The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-03-16 00:00:00

atiSEClLillealtS
HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL.

SmALL-Pox IN LONDON.—The report of the Metro-
politan Asylum District Board shows that in their
hospitals at Homerton, Stockwell, Hampstead, and
Fulham, for the fortnight ended March 8, 1878, the
number of small-pox patients was as follows :-316
admitted, 51 died, 317 discharged, and 710 remaining
under treatment. This, compared with the previous
fortnight, disclosed an increase of 85. During the
same period the number of patients in the hospitals at
Stockwell and Hornerton were 64 admitted, 16 died,
70 discharged, and 218 remaining, there being a de-
cream of 31 on the fortnight preceding. •

THE CONNAUGHT RANGERS.—The 88th Regiment
Connaught Rangers, have distinguished themselves as
much at the Cape as they did during the campaign in
the Peninsula, and they have shown the enemy that
they still know. how to handle the British bayonet
(says the Court Journal). At one period during the
war in Spain and Portugal, so anxious were those gal-
lant Irishmen to give their foes what was termed a
strong dose of steel, that they trusted more to their
bayonets than to the muskets, familiarly called
"Brown Bess." When Picton, a general of tried
ability, took the command of the division of whioh
the "Connaught Rangers" formed part, the general
formed them into a hollow square, and in addressing
them, said, "I understand, my brave boys, you are so
fond of using the bayonet that you fire away your
cartridges at random. This won't do, I'll give you
plenty of bayonet work, but any man caught in use-
lessly expending his ammunition will be severely dealt
with. You know when I once say a thing I keep to
it. Take good aim, keep your powder dry, and then
we'll show the enemy what stuff our men and bayonets
are made of." The above had the desired effect, and
many a gallant action was won by these brave lads,
aided by other equ-ally gallant Koldiers.

A PAPER EXHIBITION.—On the 16th of July an
International Exhibition of the Paper trade will be
opened at Berlin, and will last until August 31. The
programme of the exhibition is already finally settled,
and the objects exhibited will be divided into eight
different groups—viz., 1, raw materials and articles
used for making paper, pasteboard, &c.; 2, machines
and tools used for making and working paper; 3,
paper and boards of all descriptions ; 4, paper, as far
as it is employed for printing, paper-hangings, &c. ;
b, articles made of paper or papier nvicla ; 6, paper
As used for technical or building purposes ; 7, writing
and drawing materials; 8, objects, books, Ste., relating
to the histmy and literature of paper. A number of
prizes will be awarded for the best contributions.—
Nature.

THE EDUCATION GRANT--The original estimate of
the vote required for public education in England and
Wales in the year ending the 31st of March, 1878, was
for 2,176,509 day scholars at 148. Bd., but it is now
found necessary to apply to Parliament to add a
further vote, so as to provide for 2,248,000 day scholars
at 14s. 10d. for the years above mentioned.
EGG DRYING ON A LARGE SCALE.—A large esta-
. . .

blishment has been opened in St. Louis for drying
eggs, and is operated by hundreds of thousands of
dozens. The eggs, after being carefully inspected by
light, are thrown into an immense recepfracle, where
they are broken, and by centrifugal operation the
white and yolk are separated from the shells, very
much as liquid honey is taken from the comb. The
liquid is then dried by heat by a patent process, and
the dried article, which resembles brown sugar, is
put in barrels and is ready for transportation. The
dried articles has been taken twice acToss the equator
in ships and then made into omelets and compared
with omelets made from fresh eggs in the same manner,
and the best judges could not detect the difference
between them.
A BOON TO FRENCH SPOIiTSMEN. The Paris
Correspondent of the Daily News says :
A Bill calculated to rejoice cockney sportsmen was laid on
the table of the Chamber of Deputies to-day. It is proposed
th.it shooting licences, 110 W only to be hail for the whole
season, at an expense which is considerable, may be issued
henceforth by the week, or even the day, at the cost re-
spectively of two francs and fifty centimes. The Treasury
wouli certainly benefit by this facility for occasional field-
days by men who lack leisure for frequent outings, and I do
not think it would greatly tend to the extirpation of game.
Whether any saving clause is practicable for the security of
the lieges against inexpert handlers of guns is a question
which perhaps may be considered in Committee.

PRISONERS AWAITING TRIAL.—A Parliamentary
paper has been printed showing the number of pri-
soners who were detained in the several gaols of the
United Kingdom awaiting their trials between the Ist
day of July, 1876, and the Ist day of July 1877, for
periods exceeding two weeks, exceeding one month,
exceeding six weeks, exceeding two months, exceeding
ten weeks, exceeding three months, exceeding fourteen
weeks, exceeding four months, exceeding eighteen
weeks, exceeding five months, exceeding twenty-two
weeks, and exceeding six months. The paper also
shows the number of prisoners in the several gaols on
the last day of October, 1876 and 1877. The total
number of prisoners thus detaine I amounted to
11,507. The total number of prisoners in gaol on the
last day of October, 1876, was 24,785, and on the same
day in 1877, 25,001.
TWEED SALMON FISHINGS.—The fishings during the
past week have continued fah', though not so good as
at the beginning of the season. This is accounted for
by the cold and stormy weather which has prevailed.
Trout remain soarce, and salmon, which are mostly
caught in the upper districts, are of more than average
weight for the season of the year. The stormy
weather has prevented the working of the sea coast
fisheries. Prices on Saturday were—salmon, is. Bd..
and trout, is. sd. per lb. At the corresponding period
last year the prices were—salmon, 2s. 21., and trout
is. 7d. per lb. The heavy floods in the river have
almost entirely prevented fishing during the week
THE PROTECTION OF HUMMING BlRDS.—Following
the example of other countries in the patter of pro-
tecting their rare and useful or beautiful fauna, some
of our West Indian Colonies are taking steps to put a
stop to the slaughter of the pretty humming birds and
other varieties of the beautiful-plumaged feathered
tribes' whose destruction has during the last few
years become excessive, owing to the demand for them
for decorative purposes. Trinidad already possesses
a law making it penal to take, as well as to kill, the
less common kinds of wild birds in the island; and a

jimilarmeasure has recently been passed by the "Court
of Policy" of British Guiana, under which it is prohi-
bited to kill, sell, or export, at any time of the year,
certain birds—numbering--40--named in the schedule,
under a penalty of 24 dols. for each bird. Among
the more curious birds named in this schedule, are the
campanero (bellbird), hutu, humming bird, qu'est-ce-
que-c'est-qu'i-dit, bunbird, toucan, jackamar' and
carrion crow. Under a second schedule—containing
the names of 19 birds, among whish are the douraguara,
plover, parrot, pigeon, quail, snipe, trumpet bird, and
wild duck—it is prohibited to kill any of the birth
therein named during the close time—i.e, from the Ist
of April to the Ist of September. We hope similar
laws will be passed in all our colonies, and that they
will have the effect of protecting the birds from the
ravages to which they have been subject in conse-
quence of the cruel fashion of using their skins and
feathers in ladies' dresses, and for other " decorative "
purposes.-2'/1e Colonies and India.
NATURAL SUCCESSION. Conclusion of peace,
Beginning of war.—Punch.

DEATH OF AN HiProPoTamus.—The well-known
hippopotamus at the Zoological Gardens, Regent's-
park, London, died on Monday night. He was caught,
while quite a baby, in 1849, on the island of Obaysch
on the White Nile, and created an immense public ex-
citement on his arrival at the " Zoo " in 1850, when
the number of visitors rose from 168,895 in the preced-
ing year to 360,402. Down to the time of his death he
continued to be a prime favourite with the public, the,
arrival of his more juvenile mate " Adhela.," in 1853,
having in no degree lessened his attractiveness.
THE STANDARD OF THE PROPHET.—It is said that
the real reason why the Porte abandoned the idea of
unfolding. the "Standard of the Prophet," with which
Europe has been so often threatened, was the very
simple one that the sacred emblem is no longer in its
possession. According to a German contemporary,
an Italian traveller succeeded some years ago in
bribing the guardians of the mosque where the
Standard was kept, and succeeded in getting posses-
sion of the relic, which at the present moment is in
the Museum of Turin. The ulemas and dervishes
attribute to the loss of the Standard all the mis-
fortunes which have attended -the arms of Islam.—
Corning Events.
BY PRIVATE WIRE.—Mr. Basinglial (City Mer-
chant). "Most convenient! I can converse with
Mrs. B. just as if I was in my own Drawing-room !
I'll tell her you're here."—(Speaks through the Tele-
phone.)—" Dawdles is here—just come from Paris—
Looking so well—Desires to be, &c., &c.," " Now,
you take it, and you'll hear her voice distinctly ! "
Dawdles.—" Weally ! "--s--Dawdles takes it, and does
hear her voice most distinctly ! The Voice.—" For
Goodness' Sake' Dear, don't bring that Insufferable
Noodle Home to Dinner! ! "—Punch.
CONSUMPTION OF SPIRITS.—In the year 1877 duty
was paid on 29,858,176 gallons of home-made spirits
for consumption in the United Kingdom as beverage,
the quantity being less by 62,112 gallons than in the
preceding year. The 16,853,082 gallons for consump-
tion in England show an increase of 414,947 gallons,
and the 6,987,189 gallons for Scotland an increase of
16,051 gallons; but these increases are more than
counterbalanced by a decrease of 493,110 gallons in
Ireland, where the quantity fell to 6,047,905 gallons.
The 10,618,564 proof gallons of imported foreign spirits
(not sweetened or mixed) entered for consumption in
the United Kingdom in 1877, were less by 883,176
gallons than the quantity in the preceding year.
GARIBALDI ON THE EASTERN QUESTlON.—Garibaldi
has written a letter on the Eastern Question, in which
he says that in the late war what was chiefly wanting
on the side of the Turks was a directing mind to make
choice of leaders worthy of the intrepid soldiers of the
Crescent The Emperor Alexander, on the other
hand, had the great merit of remaining with his sol-
diers7-especially after the disasters at Plevna—and of
then putting able men at the head. Garibaldi says he
is Shocked to see the Italian Government withhold its
co-operation from the Montenegrins in their attempt
to gain an Adriatic seaport, and he thinks that on
every ground Italy "ought to succour her sister in
glory and misfortune, Greece."
AN EDUCATIONAL GlFT.—Messrs. John and Peter
Smith, of Andover, -U.S., have just contributed a
magnificent educational gift to Brechin, their native
place. They have through their friend, Mr. Duke, of
Bearhill, forwarded the sum of £2,000 to be invested,
and the annual income to be applied in promoting
the higher education of the young belonging to the
town of Brechin, by the provision of bursaries for
enabling them to prosecute their studies at any second-
ary school or college. The exact details are not yet
fixed. Added to the sum of £l,OOO formerly devoted
to the endowment of the school foueded by the
Messrs. Smith, this makes a capital which will yield
an income of about £l2O yearly for the the advance-
ment of secondary education in Brechin.
A LITTLE ANECDOTE.—There was onde upon a time
an elderly gentleman who had paid attention to one
young lady and then married another younger lady,
and. when, at the christening party, Nursy said to the
former, "Oh, miss, ain't he the living image of his
dear pa?" she replied, "Yes, he certainly is very
much like his father—without a tooth in his head ! "
Judy.
THE DUCHY OF CORNWALL.—The accounts of .the
Duchy of Cornwall for the year 1877, show that the
total receipts in the year 1877, including a balance
of £9,765 103. al. remaining on the 31st of December,
1876, amounted to £06,860 103. lid. There was paid
for the use of the Prince ot Wales the sum of
£69,339 Os. Bd. ; and the balances at the end of the year
amounted to 116,151 148. 11d. The capital account
shows that the balances on the 31st of December, 1877,
were as follows :—Cash, 1;14,124 9s. ; Stock—Consoli-
dated Three per Cont. Annuities, £79,156 19s. ; Re-
duced Three per Cent. Annuities, £35,270 ss. sd. ;
New Three per Cent. Annuities, £62,466 us. 9d.
How TO SING A SONG.—Not the least important
requisite of "How to sing a song" is nerve. If the
singer allow nervousness to get the mastery, it is im-
possible that the song can be well sung. Of course,
some degree of nervousness is natural and desirable,
as evidence that the vocalist possesses both soul and.
sensibility; but nervousness must be controlled, and
the best antidote against it is the consciousness that
the singer has well studied the song and knows thathe
or she can render it competently and correctly; and I
may add that the singer must not be discouraged if the
first attempt at singing a well-studied song should
not prove as successful as it ought to have done.
The second trial will probably right matters; the
old mottoes, "perseverance," and "try, try again,"
are as applicable to singing as to all undertakings. I
cannot better conclude than by recording a tradition
of John Bartleman, the most celebrated singer of the
last century. He was described as "small of stature,
but a leviathan in intellect," and, it is said, used to de-
clare that he " never sang a song in his life before the
public until he had studied it, the words more especi-
ally, for twelve months," We may allow for the
gradual exaggeration of the story by passing from one
narration to another, and also something for the slow
pace of olden days; but even then the anecdote gives
us a hint which we ought not to be too dull to profit
by.—Mr. W. if. eammings in " Cassell's Family
lifa;gazine."