The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-01-19 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

" My own Darling.—All right, and much happier
than yesterday. Remember thy promise, and be ever as-
sured thou art ever in poor pet's thoughts.— Advertisement
in the Standal d.

The male line of Montmorency, which dates back to
the end of the 10th century, and has produced six constables,
ten marshals, and four admirals, has become all but extinct
by the death, on Tuesday, hi his 76th year, of the Due
de Montmorency Beaumont-Luxembourg. The deceased
leaves two married daughters and an unmarried brother,
Charles, Comte de 3lontmoreney.

The receipts on account of revenue from the Ist
April, 1877, when there was a balance of £5,983,650, to Jan.
12 were £56,681,310, against £56,784,494 in the correspond-
ing period of the preceding financial year, which began with
a balance of £5,119,537 The net expenditure was
£63,374,907, against £62,652,753 to the same date in the
previous year. The Treasury balances on Jan. 12 amounted
to £1,150,454, and at the sAme date in 1876 to £l, 288,009.
A conference of the members of the South Stafford
shire Ironmastera' and Ironworkers' Conciliation Board was
held on Tuesday, to discuss the present state of the iron
trade. On behalf of the masters it was shown that the trade
was in such a bad state, owing to foreign competition, that
unless the men consented to a reduction of wages of at least
is. per ton puddlers and 12i per cent. millmen several more
works would have to be stopped. The representatives of
the men resisted this proposition as being more than was
necessary, but offered to refer the matter to the arbitration
of Mr. Chamberlain, M.P. Ultimately the masters agreed
to this course.

I wonder if it has occurred to anyone that war
fleets do not now seem intended to fight, but rather to
be preserved unhurt? At all events, navies do not seem to
exercise any influence on wars now. What did they do dur-
ing the Crimean war, the wars of 1859, 1860, 1870-71? What
are they doing now? It seems to me that, if men-of-war are
to be practically men of peace, nations are guilty of a great
deal of extravagance in building and maintaining them,—
Whitehall Review.

The experience of the Metropolitan Asylums Board
Is that imbecility, idiocy, and insanity are largely on the
ncrease in the metropolis. Drunkenness, violent tempers,
the worry and uncertainty of business, and other prevent-
able causes of insanity far outnumber the cases of hereditary
predisposition.
"The other day, at Wesel, a sportsman declared
that from the birth of Christ up to the present time a milliard
of minutes had elapsed. This assertion being contested, a
bet was made upon it, and I rejoice to announce that it was
subsequently proved by figures that twelve millions of
minutes were still wanting to complete the milliard."—
Whitehall Review.
There has baen an electoral affray at Ajaccio, in
which firearms were used, resulting in the death of three
men and the wounding of three others.
Sir Henry Elliot had an audience of her Majesty
at Osborne on Tuesday, and kissed hands on his appointment
,as Ambassador at Vimna.
, _
Sir Oharles.Diike, 2.11.1"., addressed a numerously-
attended meeting of his constituents in Chelsea on Tuesday
evening, and in dealing with the Eastern Question, rnaia-
tallied that the war was due to the isolation of the Brit ish
Government from the other Powers of Europe. A resolution
of confidence in the hon, baronet was carried, and On the
question of peace or war being put to the meeting, an over-
whelming majority voted in favour 0 peace.

Messrs. Chubb and Son have just made for a
colonial railway 300 small padlocks, with separate keys to
each, so that no one key will open any other lo:2k but its
own, but a master key is provided that will open ?II the SOO
locks.

Victor Emmanuel I. was the first King of 'United
Italy. lie was fortunate above moat Monafehs in the wis-
dom of his cuncillors ; but they were more blessed than
most diplomatists in serving a King who trusted them and
was himself honest, steadfast, snd true Ms manly hearing
and indomitable courage made his subjects forget his faults;
and all hope that the reign of his successor will consolidate
and confirm Constitutional Government in Italy.—Vanity
Fair.

The Daily New, correspondent at Alexandria tele-
graphs that great excitement prevails among the native
population, as hundreds ot men are being forcibly taken as
soldiers for the expedition for the suppression of slavery on
the Nile.

A silver mine, the ore of which is stated to be un-
usually rich, has, according to the Norwegian papers, peen
discovered in the Nam Valley. The discoverer will probaily
receive a Government grant of about 400,000 crowns.

The Manchester Guardian states that the engineering
and ironfounding firms of South Staffordshire have given
their men notice, some of them for a reduction in wages,
and some of them for a reduction in wages or an increase of
one hour working time per day, as the men may elect. The
extent of the reduction proposed is 10 per cent., and the
working day is proposed to be ten hours instead of nine.
An important section of the men has met and resolved to
resist any extension in working hours. The employers are
divided as a body upon the preferableness of the longer
working day or the lower wages.

Torpedo experiments have been commenced in the
harbours of Malta; and by no means too soon. They are
being conducted under special instructions from the
Admiralty in England, and will be continued according to
present arrangements, for the next three months. A large
number of torpedoes manufactured at the Hungarian es-
tablishment in the Gulf of Quernaro, which have been re-
mated to England to be filled and tested, will be stiortly
returned to Malta for use in the Fleet.—The World.
At Huddersfield, on Monday, a- meet'ng of butchers
representing the associations in the chief towns of York-
shire anopted a memorial to the Privy Council against the
provisions of the BM of the Duke of Richmond arAd Gordon
for the slaughtering of foreign cattle at the ports of de-
barkation.

General Shuts M.P., speaking on Monday evening
at the anniversary dinner of the Brlghton district of Man-
chester Oddfellows, said it was a perfect farce to suppose
tint India was threatened by Russia. He saw no reason
fer distrusting the positive promise of Russia that she
would respect the interests of England, but maintained
that England woald be prudent in taking action if Russia
entered Gallipoli.

Mr. Bass, M.P. for Derby, has promised a donation
of £l,OOO towards the purchase of a new people's park for
the borough.

At Rome, on Friday in last week, Mr. Stanley (the
African explorer) was presented with the Victor Emmanuel
Gold Medal of Merit—inscribed. "To Enrico Stanley, the
iatrepid African Explorer"—by Signor Correnti, President
of the Italian Geographical Society. It was accompanied
by a sealed letter from the late King Victor Emmanuel
which when opened was found to contain flattering apprecia-
tions of the many geographical discoveries and services ren-
dered to humanity and civilisation by Mr. Stanley.
According to the Berlin correspondent of the
Augsburg Allgenteine Zeitung, the illness from which Prince
Bismarck recently suffered was bronchial catarrh. The case,
however, was not serious, as communications were kept up
all the time between Varzin and Berlin.

The following Cable Message was received, on Satur-
day, at the London office of the New York Herald from New
York :—" Stormy weather will prevail over North Atlantic
during week; warn outbound vessels; storm from south-
west ; on British, probably French coasts, and Bay of
Biscay on or after the 16th, followed by another In same
regions a day or two later; heavy north-east or south-west
gales and rains, causing prolonged weather disturbance;
depression will reach extreme North British, Norwegian
coasts about the 20th; heavy south-west to north-west winds
and snow."

-
"It is a 'sign of the times,' indeed, when we hear
that a great number of fresh newspapers are springing up in
Russia, and especially in the provinces and that a peasant
in the district of Twer has applied to the Government for
the 'concession ' to him of the right of publishing a weekly
popular journal under the sweet-souuding title of The
Villager."—Whitehall Review.
The inhabitants of Keswick have been canvassed on
the subject of the Thirlmere water scheme, and out of 700
ratepayers 650 have signed in favour of the scheme. They
are satisfied that it will not detract from the scenery, and at
the same time it will relieve them of "the floods which so
frequently visit the town, causing the meadows lying be-
tween the lakes to be useless nearly all the winter months."

At a meeting of cotton-spinnen in Wigan and the
district on Monday it was resolved that the wages of all
operatives in mills should be reduced 5 per cent. The reduc-
tion will affect about 12,000 hands, whose average weekly
earnings will amount to £5,000. A fortnight's notice will be
posted on the 30th inst. at all the mills in Wigan. Neither
masters nor men as a body are connected with any associa-
tion or union

A large oonsuroption of oranges takes place in Paris
each year, and more particularly at the approach of the Ist
of January. From the 15th to the 31st December there were
sold by auction, at the Central Market, 10,650 boxes of the
ordinary kind, each containing 300, giving a total of
3,195,000, and 32 boxes of mandarins, some containing 50
each and others 100. Taking the average on all at 150, we
have the enormous number of 6,397,500. If we add to this
number the quantity brought direct to the capital by the
arge merchants an idea rngy be formed of the amount of
the fruit consumed.

A movement is in progress, says the Birmingham
Post, to establish in Birmingham a college for the training
of Wesleyan ministers. A sum of £ll,OOO was many years
ago provided for this purpose, and was invested, and to this
amount the Wesleyans of the district have now promised an
addition of £5,000. The remainder of the required outlay,
and the cost of Maintaining the college, will be met by the
Wesleyan connection generally.

The Sheffield Telegraph states that limitation of pro-
duction still continues in the Northern iron trade, and
numbers of men are being thrown upon the rates.

"Amongst the Conservatives, the talk is of a dissolu-
tion. I should fancy, that, if this plan be adopted, in order
to test the views of the country in regard to the Eastern
Question, the Turkish Empire will have dissolved, whilst
we are discussing, whether we ought to interfere, to prevent
this consummation."—Truth.

The Scotsman says that one of the last acts of the
late King of Italy before being attacked by his fatal illness
was to create Mr. Charles Heath Wilson, so long at the head
of the Glasgow School of Art, and the author of "The Life
and Letters of Michael Angelo," a knight of the Order of the
Crown of Italy.

Thirty•four British and foreign wrecks were reported
during the past week, making a total of 55 for the present
year, or a decrease of 92 as compared with the correspond-
ing period of 1877. British property lost was approximately
valued at £353,500, and foreign at £l42,ooo—together
£495,500. The cargoes were chiefly coals, timber, and
general merchandise. Three large steamers were among
the number, and the gross tonnage of all amounted to about
13,189 tons.

Mr. Bircham, Inspector for the Local Government
Board, having visited Abersychan and investigated the con-
dition of the poor there, says that the state of things exist-
ing among the respectable working classes is worse than
anything he has seen in Merthyr and Aberdare, the revela-
tions at which towns have excited so much commiseration.
Lord Aberdare has sent £5O to the relief fund. Owing to
the closing of the ironworks, wages to the extent of £190,000
per annum are withdrawn from circulation.

The marriage of the King of Spain will have a place
among the conspicuous events of the new year in Europe.
It will be celebrated with the pomp befitting one of the
most dignified and ceremonial of Courts, and it will be dis-
tinguished by special missions from the chief States of
Europe.—Warm praise is expressed in the Madrid papers on
account of the disinterested feeling manifested by the
Infanta Mercedes in relinquishing the annual allowance
from the Spanish Treasury to which, as Queen of Spain, she
would be entitled.

A telegram from Malta states that Vice. Admiria
Hornby has left there for the Levant in the Sultan, and that
four others of her Majesty's ships are to follow him. The
homeward-bound troops on board the Jumna and those out-
ward bound in the Euphrates are detained here.

A Paris jeweller shows a coronet of brilliants worth
£lB,OOO, said to have been ordered by the Marquis of Lorne
as a present for the Princess Louise.--Court Journal.

The Emperor of Russia has ordered the Court to go
into mourning. for 24 days in memory of the late King of
Italy.

In London last week 2,681 births and 1,760 deaths
were registered. Allowing for increase of population, the
births exceeded by 125, and the deaths by 62, the average
numbers in the corresponding week of the last ten years.
The annual death-rate from all causes, which in the two pre-
vious weeks had been equal to 25.9 and 27.6, declined again
to 25.7. The deaths included 85 from small-pox, 97 from
measles, 39 from scarlet-fever, 9 from diphtheria, 69 from
whooping-cough, 33 from different forms of fever, and 17
from diarrhxa.

In Paris onSunday the funeral of M. Raspail at Pre
la Chaise was the occasion of a 'great demonstration. Im-
mense crowds of the working classes lined the streets form-
ing the lengthy route *f the procession, and swelled the
ranks of the cortege. Cries of " Vire la Republique" were
repeatedly raised, and there was some cheering in places as
the hearse passed. The crowd broke its lines in the neigh-
bourhood of the cemetery, and surging into the graveyard
destroyed the solemnity of the ceremony at the tomb, and
the speeches were not heard.
- - - - - - -

- -
The various parochial authorities of Liverpool have
joined in a memorial which originated with the Toxteth-
park Guardians, praying the Home Secretary to introduce
into Parliament a measure to amend the laws affecting the
drink trade. The memorial states that the Guardians are of
opinion that the large increase in the number of pauper
lunatics is in a great measure the result of intemperance
produced principally by defective laws regulating the sale of
intoxicating liquors. The Guardians also believe that tem-
perance would be promoted if the sale of such !Liquors were
placed under the control of the ratepayers, and if public-
houses were closed on Sundays.
A telegram from New York says that an excursion
train, while returning on Monday night from one of Messrs.
Moody and Sankey'sprayer meetings at Hartford,Connecticut,
broxe throng, a trestle bridge, and was precipitated into the
Farmington River. Many of the passengers were killed and
injured, but the exact number was not then known.
"I do not know if they have at all noticed it, but
the teetotallers must be rejoiced to hear that there is qui:e
a fashion sprung up in London for going into milkshops and
drinking a- glass of milk, instead of going elsewhere for
stronger refreshment. This has been brought about by the
number of Americans who have conic among us; the
Yankees generally do their glass of milk first thing in the
morning, and, in fact, are the original inventors of soda-
water and milk dashed with noyeau. lan grieved to say
however, that milk drinking was brought about, not for any
particular love of temperance, but because it acts as a
capitai pick-me-up after a too lively night."—The " Taller
in Pictorial World.
A grand circus, capable of holding 3,500 persons,
and stabling for 125 horses has been completed at Brussels,
under the special patronage and sanction of the King. The
celebrated M. Renz gave an admirable programme for the
opening day and both the King and Queen of the Belgians
were present. The entertainment concluded with a panto-
mime spectacle called The Journey of the Prince of Wales
to India.
- - - -

On Monday night a crowded and enthusiastic
gathering of electors was held at Blackburn, when Mr.
Briggs, M.P., delivered an address, lie denounced the con-
duct of the present Government, on the questions of Indian
import duties, the Burials Bill, and the Irish Franchise and
Sunday Closing Bills. With regard to the war, he advocated
strict neutrality, on the ground that Turkey was a monstrous
despotism. Turkey owed England a great deal, while Eng-
land owed nothing to Turkey. The trade of England had
imzeased 17g per cent. with Russia, and only 4 per cent.
with Turkey. Mr. Briggs condemned the acts of the war
party in the country, and trusted that no false steps would
so favour their chances as to plunge England into hostili-
ties.

Information received by a private firm in Liverpool
confirms the rumour that a fire had broken out at Honolulu,
which assumed large proportions. The telegram further
states that the Government bonded stores had been burnt.

Oa Monday the Sheffield Coroner resumed an iu
cpnry upon the body of W. Martindale, a young man, wlpis3
death was supposed to have resulted from starvation. The
deceased lodged at Brightside, a suburb of the town, is
which the distress is very great. lie had for a lorg time,
been out of employ merit, and was absolutely penniless.,
Through the kindness of a fellow-woaman he was allowed
to sleep in his house, the deceased lying down every tattL.t.
before the fire isr, trke.rletitaa.lv (sloe jytity;
jag ycek there happened to i.e no fire, but still deceased
lay in 'his usual place. On the following morning he was
found to he insensible, and he died soon afterwards. A post-
incrtenz examination was made, and the cause of death was
syncope, resulting from a weak heart, the weakness of the
heart being aggravated by want of food, though the body
was fairly nourished. The stomach and intestines were
completely emiity, showing that the diSccased had had
nothirig tQvat lately,


The Journal des Dgbats not inaptly describes the
Russian answer to England as "an evasive reply to an
evasive mediation.—Mayfair.
At the Church of St. AUgustin, at Paris, on Mon-
day, the annual Mass was celebrated for the repose of the
SOUL of Namicon IN. The building was crowded, and all
the notabilities of the Imperialist party v.tre there. Per-
fecL order was maintained.

"We regret to hear that Prince Leopold's condition
is very serious. No bulletins are issuel, but the fact
remains that Ills Royal Highness's health is such as to cause
deep anxiety, The Prince is suffering trom that skin
malady which has always been so troublesome, and which
has now become dangerous.— Whitehall Review.

Some very successful experiments with the telephone
have been carried on lately at St Petersburg, the result
being an order from the Government to establish telephonic
communication between the Exchange and the Telegraph
Department. Arrangements have also been made for the
extensive use of the telephone on the Warsaw Railway.
Pio Nono cannot bear to warm himself by the aid
of stoves, hearths, or brastros—that is to say, charcoal pans
—such as are in use in the Vatican He will not have a fire
in his sick-room, but promotes the circulation, when he is
too cold, by rolling a silver ball full of boiling water between
his hands.
An ingenious implement has been submitted to the
Horse Guards by a well-known military inventor, by which
every man of an infantry regiment could be provided with
both pick and shovel in the field without calling into requisi-
tion either pack-horses or equipment carts.—Court Journal.

The marriage of Lord Roseberry and Miss Hannah
de Rothschild, daughter of the late Baron and Baroness
Mayer de Rothschild, is fixed for the 10th of the ensuing
month.

A Russian colonel, one of the prisoners who were
presented to the Sultan on the 18th December, was asked by
him in the course of the conversation betwaez them—
" What did you go to war for?"—" Majesty," replied the
Colonel, " I can only tell you what my comrades say of it.
—" What do they say I"—" Some say it is an unjust war,
some say it is a war for the Idea; but we all look upon it
as a war against England." We have this from an English
gentleman to whom the Sultan himself related the fact.—
Vanity Fair.
Balloon ascents are recommended by the Madras
Mail to sick persons in India who want a change, but who
are unable to leave home- for the Hills. The balloons
might be captive at a considerable elevation, where the air
would be pure and healthy, and a day or two "up in a
balloon" would speedily brace up invalids.

The "hog crop" has come down upon Chicago
market—so says The Drovers' Journal—in an "avalanche,"
the like of which has never been seen before. On Monday,
the 10th December last, the number was about 39,000 ; on
Tuesday, 57,553; and on Wednesday, "the banner day of
all," 62,424. The whole of the sheep pens and a large num-
ber of the cattle pens were in requisition for yarding the
pigs, which came in greater numbers than cothld be got away,
so that it was estimated that 100,000 hogs must have been on
the market at one time. Harvest-home is usually a plea-
sant time in the old country, but I can imagine many draw-
backs attendant upon the ingathering of the "hug crop."—
The Nark Lane Express.

President and Mrs. Hayes celebrated their silver
wedding on the 31st of December at the White House,
Washington. About 100 guests were present, including
those who witnessed the marriage ceremony at Cincinnati
twenty-five years ago, intimate personal friends of the
President and Mrs. Hayes from Ohio, and members of the
Cabinet and their faruiles.
Some young workmen at Venice, having opened a
halfpenny subscription, refusing more than that amount
frourany one, collected within three hours 8001. to purchase
a laurel wreath to be laid on the coffin of Victor Emmanuel.
A horrible remedy: "The abattoirs in New York
are visited daily by many invalids, who drink the blood of
i
the slaughtered bullocks, which, it s stated, effects marvel-
lous cures of consumption and a variety of diseases." I
should prefer the disease. Besides, is there not the danger
of contracting other diseases through the means taken to
cure one t—Mark Lane Express.
A country postman in German Lorraine was attacked
the other day in broad daylight by wolves near a forest at
Zimming. He had to fire his revolver three times before
they took to flight.

A solemn requiem mazy, which was a!tendecl by the
Italian consulate and a large number of forEi-qi residents,
was said in the Roman Catholic pro-Cathed: al, Liverpool,
on Tuesday, for the late King Victor Emmanuel. The mass
was celebrated by the vicar-general of the diocese. The
King's title of King of Italy was studiously omitted from
the ritual, and he was simply mentioned in the prayers as
"Victor Emmanuel, King."

In London, on Monday, Mr. 'Morley, M.P., pre-
sided at a meeting held in the City for the object of esta-
blishing a Total Abstinence Association among,t young men
in City commercial houses. Referring to his own experience,
Mr. Morley stated that he ;lad leen a total abstainer for 25
years, and so far from feeling a single atom of regret at the
course he had adopted, was at en advanced period of life in
good bodily health, and RS well able to de a day's work pro-
bably as any of his audience.

Among the most recent inventions for railway
signalling is one which consists of a flashing light placed on
the hind carriage. Two lights are used—a red and a white
—which, by a peculiar though simple sort of gearing con-
nected with one of the axles of the carriage, are made to
appear and disappear with each revolution of the wheels;
the light shining steadily whenever the train is at a stand-
still.

A second distiibution of relief in bread and oatmeal
to the distressed poor was made on Saturday, in the
yard at the back of the Town Hall, Wolverhampton, under
the management of the Mayor and the members of the re-
lief committee. The representatives of nearly 1,400 families
received loaves of bread and portions of oatmeal. There
were thus given away SOO four-pound loaves, and 2000, pounds
of meal.
A gentleman told a story the other day about his
adventure at the 'green table" at Monaco. lie had won
£9OO, and was only waiting for his laundress to bring his
twelve shirts home before he should start. The laundress,
however, did not turn up at the appointed time, and, to
while the hours away, he went into the Casino. Of course
he played—and not only lost the £9OO he had already won,
but £1,200 besides; and now he says he wishes he had left
his shirts behind him, as they cost him £lOO a-piece for the
washing.—Court Journal.

"We understand that the English Government has
within the last ten days addressed to the French Govern-
ment a very important communication with regard to
Belgium. This communication sets forth that Lord Derby
has been confidentially informed by the Belgian Govern-
ment that certain representations have recently been made
to it by Prussia as regards the insecure position of Belgium
under the sole guarantee of European treaties, and certain
proposals as to Belgium joining the German Empire. The
English despatch, we are informed, goes on to say that in
case France is prepared to resist the transaction suggested
England will stand by her."— Vanity Fair.
On Saturday morning, about half-past ten o'clock,
Mr. William Cobbett, whose name is familiar to the public
as a suitor in Westminster-hall, died suddenly while on his
way through the central hall of the Houses of Parliament to
the Lords Committee Room, where be had an appeal in the
action of "Cobbett v. Lopes," before the Lords Justices of
Appeal. He was entering the Court, when he staggered and
fell against the wall close to the watchman's room. He was
at once carried into the room and everything done for him,
but without avail, and when Dr. Bond, of Parliament-street,
arrived, he at once pronounced life to be extinct. The
deceased gentleman was the eldest son of the celebrated
William Cobbett, and brother of the late member for
Oldham.