The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-07-27 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

An official notice has been issned frcm the War
Oftio•3 that the services of the army and militia reserves will
not be required after the 31st inst.
-

A new book of beauty, an album containing the por-
traits of the handsomest women in Europe, is to be one of
the chief features of the International Anthropological Con-
gress, which is to he held in Paris next month.
The Golos, referring to a statement of its special
correspondent at Berlin that Lord Beaconsfield has ex-
pressed a hope to him that Russia and Englund would not
forget the past and make friends, observes that the only way
to improve the relations between England and Russia will
be for the latter Power to organize a strong fleet in the
Black Sea and establish itself In a position menacing to
India in Central Asia.

A Waterloo veteran. named Berwick, has just died
at Yeovil, at the age of 82 years. The deeeased was present
at the battles of Pampeltina.' 1813; Orthes, 1814; Toulouse,
1811 ; and Waterloo, 1815. Irle had received a pension since
1867. Deceased sustained injuries through being thrown
from his horse at the battle of Waterloo, and was shortly
afterwards discharged.
- -

A man aged 148 years has just died at the little
village of Kirehbracht, Germany. At least, so says the
Berlin Post.

An electrical bracelet, connected with a battery and
an alarm clock, is the latest method of awakening heavy
sleepers across the Atlantic. _

-
"Perfectly mag " is the Boston girl's synonym for
awfully sweet.
In consequence of his services being required at
Cyprus by the Daily News, Mr. Archibald Forbes has been
compelled to cancel various lecturing engagements in the
United States, which he had intended to fulfil during the
autumn.— The World.

On Saturday evening, while four boys were out in a
boat near Portobello pier some of them stood up and the
boat was capsized; three caught hold of the boat and were
rescued by the crew of a yacht: the fourth, a boy named
Henderson, belonging to Edinburgh, was drowned.—Two
young women, engaged as millworkers, went to bathe on
Saturday evening in the river Wauchop, Langholm, Dum-
friesshire. One named Herbertson entered the water first
and got beyond her depth. Her companion, Whitfield, went
to her assistance, but both were drowned.

At Portsmouth on Saturday afternoon, William
Gibson, a shipwright, while about to dive from the side of a
barge at Flathouse, Blipped and fell into the water and was
drowned, having apparently stuck in the mud, as some
hours elapsed before his body was recovered. On the pre-
vious day a soldier belonging to the 107th Regiment, named
George Henwood, was seen throwing up his hands and sink-
ing while bathing off the Hot Walls outside the fortifica-
tions.

A man named Herbert, a wood sawyer at Oxford,
while bathing in the river, entered the water with a boy,
the son of Mrs. Godfrey, bed-maker at New College, on his
back. The youth became frightened, and clung tightly
round the man's throat, rendering him helpless. Both sank
and were drowned.

Sunday was the 52nd anniversary of the birth of
the Earl of Derby, late Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs, his lordship having been born at Knowsley-park, his
ancestral seat in Lancashire, on July 21, 1826. The noble
earl is the eldest son of the fourteenth Earl, KG , who was
thrice Premier of England, and his mother the Hon. Emma
Caroline, daughter of Edward. first Lord Skelmersdale, of
Lathom House, Lancashire, by Mary Elizabeth, daughter of
the Rev. Edward Taylor, of Bifrons, Kent.

A long bicycle tour throughout Italy is being under-
taken by a Frenchman named Payet. He has already ar-
rived at Florence from Naples, and intends visiting Venice,
Modane, and Turin, before returning to his native town of
Lyons.
The Maidstone Journal states that the hop gardens
are still improving. At places rain is much needed, but
taking the hop district as a whole, it is doing very well
Indeed.

Two tigers were born in Mr. Rice's sale collection of
animals at the Alexandra Palace on Sunday.

The Office de Publicite, a weekly journal of Brussels,
suggests that a statue should be erected there to Lord
Palmerston, as one of the principal founders of the inde-
pendence of Belgium, and that its unveiling should form part
of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the bade
pendence of Belgium in 1880.

A telegram from Valenciennes states that there are
now about 9 000 men on strike in that district. At St.
Etienne 700 men engaged in the dyeworks have struck for
an increase of wages, and in Bordeaux 450 journeymen
bakers have struck for the same reason. Measures have
been taken by the authorities to ensure, if necessary, the
regular supply of bread to the public.

Mr. John B. Gough, well known in this country
and America as a lecturer on temperance, arrived on Satur-
day at Liverpool, where he was met by representatives of
the National Temperance League and the United Kingdom
Band of Hope Union. He has consented to deliver a few
lectures during a visit which he is making to Europe for rest
and recreation.

The Mark Lane Express of Monday night says the
crops have been ripening rapidly under the brilliant summer
weather. In many parts of the country, however, the wheat
ears are badly filled, and in Chest, districts the yield will
scarcely come up to an average. Wheat cutting may be ex-
pected to commence this week in early districts, provided
the weather continues hot and seasonable. Barleys do not
promise well. Agricultural reports from Scotland are
couched in satisfactory terms.

Addressing the grand jury at Mold in Monday,
Lord Justice Bramwell congratulated the Welsh people on
the gratifying state of the calendars in the northern coun-
ties. In the whole of the northern half of the Principality
there had been only 14 prisoners for trial.

On Sunday afternoon, for the first time since the
attack upon his life, the Emperor William went out for a
drive.—On Monday the Emperor removed to Babelsberg,
accompanied by the Empress and the Grand Duchess of
of Baden. His MajesLy's intended departure having been
kept secret, only about fifty persons were at Potsdam
Station, who heartily greeted the Emperor, and received in
acknowledgment a salute with the left hand, as his Majesty
was incapable of making a proper use of the right hand. He
looked remarkably well, and exhibits in his features hardly
any sign of the suffering he must have undergone during the
last two months.

A thunderstorm of unusual severity, but happily of
brief duration, broke over the town of Southampton about
two o'clock on Monday afternoon:- It came up rapidly in
the southeast, and for about a quarter of an hour the
lightning was almost incessant, the peals of thunder being very
loud and accompanied by torrents of rain and hail. The
middle pinnacle in the south frontage of the Wesleyan
Chapel, in East-street, was struck by lightning, a portion of
the massive stonework being hurled down on to the roof of
the building, which is considerably damaged. The fall of
rain was immediately preceded by a violent gust of wind.
"The question of cool drinks is being taken up by
the newspapers. When I said that skim milk was a good
summer drink, I ought to have added trust a little lime
water should be poured into the milk."—Truth.

The Premier finishe4 his long speech by stating in
the usual formal language that he laid the papers he had
alluded to on the table; and he went through the manual
motion of doing so, although, as a matter of fact, he had
nothing in his hand but the half sheet of note-paper to
which he had occasionally referred whilst speaking. The
Marquis of Salisbury, seeing that the papers were really on
the bettch at his side, took them up, and, pulling the Earl's
coat-tail just as he concluded, tried to make him take them
in time. But he did not attend to the signal till he turned
to sit down, when he took the tape-tied packet, and again
rising, t.ssed it lightly on to the table, well-laigh into Lord
Redesdale's hands.—Truth.

Captain Burnaby, who has been chosen as one of
the Conservative candidates for Birmingham, addressed a
meeting of the electors in the Town Hall on Tuesday night.
It is reported that 3u0,000 Texas cattle are "hoofing
it" toward the Northern market. This is the poetic way the
coming supply of beef is announced by a New York paper.
A country editor in Michigan thus poetically bids
farewell to his readers, his paper having expired : "Good by
--Toll the bell gently I—The wolf is at our door !—Buzy us
under a rosebush,—Listen to the mocking-bird."

"Lord Derby's speech in the House of Lords on
Thursday night was studiously and deliberately prepared.
The noble Lord came down fortified with voluminous notes,
which he carefully conned, even whilst Lord Beaconsfield was
speaking."—Mayfair.
An eccentric colonel, if we are to believe the Paris
Ftgaro, is striving to impress the importance of thrift and
saving upon the mind of the Paris gamin. He may be ob-
served going from one point to another of the Boulevard
Magenta, and receiving pennies from children to whom he
at once presents twopence. It appears that the Colonel is
very fond of children, and takes a delight in giving them
coppers for toys or lollipops, but at the same time is anxious
that they should learn order, economy, and honesty. Thus,
when for the first time he gives a child a present, he tells him
to meet him at a certain hour at a stated point on the Boule-
vard, and to bring a penny with him. If the child fulfils his
promise, he at once receives double the money which he
proouces. According to the Colonel, these children will grow
up to be "excellent soldiers or good little housekeepers."—
Graphic.

The Times correspondent at Constantinople says be
has it directly from the most authoritative source that the
Porte intends shortly addressing an appeal to all European
capitalists inviting them to come forward freely with pro-
posals regarding railways, roads, mines, forests, and all
other industrial undertakings for the improvement and de-
velopment of the resources of the country, and promising
liberal terms and encouragement.

_ _
The Agent-General for New South Wales has been
informed by telegram of the arrival in Sydney of the ship
Earl Dalhousie, which sailed from Plymouth with emigrants
in April last.

A shocking accident has occurred at Leamington.
A labourer named Wilke visited Mr. Oldham's will, where
he worked twenty years ago, and whilst inspecting the
machinery became entangled in it and met with a fearful
death. He was whirled round by the fly wheel, his head
was completely divided, one part being burled to another
part of the building, and an arm was severed from the body.

The very large number of 514 failures was reported
In the city of New York during the six months ending the
30th of June, the aggregate liabilities amountibg to 39.030,975
dole., while the assets were 11,012,662 dots. This is a large
increase on the corresponding period of the year 1877, the
failures for the whole of that year numbering only 847, with
liabilities of 51,687,000 do's.

Early on Saturday morning the body of a farmer
named John Underwood, sixty-three, was found near Rib-
worth Stalion, on the Midland Railway, much mutilated.
Re was a man of considerable means, and was well known
throughout Leicestershire having taken an active part in
county polities. Lately his mind had become affected, and
in consequence of attempting to destroy himself he was
placed under the care of a keeper. Last week he anpeared
a good deal better and the keeper was discharged. Early on
Saturday morning Mr. Underwood was missing from his
house, but about four o'clock a pointEman found the body
cut in two lying on the line. Mr. Underwood had partly un•
dressed himself, his clothes being found on the embankment,
and it is thought that he afterwards threw himself in front
of an up express. An open knife was in one of his hands.

Mr. English, coroner for Bath, held an inquest on
Satv rday evening last, on the body ol Mr. Angus Cameron,
eget 10, a medical practitioner. The deceased came to Bath
some seven years since as chief medical officer at one of the
dispensaries but two years since he commenced a private
practice. None of his friends had the slightest suspicion
that his mind was affected, while the people among whom
he practised described him as a genial and able practitioner.
On Friday morning he got up at half past six and partook
of some breakfast. He then went out, and returning iii a
few minutes, went to bed again. No notice was taken of
this circumstance, as his professional duties frequently
called him out at irreeular hours. Some four hours later,
however, he was found dead in bed, and the medical
evidence adduced at the inquest proved that he had died
from taking prussic acid. The jury returned a verdict of
Suicide while of unsound mind."

Another movement is on foot amongst the South
/ Yorkshire coalowners for a reduction of wages. A meetini;
of masters has been held, and a resolution passed that S.
reduction of 7i per cent. is desirable.
The Wimbledon Camp broke up on Monday morn-
ing. The sanitary state of the camp has been good, ondi
tevelve persons having been admitted into hospital.
The Council of the Folk-Lore Society have no#
decided on their publications for the ensuing year. The Mil
issue of the " FolleLore Record " will contain a paper
Mr. R Liston on folk tales, a collection of West Sussex folk-.
lore by Mrs. Latham, arid a selection of notes from the.
valuable collection of Ntr. Thorns, and other sources.—
Athenorum.
The discharge of hands recently entered at Chathant
Dockyard to hurry the completion of the vessels f a hand will
cnnimence at the beginning of next month. The discharge
will continue weekly, until the whole have been disposed of.
About 1,000 men will be discharged.
"Oatmeal-and-water, as a beverage to be taken
when at work, appears to find many advocates, and I have
no doubt it is very wholesome, nourishing, and altogether
preferable to beer or cider as a drink to work on. But it if,
not every one who likes weak water-gruel neffavoured, and /
am afraid that something more palatable will have to be in-
troduced before our Southern labourers wilt take to it as *
substitute for their dearly-loved beer or cidex. With mem
who are accustomed to oatmeal porridge it is different"—
Mark Lane Express.
It is proposed to hold a national conapetition for the
encouragement of volunteer firemen of the 'United Kingdore
as an incentive to their efficiency.
"Monkey.—Never mind what you hr front
others I am still yours and ever shall be. write
yerl
soon. I did as you bid me."--"Five.—Only one line tn.
advise and comfort. The star in the letter is very beieh
but one line will save me, and cheer me on."—Adver
ments in The Times.
The sums which will be payable by England to
Turkey in respect of the revenues of Cy prus amounts to about
£90,000 a year. But Turkey owes England some £70,000 ts
year in respect of the 1855 Loan, and it is probable that the
latter sum will be deducted from the former in any paymenl.
that are made.— Vanity Fair.
Mr. Spurgeon, whose health has been delicate for
some time past, left London on Monday (15th) for three
weeks, for the benefit of his health. A telegram read to 111
Suck on Sunday morning at the Tabernacle said :—" Acceßa
my Christen love. May Divine blessings rest on Sebbatil
services. I am greatly refreshed by rest and change."
ve.e.es
the time of sending the mem .e Mr. Spurgeon was sta, Lae
at Oban, Scotland.
A telegram has been received at St. Petersburg'
from Voronej announcing an outbreak of Asiatic cholera in
its most virulent form. Sixty persons are already down
with the disease, and the inhabitants are panic-stricken.
Russia has suffered greatly from typhus and other feverS
' during the last twelve months, but until now has been free
from cholera. The fear is lest, on account of South Bassi*
having been drained of its medical resources to supply the
army, the disease should spread from Voronej westward'
The authorities are taking precautions to prevent this.
The Name Vremya says that the only means at th!
disposal of the Russian Government for extricating itself
from its financial difficulties is the imposition of a progres-
sive income tax. It proposes that persons with an incotne
of 300 to 2,000 roubles should pay 1 per cent., 3,000 to 4,000'
2 per cent., and so on up to 10 per cent.
• The Parliamentary friends of the Irish Sunda,'
Closing Bill are about to make representations to the Govern'
ment, with a view of obtaining Saturday next for the further
consideration of the Bill, should the Government deterraine
to ask the House of Commons to sit on that day.
The agricultural labourers of South Ockenden,
Essex, have forwarded an address to Mr. Gladstone, thank:
ing him for his efforts to prevent this country being pluneu
into a war for the support of Turkey, and expressing die"
satisfaction with the policy of the Government.
The cutting of oats has commenced in some parts of
EFsex, and harvest is expected to become general in the coup%
in about a fortnight. The is a much larger yield of all ,
of grain than last year, and in many instances almost doable
the quantity of straw.
The harvest prospects in the Western States of
America continue to be very bright. Kansas claims to he
the banner State for grain this year, good judges estimatinf,
that it will send fully 45,000,000 bushels of wheat to inerige:e
or about 50 per cent, above the largest yield heretofore ,fr,
any one State, California having had the honour so far, vri4
a crop of 30,000,000 bushels.
A distressing case of hydrophobia is reported froe?
Trowbridge. The victim is Mr. John Mizen, who was abosit'
eight weeks ago bitten by his own dog. The wound esaf
cauterized and healed. Mr. Mizen became well and cheetTe
On Monday, however, symptoms of hydrophobia set in, 51'"
he died on Thursday in last week in the greatest agog-
The Rev. Augustus Page Saunders, D.D., Dean et
Peterborough, died at Peterborough on Sunday afternoon.
at two o'clock, after a short illness.
aid
The Bark Scottish Admiral sailed from Graves ,
on the 19th inst. with the following number of emigrants
...e
Brisbane—viz., 47 married men, 46 married women, 123 ssee
men, 50 single women, 62 children between the ages of 12 03
1, and 15 infants, making a total of 343 souls.
A fine porpoise (phocana eommunis) has just bee::
added to the attractions at the Westminster Aquarimn.
weighs cwt. according to the weigh-hill of the rail"!
which brought it from Herne Bay, and the man in char/C.l
who had an opportunity of measuring it, states it to be 01;1
four feet long. ,It is put in a tank 145 feet long by 20 'eof
broad, which holds 113,000 gallons, so that it has plentl
room to disport itself.
The executors of the late Sir Francis Goldsmict,
Bart., have announced their intention to contribute se";
year the sum of £5O towards the annual volunteer Prize-0
meeting at Reading, an amount that the deceased baron
generously subscribed every year since the institution of
gathering.
A contrivance is promised by one of the Genoeta
clock manufacturers, being nothing less than a clock whic;
by an application of Mr. Edison's phonograph, is mad?,
or
shout in distinct tones. For instance, " Get up, Get UP, fel
to make any other brief announcement, as a substitute
the customary bell or gong.
M. Bratiano, the Roumanian Prime Minister, hi!,
. met with a serious accident while driving, in consequence
which he remained unconscious for twenty-two hours.
The American papers announce the death on Oil
7th inst. of Mr. George Swett Appleton, of the firtse7,,.
Messrs. D. Appleton and Co., publishers, of New York.
Appleton was in his fifty-seventh year. His funeral on
10th inst. was attended by representatives of most
principal publishing firms in New York.
An American telegram notifies the death of 15042,
Friedlander, or, as he was familiarly known, "Friedland&
the Grain King," a story of whose woriderfnl career el;
peered not long ago in the San Francisco .News Lett
His power in the grain world is shown by the fact that L
death had a disturbing influence on the market.
Mr. Bennett, the proprietor of the New York .11C1aa
f die"
proposes to send the yacht Dauntless on a voyage 0 ese
covery to the Polar Seas, via Spitzbergen, in addition toe4e
Pandora, which will attempt to reach the Pole by ae°'"
route.
The Rouen journals contain accounts of a terrib,Dl:
accident which occurred on Wednesday in last week at“"
cartridge manufactory of Messrs. Davey and Co., at
treux, when four females perished, one of whom was marri.eir
At the moment of the catastrophe they were in the viu.mg
shop, where there were two machines for conprone
powder. It is supposed that the first explosion was ee4se
by two pieces of iron accidentally coming into contact 7510
chafing against each other; two more soon followed. '-
four victims were found in the midst of the darts.
A collision resulting in the death of a lady and milli
jury to about twelve others has occurred at Edge•olo
Station, on the London and North-Western RailwaYr
Liverpool. The fan which cleared the tunnel of smoke t
tree
it is stated, not at work, and an engine from the Lisoe4
terminus, amid the smoke, miscalculating the distance li
fre
the mouth of the tunnel, dashed into a train, breaking,to
end carriages and so injuring one lady who was enciente b.
she died. The injuries to the others were only slight.
On Sunday 22 bishops preached from metropolitali
pulpits, being a decrease of 23 in the number who preacr,
on the previous Sunday, when the highest aggregate
was reached since the arrival in London of so many
and
-
and colonial bishops. Of the 22 bishops who preached thee;
was one home prelate, Bishop Claughton. The rest
composed respectively of United States, Canadian. Inthe-'
West Indian, African, New Zealand, and Chinese bishoesr
Twenty-six British and foreign wrecks were rre:t
ported during last week, making the total for the pretlee,
year 844, or a decrease of 174 as compared with the col%
sponding period of last year. Vessels and cargoes 01:e
approximately valued at £196,000, including British proeer"
4168,000.
The Prince of Wales has definitely fixed t
August 12, for laying the dedication stone of the parnew,e se
church of St. Mary, Southampton, and not August oesa
previously announced. The Princess of Wales has inthalsto
her intention to accompany the Prince, and persons desire
of presenting purses upon that occasion will have the heec
of handing them to her Royal Highness. 'O3
A telegram from St. Petersburg has been reeel,nd
at Lloyds, reporting that advices from Nishni Novg%ei
dated sth July, state that an explosion occurred co n'Tee
the Johann, steamer, a few miles off that town
u" 'e, eer
steamer floated a short distance and then sank. F
sons were drowned.
"The 'Dead March ' in ' Saul ' is being whistled oljcil
over Folkestone, so often have the Arabs of that port
it played at the burial of victims of the ironclad collisioa,
Mayfair.
A youth named Middleton, living with his brethcieerci
a dairyman, at Greenham, Newbury, was out with a I°oo
gun the other morning, and as he was pulling it sfiereerge
through a hedge, a briar caught the trigger and the eesa
entered his stomach, causing such injuries that he
two hours. hours. An inquest was held, and a verdict Of
dental death" was returned.
A collection was made in Paris on Sunday at ',eChieras,
Church, Neuilly, on behalf of the English Orphanage, re:To 01
Bitienu, which needs immediate help. Some memaf3'
Mr. 11. Leslie's Choir kindly volunteered their servicesoe
sang "Judge Me, 0 God," with great effect during tbesecae„
collection. One hundred and sixty-one English and Afnersag•
children passed through Miss Leigh's hands during W"eice,
five years Of these many have been sent out to 0%00
there being a constant demand for such, some have In
claimed by relations and friends in England, and "well°
adopted. Thirty-two now remain in the Orphanage, oi
five others are awaiting admission. His Royal Ffighn_seds 1110
Prince of Wales graciously sent Miss Leigh £2O
completion of her chareh.
aeci
Another death has resulted from the railwaf.,4oo;
dent which happened at Chester Station on July 8 iLe,,iarie;
a signal titter, of Birkenhead, who received serious °Sig 2"
to his head and was internally injured,
after lingerif e
Chester Infirmary for a fortnight, without any hoPeef etes'S",
covery, died on Tuesday morning. The actual cause eled
was paralysis, supervening on the serious injuries he usielor
' te'
ceived. The other injured persons are going on We
"Reports of an unusually large proportion °oat,
fective or wholly blighted wheat-ears continue to CO
from various districts. Off-hann the wheats generau,yetsj
the same foxy appearance which they presented leea
and, in spite of many optimistic reports, I fear the
corn in proportion to straw will again be deficienota"
scorching weather has caused A great deal of Pre
ripening.—Mark Lane Express. to tb:
Returns have been issued of the total sum, opr o,tre
date of her Majesty's proclamation, paid for borus „
sY "ejilf";
pay to men enlisted for army service under the isel-70,
Reserve Act, 1867. The bounty paid from 186748 %feed iss
(no extra pas is given) was £255,460' the number
the Militia Reserve, but rejected for army sereviseB,94""
2,137 ; the number now married serving in the areY
and the number of their wives and children, 23,02* j, be
This autumn's potato crop will, it is fOrethere'
generally diseased. Potato growers would do 'wel!'osiedlll
fore, to experiment with the simple specific recofresone genfeee;
Mr. Serge-mt. The method of cure adopted by tfeces3, 'et
man for years past—and always with perfect ee". eiolne„e"
avers—is to shave off the whole of the haulms tee'n rug ""it
the disease ehows itself in any plot. The operatiohoox, sc
performed either with a sharp scythe or reePing be 001
when it is completed the shorn haulms eil.uid gergOrie
diately carted away. By these simple means, 31,riiosge t 23
claims that the disease is absolutely stopped, al"
potatoes do not subsequently increase in sizes 'elet
f the II ot
Another illustration is given in support 0 otos „
that the Premier's novels give an insight Leto his 000.7
policy. In Tansred, written thirty years ago, rises it
,10
wrote : "The English want Cyprus, and theY
a compensation ; " and in another place; They Tr." pot
the business of the Turk for nothing."
Two thousand five hundred Italian
,0a
sovereignty, sided over by Menotti Garibaldi, met in Rome 00.. b 1
0t
o
and passed a resolution condemning the violatioe'es
Berlin Congress of the principle of nationalities ana Fe r eepiS
sovereignty, affirming "the solidarity of the Itallan.ar
with the populations bought and sold by the C014116.4;6 slit',
reminding Italy that there still exist Italian couut,o ye!.
ject to foreign dominezion which are looking to _re eitiew
future for justice sad truth In other towns ans.
meetings with the same object are shortly to take P 1
1": to
On Tmsday the ladies and gentlemen
Wien
the Vale oi Clywd Hunt Denbighshire', preseuted
Vas% o
tis
gold red a gold cup. which originally belonged to Peneess
the First, to Major Birch, the Master of the Hunt.
Mostp, Bart., made the presentation.