The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-09-27 00:00:00

WORCESTERSHIRE -UNION OF WORK-
MEN'S CLUES .\ ND IN-sTiTurEs.

A public meeting took place in the Music Hall.
Penhore, cn Tuesday night, in connection with
the annual gathering of the above association. The
Rev, Canon Walters presi led.
Lord Lyttleton, who distributed the prizes won
i,y members during last season, delivered an ad-
dress upon the educational and recreational bene-
fits conferred by workmen's clubs. There were
great reasons why people should bestir themselves
to promote education and knowledge among the
toiling masses of this country. Our prominence
among the nations in trade, c )mmerce, manufac-
tures, and agriculture was being seriously
threatened, and unless the wits of our working
teen were sharpened and their tastes guided and
elevated by the wide diffusien of technical educa-
tion we should be left behind in the race. Another
consideration was that they were on the eve of a
great political revolution, when two millions of
voters would be added to the electorate--(loud
cheers). A very important trust would be com-
mitted to their charge, and it was self-evident that
every voter ought to be able to give an intelligble
reason why he voted this way or that. If he were
not so able he would give his vote to a first corner
or, at all events, give an irrational and not an in-
dependent vote. Without latouring the point he
v. °aid say that in his opinion a man who availed
himself of the benefits offered by these clubs or in-
stitutes would be enabled to take an intelligent in-
terest in public affairs, and to give an intelligent
vote for a member of 'Parliament. The noble lord
dealing wita the use to be made of libraries, said
he would advise a working man not at first to study
stiff books Let him take a work of fiction and
read it carefully, taking pains to understand all
that the author said. It was no exaggeration to
say that a novel of Dickens or Thackeray read in
that way would do a man more good than if he read
superficially one of the best plays of Shakspere or
the best essays of Bacon. Newspapers also, if
worth reading at all, were worth reading carefully.
Some people said that newspapers did infinitely
more harm than good, but he did not agree with
that. The chief objection to newspapers was com-
prised in the argument that the reader of them
would become a superficial skimmer or else lose his
independence of judgment. No doubt these were
dangers, but they were avoidable. He advised
every man to exercise a firm discrimmination in
what be read. If they read what was going on in
the political world at home and abroad, and about
the movements of capital and labour and other
matters of general interest, and read carefully and
intelligently, the newspaper would do them good.
In order to preserve independence of judgment he
recommended them to read leading articles that op-
posed as well as those which favoured their own
views. To take full advantage of the aids to pro-
gress furnished by an institute would involve a
good deal of effort and the repression of indolent or
self indulgent instincts, but those who did so would
be rewarded by finding themselves in the way to
become better and happier men and more rational
end useful citizens— (applause).
The Rev. Canon Knox-Little delivered an im-
pres-ive address on "Some features of modern eivi-
lisAion in their effect upon the working classes."
In pointing out the value of a study of music, he
alluded to the criticisms of the press upon his fes-
tival sermon. He said a friend had written to him
from Scotland that some of the London press had
been telling him he was an ignoramus. Somebody
or other—he thought it was the young Noes of the
Lally Telegraph had been roaring again—said that
he described Mendelssoen as joyless, but he could
, not have so described the most joyous of com-
posers. He might have male mistakes, for one
could not say everything in a sermon fifty minutes
louse. Ever since he was seven years old he had
devoted almost every spare moment to the cultiva•
' tion of music, and he certainly advised working
men not to despise that department of art.
Mr. F. A. 13osanau.2t, Q.C., and others also al-
dressed the meeting, which was well-attended and
enthusiastic.

THE TYPHOID FEVER AT KIDDER-
MINSTER.

Up to the present time there has been no apparer t
dimiuutien in the severity of the epidemic, though it
is hoped, if the comparatively cold weather holds
out, there will be an improvement bef r,! long. Ti,e
discontinuance of the water supply from the well at
the sewage station has produced a watn farnin,! in
the higher parts of the ton, and people have bum
greatly inconveniencJd in consequence, Water
carts are now being sent rour.d. the Chester Road,
Hurco:t Lan and ether places, and two buckets
of water doled out to the inhabitants as a supply
which is to last foi• twenty-four hours. The clergy
of the town ore receiving subscriptions for the re-
lief of the poor who aro suffering from the fever,
and we have been requestel to state that Mr.
Howard, J. P., of Stone house, Stone,- has forwarded
a donation of X. 5 to the vicar Of Kidderminster (the
Rev. T. L. Claughton) with that object. A number
of ladies and gentlemenhave also established a syttein
for the relief of poor patients, and through this
agency about from four to six gallons of soup and
lb teen gallons of milk ice being disiributeddaily..
The state of the town is being investigaied, an. I
same very disgusting facts are becoming known and
rectified. A meeting of the Drainage Committee
was held on Wednesday morning, and Mr. J. Pit.
chard, C,E , of Birmingham, was !o have been
preseut, He did not attend, and the meeting Was
adjourned. The committee wished to ask Lis advice
as to the desirability of making a piue end driving
it into the bore of the well at tho sewage pumpin!
station. and :hen hermetically steiling the well. If
it should be desided to do this it will take at least
three weeks to carry out the work, and the want of
water wilt be severely f i elt n the ibterim in the
lii4her parts of the town. At presitnt the Drainage
Committee are making use of a deep artesian well,
which is situated upon the premises at Messrs.
Pixon's works. Tho steam lire engine i 3 cot meted
to this, ,;ind it is being worked each ni ht and fer
short time in the middle of eech day, This is, how-
ever, nothing like sefitieent to meet the require-
ments of the case, and SOMQ other means will
have to be provided to meet the wants of the in-
habitants. The well at the waterworks is now being
pumped night and day.