others
large rents were made in the walls. The most serious
damage, however, appears to have been occasioned to
two villages off the road, about four forsachs from
Mianeh, named respectively Tark and Nanan.
These were totally destroyed, and of the 500
inhabitants in the one case and the 600 inhabitants

in the other, only a few are reported to have been
saved. Mianeh is situated in north lat. 37deg. 27min.,
east long. 47deg. 43min.
THE PRECOCITY OF PETER.—" You must be sure
and bear this in mind, Peter," said the good governess:
"the seasons frequently alternate."—" I believe you,"
replied Peter, "and they often alter-natur as well.—
A scuffle and then a dismal yell were subsequently
heard through that sehoolroom door.—Jtuiu.
FORESPEABING.—" Forespeaking," an exact equiva-
lent to "evil-eye," is followed by exactly the same
results, is represented by the same means. To fore-
speak is to praise anybody, or anything, more than is
strictly warranted by truth. Directly that the exact
measure is transgressed, forespeaking begins. This
curious belief is founded upon a delicate psychology.
High appreciation of others is not a feeling. to which
men are generally prone. As long as it Is sincere,
intelligent praise is modified by criticism, curtailed by
restrictions. If we meet, therefore, with an admira-
tion loudly expressed, overstepping the mark, this
admiration has every chance to be not an error but a
deliberate falsehood. The ancients accordingly held
forespeaking to be a bad omen, fraught with more
dangers than an undeserved curse. The gods, not a whit
less jealous than men, were made angry by hearing
fulsome praise, and took away what had been lauded
unduly. Therefore, it has often proved dangerous,
when travelling in the East, or in Southern Europe,
to gaze intently upon children, or to praise them
loudly. In such cases the strangers were accused of
throwing evil aorta, willingly or unwillingly. On
seeing such a foreigner look eagerly at her child, the
mother spits in its face, to counteract the spell. And
if the look be directed unmistakably on the woman
herself, more than one may be seen to spit in her own
bosom, often with a curse that startles the too
admiring stranger; often with a deprecatory gesture
which is not meant to be rude. They answer the
compliments of even their friends and parents on the
health and good appearance of their nursling by such
exclamations as, He is a piggy for all that, an ugly
little villain !" They give him on purpose, as a
standing name, meant to disguise the real one, a word
of opprobrium or reproach. And the Turks hang
often old rags or such like ugly things upon their
fairest horses, and other goodly creatures, to secure
them against fascination.—Cornhill Magazine.
FATAL ACCIDENT.—On Tuesday morning the body
of Mr. John Masche (a boarding clerk in the employ
of Messrs. Winsher and Co., foreign Consulates at
Cowes) was found on the shore near Puckpool Fort,
Spring Vale. He had spent the previous evening with
some friends at Ryde, and left a little before ten o'clock
to walk alone to his home at Sea View' a distance of
three miles. He is supposed to have taken a shorter
and more dangerous path than the highroad—a foot-
path which runs on the top of the sea wall—to have
fallen over on the rocks, and, while lying stunned and
insensible, to have succumbed to the severe cold, or
been drowned by the advancing tide. The deceased
was about fifty years of age, and was perfectly sober
when he left Ryde. He was, however, very near
sighted, and had been warned against taking the road
on the sea wall.

A TICKLER FOR A STICKLER.—Young Trummlee
(who is always so anxious to do the " right " thing).
"By Jove here are those two nice girls I met at
George's last night for the first time. Now, ought 4
to take off my hat, or shake hands, or both; Lad if the
latter, which first ? "—Fun.
A REMARKABLE LIBRARY.—The New York Corre-
spondent of the Daily News writes :—The first part of
the catalogue of a remarkable library, the sale of
which begins in this city in March, has just come
from the press, and two more volumes are to follow.
A well-printed octavo of over 300 pages comprisee
this first selection-2,600 lots—form a treasure of
literary rarities which has hardly a parallel hi
America. The collection was formed by the
late George Brinley, of Hartford, a gentlemad
who had some fame among dealers and auo•
tioneers as one of the most persevering of book
hunters, and the boldest of bidders. He devoted
thirty years to the amassing of Americana,
aiming particularly at the completion of a seriee
of specimens of every American printer—a musetuu,
BO to speak, of the history and antiquities of the
typographic art in this country; and in the prosectr
tion of this design he brought together a library of
works relating to American history of which it may be
said that its dispersal will be noted by bibliographere
as one of the events of the generation. Au experienced
dealer remarks of the first part of the catalogue that
more than half the books in it are rare or unique
treasures which hardly ever appear in any sale. ._.
The sale will begin March 10, and it will doubtleee
take about a week to exhaust the first volume of the
catalogue. It is believed that the proceeds of the
entire library will be from 150,000 to 200,000 dollars.
"STEADY, AWHlLE."—Curate. "Good morning.

Curley; I 'hope you are getting on better now ?"',,
Artisan. "Yes, master, thankee. I am saving up-
-Curate. "I am glad to hear that. How much hail
you saved ? "—Artisan: "I have got a penny, master,
and I am saving it till I get another; then I am going
to have a. pint.' —Fun.
A STRANGE OCCURRENCE. The Court Journal
says:—" A singular circumstance lately took place at
the Comedie Francais°, in Paris. Baptiste, the actor,
who was playing the part of a bailiff, drew frail
his pocket a paper to represent the warrant 11
virtue of which he exercised his authority. Whio
was his atonishment on reading the name of h..ho
female relation who, through ignorance of a will
which had been made in her favour at:Dresden, wee
deprived of a considerable fortune bequeathed te,
her by her uncle The paper was a true copy 0;
his will. Baptiste uttered several exclamations og
surprise, accompanied by such comic gesticulationo
that the theatre resounded with applause. The
audience were, however, far from suspecting the
real cause. Baptiste, having carefully deposited the
paper in his pocket, continued his part, and on the
following day communicated the discovery to hi"
relation, whose claims were speedily acknowledged.
This strange adventure is explained as follows
Some time ago, a party of the performers of the
Comedie Francaise proceeded to Dresden to play IP
the presence of the sovereigns who were assembled in
that city. Among other scenic accessories, the)'
found it necessary to procure a number of old parch'
ments ; and it is probable that the document in ques'
tion have ever since remained in the pocket of the
dress worn by Baptiste when he made the fortunate
discovery."
THE HOME FOR LOST AND STARVING DOGS.--'
The Marquis Townshend presided at the eighteenth
anniversary meeting of the Home for Lost and Starving
Dogs, which was held on Saturday afternoon at the
offices of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty te,
Animals, 105, Jermyn-street, London. The repo,
stated that during the past year no less than 4,680
dogs were brought to the home, and were either
restored to their former owners or sent to new homerh
being an increase of 680 over the number of animal
similarly disposed of during the previous year. FortY'
nine dogs brought to the home by the police were re'
ported as having bitten different persons, and therefore
were placed under suspicion of being affected with
rabies. Each animal was consequently kept apart
from other dogs immediately on its admission, but in
no case had hydrophobia resulted from the bites re'
ferred to, and only one instance of rabies was die'
covered at the home, although upwards of 300,000
dogs had passed through the hands of the officers sine°
its foundation
How THEY CATCH TUNNY AT MARSEILLES.—Aft
extraordinary take of tunny fish was effected, 0
few days ago by the fishermen of Sausset, nee!„
Marseilles. In one expedition they captured 800
fish, which were sold in the Marseilles market for
32,000 f. The mode of proceeding is curious. Froni
long experience the men engaged in the industri,
can tell when a shoal of tunny is approaching, and
then a number of boats put out to take them,
great length of net with large meshes, sometimes /LIDO
in extent, the lower side of which is leaded and
the upper floated by corks, is joined together. The
semi-circular space enclosed is gradually reduced, and.
the fish forced in shore. When they begin to find
themselves hampered in their movements a great
agitation prevails among them, and then the fisher;
men throw out nets :with much smaller meshes, also
guide the tnnoy to some suitable spot for landing, All
the operations have to be conducted most rapidly, for
the tunny swims very swiftly —as much as eight
metres a second—so that a few strokes with his tag
would soon take him far beyond the reach of his put'
suers.
MRS. THEODORE MARTIN AND THE GLASGOW BANIL,
—The Lord Provost of Glasgow has received a cheque
for Ale from Mrs. Theodore Martin. who gave a
reading in Gla'sgow on behalf of the City Bank Be'
lief Fund; tho contrihntions bringirg lip the receipt,
from the reading to f.:500. In her letter to the Lora
Provost, Mrs. Martin says :—" Believe me, I have a
great affection for your city, where I have alwaYe
been received with much kindness. It has given we
great pleasure to come amongst you again and to shoW
my sympathy with the sufferers from this late gad
calamity by contributing my mite to a cause which
I know the citizens oi this great city have:2ot deeplY
at heart,"