The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-11-06 00:00:00

Niscrttaneous '4iltftligna,

HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL

THE DRY EARTH CußE—.—Some remarkable
cures of obstinate wounds by the simple application of
dry earth have been related (says the Melbourne Argus).
Amongst them is that of a gentleman at Mount
Gambier, Mr. James Pratt, who about six years ago
received • kick from a horse below the knee of the
right lee. The wound was healed partially, but after
a time it broke out again, and spread until the whole
of the lower part of the leg was affected. Mr. Pratt,
having heard of the success of the earth treatmeot in
other cases, procured some virgin soil taken from below
the roots ot the grass, and applied it to the wound,
which at the time was as large as his baud, and caused
the leg to be very much swollen. The result was that
the swelling was reduced in the girth measurement
three inches upon the first application. The treat-
ment was continued for three weeks, at the end of
which time the wound was quite healed.
A NOVEL FEAT ON A BICYCLE.—In Lott:ion,
on Monday morning, a medical student undertook for a
wager of £5 to ride a 13 m de from the Surrey side of
Westminster-bridge to the lot of the clock tower dur-
ing the tine "Big Ben" chimed the quarters and
, struck the hour of seven o'clock. At the tint chime
the performer started, rode over the bridge, and de-
sceialed at a rapid speed, accomplishing his feat at the
sixth stroke of the hammer, thus winning the stakes
essay.
A FAMILY PCZZLIL—Apropos of the report
that M. Lesseps and his son—who are referred to 68
"MM. X pere at tile "—are about to marry two sis-
ters. the !tappet suggests the following complications
as likely to arise to ni these double espousals :
_ .

To begin with, M. X , the son, will be the brother-in-law
of his father, and his wife wdi become the sister-in-law of
her own sister. If M. X senior has a son, and M. X junior
a daughter, and they should marry, the daughter of X. junior
will become the Muter.in-law of her father, anti the son of X.
senior will be the son-in-law of his brother and of his sister-
in-law. If there should be a child of this second marriage,
it will have two grandfathers, MM. X senior and junior,
whence it follows that X senior will become the brother of
his own son. More than that, if a boy, be will be the
brother of his own mother, since he and his mother are
alike grandchildren of X senior and as a mother's brother
Is no uncle, he will be in the anomalous position of being his
own uncle.

ANTIQUARIAN DISCOVERIES IN ARIZONA.
United States' papers publish a paragraph to the effect
that the General Landdiffice has received returns of
the survey of the township and section lines of five
townships on the Gila river, in Southern Arizona, con-
taining 10.5,252 acres of agricultoral and grazing lands,
bearing evidence of having been formerly under a high
state of cultivation for centuries, and abounding in
ruins of elaborate and sometimes magnificent struc-
tures, together with rd l cs of extinct races possessing
considerable knowledge of the arts and manufactures
—among the most extensive of the ruins being those
called Casa Grande, about two miles south-west of the
junction of the east and south channels of the Gila
river. These townships embrace the growing towns of
Aslainsville and Florence, on the Fort Yuma and Fort
Grant waggon roads, as well as numerous productive
farms and pastures, well stocked with cattle and sheep.
DEATH FROM A QUID OF ToBACCi).—An in-
quest has been hell in London, at the Middlesex Hos-
pital, on the body of William Adlam, aged fifty, a
guntuaker, who died suddenly in the street. It ap-
peared that while the deceased was passing through
Bond.street, he was observed to fall and roll into the
gutter of the road. He appeared to be in a convulsive
fit, and at the suggestion of some of the bystanders he
was at once conveyed to the hospital, where he was
pronounced dead. The post narrtem examination
showed that some shreds of tobacco had been drawn
into the chink of the glottip, producing spasm and
sudden death. A quid of tobacco was found in the
mouth of the deceased, behind the epiglottis. It was
believed that while deceased was taking an inspiration
he had drawn up the tobacco involuntarily. l'he cause
of death was soft cation by the spasmodic closing of
the glottis or windpipe. The deceased had only ob-
tained employment on the slay of his death, after
having been out of work for nine months. Verdict
"Accidental death." _

RATHER Too STRONG !—An Italian medical
paper describes an experiment made by a physician in
Brazil. Two criminals were decapitated, and the
physician, desirous of testing the power of electricity,
begged the bodies. He attached a head to a body,
kept up a current of electricity through the base of the
neck and breast ; and, strange to say, the cireuiation
of the blood gradually became c doplete, the head and
body became attached, and of the two parts a living
man has been produced. The strangest part of the
story has yet to be told. The head was the head of
one criminal, and the bosly that of the other ! Strangest
of all, could not the relatives of the one whose head
was made use of bring an action against its present
possessor for the use of it'
NOT • HUNDRED MILES FROM WESTMINSTER.
—ln the ace stint of Prince Arthur's visit to Canada
we are told that it Ottawa, though justly proud of
that magnificent pile of buildings which accommodate
the Parliament of the Dominion, is also proud of its
great lumber establishments." Perhaps it was as well
to make this clear distinction between the Parliament
buildings and the great lumber establishments, for
there are people profane enough to think that even in
Parliament Houses " lumber" may sometimes be
fout.d —Punch.
A NEW PHASE IN ADMIRALTY ECONOMY.—The
Muted Service Gazette says
It has come to our knowledge, and, for the sake of the
naval service, we regret to add, with every evidence of truth
that the command of one of her Majesty's ships on a distant
station has been offered too captain, provided he pays his own
pa.soge out to the station to join her It has also hers stated
that the officer has accepted the command under the con-
ditions stated, feeling that had he not done so he was likely
to lock in vain for employment, We most emphatically
enter our protest against such a system. The national Ex-
chequer must indeed lesion if it cannot afford to noted an
officer to the station on which he is to perform his duty.
We hear it also cerrently reported that the tin mess
utensils used in vessels conveying troops are to be purchased
"second-hand !" lithe hoard of Admiralty 10,0114 to open
an imperial secondhand establishment and naval commis-
sion agency ? We see evident signs of attempting to con-
duct the ailairs of the navy in a shop-keeping spirit. We
warn the Admiralty and their financial secretary against
, such an attempt.
"S N T /MENTAL STATIONERY !"—The Stationer
remarks that what is celled " Sentimental Stationery"
is badly edited, and that "the persons who are en-
trusted with the compilation and preparation thereof
are, as a rule, insofficiently educated." In illustration
of this remark be quotes the following verbatim et
titeratint copy of a specimen lately published by the
London Lace Paper Company :
BIRTHDAY,
flow swiftly hisses time away,
How short hoer sojourn here
Behold; again thy natal day,
Proclaims another year.
As father time is on the wing,
May's it pass the lightly by;
Exhistence leave behind no sting,
Noe sorrow cause a sigh.
Tim DUKE D'Ausisax.—M. Louis Ulbach
having. Published a portrait of the Duke- d'Aumale in
La Cloche the exiled Prince Las sent him the following
letter of thenks :
Orleans House, Twickenham. Middlesex, Sept. r.—
Monsieur,—l have hesitated a little to write to you. You
have drawn such a fdo tt ring portrait that I am embarrassed
to thank you. hut it 1.10 pont 1.11 valeicib I care, without
false modesty, shy that horn judged nee correctly. Yes,
I love France—l love her passionately ! Mid when you en-
ill to her memory those who have served her and who live
for her, when you demand that the door of the country be
opened to her children, you.- words to to my heart, and I
have the right to tender my hand and say " Thank s."—II.
D'Orleans.
WAITING FOR THEIR HONOURS !—The heroes
of Abyssinia and New Zealand bare to await their de-
corations lung (remarks the Army and Navy Gazette).
It will soon be two years since the fall of Magdala, but
I no sign appears to be made of the inane of the medal
! promised to the invaders of the country of Theodore, .
I while the defenders of the NewZraland colonists., after
I narrowly escaping from being forgotten altogether,
appear to have still longer to wait. The machinery
of the Mint appears to work tardily. Are the officials
if that establishment very much overtasked, and have
no time to attend to soldiers and sailors? Or is it true
that the old machinery is being replaced by new,
adapted solely to the manufacture of the sweated sove-
reigns dear to Mr. Lowe?
THE SILK DISTRICTS OF JAPAN.—MT. Adams,
secretary to the British Legation in Japan, has been
viaiting the principal silk diatricts of the country for
the purpose of acquiring, full information respecting
the culture of the silkworm, and the prospects of the
silk season. His report, which is conaidered of great
value, has been communicated by Sir Harry Paikes to
the Chamber of Commerce at Yokohama, as the met-
chants there were extremely anxious to &main the in-
formation furnished by Mr. Adams. Notwithstanding
a steady foreign demand, and a no less steady increase
in the price of silk, there has been no correspcnding in-
crease in the exi,ort. By an apparent contradiction
the cultivation of the mulberry tree (which furnishes;
the principal food of the silkworm) haa increased con-
siderably. This in accountod for in several ways, The
proportion of silk kept in Japan for home consumption
cannct he accurately estimated, and the ravages of uji
or parasites amonz the cocoons have been of late years
very great. A special office has been established at
Mayebssehse for the inspection of the silk of that dis-
trict. This is an important step, and may tend to
discourage the frauds which now greatly injure the
hat,t
,thit
andi report,hco.ofpwti ethavele
Europeanri:;rtrha nnet re dspyPintccelol tsoye-f of requires,
Efku tirtrreeo: ena ca
moderngni
tmct
hro trade.
machinery,
ing to
The Japanese are becoming aware of this, but hive not
machinery.

A LADY UPON LAWYERS.—Tho MOtitgOnliry
(Alabama) Advertiser says :
One day last week a novel case was tried in the Court-
house at Greenville. Judge Lane brought cent Fgainst 31its
Josephine HULIOII for a fee. The lady appeared in court,
pleaded her own case, examined witnesses, and made a long
speech to the jury Her reason for appearin: was that she
did not believe an honest taut er was to he found in the
county. She said, among -ether hinge, that if an earthquake
was to come, and the elude were to fall, she believed the
11,t Virg thought of by the lawyers woold he the colleetic,
of their tees, preparatory to entering upon that long journey
In =earch of a future home, deep down in the dominions of
Les Satanic majesty, whither they were all slowly but surely
tending."
A UsEruL HINT TO VELOCIPIDE RIDELS.—A
correspondent of Land and Water, having heard of
some severe accidents occurring from the breaking of
the principal back spring of velocipedes in use—in one
case, indeed, the broken spring having entered the
back of the rider, causing thereby his immediate and
painful death, calla attention to the danger likelyt

arise during the approaching frosty amwon, when the
bast steel and the most carefully manufactured iron can
scarcely be relied upon. However, as I should be
sorry to detract from any of the out-door, health-in-
spirmg recreations of the youth of this island, I take
the liberty to suggest a method by which all danger
maybe obviated. Let the spring be covered both on
the upper and under sides with a strip of stout trace
leather, neatly stitched down both edges ; this will not
materially increase the weight, but will add to the or-
nament and ensure perfect safety in case of the spring
breaking.
HuhRIBLE MURDER BY A Moxnzn.—The Court
of Assizes of Foie, in France, has just tried a woman
named Pelet, wife of a small farmer of Orus for the
murder of her son, aged 13 ; her present husband, the
third, stepfather of the deceased, was also indicted as
an accessory. The female prisoner had had a son by
each of her previous marriages, but had ill-treated her
first two husbands, and even openly rejoiced at the
death of the sec,nd, as she was then free to marry the
man Pelet, with whom she Was already on terms of
criminal intimacy, and who was the father of another
son born during her eecond marriage. The two orphans
did not receive more kindness than their fathers, and
the another by her conduct and frequent menaces
showed that she was anxious to get rid of them in the
interest of the younger boy, whom she favoured. The
eldest died in 1866, eaten up with sores caused by the
cruelty of the mother, and the second was found dead
in a field in June last with a rope tied round his body,
and the other end attached to the borne of a cow. Has
decease was supposed at first to be the result of an ac-
cident, but a post mortem examination showed that he
hail first been strangled. and then placed in the posi-
tion in which he was discovered. Moreover, a short
time previously the woman had been overheard to
propose to rid the house of him, and make believe he
had been killed by the cow. The man Pelet was ac-
quitted, but the woman, being declared guilty, was
sentenced to hard labour for life.

rs
THE SINGULAR AFFAIR AT BRIXTON.—On
Sunday evening Mr. John Shoard, who met with a
terrible accident at Brixton railway-station on
Wednesday, the 20th ult., died in St. Thomas's
Hospital from the effects of the injuries then received.
It will be remembered that the deceased was found
on the morning in question sittitig near the rails
alongside the platform in the Brixton Station tif the
London, Chatham, and Dover Railway. At first it
was reported that he was dead. and that on leaving
his home in the csuntry he had £l,OOO with him, which
hal disappeared. Both these statements were without
foundation, and no clue could be obtained as to how
he got upon the rails, it being generally supposed he
had been knocked down by a passing train. As soon
as the accident was discovered he was removed to St.
Thomas's Hospital, where we understand he stated
he had thrown himself on the line intentionally; as,
however, he was labouring under great pain and
excitement, it was not known whether this was a de
ltusion or not. Amputation of the foot was found to
be absolutely necessary, and, as after the operation he
became more rational, hopes were entertained of his
ultimate recovery. Latterly, however, he became
very troublesome to manage. spoke incoherently, re-
peating the same words, and he died in considerable
pain on Sunday evening at a quarter to eight.
---- • • - •

-
"SALT Is GOOD."—Sir Titus Salt is providing
eleven acres of park for the people of Saltaire.
This is literally being the Salt of the Earth. Herniae
to a Titus who really increases the Delight of Man-
kind.—Punch.

THE CHINESE IMMIGRATION SCHEME.—MT.
Koopmanschap, the coolie labour contractor, ham left
New York for Louisville to address the Commercial ,
Convention on the subject of the importation of ,
Chinese labourers (says the New York Times). He ,
hopes to have in November a sufficient number of ,
hands contracted for to warrant his starting for China
for the first instalment. He intends to bring no
Chinaman from his native shores until a place is ready
for him at a fixed rate of wages, secured by written
agreement, for four or five years. with the prospect of
good treatment and complete liberty when the con-
tract ie at an end. By the terms of the contract faint
labourers are to receive 8 dole, in gold or 10 dole, in
currency per month as wages, to have at least two new
suits of clothes each year, to have water-tight sleeping
places furnished them, not to be required to work more
than twentygix days in each month, and, in general
to be well treated. Railroad bands are to receive
15 dole, per month in gold for wages. This
in behalf of the Celestials. In behalf of Mr. Koop•
manschap himself, the transportation of the la-
bourers is o
theirtob subsistencep ai by the
nhe voyage, e coudittracytooyrsine, and 2
this country,
dots.
. w
per head is to be advanced as a commission to the un-
dertaker of the enterprise, the whole cost of obtaining
each workman being 130 dole, in gold. Mi. Koop-
menet-hap looks for his compensation to the employers.
THE PREMIER AND THE "DREARY HOURB."—In
addressing an audience in Harrogate the other night,
Mr. A. Illingwurrth, M.P., narrated the following
anecdote of slr. Gladstone :—A government official,
having to wait upon Mr. Gladstone, expressed his
sympathy with the Premier in havingto eet ont so many
dreary hours' debate in the House of Commons. and
inquired how he contrived to paeshie time. Mr. Glad-
stone replied: " I have not so much time for religious
exercises during the sessions as I used to have, and I
will show you what I do." Putting his hand into his
pocket, he withdrew eurene papers' and added, "Lent
night we had a brag debate, and [occupied the time in
translating into Greek, as you see, the hymn, "Rock
of Ages."
FAMILIAR ASTRONOMY.—Are we not growing
rather too plat ful with the heavenly bodies ? Here is
• book advertised with the title Half Hours with the
Stars, to be followed, we may certainly expect, by
Twenty Minutes with Comets, Spare Moments with the
Aurora Borealis, Sta.—Punch.
A SCENE IN Sr. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL.—An un-
usual scene occurred on Tuesday morning in St. Paul's
Cathedral. After the morning service, one of the
Canons, who was officiating, publicly complained of
the irregular attendance of members of the choir. One
of the gentlemen referred to replied that they were
paid so small a stipend that they were obliged to look
out for additional engagements, and would starve unless
they did. "The service of God and the public con-
vebience," replied the rev. gentlemen. "are above the
convenience of the individual, ant this is not the place
to discuss the question of pay." An interview mare.
quently took place between the clergyman and the
organist.
THE POTATO CROP.--.. "The potato crop, though
small in size, is said to be of good average quality, and
generally up to this period, free from disease." So says
the Register General in his return for the quarter end-
ing Sept. 30, and we, Chamber of Agriculture Journal,
suppose that this dictum must be accepted ; though,
really, we should like to know from what comfortable
source Dr. Graham draws his inspiration. Certainly
his statement is opposed to our experience, nor does it
tally with the published reports from different counties
in England. In Cumberland, and especially in the
district around Carlisle, alarm is felt at the rapidity
with which the disease has lately spread, mid farmers
are hurrying their crops into market and selling them
at comparatively low rates. If we may credit the
Rest Briton, usually well informed, the rot has shown
itself very unmistakeably in the Redrutla district, and
many patches from which sound and healthy tubers had
been drawn are now smitten with the pestilence as
much as are the crops in Lancashire, and Yorkshire,
and Lincolnshire, where whole fields, which but a month
since were valued at £2O to £39 an acre, are now sold
at 13 and £lO. The Chester Chronicle chants the same
discordaat and ill-omened note. Few fields, ittxlls us,
have escaped in the neighbourhood aroond Farndon.
Here, as elsewhere, the blue sorts seem to stand beet,
the white being more than half diseased, From Mal.
pain from Tilstone, from Tarvin, from the neighbour.
hoods of Delamere Forest, from Taporley, the tidings
are alike discouraging.
INSTRUCTIONS TO A CONOREGATION.—The apos-
tolic directions given to the fiat Bishop of Ephesus, as
to how he ought to behave himself in the house of
God," may have done very well for St. Timothy, but
they fall infinitely short of the more perfect ideal of
the Rev. Charles Parnell, of St. Margaret's, Liverpool.
That gentleman recently issued a series of instructions
to his congregation, and some of the observances which
he enjoins have not a ' ittle perplexed the simple Protest-
ants •rf his parish. For example—" The people are re-
queetal tuu rise at the entry cur the clergy, for they come
as ambassadors, &c., utc.' Further it is &deified that
"ti. re is a right arid a wrong way of receiving the
Bleeted Sacrament. No one should attempt to receive
the B- rd's Body between the finger and the thumb—the
ancient arid proper mode is to cross the hands, the
right being uppermost, open and quite fiat," and a
great deal inure to the same effect. Likewise, "the
chalice ehoulul be taken firmly by the knob in the
centre of the stern, and not tilted by the foot, which
is a very dangerous practice. It should be raised
'Blowy to the lips, and thou returned to the priest with-
out any hurrying. To wipe the lips afterwards with a
pocket-handkerchief is an irreverence impossible to
any," except unbelievers. In answer to a memorial
on the subject, signed toy some of the leading Church-
men of Liverpool, the Bishop of Chester admits that
the language in reference to the mode of communicating
is "degrading and even shocking," but other parts of
the instructions, such as the division of the sexes in
Church, seems upon the whole to meet with the
Bishop's approval.
DIVORCE COURT BUSINESS.—The lists of causes
in the Courts of Probate and Divorce were issued on
Saturday. In the Probate Court there Cr,' thirty-nine
cases for trial, of which twenty four are without juries,
three with cemmon juries, and twelve special juries.
Of the latter, Tichborne • Tichburrne stands first, but
it will not be tried this term, as the commission to
examine witnesses alarad has not returned, and with
respect to the core of Faulkener V. Smith, in which a
Mueller question to the- Velverton marriage is pealing,
it is more than probable that it will he settled. In the
Court of Divorce there are 128 causes tor hearing, viz.,
ninety-seven befoie the Court itself, ten with common
juries, and nineteen special juries. Of these nineteen
are for judicial reparation, four for nullity of marriage,
five for restitution of conjugal rights, two ou queetions
arising under the Legitimacy Declaration Act, and
ninetygix ordinary suits for dissolution of marriage.
In the lust of special juries the most notable is that of
Mordaunt a,. Mordaunt, Johnitone, and Cole, which
stands No. 19,
A Namow ESCAPE.—In a duel fought at
Vincennee, the other day, between M. Escalier, an
architect, and M. Eenault Petrie, captain in the Na-
tional Guard—both members of the Mirliton Club—
the captain received a serious and most extraordinary
wound. Hie adversary's sword entered his body under
the right arm-pit, and the point came out below the
left nipple. Si. Escalier fell, transfixed by fully five
inchesho u htoat ts steel
lt
athpliptarheennotewelfly:::theiedilt:teoads.
imtvhilipop.e,bthal:hter:Ptaa:hlrtetert:Findltopat;:inguinag.
attendance pronounced the wound not mortal. The
ownedhs
i without uhtyad touchingipsldde ivtieh:eyr
on well, and the three doctors now in attendance on
sword through A 111A11.0 t why in the parts where M.
Eecalier's sword went ly moo, nt without killing him.
A SOLDIER STUDILNT.—A II exhibition to the
loyal College of Science, Dutton, of £5O per annum,
for three years, with gratuitous instruction at the col-
lege, has been gained, after competition, by Sergeant
John Snaden, of the Royal Engineers, now attached to
the School of Military Engineering at Chatham gar.