The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-02-16 00:00:00

THE MURBRIDGE- OBSERVER

TWO-EYED RIFLE SHOOTING.

A somewhat lively discussion has been carrie3 on
in the contemporary press on this subject (remarks
the Lances). By some it is maintained that in ordinary
shooting the right eye is alone in use, by the others
that the two eyes are used together, and there are still
others who seem to hold that though the right eye is
chiefly used when the aim is taken, yet that the left
eye aids in cning the target and supplying informa-
tion of the position of surrounding objects. Those
who consider that one eye alone is used endeavour to
prove their case thus : Hold, they say, a ruler before
the right eye in such a position that when the left
eye is closed it covers the object; now shut the right
eye, and see in which direction the rulers points; it
will be found to be many inches, or feet, or yards
away to the right, according to the distance of the
object. It is therefore obvious, so the argument runs,
that a man fixes the object, bird, or target, as the
case may be, with his right eye, and neglects the
image formed on his left retina altogether. The
difference of opinion upon the subject depends, there
can be little doubt, on the different practice of aiming
adopted by different sportsmen. If a man shoots
slowly, accommodates his eye to the sight or sights on
the barrel of his gun, and then relaxes his accommoda-
tion for the distant object, and still more if he
alternately exerts and relaxes his accommodation, for
which there is ample time in target or any other
deliberate shooting, then undoubtedly he uses one
eye, and, of course, usually the right eye, alone. But
the act of accommodation is a slow process. It
requires nearly, if not quite, a second, and in ordinary
bird-fowling the sportsman has no time for this. The
more practised he is the less he attends to his barrel
and his sights. He first fixes the object with both
eyes, and then points the barrel at the precise eleva-
tion and in the direction which long experience has
taught him will be effective when the gun is die
-
charged. He adapts his eyes for the distant object,
and the rest is mechanical. Corroborative evi-
dence that this view is correct is afforded by the fact
that the bowler at cricket never closes one eye or
troubles himself about any line. He simply fixes the
wicket or the precise spot in front of the wicket on
which he desires to pitch the ball, and leaves the rest
to the coordinating nervous centres. The billiard
player, again, in the vast majority of oases uses both
eyes, and fixes alternately the near and distant ball with
both eyes. We, therefore, maintain that if a man uses his
sights and attends to his barrel as well as to the object
he employs one eye only, neglecting the impressions
derived from the other. If, however, as is customary
with experienced sportsmen, he takes no thought of
his gun and fixes the distant object, then, undoubtedly,
unless he has some defect of vision, he uses both his
eyes, the visual lines of which at thirty yards are
almost parallel to each other.

CORN Mum m NEW Sou TH WALEn.—Grlnding
and dressing grain is a remunerative occupation in
New South Wales, where the number of corn-mills is
far behind the actual requirements of the country, the
total number of mills, principally steam, being 166,
representing 3,025 horsepower. There is only one
windmill in the colony, The number of millers em
ployed is 703.

FLOWERS FOR THE DINNER TABLE.—There are
three simple modes of decoration, which may be em-
ployed either separately or conjointly. For small
tables cut flowers are most suitable, and these may be
either arranged in small glasses or laid on the cloth.
Tables to dine, say from eight or a dozen and upwards,
are generally decorated with plants as well as flowers.
The simplest way of using plants is to stand them in
vessels of plate or some kind of earthenware, or to
stand them on the table amid a bank of foliage and
fl.wers.

During last week successful meetings were held at
various places in the North Riding of Yorkshire for
the purpose of considering the proposals of the Science
and Art Department for instruction in agriculture.
Mr. Buckmaster has explained the nature and con-
ditions upon which aid is given by the Education
Department to classes and schools for instruction in
the science of farming.
M. de Lesseps was present at a banquet given by
the leading members of the scientific Press in Paris,
and in the course of a speech which he delivered on
the occasion dated that the scheme for the creation of
an inland sea in North Africa was approaching reali-
sation. M. Roudaire would, be said, proceed shortly
to Tunis with a &man from the Sultan authorising
the execution of the project.
Bums IN PARLTAMENT.—Amongst the Bills issued
last Saturday were, one to confer further power upon
the Metropolitan Board of Works relating to the
supply of water; one to provide for the registration of
dishonoured bins of exchange and promissory notes, and
to allow summary judgment thereon; one for the
further protection of fish other than salmon in fresh
waters; one for the registration of firms; and one for
the registration of firms and of persons carrying on
business under names or styles other than their own.
THE LITERATURE OF A BERLIN CAFE.—A café at
Unter den Linden, takes in 750 papers; 367
of these papers are German, 106 belong to Austro-
Hungary, 68 to France, and 63 to England and
Amf rice. The rest are of twenty different nations or
languages—Turkish, Servian, Armenian, Bulgarian,
Finnish—nay, even Chinese and Japanese being
amongst them. The proprietor pays nearly 20,000
marks (t 1000 a year for subscriptions to these papers
and for salaries to three persons who have no other
business but to keep them in order and always up to
the latest issue.

ACCIDENT IN THE HUNTING-FIELD.—On Saturday
Major Hamilton, D.L., of Kellyleagh Castle, brother-
in law to the Earl of Dufferin, sustained an accident
when hunting with the County Down Staghounds. A
short distance from Newtownards the stag led the
hunting party over the Conlig Hills near to the lead
mines, Soon afterwards Major Hamilton rode his
horse at a high fence, but unfortunately the horse fell
and rolled over on the Major, who was thrown with
great violence, The medical men who were sent for,
having made an examination, found that Major
Hamilton's collar bone had been fractured.
THE COST OF PARLIAMENTARY PRINTING. Tht
Printers' .Register says that the sum voted by Parlia-
ment in its last Session "for stationery, printing and
rader, binding and printed books, for the several de-
partments of Government in England, Scotland, and
L eland, and some dependencies, and for the two
Houses of Parliament, for the salaries and expenses
of the establishment of the Stationery Office, and the
cost of Stationery Office publications and of the
Gautte Offices, and for sundry miscellaneous services,
including a grant in aid of the publication of Parlia-
mentary Debates," was £539,111
AN INTERESTING SALE.—The Paris correspondent of
the Standard writes: Sevres porcelain buyers will be
i reptPd to learn the principal prices realised at the
Hotel Drouot for the celebrated collection of the
111..rquess &Osmond. Two Louis Quinze vases, forty
cs. timetres high, made 86,100 francs; one of forty-
five centimetres, 51,100 francs; a pair of Louis Seize
v•ses, 65,000 francs; a Louis Quinze jardiniere,
59,100 francs; and two jardinieres, 16,100 francs.
Tnese five lots amounted, therefore, to no less than
277,400 francs. In the same sale a piece of furni-
t lre of rnarqueterie de boule, with pedestal by Mollard,
w is bought for 45,000 franca for the Duke of Northum-
berland.
THE RE-ARRANGEMENT OP MUNICIPAL WARDS.—
Mr. W. Fowler, M.P., intends to introduce a bill to
give extendal powers to municipal Corporations for
roe re-arrangement and better division of wards in
b Toughs, It will also enable a certain proportion of
the ratepayers to enforce such action upon Town
CJuncils in cases where the civic representation has
becorr e unequal or anomalous owing to movement and
gro Nth of population in particular districts.

INSURRECTION IN CRETE. An insurrection has
broken out in Crete. During the last two years the
Greeks have been demanding the execution of their
Constitutional amendment, so as to secure them the
immunities promised. The immediate cause is, how-
ever, the attack made upon the privileges of the Greek
Pitriarch. The leading Cretans declare that this
attack shows that no redress can be obtained by
negotiation, and they have therefore taken up arms.
Toe insurrection has begun in several parts, notably
at Spakia. The Porte has sent orders to Smyrna and
Salonica to despatch every available soldier, not leas
than 5000 in any case.
SUICIDE or A COLONEL Colonel Frederick
George Whitehead, late of the Essex Militia,
and formerly commandant of the 29th (now 17th)
North Middlesex Rifle Volunteers, committed
sn'cide on Saturday morning by shooting
himnlf whilst in bed at his chambers, 43,
Pall mall, London. Colonel Whitehead was
heard to cane in very late on Friday night, and go to
his room, and about half-past nine on Saturday morn-
ing, as his bell did not ring as usual, the male atten-
dant of the establishment went up to his room and
kr.ocked, but receiving no answer, entered, and then
found the colonel lying in bed with a bullet wound in
his head and a revolver in his right hand. Colonel
Whitehead was about 56 years of age. The early
stage of his military career was a Hussar regiment,
frm which he exchanged into the 42nd Highlanders
(B air Watch) and served with them in India. Upon
his return be retired from active military service, and
became Major of the Victoria Rifles. Subsequently
he became lieutenant-colonel of the 29th (now 17th)
Noah Middlesex Rifles, and resigned that to take
command of the Essex Militia, which he relinquished
80121 d three years since. Colonel Whitehead was the
possessor of considerable wealth,

TRADE DISPITTIM—The Cleveland Blast Furnace.
men's Association, which numbers some 2500 in all,
gave their employers notice on Saturday night that at
the end of the current month they would cease work,
sinca the ironmasters had refused to pay them extra
for Sunday work, including Saturday afternoons, and
had also refused to abolish Sunday labour at the men's
request. This movement will lay all the furnaces idle.
The Darwen masters, at a large and representative
meeting held on Saturday, rejected the terms
of agreement, and passed a resolution to continue the
struggle. The strike has now assumed a serious phase.
The strike of the 3000 men engaged in the shipbuilding
trade in Belfast may be said to be virtually over. The
masters have met the men in an amicable spirit. The
latter proposed to accept two•thirds of the proposed
reduction, and to this the employers have agreed.

AVFUAGE PRICES OF BRMSH CORN.—The fol.
lowing ara the average prices of British corn for last
week, 63 received from the inspectors and officers of
Excise :—Wheat, 375. 3d.; barley, 325. 4d. ; oats,
193. 61 per imperial qr. Corresponding week last
sear :—Wheat, 40s. Bd.; barley, 321. 101 ; oats
21s. 3d.

STEALING A POST OFFICE SAVINGS BANK BOOR.—In
Llndon on Saturday, at the Marylebone Police-court,
Phillipine Wertin, 29, a German servant, was charged
on remand with stealing, on the 21st ult., a Post-office
S .vings Bank book belonging to Elizabeth Mary
Wilson, of 22, Lillington-street, Pimlico, also with
forging that person's name, and thereby fraudulently
obtaining the sum of £lO from the Vere•etreet Post-
offica on the 25th ult. Mr. Edwin Winter, from the
&Lefton' Department of the General Post—office, pro.
scouted. The evidenoe taken on the first occasion
showed that on the evening of the Ist inst. the pri-
soner went to the Portland.road Station, and informed
Inspector Stenner that she had lived at 22, Lillington.
street, and that her landlady had given her a letter
containing the boOk in question, believing that it was
for her. She opened it, and afterwards obtained a
withdrawal notice, which she filled up for £lO, signed
it in Mrs. Wilson's name, and gave her address at No.
2, Eait.street, Manchester-square, Subsequently she
received the requisite order by post, and cashed it,
She threw the book away, and spent the money in a
reckless manner; but, as she could get no peace, she
weed to give herself up to justice. The facts having
been proved confirming the prisoner's statement, she
was committed for trial at the Central Criminal
Court.

OYSTERS GETTING SCAEGE.—An American paper
says that oyster dealers complain that bivalves of
good quality are only found now in Long Island
Sound. The Maryland beds are said not to be worth
working, and all the dredgers are keeping the holidays.
Bare bottoms are said to exist where hitherto millions
of oysters were produced. Owners of Chesapeake
By bads not only neglected to plant shells for the
spawn to " set " on, but dredged and sold shells that
had leen smothered by the growth on top of them.
111.-antime the world will have to depend almost
w .oily on the Long Island Sound beds for Its supply.
t-ther these beds will furnish that supply or not
remains to be seen. Oysters are high now, and are
g. log up every day.

THE FLOWER GARDEN.—The spring plants are
unusually early this season, and had we not been
visited with the destructive storm of wind and hail
which occurred a fortnight ago the spring gardens
svJuld now have beenunusnally gay. The effect of these
storms was not only to destroy the flowers, but the
lo:iage of the plants in exposed beds was also torn to
shreds. In order to rectify this mischief the beds
should now be carefully gone over, so as to remove the
dead leaves and flowers, and where the soil is har-
d-ned by the heavy rains the surface should be loosened
either with forls or hoe. Where the bulbs are breaking
tbromh the ground they should, in the event of a frost,
ba slightly covered either with leaf•mould or cocoa
fibre, otherwise they will suffer severely after the mild:
weather we have had. Cleanliness and good keeping.
should now be strictly maintained, as nothing is more
eaFential in order to produce a good and pleasing
effe A few of the early blooming roses may now
b 3 pruned, and as they are now commencing to gr. g
It will be advisable to do this by degrees rather th,ri
by pruning close at once, Bo as to keep the back buds
dormant as long as possible, as in the event of severe
frosts destroying the forward growths, these dormant
buds will form a safe reserve to prune to later on it
the season. Clematis will this season require carefn
management, as they have already made considerable
growth. Where trained against walls these can be
easily protected either with mats or other safe and con.
venient covering nailed up in front of them during
severe fro?ts, but where grown in masses inlbeds this is
not so sadly accomplished without breaking off the
yrurig shcots. The best plan is to hoop over the beds
with hizel sticks, and then place mats over the hotlps ;
they should, however, be removed immediately the
d-nger i past. —Garcit7ler3' Chronicle.