The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-09-15 00:00:00

NiueHam am z4ntelligentt4

HOWIE, FOREIGN, AND COLONIii.,

AMA.TBUR TELESBAPHY.—An order was sent by a
bong Branch hotel•keeper to a purveyor in New York
Pity for five hnndred loaves of bread and two hundred
pounds of coffee. I t was replied to by a brief message,
"Will send your bread, the coffee is on the way."
The dispatch as sent read, "Your brother is dead.
The coffin is on the way." A hearse waited at the
tong Branch Railway Pepot, and the innkeeper's
family were these in iwo carriages, in half mourning.
Another dispatch to a butcher in Chicago was written,
"Ship five hundred beeves. There are few prime beeves
in New York," It was received in Chicago, "Ship
five hundred thieves. There are few prime hieves in
New York." 4 message delivered at a wholesale
crockery house in Warren street read as follws :—Send
two hundred dczin tramps of the latest pattern; also
twenty d, *ln Patent lamps, and ten dozen of all
grades. Will pay cartage and cost of boxing." The
order was for lamps and shades.-4tnerican Pam.

AVERAGE PRIORS OF BRITISH CORN.—The follow-
ing are the average prices of British corn for last week,
as received from the inspectors and officers of Excise:
—Wheat, 41s. 3d.' barley, 325. 10d. ; oats, 20s. 11d.
per imperial qr. 'Corresponding week last year :
Wheat, 465, 9d.; barley, 86s ; oats, 225. 9d.
"A LITTLE Psi."—A little preeent, in the
strictest sense of the phrase, bas been lately made to
the German Crown Prince and Princess by Her Hof-
mann, a machine manufacturer at Osterfeld,in the
shape of a "fairy tea service." The tea-tray is 32
millimetres long by 24 broad, and has been beaten out
of an old Prussian three" piece, or halfpenny. The
teapot is made out of a German two pfennig piece
(about an 'nglish.farthing), the cover being made out
nn
of a one•pfeig piece, The milk-fug is 4000 from a
pfennig piece of the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen ; the
sugar basin from a Prussian pfennig and a heller. The
two cups are made from old pfennig pieces of different
German principalities. All the pieces are tinned on
the inside, and have been co manufactured that one
can without difficulty recognize each coin either from
the inscription or the arms stamped upon it.
Tny. Vizny LA.T? Gepz.—When an amateur fructi•
culturist awoke next Morning, and found all his unripe
apples all over the ground, all his peaches down, his
figs scattered, the glass lying about everywhere, his
creepers on the ground, his flowers strewn, his young
trees prostrate, and branches off his old ones on the
lawn, then he said to himself, "Now I know what 'a
windfall means. But I had always associated it with
something lucky till now." And he proposes to write
a new dictionary for the use of fructiculturists.—
, ,
Punc4.
SWIMMING THE NIAGARA RAPlDS.—Captain Rhodes,
in an if t3rview with a representative of the New York
Tribune, has expressed his firm determination to swim
the Rapids. He declined to give the date of the at-
tempt, and stated that no one except his wife and
brother should know the day and the hour. His main
object, he says, is to obtain the Government prize of
50,000 dole., and if he is succeasful In the attempt he
will huili a monument to Captain Webb's memory to
cost 5,000 dole., while he will present an equal amoun
to the widow of Captaia Webb.

A. NOVELTY IN NOMENCLATURE.—An estimable
citizen of Raleigh, New Carolina, says the New York
Tribune, is the father of so many children that there
would have been difficulty in providing them all with
names if he had not devised an original plan for avoid-
ing that embarrassment immediately after his mar-
riage. With un.,,orismon sagacity he foresaw the
necessities of the future and 'resolved to nam'e his chil-
en after the States, giving to each the names of two
sover,ign commonwealths. Otie of his sons is lowa
WiEclnsin Royster, anotner is Vermont Connecticut
Royster, another is Oregon Minnesota Royster, and
still another is Arkansas Delaware. Virginia Carolina
is the name of one daughter, and Georgia Alabama of
another.

REOOONITION OF GALLANT SEBvioroa.—The Board
of Trade have awarded a binocular glass to Captain
Anderson, of the Norwegian barque Havdyst, of
Grprnstadt, in recognition of his humanity and kind-
nees. to the shipwrecked crew of the harque Peruana,
of Glasgow, whom he rescued from their waterlogged
vessel on the sth April last in latitude 40 deg. 20 min.
N. and longitude 57 deg, 38 min. W. The Board have
also awarded an aneroid barometer to Mr. John Chris-
tian Olsen, chief officer of the Havdyst, in re:lognition
of his gallant service in taking charge of the boat of
that vessel which effected the rescue. The Board of
Trade have further awarded a piece of plate to Captain
Hellmers, of the German steamship Hapsburg, and a
binocular glass to Captain Gronvold, of the Norwegian
barque Britannia, of Christiania, in acknowledgment
of their humanity and kindness to those of the crew of
the Peruana who were transferred to their vessel.
EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN IN COLLIEBIES.—Notwith•
stanoing all that has been done for the protection of
females and children of tendet years with regard to
their employment and overwork, it seems strange that
there are still 2,402 females employed at collieries in
the United Kingdom. Of these, no fewer than 694
are between the ages of 13 and 18 years, against 776
in 1881. Last year 1,698 females over 18 years were
also employed, being an increase of 243 on the pre-
vious year. There is a total absence of female labour
at the Yorkshire collieries ; but in Mr. C. L. Faster's
district, which includes parts of Wales and the Isle of
Man, there are 106 between 13 and 18 and 357 above
18 years of age. In Cornwall and Devonshire ten
between the ages of 10 and 13, 573 between 13 and 18,
and 1,291 above 18 years of age are employed. Only
two females are to be found on the pit banks of Derby-
shire and Nottinghamshire, two in Scotland, 26 in
Ireland, three in Durham, and six in Cheshire and
Lancashire.

THE BATTLE OF MALPLA9IIET.—Tneeday (11th) was
the anniversary of the Battle of Malplaquet, which
was fought in 17C*, when the English and allies gained
a victory over the Frenoh. The usual custom of deck-
ing the colours with laurel was observed in all those
regiments of the British Army which took part in the
engagement under the Duke of Marlborough. The
subaltern doing duty with the detachment of the lit
Battal'on Grenadier Guards, which mounted the
" (4ueen's guard" in London in the morning, carried
the laurel decked colours from Chelsea Barracks to the
guard-house at St. James's Palen, and the band of
the regiment played a selection of music in the court-
yard of the Palace during the ceremony of changing
the guard. The officer of the Coldstream Guards who
was relieved from guard afterwards conveyed the
laurels back to barrat±ks,

BBAYERT ItZWARDICD.—Her Majesty's Government I
have awarded a silver medal to M. Alexandre Robin,
manager of the Morgue at Rouen, in recognition of
his gallantry and humanity in jumping into the River
Seine at about nine pm. ou the 4th of August last
and rescuing the master of the British vessel Sussex,
who had fallen from the quay into the river. In per-
forming this act of gallantry M. Robin risked hid life,
as he had heavy clothes on, and had to dive several
times before he could obtain hold of the drowning
master, who had sunk before M. Robin could reach the

spot.
Nma SATIEFIED.—" When I was a lad," says a
water, "an old gentleman took some trouble to teach
we some little knowledge of the world. With this
view, I remember, he once asked me when a man was
rich enough? I replied, When he hss a thousand
pounds.' He said No. " Two thousand?' No. '
Ten thousand 2 " No. Twenty thousand?' No '
'A hundred thousand?' which I thought would settle
the business; but he still continuing to say, 'No, ' I ,
gave it up, and confessed I could not tell, but begged ,
he would inform me. He gravely said, When he has a
little more shan he has, and that is never I If be ac-
quires on thousand, he wishes to have two thousand;
then fiv‘f then twenty, then fifty ; from that his riches
would amount to a hundred thousand, and so on, till
he has grasped the whole world."
AGRICULTURAL EXAMINATIONEL—A Parliamentary
Return issued from the Science and Art Department
for England, shows that the payments on the results
of examinatione in Agriculture, May, 3852, were
g 1,976 to science schools and classes in England
and £1,019 to science schools and classes in Ireland.
The number of pupils who obtained queen's prizes
for agriculture in 1882 was 262 in England, and 173 in
Ireland. The escrow of the Irish National Educa-
tion Board reports that the amount of result or other
fees for agricultural tesehing in Ireland during 1882
was 5,01;Q and the number of prizes given to pupils
for proficiency in agricultural knowledge in ITyland
during 1882 was 50,
PorpLavoN of, THE FRENCH COLONIES.—A return
has been timed by order of the Minister of Marine in
Paris showing the population of the French colonies.
Excluding the dependency of Algeria, which has
4,000,000 inhabitants, Graban, of which the population
Is an nnknown quantity, as well as Tunis, Toaqqin,
and (Jambodge over which France only exerciees a
protectorate, the total po!,ulation is 2,332,129. More
than one-half of these, viz,, 1,550,477, are in Coillin
China. The smallest number io in St. Pierre and
Miquelon, where then are only 4,916 inhabitants.
A FALRE ALARM—" Oh, Papa, dear !—I wish you'd
come home. I'm really afraid Mamma has taken a
drop too much—"— 'Gracious Heavens, child !
what do you mean?"—" That new homo3apathio
medicine, you know. I'm afraid I've giTen hat seven
drops instead of six "—PunciA.
IDE GUSTIBUS, &C.—A LITTLE TARTAR.—Mamma
"Come along home, Tottie, like a good little girl, and
have some nice apple tart."—Tottie : "Don't want
nasty apple tart. Want to do back and help Johnnie
Brown to make nice mud pie wiv dear liokle dead
tten."—Pun.

Eeeiersis VOLUN*KERO IN BELQIUII.—The English
riflemen taking part in the Rogier meeting at Brussds
have been very successful in their shooting. At the
225 yards range, Private Currie, of the London
Sottish; Cap' ain Robyn and Privates Lo we and
Blackford, of the Queen's Westminster, have nil taken
prizes, with Aim spores. In other competitions for
hullseyes or points' Lowe secured five prizes ; Black-
ford, one • Currie,
' two; Private Vicars, of the Queen's
Westminster, one; Privates Davidson and Hunt, of
the London Scottish, one each • and Privates Wyatt
and Roberts. of the Queen's 'Westminster, one each.
The pri2 consisted Chiefly of silver cups and other
plate, or"portions of the entrance fees.
"DIET CURES IltiORE THAN THE DOCTOR. "—Dr.
George Cheyne was an eminent physician and medical
writer, remarkable not only for his skill and extensive
practise in hie profession, but also for his immense
size I He was intended for the Church, but his own
inclination was in favour of a medical career, and
accordingly he became a student under Dr. Pitcairne,
of Edinburgh, then a physician of note. Cheyne was,
during his youth, noted for his abstemious habits and
his devotion to study; but when in early manhood he
came to London, to commence the practice of his profes-
sion, he abandoned his previous habits of life, and gave
way to luxurious living that was then in yogup in
"good society," Partly owing to this, and partly
owing to that uncontrollable tendency to grew fat
which is constitutional With some people. Dr. c.lheyrie
rapidly hicreitiod in bUlk, and iiwelledlo Inch immense
proportions, that at length he weighed thirty two
stone! Indeed, so fat was he, that it is said the whole
of the side of his carriage was made into a door to en-
able him to get in and out of it I He continued his
practice while in this obese state; but the skill he
devoted to the ailments of others was powerlese to cur.
tail his own eppimtp.cl proportions. All medical
tiestaient having filed, he commenasd dieting himeel
on a little milk and vegetables, and had the happiness
of finding his bulk gradually dilminiehed. In a few
yeare he bedanee reduced to his prnper proportions,
and again recovered his strength and a9tivity. Be
persevered in his simple regimen, and lived to a
" ripe old age," dying at Bath, in his seventy•second
year.
THE POTATO Onor.—The potato crop is heavy and
good, but is in danger both from disease and super-
trtheration, Prompt action in lifting is 1111 that' is
needed to seenre the abundance Of nature ere un-
favonrahle weather works a change in the prospect.
As regards the ,lisease, it may be described as general
but not destructive. The cold rainy weather that
prevailed in July gave the disease a start, but 013
weather improved in time to check tho mischief before
it had wrought any script's eeaulte. All the returns
agree that the disease first appeared in unmistakable
characters in the second half ot July; and thus it is once
more connected with meteoric conditions, and by BQ
much removed from the domain of human agency.
Many of our most experienced and observant culti-
vators cherish the belief that the disease might be
"stamped out" by some kind of action, such as the
selection of seed and the management of ' the crop in a
more scientific manner than hitherto; but the in-
variable and apparently inevitable relation qf the
disease to certain atmoepheric conditions seriously
discounts the e*pectation of complete success. That
much may be done by adapting the cultivation at
every stege, as far as possible, to the requirements of
the plant, none can doubt. Indeed, we are of opinion
that the awakening of interest in the subject that has
been accomplished within the past few years has been
immensely beneficial, and we might even hope that
the "stamping out " is in process of being accom-
plished by what may be termed scientific cultivation.
But the rosy view is a little discoloured by the fact that
in July last the rain and the thermometer came doWn
together, and the diSeiap Was :seen as the direct Product
of the unfavourable conditions. It is likely, however
that we shall again escape, and if we do not the cul-
vators will, in many instances, have to blame them-
selves for their tardiness in securing the crop when it
was ready to their hands.—The Gardener's Magazine.
SERIOUS BICYCLE ACCIDENT.—A shocking bicycle
accident took place in Threadneedle-street, London,
on Tuesday morning, Some half dozen bicyclists,
were riding d'ciwn the thoroughfare by the side of a
van, when the horse slipped on the asphalte, and in
falling caught his leg in the wheel of one of the
bicycles, throwing the man heavily on to the pave-
ment. He was picked up unconscious and bleeding
from the nose and mouth. The ricer following fared
much woree, as being unable to stop his machine, he
ran on to the prostrate animal, who, in encleayouritig
to regain its feet, 4ic;tod tho nnfortunate gentlernan,
breaking his right thigh and right arm before he could
be extricated. The injured men were conveyed to St,
Bartholomew's Hospital,

AGRICULTURE ANA COTTON IN CrEORGIA.—A state-
merit has been published contrasting the product of
the State of Georgia In 1870 with that of 188i3 It
seems that during the 12 year there as been an in-
&ease of upwards of 200 per Cent. in corn, 600 per
cent, in oats, 200 per -cent. in wheat, 75 per cent, in
rye, 100 per cent. in Irish potatoes, 8(0 per cent in
cane and sirghum, 400 per cent. in ;meet potatoes,
and a Limilar increase fn the yield of other farm and
garden products. In the year 1870 Georgia raised
473,931 bales of cotton; ili 1880 the amount had
risen to 814,441 bales, or an increase of nearly 100 per
cent. in ten years, which has caused her to rank as the
second producing State in the Union, In 1882 the
cotton productien grew to 925,443 bales, and this was
accomplished with a diminished acreage. In the twelve
years 1870-82 hums have increased 20 pei cent., mule 4
5 per cent., mulch CONV6 as per cent., and other cattle
32 per cent. ; sheep increased 26, and swine 49 per
cent. In 1870 Georgia had 70,000 farms; in 1880
she had 139,000. The estimated value of farm pro-
ducts in 1870 was 80,000,000 dole, ; in 1880 it had risen
to 125,000,000 dole,, or an increase of more than 50 per
cent.