The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-02-03 00:00:00

Wisaltantons

ROME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAI,

vrlB BETTER NOT TO KNOW 1--A untie Effie.—
"Why, I declare, Maud,. you know positively nothing
Now, don't you know it is very naughty to be so
ignorant, eh ? " Maud (demurely).—" No, if you
please, Auntie Effie." Auntie Effie.—" And how is
it you don't know that, then? " Maud (still more
demurely).—" 'Cos you aid I don't know anything,
Auntie Effir,.• —Fun.

GIVING BUT LITTLE NOTICE.—The "blizzard," or
show-hurricane of the American North-west, of which
we hear so much at this time of year, generally spends
its greatest force in Michigan, where it travels with
euch speed that as soon as the telegraph announces
the coming storm men hasten at once for shelter. The
sun will be brightly shining, says a correspondent of
the American Register, and will then become suddenly
obscured, when in a moment a wall of intense cold
seems to move with great rapidity across the path,
while the snow comes down like one flake, effectually
blinding any person unlucky enough to be out. Roads
become blockaded, and woe betide the hapless human
being or animal caught away from shelter. The name
" blizzard " is purely local.
AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS.—The Magnet of Mon-
day, in its review of the British corn trade daring the
past week, says :—Agricultural work is still vary
backward. The more settled weather of the past
week has enabled some improvement to be Perceptible
in a few instances, but as a rule the prospect remains
very unsatisfactory. From the Continent and America
there is nothing new to report.

PROPOSED EXHIBITION OF IRISH LACE.—In London,
on Monday, an influential meeting was held at the
Mansion House, at the request of wholesale and retail
members of the lace trade, for the purpose of consider-
ing the desirability of holding an exhibition and art
collection of Irish lace in London with a view to im-
prove the state of that industry. It was resolved
unanimously that such an exhibition would be most
opportune and expedient, and the Lord Mayor kindly
consented to acoord the use of the Mansion House for
the purpose, and a committee was then appointed to
make the nee,essary arrangements with a view of hold-
ing the exhibition at the end ot June.

AVEILLGB PRICES OF BRITISH COBN.—The following
are the average prices of British corn for last week,
as received from the inspectors aril officers of Ex.:ABS :
—Wheat, 40s. 4d.; barley, 325, 9d. ; oats, 208. 10d. per
imperial qr. Corresponding week last year :—Wheat,
465. 3d.; barley, 333. 4d,; oats, 20s. 4d.

BICYCLES AND TRICYCLES.—The sixth annual exhibi-
tion of bicycles and tricycles, held under the auspices
of the Stanley Bicycle Club, was opened on Monday
in London at the Albert Hall, South Kensington.
From an exhibition of a score of machines, held
six years ago, the Committee of the Club have
now, by the popularity they have achieved,
been obliged to engage this hall to acoom-
modate all the machines which have been entered
by the makers. The spacious galleries, balcony,
orchestra, and arena of the hall afford admirable
space for the display of exhibits, which include nearly
600 machines representing every maker of any note
to the kingdom, besides an array of necessaries and
accessories for those who have adopted the bicycle or
the tricycle as their favourite mode of locomotion. By
an examination of the catalogue it will be seen that
the tricycle is steadily advancing in favour, for while
there are 256 bicycles, there are upwards of 320 tri-
cycles on exhibition. The miscellaneous stands con-
tain an immense variety of articles which wheelinen
affect to regard as necessaries in the proper pursuit of
pleasure upon wheels.

APPROPRIATIL-It is suggested that the electric pen
should be called "The pen of the ready Reuter 1"
Punch.

GRUEL-TY.—Lean and Slippered Party. "Ugh I
Wherever have you been, Matilda? A•sweethearting
with your young man, I s'poae that's about it. And
here's my cushion been a-slipping down, and my gruel's
been a•boiling over till—till---"—Matilda. "Till
you've been boiling over, too, eh, grandfather? But
there, never mind, I'll give you what he gave me•-•—•—'
—L. and S. Party. "What's that? A 'arf a ounce of
'bacca ? "—Matilda. "No, grandfather—a kiss I"
L. and S. Party. "Ugh I A lot o' good that is to a
invalid like me, ain't it ?"—LBut he took it, neverthe-
less.l—Fun.

THE LANDSLIP IN SWITZERLAND.—The Geneva
correspondent of The Times says that an engineer
who has just visited the scene of the disaster near
Fort de l'Ecluse describes the condition of things as
very serious. The entire side of Mont Credo, on
which the forts are built, appears to be giving way,
and further and more dangerous earthslips are feared.
The lower fort is considered past saving, and the
garrison has been withdrawn. The rocks on which
the forts stand, and which looks solid enough to sup-
port them for ages, are said to be undermined. If
they should fall into the Rhone, which, compressed
between lofty cliffs, is exceedingly narrow thereabouts,
the course of the river will be completely blocked, and
the entire valley for a length of more than 20 miles
joined to the lake; with consequences the reverse cf
pleasant to those who live on its banks.

CHESS TOIIRNIMENT WITH LIVING PIECES.—The
notions of games of chess to be played with living re-
presentatives of the various pieces is to be carried out
on rather an elaborate scale at Winchester on the 2nd
of February. The chessboard will be a large portion
of the floor of the Guildhall of that city, marked out
in chequers for the occasion; while seats on raised
tiers are to be erected all round the hall for the ac-
commodation of spectators. An additional ground of
Interest is the fact that the games will be fairly fought
out by local players who have consented to co-operate
in the scheme with a view to benefit the funds of the
Winchester Ladies' Association for the Care of
Friendless Girls and to other local objects. Costumes
are specially preparing in London for the living factors
in the tournament. Though this form of amusement
is comparatively common in Persia and at the Courts
of some of the Princes of India, it is believed that it
has been attempted only twice before in this country.
This POSTMASTER GENEBAL.—In reply to a resolu-
tion passed at the annual meeting of telegraph clerks,
held at Birmingham a few days since, the hon. secre-
tary has received the following reply from Mrs.
Fawcett :—" Dear Sir,—My husband and I join in
cordial thanks to you and the postal telegraph clerks
for your very kind message of congratulation on his
recovery. The kindness on all sides throughout my
husband's illness is most gratifying to us. I ant
thankful to be able to tell yeu that he has benefited
very much from the change and rest he has had, and
we hope he will be able to resume work a few days
after the °peeing of Parliament.—Believe me, dear
Sir, faithfully yours, M. G. Feworrr."

A REAL BATTLE WrrE FIRE.—The firemen at a
recent Boston tire in a large ammunition shop, had a
real as well as a figurative battle with the flames. In
five minutes the insilade began. A movable magazine
of powder and other explosives was near the door on
the ground floor. A few blows with an axe broke
down the barrier and six men jumped in. A moment
later they reappeared amid a hail of flying bullets,
carrying a great iron box. The roar of exploding shot
and shell was deafening, and not even the brave fire-
men dared to stand in the bullet-swept square. The
bullets from thousands of exploding cartridges chipped
the plate glasi windows to pieces. For fifteen minutes
the rattle of musketry and explosion of small anus in
the building continued. The crowd venturing too
near, caught the patter of bullets about them, and
broke into a hasty retre. Two iLen we Le by
the bullets.

FROM • DrFFERENT POlNT.—Country Cousin How
pale you look, dear I'm afraid you have been keep-
ing very late hours. Look at me, I was up this
morning at six.—Sooiety Belle: Surely, dear, you do
not call that a good example. Why, I was in bed two
hours before I—Funny Folks. •
A Cool. ONE I—A scream, a high chair, and a gather.
log together of feminine habiliments is women's recipe
In the presence of a rat, but a printer—a man printer
—who happened along in Sacramento the ether day
where a party were waiting to see a terrier kiil one of
the rodents, had quite a different plan (says an
American paper). The cage was opened and the rat
most unexpectedly ran up the printer's leg inside his
trousers. He did not scream or clutch, but clenched

his hands, stood ereot, and coolly told those present to
be quiet. "Now he is going up by my knee; now he
ix on my thigh; now he has passed to the small of my
back; now he rests. Don't strike; don't seize him.
Here, take a small stick, tap gently just above the
rascal—gently, gently. That's it; drive him down
easily—don't provoke him. Now he moves, now he
turns—press gently; now he descend.; there he goes
around my hip; now he turns downward; here he
comes by my knee—there, he's out." And so he was,
and the terrier forthwith monopolized him.
IlninD IN MID•ATLINTIC.—The Bishop (severely).
"When I was your age, my young friend, it was not
considered good manners for little boys to join in the
conversation of grown-up people, unless they were
invited to do se."—Small American. "Guess that was
seventy or eighty years ago. We've changed all that,
you bet I "—Puncls.
THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS.—The latest official Sta.
tistios of the Society of Friends, or Quakers, for 1812,
show that in Great Britain and Ireland the total
number of members is 17,977. In addition to these
there are 5,790 regular attenders' of the Friends'
meetings who are not in full membership. About
25,000 scholar; adult and junior, are regularly under
Instruction by the Friends, in their Sabbath Schools;
but very few of these become members of the Society,
and only about 3,000 out of the 25,000 are estimated
to be attenders of the Friends' meetings. This little
chursh of 18,000 members is, however, represented in
Parliament by about ten members.
ARGYETING.—Reverend gentleman: " Ah, Martha
Giles!, Martha Giles I you should have been to church
this morning and heard what I had to say about
weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth."—
Martha (incorrigible) : "Ye., but that don't apply to
them as has none to gnash, do it, parson? "—Judy.
FASHIONABLE Areons.—Aprons are a recognised
essential in dress at present, when many costumes are
copied from those worn by our grandmothers (says the
Court Journal). Small aprons of black satin have
borders of white point lace, in pale pink or blue sateen,
they are edged with lace. Five o'clock aprons show
large deeigns in the form of tea-pots, cups, &0., on a
black ground, others show lace designs, and Japanese
patterns are produced in sateen. Often an apron is
made of two handkerchiefs, with a pleated frill at the
bottom, a pocket and bib.

J.P.—" A Justice of the Peace" writes to Th 4
Times :—" May I venture to suggest that when next
the Government bring in a Bill to deal with county
affairs, they should insert a clause restricting the use
of the title 'J.P.,' or Justices of the Peace,' to county
magistrates? The county magistrates are chosen from
the chief landowners and men of position in the
county, having jtAtiodiction over the whole of It. Yet
Brown, Jones, and Robinson, small shopkeepers, with
jurisdiction in their own small borough only, equally
make use of the ',EP.' Let them be satisfied by being
called 'Justices of the Borough,' or
_ A SAD Airy/int.—An inquest has been held_ at
_ _

Bournemouth on the body of a boy named Frederick
William Matthews, nine years of age, who died in the
Boscombe Infirmary, Bournemouth, from gunshot
wounds. From the evidence it appeared that the boy
was playing in some stables with another boy named
Cherrett, when the latter found an old single-barrelled
gun belonging to his father, and not knowing that it
was loaded and capped, pointed the mozzle at
Matthews, and said in fun, "I am going to shoot
you." He pulled the trigger, a loud report followed,
and the boy Matthews fell to the ground. Cherrett,
who was horrified at what had happened, raised an
alarm, and directly afterwards the wounded boy was
taken to the nearest hospital, where it was found he
had sustained such frightful injuries to his head—the
right side being torn clean away—that his life was
despaired of, and he died some three or four hours
afterwards. The jury returned a verdict of "Man.
slaughter" against the boy Cherrett.
THE LONGEST BEARD IN THE WORLD.—Chioago, it
appears, can justly lay claim to reckoning among
Its inhabitants the man with the longest beard in the
world (says the Evening Standard). The individual
(Adam Kirper) who is now in his sixty-sixth year,
is a German by birth, and [so early in life as eleven
was remarkable for the hairy development on the chin.
At that age he began to shave, but left off the use of
razors at sixteen, since which time he has cultivated
his beard. When, as a young man he entered the
German army, he boasted of a moustache, measuring,
it is said, three foot long, bat the inconvenience this
appendage occasioned tnin induced him to sacrifice it.
Soon afterwards he went to America, where he has
since resided. His remarkable beard over twenty
years ago measured five feet in length. Then he out
it off, disposing of it to the Uhicago Museum for
seventy-five dollars. Since the has left it untouched,
but continues to make money out of it by exhibiting
himself and by the sale of his portraits. Between the
years 1877 and 1881, it has grown two feet, and at the
present time the American papers say it measures
exactly twelve feet and a half. When he goes out he
rolls it round a leathern girdle, which is attached to
his waist; but within doors he allows it to hang down
to its full length, enveloping his feet in it if the
weather happens to be cold. As he is now growing
old, he has made his arrangements for what is to be
done with his beard after death. By the term of his
will, it is to be cut off and sold to any amateur of such
natural phenomena who will pay the highest price for
it, the money to be handed over to his on who,
singularly enough, though verging on forty, le as
beardless as a youth of fourteen.

THZ AZOHBIBILOP or YOBS ON THEIPT.—The Arch.
bishop of York preaching at Sheffield on Sunday,
before the members of the Friendly Societies of the
town, said that thrift had something more in it than
this world's business. Thrift was a branch of justices
and justice was a part of Christian love. It was WS
a question of a mere worldly nature. They were
trying to alter the looser and less careful customs of
the world, by introducing providence and care for the
future. So far from this being alien to religion, it WO
a fair first step to a well-ordered life according to thd
law of God.

RATIBION OF THB AUTHORIC—Ph VZBEHON;
company appointed for the revision of the Ara:batik
Version of the Old Testament finished their 7C:-
session on Friday afternoon in last week, in the
Jerusalem Chamber. The following members were
present :—The Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Deane
of Canterbury and Peterborough, Mr. Bensly, Dr.
Chance, Professor Driver, Dr. Ginsburg, Archdeacon
Harrison, Dr. Kay, Professor Leathes, Professor
Lutriby, Professor Robertson Smith, Professor Wright,
and Mr. Aldis Wright (secretary). Communications
were received from Dr. Alexander, Principal Douglas,
and Dr. Gotch, who were unable to attend. The cony
pany completed the second revision of the books of the
Old Testament.

DEATHS PROM EXPOSURE IN SCOTLAND.
Thursday in last week Bridget Turner, a lame Irish•
woman, ninety years old, set out to walk from Stone.
haven to Dundee, a distance of sixty miles, to visit
her daughter. On Monday her dead body was found
on the highway in Kincardineshire covered with
snow. This makes the third death from exposure in
Scotland during the present storm. On Monde/
night there were twelve inches of snow at DalnaspidM
on the Highland line.

A SHOCK Ow EABTHQUAKE.-The Daily News pub
lishes the following :-Sir,-A distinct, though Teri
slight shock of earthquake was felt here yesterday, 0
exactly a quarter past twelve p.m. Two friends of
mine and I were quietly reading, and all of us per'
ceived a tremor which lasted about a quarter of a
minute, and heard a sound like that of wind roaring 10.,
the chimney. The weather had been very severe all
the morning, with snow, rain, and wind. The baro'
meter stood at 29200. The rainfall which amounted W
'43 took place in about three hours.-I am yours re-
spectfully, J. D. LA TOUCHE, Stokesay Vicarage,
Craven Arms, Shropshire, Jan. 28.
A Max A.ND HIS BODY.-The recent New York
legislation gives a man very complete far-reachidA
and apparently retrospective rights to possess himsell
in pieces as well as in peace, and under the most
adverse circumstances (says the British Media
Journal). "A person," says section 305, "has the
right to direct the manner in which his body shall he dir
posed of after his death, and direct the manner in which
any part of his body which becomes separated there
from during his lifetime shall be disposed of." Snob
claims might it is thought in America seriously affect
the pathological museum of the hospitals, for which
disevered excrescences and morsels of humanity have
hitherto been appropriated without legal leave asked or
permission granted. It is feared that some fortunate
possessors of rare pathological growths may set an un'
reasonably high value on their morbid peculiarities
when once they discover that they are their legal pro.
perty, and have a marketable value. A man's bones
may become of more worth than himself, and his Mad
finger of more value than all the rest of his body.
SALISBURY Eusonox EXPENSE:3.-nm statement of
these expenses was published on Saturday. The ev
pauses of the Conservative candidate, Mr. Coleridge
J. Kennard, who was returned, amounted to £1,021 60e
made up as follows :-Personal expenses, £57175. 6d. ;
agents' charges, £147; clerks, messengers, and porters!
£124 6e. ; bill posting, £l6B 38. 6d. ; sandwich men and
boys, £29 83. ; conveyances, £146; printing and
stationery, £179 1213. 11d. ; committee rooms.
-
£6O is. 3d.; returning officer, sergeants-at-mace, &de
£6l 63. 6d. ; personation agents, £4 43.; furniture for
committee rooms, &c., £2O 12s. ; and sundries,
£22 13s. 10d.-The expenses of the defeated candidate,
Mr. W. H. Grenfell, amounted to £545 6s. 7d., corn-
prising the following items :-Personal expenses,
£2B 14s. 7d. ; agents' fees and charges, £l2B Os. 3d. ;
returning officers and expenses, £52 83. ; committed
rooms, £26 Be,; sergeants-at-maee and beadles ;
£4 9s. 3d.; printing, advertising, and statiotterh
£l4O 12s. sd. ; hire of carriages, £6l 12s. ; clerks spa
messengers, £7B 16s. 3d.; coals for and cleaning cow.
mittee rooms, £3 9s. ; refreshments for clerks, &o.t
£8 14s. 4d. ; sundries, £l2 33. 6d.

THE ALLIGATOR TRADE.—The business of catching
alligators provides occupation for quite a number or
persons in our State. The hide of a large alligator is
worth from 1 dol. to 2 dole. It is almost a day's toils
to skin a large one. Alligator oil, which has at first *
most unpleasant smell, is much valued as a remedy for,
rheumatism. Fishermen sometimes eat portions 01
the animal's body. The flesh of the tail, when cooked
is said to be like veal in look and like pork in tut&
Young ones are bought by dealers at from 2 dole. t°
4 dole. a dozen if not over one foot in length. The,
fetch a much higher price when retailed, as they are
hard to keep alive. There is an increase in the selling
prioe of fifty cents to 1 dol. for every additional foot
over a certain length. Alligators sixteen to eighteen
inches long are often found by dozens in shallot"
water, and they may be handled without trouble, pro'
vided the old one does not. t..-.ka alarm. Most alligator
fishers are turtle hunters as well, pulling out thgl
animals from holes with a hooked pole.
FRENCH LOTTERLES.—The French Prefect of Policas
M. Camescasse, has issued a circular respecting tb.
growth of the lottery mania in France. Many pettf
tradesmen, he points out, especially wine-shop keepellif
make a pretence of giving away the tickets grattuti
ously to purchasers of different articles, a proceeding
which constitutes a punishable evasion of the lio's
Owing to the difficulty of dealing with so large a nunr
ber of offenders, they are to be warned in the first
instance, and only those who persist in organising,
lotteries will be prosecuted. The only lotteries allows"
by law are those which are intended to benefit a work,
of charity, but even this must be in the interest not oS
any particular individual, however deserving, but of
whole class.

INCORBIrIIBLE.—Tommy (who is ordered to go
.ito
the corner for being naughty: "Face to the walh
Mamma, or not ?"—Judy.
NITROGEN IN ARABLE LAND.—Some results of i_.,o3*
portance to farmers have been lately acquired by Xi'
DelArain from seven years' observations on an experi.;
mental farm. He finds that the loss of combine('
nitrogen in a soil that is ploughed every year is oot
due exclusively to removal by crops. Moreover, it 0
more considerable the more abundant the manufr
supplied, and it ceases when the soil is maintained 01,
the state of artificial meadow instead of being pleugheu
annually. The mode of cultivation adopted has more
influence on the richness of the soil than the dedtur
tions of crops and the additions of manure. The fa
lowing conclusions are formulated :—(1.) The losso
of nitrogen in arable land are due not merely to WI/
requirethents of the crops, but also, and in greater
part, to the oxidation of the nitrogenized organic
matter; they are more considerable the morenumeroil
the dressings required. (2.) When the ground is 13°'
moved, but kept as natural or artificial meadow, tho
air penetrates it less easily, the combustions in it sr°
less active, and the gains of nitrogen exceed the loose'
(3.) Hence a farmer will more easily enrich his soil
nitrogen by keeping it meadow than by copious apPhr ,
cation of manure.

MIINIPIONNT GIFTS M A LIVERPOOL MREOHANT.***:
Mr. David Malconason, who died recently at his rest
dence, No. 1, Mount-street, Liverpool, on the 15°
inst., hag left the following legacies to educational Ana
charitable institutions (—Agricultural School, Brook'
field, Ireland, £1,000; School Hill School, Lislonal;
Ireland; £l,OOO ; Newton School, Waterford, £l,ooof
Liverpool Seamen's Orphanage, £3,000; LiverPOl
Home for Decayed Seamen, £2,000; LiverP°°
Royal Infirmary, £2,000; Liverpool Northern Hospithil
£1,000; Liverpool Southern Hospital, £1,000; Scho°
for the Blind, £1,000; Children's Convalascent Howl
£5OO. All these legacies are given free of duty,
there is a direction that they shall not be used If:
current expenses, but shall be invested and tu:„
annual proceeds only applied for the annual expel
of the institutions.

SEED POTATOES.—The Gardeners' Chronicle says
The singular mildness of the winter so far allied t°
the unusual humidity of the atmosphere is renderl,l
the keeping of early seed potatoes ome of great din?;
culty ; with ample heating appliances nothing lo
easier than to promote growth—with a long sPe,A,
of open and almost spring.like weather in ow
winter, nothing is more difficult than retard
' ei
tion. Potatoes are unusually active just now, 0,
only because of the mild weather, but because the/
were perforce so early ripened last summer by tbe
very early and general loss of leafage. The Beall
of very early kinds of potatoes is a short one—vt
many not much exceeding three months in the 50P;
and this natural precocity renders the seed tuber'
exceedingly active early in the winter. To adopt the
method of checking yet far too common with intbild
large growers, of rubbing off the shoots and returnini:
the tubers to the pit or store, where they will speecil
develop weakly growth again, is to rob them of oneo
third their producing power at once. If the growth
_Tel
far has been short and robust, it ratuit be saved at
hazards. If it has become long and attenuated, tPoi
tubers might be almost as well thrown away at onc,
Every open, light, airy place that is still protected ir°ll,
the weather should be utilised for the housing of see
tubers—and early ones especially just now. In h9,f,e
weather a cellar or well protected store presents
best of all places in which to house seed tubers safelc;
but in mild winters—and we now get more soft WiDter,
than hard ones—cellars and stores may prove dangler
ous to the safe keeping of potatoes when once um,'
the influence of atmospheric warmth and hurt:lWO/1j
A cool, dry, and specially light airy shed or stored
now of the first importance for the safe keeping Al
early seed potatoes, and is a prime necesssty in
large gardens,
How TO GET RID OF WDIEWORIL—In " Seasons
Notes" Land and Wafer says :—There are 11:0.13;•
gardeners who have had to experience the destructlio
work of this busy but most tiresome insect. Arl ;is
florist informs us as to the method he adopted olle
great success to destroy this pest most effectually.
writes as follows :—" Towards the .end of last
when my carnations and other plants had all 'Jo
removed from my flower-beds, and previous to te
latter being turned up for exposure to the winter fr°llo
I took sulphuric acid, in the proportion of one
to twenty of water, and applied the mixture plenti":o6. I
to the soil. In two days I again repeatei the 0P._,0
' tion having previously turned up the soil and Pi:4
that it is well pulverised. After the lapse of ten "of
fourteen days I gave a plentiful application pi
powdered lime, and shortly after turned the soil 01,30,
ridges as usual. The result has been that it is
rare thing to see a wireworm where previously '5Ol
often killed a hundred in half an hour, and vihere /jet
plants had been eaten up in a wholesale manner. ocl
anyone collect a number of these destructive Pee," tbe
put them among soil in a box, and then aPP'Y e 0
above mixture. Let him look for them the io
morning and communicate the result, or, indeoloeli
half an hodr after, This can be used on a large the
as well as on small flower-beds." We have foul bps
wireworrn particularly noxious where pasture lart.wertli
been newly broken up for potatoes. The wire",corig
abounds in the roots of pasture grasses, and the,' foto
great havoc among the potatoes, boring their WO
the tuber's and riddling them with holes,