The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-12-27 00:00:00

ritisrtilaneutts

HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL.

SPELLING REFORM.—The invitation of the Schemes
Committee of tee Spelling Reform Association has
already been responded to by more than 20 inventors
of schemes, among whom are the chief representatives
of the Englieh schcol of phonetics. Other system,
especially from America, are still awaited. A pre.
liminary classification will, it is hoped, be drawn up
by the middle of January next. —Academy.
A CHRISTMAS BOXVROM A MEBICIA.—We (Pall Mall
Gazette) have received the following message, "with
the compliments of the New York Herald" :—"A
centre of disturbance will arrive on the British and
Norwegian coasts, possibly affecting French coasts,
between 24th and 26th, attended by rain, snow in
northern districts, with strong winds or gales."
A HOUSE OF IC,—A. house of ice, similar to that
which was built in the Empress Anne's reign, is about
to be constructed in the Zoological Garden at Moscow.
The managers of that establishment have found among
its archives some valuable details as to the mode of
building which was adopted on the former occasion,
and they will be adhered to in the present instance.
The first edifice was raised between the Admiralty
and the Winter Palace at St. Petersburg, in 1740,
and was formed throughout—walls, roof, windows,
decorations, alike—of ice. The blocks were cut in
a square shape and their surfaces sprinkled with
water, which, when the cubes were placed in juxta-
position, froze in the interstices and bound the whole
into one compact and solid mass. At the entrance of
the structure was a large gallery tilled with statues.
The pilasters on the exterior were fashioned to imitate
green marbles. The ante-chamber possessed four
windows, and the other rooms five each, while on the
sills stood vases filled with flowers made of ice, shrub.
like plants, covered with birds of the same material,
stanerog at the corners. Clockcases, chairs, tables,
wardrobes, utensils, candelabra, beds, were all of ice,
and therefore the perfection of utility and comfort.
ANTIQUITY OF THE ASSEGAL—The assegai of the
Zulus whicn was used with such deadly effect upon
our soldiers in the late war, is a word that will belong
remembered by many a family whose relatives it so
fatally pierced, from the Prince Imperial to the most
common follower of the camp. In Chaucer'e Canter-
bury Tales the accoutrement of Sir Thohae is described
in the following passage :

And so It fell upon a day
For sooth as I you tellO way,
Sir Tlaohas would out ride.
He worth (mounted) upon his steels gray,
And In iii haud a 'allot oty,
A loi g sword by his side.
_ _

_
In a foot-note lauxicepy is txp'ained thus :—" Spear :
Azagay is the name of a Moorish weapon, and the
identity of termination is singular." It is much more
singular, however, when considered as the name of
the chief weapon of the Zulu soldiers. The azagay of
the Moor, the launcegay of the Anglo•Sazon or Anglo-
Norman, and the assegai of the Zulu appear to be the
same weapon. From whenee does this so widely-nsed
nametake its origin ? "p. IV." in Land and Water.

ONTARIO IMMIGRATION.—The province of Ontario
appears to share with Manitoba a large proportion of
the immigration which has lately been flowing into
Canada. Ths Ontario Government have just issued
a report which shows that 20,622 emigrants have
settled in that province duritg the ten months of the
present year, ending October 31, as against 11,452
during the corresponding period of last year. Of
these, 10,369 were English, 3,039 Irish, 2,614 Scotch,
and 1,239 German. Most of the males are stated to
be either agiicultural labourers or men accustomed to
agricultural pursuits of some sort; and a large propor-
tion of the females are domestic servants, these being
the classes to whom the Proviocial Government accord
aes6ted passages.

LOFTY EDIFICES.—The following are the heights of
the PiinClpl lofty edifices in the world :—Pyramid of
Gizeu in Egypt, 513 feet; steeples of the Cathedral
at Cologne, 501 feet; steeplo of the Minster at Stra,t-
burg, 486 fed; steeple) of the Minster at Ulm, 481.
feet; steeple of the Cathedral at Antwerp, 476 feet;
pyramid of Cheops, in Egypt, 452 feet; steeple of St.
Stenhen's at Vienna, 442 feet; cupola of St. Peter's
at Rome, 43l feet; steeple of St. Martin's at Land-
shut, 422 feet; steeple of the Cathedral at Cremona,
396 feet; steeple of the Minster at Friburg, 325 feet;
cupola of the Cathedral at Fl ;rence, 384 test; steeple
of St. Persina in Saxony, 382 feet; cupola of the
Cathedral at Milan, 347 feet; steeple of the Cathedral
at Utrecht, 356 feet; steeples of Notre Dame at
Munich, 348 feet; cupola of St. Paul's at London,.
347 feet.

A REMARKABLE PAINTING. The Paris Carr&
spondent of the Daily Telegraph says :—" A picture
which has in its time undergone several very severe
ordeals is to be put up to public auction at the Hotel
Dronot this winter. It is the 'Judgment of Sol mOO.
by Eubons, which, whilst in the Museum at Antwerp,
was struck by a cannon ball during the Beige in 1832;
and was so damaged that its repairs amounted to
1,200 f. Its warlike advontnres did not, however, end
here, for after its removal to Paris it received another
cannon shot during the Revolution in 18.18, which
str,uck it, if W 9 are to believe tradition, in exa'Aly the
same spot as the former one. This warind J‘ as also
been carefully healed and the veteran pictures gill now,
it is to be hoped, fini a more peaceful home lttAll has
hitherto fallen to its lot."
CREFELD MANUFACTURES.—The annnal report of
the Crefeld Chamber of Commerce states that England
and her colonies remain the chief customnts for the
Bilk and cotton manufactures at Crefeld, the value of
the goods taken by the British Empire in 1878 having
been 24,000,000 marks, or about 21 200 00 sterling.
Germany, hn the other hand, did not take more thou
20 million marks, or one million sterling .p_rth of
Crefeld goods, while the tra ie with all the re, 'of the
world hardly exceeded the latter sum, the to!• foreign
trade being of the value of 45 millions mkrks or
£2,250,000 sterling.

FOPULATION OF QUEENSLAND. —The mann .' repot&
of the R gistrar•Geeerat of Queensland for 1•i it year
shows that the population of the colony on ths 31st of
December last was 210,510 persons-127,608 .:“sles and
82,902 females. The increase of the popnl-i.rian 13/
immigration daring the year was 6,556 Ep-}peans'l
against which must be set 2,136, the excess of depard
Lures over arrivals of Polynesians in the same periods
The nationality of the population is thus stated :-99i
per cent. Europeans, 7 per cent. Chinese, r.nd 2; Peg
cent. Polynesians.
REDUCTION OF AGRICULTURAL RENTS—Lord Omit('
has instructtd the agenis on his Cheshire ano Safford'
shire estates to allow tenant farmers from 15 to 25 pet
cent, in nada on their Christmas rents, lux ,rding to
their circumstances. His lordship expresses a hope
that the pecuniary assistance will strengthen and en-
courage his tenants to sombat their undouttecly greaS
difficulties. The feeling between Lord Crewe and
his tenantry is one of the greatest cordiality.—Lord
Csrlingford, Lord Lieutenant of Eqsex, has renaittedl
10 per cent, upon the rents due at Michaelmas, and
5 per cent, upon the rents for the preceding half.
year, on his estates in the county. He 11.. s also an.
nounced his intention of giving his tenants in future
the concurrent right of shooting on their several farms.
—The Earl of Roselyn has agreed to a reduction of 10
per .mnt, on the rental of the tenants on his estate
in Fife.—Mr, Charles Morrison, of Basildon Houses
near Reading, has annonn3ed to his tenants that ins
consequence of the recent b,sd seasons for agriculture
in England he will remit at the rent audit in Januar!
(inclneive c. f that deducted at Michaelmas) 50 per cent.
of their rents on the year.—The Earl of Fevershant
has requested his agent to return to his tenants bill
North Yorkshire 10 per cent, on this half-year's rent'
—Mr. Hugh Robert Hughes, of Kinmel-:ark, Lord;
Lieutenant of Frintshire, has returned 10 per cent. to'
his tenants on the half-year's rent.—Mr. Charles
Frederick Abney Hastings, Donning ton-park, halo
returned 15 per cent, at his rut audits to all tenant
on his estates in North Leicestershire and South :
Darbyshire. .
THE INFANCY OF GAS. —The London Montiai:
Magazine for October, 1814, contains the following :--- g
"It affords us the highest satisfaction to be able to;
state that the first of practical modern discoveries, the ,
means of illuminating by the gas of coal, proceeds in '
its application with all the success that can be desired.
A new establishment has been opened in Worship- .
street, in addition to that in the City-road, and both,
manufactories are constantly employed in evolving
gas, which is preserved in butts like beer, and sent foe.
use to any distant place at which it is intended to be.
consumed, Many hundred butts, besides large reset".
voirs, have been thus manufictured during the summer,
and kept in store for the winter. Already above *
1
mile of the public streets is enlightened by this meant. ,
besides the Houses of Parliament and many publics ,
buildings, The beauty and brilliancy of the light ex'
ceed the powers of description, and can be understood
only by being witnessed."

. CHARACTERS IN CONTRAST.—" So they're building
a Church in memory of Bishop Wilberforce at S,mth-
ampton," said Smelfungue. "He was all things to sa
men.'" How d;fferent from me! I 'in "nothing to
nobody? "—Punch's Almanack.

THE EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN.—A writer in Land
and Water says :—The latest proposition as to how out
superfluous single women are to be employed emanates
from a committee of ladies and gentlemen, who pro-
pose to found a Female Agricultural College, where
women may receive instruction in theoretical and
practicil horticulture, dairy work and poultry rear-
ing, bEe•keeping, and other kindred industries." The
Idea is not half bad, if well carried out, as no hard
manual labour is required in either of these industries
if the rough digging and delving be performed by the
stror gtr sex. In France and Belgium women alwaYe
attend to these departments of outdoor work. LadY
gardeners with male helps would be a sure BucceBo.
It is argued that there is a great demand for more
fruit, more garden-stuff and green vegetables, milk
and butter, eggs and poultry, more cream and strar
berries, for the dwellers in our metropolis and iii
large manufacturing towns, If women take up ell
the branches of employment suggested for them It
will soon become a grave question, What are we to
do with our boys and men?

CANADIAN DAIRY PRODUCE.—Shipments of dab"'
produce from Montreal to European ports during the
season of open navigation on the St. Lawrence river,
recently over, exhibit a steady advance on previous
years :—Cheese, boxes-1879 515,350; 1878. 455 449 ;
1877. 398,138. Batter packages-1879, 180,863; 1879.
1t 1,596 ; 1877, 87,245.

THE PRINCESS ALICE (DARMSTADT) MEMORIAL.
--
The form which it has been decided the English
memorial to the late Princess Alice shall take is the
endowment of the Hospital and School for Nurses in
Darmstadt which her late Roysl Highness founded.
and in which, up to the time of her lamented death,
she took a great and practical interest. The surplus,
after the endowment of the hospital, will be given to-
wards the maintenance of other kindred institutions in
which the Princess was personally intereste a. The
following inscription will be placed on the hospital in
Dsrrnstadt :—" This Hospital and School for Nurses.
founded by her Royal Highiress the Grand Dachees
of Hesse, Princess Alice of Great Britain and Ireland!
has been endowed for ever as a memorial of her Royal
Highness by those in Great Britain and Ireland!
India, and the Colonies, who reverenced her pare ana
noble character, and her life of loving self-sacrifice.
Si monumentum requiris circumspice. Obiit Dec, 14,
1878."

SALMON IN TASMANIA.—Among the Tasmanian
exhibits at the Sydney International Exhibition are *
number of salmon and trout caught in the River Der*.
went just below Hobart Town. During some recent
netting operations for the purpose of securing some.
additional live specimens for exhibition, as many ag
300 fish were taken with one haul of the net, a'rerag
ing from 16 to 23 inches in length. Of these, on',.
two, measuring 16 and 18 inches respectively, were
salmo solar, the rest being salmon trout or trout,
A. FACT IN NATURAL HISTORY.—The same wonder
ful instinct which sends the swallow southwards fog
the winter and brings it as a harbinger of summer te
us again, and drives all hybernating animals to their
long dreary winter sleep, teaches the horse o Ala*
Russian steppes of Tertiary to perform an act of sure
gery upon itself, which would be incredible if not
vouched for by the most reliable witnesses. DOI'
Westminster has just published in her work describin
her journey, taken some years ago through Russia;
Sweden, and Norway, a fact in natural history worth/
of record. It is that of the "steppe' horse perfornr
ing an act of self-administered bhlebotomy. In
letter to the Pall Mall Gazette, which reviewed thie
work, Lord Cathcart confirms this theory. Big'
lordship says :—" My grandfather was a friend, and
on many a well-foughten field a comrade in arms, of
the Hetnian Platoff. Platoff gave my grandfather
clever little steppe horse which he brought to England
and had in his stable for many years. The horse wet
a great favourite, and his business was to carry An '
uncle of isine, then a boy, now happily alive and well.
Last summer I had a long conversation with la
uncle, of which I made a Dote. I cannot at the.
moment refer to my note as it is in the country.
told me that regularly every spring the little stepPe
horse bled himself by opening a vein with his teeth
—I think my uncle said on the arm ar leg. This "
phlebotomizing instinct in these horses is no doubt
implanted by nature to counteract the inflatnwatori
tendency caused by a sudden transition from almost'
starvation to a flush of rank spring herbage.
SUGGESTIONS FOR SONG-TITLES.—For Borrowers.—'•
"Always a loan ! For Ladies Loving Shopping.--•
"The sweet buy and buy."—For passie Be
"The Song of the Old Belle." For Disappointed
Sportsmen.—" Never Moor! "—Punch's Alin:muck.
THE PRIME MINISTER'S GRANDFATHER.—Dip Jewish
World says:—" The tomb of Benjamin Disraeli, the
grandfather of the present Prime Minister, has recentlf
been repaired, and the inscription recut and repainted:
Benjamin Disraeli was buried in the Spani4l and.
Portuguese Cemetery in the Mile-end-road, London.
He was the founder of the family in England,
and having realised a fortune in business, retired to a
life of luxurious and elegant ease at Bradenham-house.
Bucks. It has not transpired at whose orders the tomb
has been repaired, the instructions coming through an
influential member of the Sephardic congregation wor•
shipping in Bevis Marks, but, considering that some
amount of mystery has been maintained concerning
the real source of the instructions, there can he litde
doubt that they have originated with 1...,rd Beaoons•,
field. Curiously enough, however, the tombstone of
the Prime Minister's grand nother, in the same ceme-
tery has not been touched, although it is in a '
dilapidated state. The inscription on Benjamin
Disraeli's tomb, which is as follows, can now be dis-
tinctly read :—' Sacred to the memory of Benjamin
Disraeli, Born 22ud September, 1750; died 28th
November, 1816. He was an affectionate husband,
father, and friend.. "
SUPPLY OF SEA-WATER FOR LONDON.— To Con.
nexion with the project, wiitch is to be laid before
Purliament as a private Bill, for the construction of;
works connecting the English Channel with the
private baths of London residents, we ( The Time:) axe
informed that the rent proposed to be charged for a
constant supply of sea-water will be 30s, per anntun
on a house of £5O
,a-year rent.

STAKES WON ON THE Tun.—An industrious friend
has sent me many sheets of paper covered with lon4
columns of figures descending from £26:376, followed
by £23.528 to £554, preceded by £555, and the result
of the whose is intended to show that during seventy':
seven race-meetings, held 13t-twf en March 25th and
November 296 h, a sum of 395,495 was won on the turf.
As this admi 'nastily jumping competitions of vasioue
sorts, some of which are worth the winning, I suppose
that during the twelvemonths near upon £450,000 will
have been won in stakes on the turf. I hav3 not made
the faintest erdeavonr to check any of my friend's
conclusions, but he is, I know, well up to his work, /
and understands the subject upon which he has entered
with such elaborate calculations. The figures are pre .
bably near the mark, and will surprise many reader*
—lllustrated Sporting and Dramatic Feleer