The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-03-07 00:00:00

A COMICAL CHINESE EPISODE

In China it is the recognised right of an elder
brother to reprimand, or even administer a beating,
to a younger member of his family, no matter whether
the said younger member be a grown man or still in
his teens. This custom appears to be adhered to as
rigidly by Chinese settlers in America as if they were
still in their own country ; and it was, relates the
New York Times, recently illustrated in rather an
amusing fashion in a New York street. In this street
dwelt two Celestials. They are brothers, the elder
}Awing a mere Diem,- in size. fh. ginak ;ma
stature and a Hercules in strength. The latter
is as remarkable for his bad conduct as the
former is for his respectability, their respective
reputations being described by the appellat ion
given them of the "bad giant and the good
pigmy." The good pigmy grieved deeply
at the misconduct of this big younger brother, who
had been discharged successively from half a dozen
different places for stealing and othenvise misbe-
having himself. At length he determined to exercise
his right of chastisement, and meeting with the giant
scapegrace in the street he drew forth a stout stick,
with which he belaboured him as hard as he could,
exclaiming meanwhile in Chinese, "You wretched
creature! You have disgraced our family." The
sturdy culprit whined like a child, but in deference to
the customs of his country never once attemnted to
use his prodigious strength against his elder brother.
When the correction was stopped, thanks to the in-
terference of the bystanders, the beaten giant walked
sheepishly away, and the pigmy began to cry.

CENTRAL CHAMBER of AGRICULTURE.
A Council meeting of the Central and Associated
Chambers of Agriculture was held on Tuesday, at the
office of the Society of Arts, Adelphi, the Earl of
Suffolk presiding.
The Chairman said he had to move the following
resolution: "That in the opinion of this Council, in
view of the recent importations of foot-and-mouth
disease, it is expedient that the Privy Council
should, without further delay, prohibit the
landing of animals from the whole of the German
Empire." He said that in urging this resolution on
on the Privy Council they had both right and reason
on their aide. The Council had somewhat re-
laxed its regulations, and the consequence wig
that two cargoes of diseased sheep had been im-
ported. Earl Fortescue denied that the agricultural
interest vere seeking a revival of protection from
foreign competition. Last year it was said that the
prohibition against the landing of live animals would
increase the price of meat, but the crushing fact re-
mained that immediately the new and stringent regu-
lations were enforced the price of meat fell. It was
as well that they should place this fact on record as
a reply to the calumnies which the adversaries of the
landed interest were never tired of repeating. The
resolution was agreed to, and was ordered to be sent
to the Privy Council.
The Railway Rates Committee presented a report,
in which they recommended that the strongest support
be given to Sir B. Samuelson's resolution, which, if
carried, would dispose of the bills now before Parlia-
ment. Mr. Paget, M.P., the chairman of the com-
mittee, moved the adoption of the report, and com-
plained strongly of the preferential rates allowed by
the railway companies to foreign producers. He, for
one, would never rest till the injustice was removed.
(Hear, hear). They were perfectly ready to come to
fair and equitable terms with the companies over this
matter. They did not want their goods carried for
nothing, but they wanted at least the same rates as
those accorded to foreign competitors. They asked
no more, but they would take no less. 'Hear, hear.)
Mr. Bell (Newport) seconded the motion. After a
brief discussion it was agreed to.
Mr. Ramsden (Warwickshire) moved the fallowing
resolution :—" That whilst this Chamber would cor-
dially welcome any measure for the benefit cf agricul-
tural labourers, either by giving them a greater interest
in the soil or otherwise, it is of opinion thatof Peasant
Proprietary and Acquisition of Land by Occupiers Bill,
introduced by Mr. Jesse Collings, M.P., in the House
of Commons, is impracticable, and would be prejudicial
to all parties." He strongly condemned the proposals
of the Bill, which he believed was simply designed
to catch the votes of the agricultural labourers at
the next election. The history of small holdings
ix eneral had been a history of disaster. They
mignt be successful in the vicinity of great towns
which afforded large markets, but under other circum-
stances all experience proved that they were almost
certgin to fail. Mr. Trepplin (Somersetshire)
seconded the motion. Mr. Druce (one of the as-
sistant members of the Royal Commission presided
over by the Duke of Richmond), in supporting the
resolution, said the object of the bill was to permit
urban authorities to borrow money for the purpose
of spending it in assisting private persons. It was
contrary to the whole principle of English law that
public assistance should be rendered to any private
undertaking, or tc,nny kind of undertaking which was
not pro bono publico. He protested against, the rates
being increased in order that money might be put into the
hands of those who, if the ideas of the bill were carried
out, would be utterly and irretrievably ruined. The
bill was an offence against all the principles of supply
and demand, and would place the most invidious and
crushing duties upon local authorities. There were
many parts of England, notably in Lincolnshire,
where peasant proprietaries existed, and the peasants
were almost without exception in a terrible state. It
was simply the case with agriculture as with other
businessas, that it could be carried on better with
large capital than with a small one. After further
discussion, the motion was agreed to, and the Chamber
soon afterwards adjourned.

An Indiana couple waited until the ages of seYenty
and sixty-four before making up their minds to wed,
but, having come to that conclusion, they were so
impatient that they rode thirty miles in a snow-storm
to get to a ciftrzyznalu

NEW YORK MARRIAGE STATISTIGS;

Last year there were in the city of New York
11,805 marriages. Of these ten were of coloured
men to white women, and one of a coloured woman
to a white man. Two men were married for the fifth
time, three men and two women for the fourth, 100
men and forty-one women for the third, and 1545
widowers and 1210 widows of the first power re-
married. Eleven bridegrooms and one bride were
between 70 and 80 years of age, sixteen bridegrooms
and two brides between 65 and 70, and fifty-nine
bridegrooms and six brides between 60 and 65. The
number of men who married under 20 was 218; that
of women, 2919. The number of men who married
between 20 and 25 years of age was 4173; of women,
6031; 3795 men and 2170 women married between
25 and 30 years of age.