The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-12-10 00:00:00

IlidUincoultnttlEigente,

HOME, FOREIGN, AND coLcrNIAL.

THE OLDEST TREE IN THE WORLD.—The Rev.
J. T. Jones has been making a missionary tour in the
interior of Ceylon. He visited Anuradjapura, the
city of resldence and burial of the old Singhalese kings.
One of the buildings there, called • Dagoba, WIIS built
IGO B.c Rot the most interesting sight Wag the 80.
tree. " This," says Mr. Jones, "is the oldest tree in
the world. It was planted in its present position
before the coming of Christ, and still flourishes, bearing
few marks of great age. It has been time after time
banked up, and now occupies a plane ennaiderably
above the level traund, being approached by several
terrace.. It is surrounded by an iron railing, and is
guarded with great care, no one being permitted to
break a branch or even pluck • leaf."

1oRT1c(Io NKW WORE.— The author of
R,d as a Rost is She is engnod on a novel which is
meant to app Sr with the next spring iliwerK" It
will ho observed that the title is not mentioned, tut
we believe it is no secret in literary circles—Butter-
cups and DaiB ia.— 1 UNCH.

A LITTLE BIT OF " HIBTORT."—The followiog
story is told in the Sun Franc.sco Ntica.Lctter

One day an honest miner up In Calaveras bit hinisel with a
swag snake of the garter variety, and either as a possible
antidote or with a determinat'on to enjoy the brief remnant
of • wasted life, he applied a irleuning jug of whiskey to his
lips, and kept it tt ere until, hke • repleted lead', it fell ff.
Tan man fell off I IL, wise. The next day, while the body lay
in state on • pine s'ah, and the bereaved partner of the
deceesed man rens unbending in a game of seven up with a
Meanly Column., the game was interrupted ny a hammer
voice, wh' eh seemed te pr,sceed from the jaws of the corpse,---
'' I ray, Jun !" Bereaved artner playing Masao( spades, .d
(inhaled "high," then looking over his shoulder at the
melaecholy remains ref-died, " Well, what Is it, Dave? I'm
busy." osl say, Jun !" repeated the corpse In the same
measured taste. With a look oi intense annoyance, end
muttering semething aim rut "people that could never Mar
dead in, en a ndoute," the bereavwl partner rose and sin-rd
over the hefty, with his cards In his hands. "Jim," c tititltled
the natality dead, "how fur'. this thing gout I" " Pre paid
the Chinaman two and a half to dig tne grave" "Did he
strike anything I ' The Chinaman looked op "Me 'tel..
pay dirt ; rae no bury den I 'Deli an in 'em grave. Me keep
him claim." The corpse .at an riffdly :—'Jim, get my
revolver and chase that pighulir if. Jump his sepulchre, and
tax Lis con p five dollars each for pros ',actin' on the public
domain. Tueso Mangolyun hordes hey gat to he got under.
And-- I say—Jim 'if any more serpents come Benin' round
here, drive 'em off. 'Taint right to be bitlif a Dller when
whisky's two dollars a gallon. Darn all foreigners, anyhow."
And the mortal part pulled on his boots. Such, dear reader,
Was the origin of the coolie movement.
-

ATTERMED MUNDER.-At the Jersey Royal
Court on Saturday, William Keefe and his wife, both
natives of Ireland, were cliiriod with hatioir cm-
nutted a murderous assault and robbery on William
Kay, a fellowcountryman, residing in Sr. Helier.
The prosecutor's wife had died, and was lying in the
house previous to burial, when the prisoners, who
were acquaintances, went to see him for the purpose of
arranging fur &" wake." The male prisoner held out
a bottle for the prosecutor to drink from, but he, find-
ir g its cuntenta too strong for him. put the bottle aside.
The R OMAR then put her hand into the le oiecutor's
puuket and drew out ten RI totes he Hal there. If,
Reined her, and strove to regain posse,sion of them,
when her bus'iand fell upon him and heat him with a
thick stick, threatening to mur ler him. Proaec&or
succeeded in escaping from the house, followed by the
male prisoner, whom be contrived to elude, and re-
turned to his house, locking hinosalf in the room beside
the corpse of his wife. The male prisoner found out