The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-10-07 00:00:00

Xocal aio itict getn.

HIGHER EDUCATION.

The annual distribution of prizes to the students
attending the Stourbridge evening classes for
higher education took place on Monday night, in
the lecture room of the Associated Institute,
The classes have been carried on under the
auspices of the South Staffordshire Association
for Promoting Adult Education, and are open to
the members of the several institutes in the
neighbourhood.
Mr. 'Rupert Kettle presided, and there was a
good attendance of students and their friends.
_

- The Rev. D. Maginnis read a report detailing
the work of the last session. In addition to the
usual clai,s3s in Latin, French, mathematics, and
chemistry, classes hail been formed in advanced
chemistry and book-keeping, and the attendance
had been better than in former sessions. At the
exaniination at the close of the session, seven
students presented themselves in Latin, and four
passed ; in French seven presented themselves,
and seven passed; in mathematics nine presented
themselves, and six passed; in chemistry eight,
and eight passed; and in book-keeping four, and
four passed. At the Society of Arts examinations
six students presented themselves, and obtained
seven certificates—one first-class and one second. •
class in book-keeping, and five second•class in
arithmetic. Two students in the elementary
chemistry class obtained Queen's prizes. A prize
for an essay on the employment of leisure time,
offered by the Worcestershire Union of Institutes,
had been gained by a member-31r, Clarpnee
He :kfor 1.
Mr. Rupert Kettle, having presentedithe prizes,
said ho should like any father or judicious friend
who asked a youth what he proposed to do in.life
to follow up with a question how he proposed to
do it, and to follow it out to its ultimate conse-
quences; and he ventured to say that no youth
could chalk out a career for himself, apart from
mere working for daily wages, in which it would
not be an advantage to him to have some second-
ary education: (Hear, hear.) The very first thing
he wanted was a knowledge of language, to com-
municate with other people who had been educa-
tlefedar
verbs any of
as
ott ve
o they a
thempoint
kuN 0,1 ratheri,vi abovehtircyh
to on
ewristedaes4
enri
iabneyd
mental English
v
action, or mental aspiration o; mental volition,
which would be called the metaphysical verbs he
would venture to say that few of them would write
two-thirds of the verbs in the English language.
He did not think he himself could write half of
them, and were they to ask a boy from a national
school to write out all the verbs he did not think
he would write one-fifth. Now, a knowledge of
words was the most simple part of the knowledge
of language, and without saying a word about
irrammar and construction, it was easy to see
b
what inconvenience arose when a man had to
expre33 with fifty words what another hal a
dreA words for, lio lAcl to moss shades of

meaning by smiling and frowning and grinning,
like a Frenchman, and this because he had not
had some secondary education, and a knowledge
of the most simple propositions of language.
Besides the verbs, how many adjectives of
quantity and quality were used, compared with
the number that might be appropriately em-
ployed; and if he came to the construction of
sentences, he thought that even in the matter of
mere language he could show it was a matter of
utility and necessity that people intending to
engage in other than manual labour shouldreceive
further instruction than they obtained in ele-
mentary schools. He advised them to strengthen
their classes in book-keeping, and he felt it proper
to refer to the subject, though he had recently
spoken of it in another town. Having enforced
the importance of this study, he afterwards re-
marked that he had been struck by the contrast
of that place with Wolverhampton, in their not
having a free library. He was amongst the early
promoters of a free' library in Wolverhampton :
and they were met by the inevitable economist,
the ratepayer, who hooted them down, and would
not allow it It was a long time before they ould
overcome the prejudice against what was a great
convenience and benefit to the whole town.
Better thoughts at last prevailed, and they had
established a Free Library at Wolverhampton,
and he ventured to say there was now not a more
popular or useful institution in the county of
Stafford. In connection with the Free Library
were evening classes, aided by voluntary subscrip-
tions from the friends of education, and not paid
for out of the rates. The rooms in which the
classes met were part of the library, and he did
not believe there was now one ratepayer in a hun-
dred who did not pay his contribution, not only
cheerfully but gratefully. He trusted they would
consider the subject in Stourbridge, and he
believed it was compatible with the undiminished
prosperity of their institution to have a free
library in the town. (Cheers.)
Mr. J. B. Shepherd moved a vote of thanks to
the teachers of the several schools, Which was
seconded by Mr. C. Heckford, and supported by
Major Walker.
The Rev. H. Sherrard responded.

An executive committee for the ensuing session
was appointed on the motion of Mr. T. F. Bland
and seconded by Mr. Pa,gett.
On the motion of the Rev. D. Maginnis.
seconded by Mr. G. Perry, a vote of thanks was
given to Mr. Kettle for presiding and delivering
the prizes, and the meeting closed.

LIDERIL ASSOCIATION.-011 Thursday, an ad-
journed meeting of the above was held at the
Mechanic's Institute. Mr. J. B. Shepherd in the
chair. After some discussions it was moved by
the Rev. D. Maginnis, and seconded by the Rev. J.
Richards that a petition be formed in favour of an
Autumn Parliament, which was carried.

TANNAKER'S JAPANESE TEOUPE.--On Monday
evening one of Tannak-er's celebrated Japanese
troupes paid this town a visit and gave one of
their performances to a large audience in the
Corn Exchange. The top spinning tricks and the
balancing was truly marvellous and the artistes
were frequently applauded. A great number of
valuable prizes in Japanese workmanship were
given away at the close of the entertainment.
We beg to call the attention of our readers to
the advertisement in another column in which it
will be seen that another troupe of. Tannaker's
will appear in the Corn Exchange on Friday, the
13th hat.

THE BULGARIAN ATROCITIES.—Two perform-
ances were given in the Theatre Royal, on Mon-
day and Tuesday evenings, to crowded houses,
for the benefit of the sufferers in Bulgaria and
provinces, by the Stourbridge Dramatic Club.
The tragedy selected for the occasion was Othello,
the Moor of Venice; dramatic person, Duke of
Venice, Mr. R. Manes; Brabantio, Mr. A. liewell ;
Gratiano, Mr. D. Thompson; Lodovico, Mr. W.
J. Whitehouse; Montano, Mr. A. Smith; Othello,
Mr. G. R. Bosworth; Cassio, Mr. A. Nicklin ;
lago, Mr. 0. S. Evans; Roderigo, Mr. George
Evans; Antonio, Mr. James Handley; Julio, Mr.
T. Ross; Desdemona, Miss Nellie Taylor; and
Emilia, Mrs. Charles Whateley. The whole of the
characters were very well sustained, especially
those of Othello, lag-,0, Cassio, Lodovico, Desde-
mona, and Emilia. Mr. James Handley appeared
in his wonderful weight liftinc, feats of strength
and he was loudly applauded. 'The performances
were concluded with a laughable farce, written by
Thomas Egerton Wilkes, entitled "State Secrets."
CELERY SHow.—The employes at Mr. Turney's
Leather Works, held their annual celery show on.
Saturday last, when various prizes were distribu-
ted, the first being taken by Mr. John Young with
a pair of sticks weighing Sibs.
CrticßET.—The closing match of the season will
be played on the ground on Monday next, between
eleven of the best players against the next twenty-
two. Wickets will be pitched at eleven o'clock.

FOOTBALL CLUB.—A- Feotball Club for Stour-
bridge District has just been started, and upwards
of fifty persons have already joined. The club
will be formally opened this day (Saturday.) The
kick off will take place at half-past two o'clock.
After the game is over a meeting of the members
will be held for the purpose of electing officers
for the season,

James, son of F. Blakeway, veterinary surgeoß,
of this town, has passed his preliminary examina-
tion before the College of Preceptors, and entered
as a student at the London College of Veterinary
Surgeons.
HARRY LISTON.—AII lovers of good intellectual
amusement should take the opportunity of Mr.
H. Liston's visit to this town on Wednesday next
October nth. His entertainment, without any
exaggeration of terms, might be truly called
wonderful, the rapid transition of character, from
old to young, from grave to gay, from the simple
yokel to the finished beau, the wonderful com-
mand of countenance, and the really first-rate
vocal powers exercised by this clever performer,
are something we may sometimes hear of, but
seldom see.

DRUNK AND REFUSING TO QUIT.-At the Police
Court, yesterday, before Colonel Fletcher, Colonel
Barrows, Lord Lyttelton, Captain Noel, and R.
L. Freer, Esq., John Newton and James Farmer,
of the Lye, were ckarged with being drunk and
refusing to quit the White Horse Inn, when re-
quested.—Police-constable Paynter proved the
case, and Newton was fined 5s and costs; in de-
fault seven days; Fanner 10e and costs, having
been previously convicted.
CHARGZ OF STEALING STRAW.—Gearge Giles
was brought up on a warrant charged with-stealing
a quantity of straw, on the 6th august last, the
property of Mary Ann Whitmore.----John Billing-
sley, farm labourer, said he knew the straw,
and traced it along three fields and the foot road.
—Henry Cuttler said tbat on the morning of the
7th of August he met the prisoner and a man
named Simkiss in Whitmore's field, and they were
carrying straw. It was about midnight and he
was sure the prisoner was one of the men.—Police-
constable Smith said he traced some straw through
some fields into a foot road near Mr. England's
forge. Afterwards he traced it over a fence into
an orchard and into King Street, opposite Mrs.
Cuttler's, and he apprehended the prisoner on
Thursday night last, and on charging him he said
"He was guilty, and they were a bad lot in that
street' " and more of them ought to be
Prisoner pleaded guilty.—Sentencedlto the House
of Correction for six weeks.
WOUNDING CASE.—Charles Southall was brought
up on remand charged with wounding with intent
to do grievous bodily harm.—Mr. Addison appeared
to prosecute, and Mr. Perry defended.—Mr.
Addison produced a medical certificate, which
stated that Wooldridge was still in a dangerous
state, and unable to appear and asked for a further
adjournment.—Police-sergeant Rea was called to
prove that the man was in a dangerous state and
produced a medical certificate.—Remanded to
Worcester Gaol for a week, bail being refused.

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