The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1869-10-02 00:00:00

sit ;as in Sir :John Denham's time, when he 4os.

troptiised it as "though deep, yet clear ; tie iugh gentle,
yet not dull ;" and as pure as it was at a later time
when the poet of the "Seasons" called it "the silvery
Thames." Apropos of the river there is some little ex-
citement here, as there is elsewhere, about the "Ceti
wave," and the high tide of the Gth and 7th of October.
I netice that at Jersey the people have been alarmed,
anl that a communication was made to the Board of
Trek, to know what they might expect. The reply
Was that no danger need be apprehended as there was
no reason to believe the tidal wave would attain a
greater height than a few feet above the ordinary
spring tides." But "a few feet" is rather indefinite,
and a foot may make all the difference. One of the
most eminent scientific authorities has calculated that
the highest tide at London bridge will be at 14 minutes
oast three o'clock on the 7th of October, which will
exci.ed the cverage of ordinary spring tides by about
19 belies. But a good deal will depend on the dirt c.
lion of the wind and something on barometrical pressure.
If the wind be N.N.W., or about that quarter, and the
barometrical pressure be heavy, the tide may rise
two or three feet higher than this, and the high tide
will last all the longer. Along the river people are
already making their preparations to meet the enemy.
Art immense deal of property is exposed to serious
damage dnritig even the ordinary spring tides, and the
banks of the river below London Bridge are so low,
and PO little forethought has been usa.al by the builders,
that there is no rhubt a good deal of damage will be
done on this occasion, and that much more would be
i'lee hut for the preoautions that will be taken.
Ladies, do not give way to the cruel folly of tight.
lacing. Clara Smart, "aged 19," has involactarily and
unwittingly killed herself in this way. So Bay a doctor
and a jury at an inquest held by Dr. Lamkeeter. The
former etated that" death was caused by effusion of
ble el on the brain, caused by fatty heart, ac,lerated by
compreesinn of the chest, produced by tightlaoing," and
it verdict is in accordance with this. Surely such a fact
will be a warning. One would think so, but then it
is well known that though many women have been
liernt to death through wearing expanded skirts, these
holocausts had nothing to do with the abandonment of
extravagant crinolines. The fashion changed, but
deaths by fire had nothing to do with it.
"Only a woman's hair," cruelly wrote Dean Swift
on a packet containing a lock of hair cut from the
shining ringlets of "Stella." But how highly-prized
Rom:times is a lock of hair—from a dead child, a lost
wife, i'r a betrothed girl whose "sun has gone down
toie it was yet day !" Such a prize, it seems, eluded
the grasp of a gentleman who may now have it for the
Invoking the gentleman by name, a lady
-rtses : "Betsey, who denied you the lock of hair
twelve months ago, implores you to communicate
immediately.' Will he ever see this appeal, I wonder?
Will be come and claim the lock of hair, and will they
" live happy ever afterwards!" I hope .0. And here
anether gentleman wanted with the commonest of
all rianies : "Smith, Mr.-- Esteemed friend, •h keep
your j cornier. Call ft r address at post-office, as
arranged. Drive round Mernington Cr, scent any day
about four o'clock. Truthful to you only." Which
Mr. Smith is a very common question, but *his appeal
is intended for one only. May he see and respond to
it, hive round Mornington Crescent at the appointed
time, and be rewarded by a truthful wife.

ing.

these

E,TiIISRATION !—On the Trigh Land Question
ev. rybody is—of course - sea. Then they should
try tv promote the Irish Fisherien—Punch.

A VAIN HantET.—Thero is nothing like arming
oneself against contingencies. It ifort Henley, I• 11
able barrister, raised to the wcxdsack in the early
part of the reign if George 111., had been in his
youth a hlrd drinker. Shuffling into his place in the
House of Lorde, tortured by the gout, one day he WAR
heard to mutter, "Oh, dear! If I had known that
these lezu were one day to carry a Lord r.
I'd have taken bettor care of them when I was young."