biglam/hmd_newspapers huggingface dataset:
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-27

KR, BRIGHT AND THE TEN HOURS
BILL.

The following letter has been received from Mr.
Bright:
"Rochdale, June 15, 1885.
"Dear Sir,—As to the Factory Bill, I voted in the
same lobby with Sir Robert Peel, then the Tory
Prime Minister, and with the late Lord Derby, who
was afterwards Tory Prime Minister. I was always
in favour of giving legal protection to children, but I
was against interference with adult labour. The
Factory Bill was carried by a combination of a
portion of the Tories, who wished to aveng them-
selves upon the manufacturers who were fighting
against the Corn Laws, and a large portion of the
Whigs, who wished to damage the Government of Sir
Robert Peel. The country gentlemen in the House
of Commons wished to keep the price of bread at
double its present price. I was one of those who by
some years of labour opened the markets of the
world to the English workman, and gave him two
loaves of bread for the price of one. I hope the
electors of your division may comprehend this ques-
tion.----Yours very truly, "JOHN BRIGHT.
"Walter S. Shirley, Esq., Hall Cross, Dcncaster."

As long as postal cards Bro 80 popular the rura
postmaster will have no time to read novels.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-27

FATAL YACHTING ACCIDENT.

Three lives were lost on Saturday afternoon on the
Mersey through the capsizing of a small yacht during
a sailing match in connection with the Mersey
Sailing Club. Shortly after four o'clock eight small
yachts, including the Bessie, started from New Ferry,
a few miles up the river above Birkenhead. The
weather was very squally with a strong west-north-
west wind. The Bessie was seen to lag considerably
behind, her crew having taken off her mainsail. She
was manned by Mr. Richard Clayton, iron merchant
(38), who resided at Birkenhead; Mr. John Green
(32), gentleman, who resided at Claughton ; Mr.
Frank Lcsese (28), salesman at Messrs. Littledale and
Co.'s, Liverpool; and Mr. William Taylor, engineer,
son of Mr. James Taylor, of the Britannia Works'
Birkenhead. Passing Eastham on the outward
journey the Bessie was observed to be all right, and
was sailing under a jib and jigger, and was last seen
by rersons on competing boats when about one mile
to the northward of the Hooton Buoy. Mr. Taylor,
the only survivor of the crew, says that, shortly after
rounding, the Bessie was struck by a squall and sunk,
and her crew were immersed in the river. The ebb
tide had set in, and squalls were blowing with terrific
force. When the boat sank Mr. Green, who could
not swim, clung to a lifebuoy, and Mr. Taylor, who
was an expert swimmer, got hold of the buoy and
tried to tow it to shore, a distance of about half-a-
mile, but the tide kept him in mid-stream. Mr.
Taylor shortly lost consciousness, and the last thing
he remembered was hearing Mr. Clayton call out
"Good bye, boys, I'm done." Mr. Leese was not
seen after the boat capsized. The accident must
have happened about six o'clock, and some 30 or 40
minutes must have elapsed before the Shifnal, a com-
peting boat, and very much behind in the race, came
upon the scene. The calamity had not been noticed
by any boats, but the attention of the Shifnal's crew
was attracted by floating spars and by four caps,
which were picked up. The captain and owner of the
Shifnal, Mr. William Taylor, urged the crew to keep
a sharp look out, and soon they came upon Mr.
Taylor and Mr. Green clinging to a lifebuoy, and
locked in each other's arms so tightly that it was with
considerable difficulty that they wexe separated and
lifted into the boat, both being exhausted. The
Shifnal, having got them on board, at once made "for
the Eastham stage, in the meantime the iitmost
efforts being made to restore animation. Oa reach-r
ing the stage, at about half-past seven, the two'
gentlemen were conveyed to the hotel, whero medical
aid was soon brought, but it was unavailli g in the
• case of Mr. Green. _
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-27

LADY WRANGLERS AT CAMBRIDGE.

Those establishments over which many a Philistine
once made so merry, and as to the success of which
many people, even of a highly wathetic turn of mind,
were inclined to be sceptical—we mean the halls and
colleges for ladies at our two older Universities—are
belying by their achievements the pessimist prognos-
tications of their enemies. After several preliminary
successes of a less complete kind, Newnham has now
sent up for the great mathematical examination two
laaies who have won the blue ribbon of the Cam-
bridge academic year. Miss Rickett and Miss Hewitt
are not only Wranglers, for that quaint title of honour
is no longer reserved for the sterner sex, but they are
avowedly equal in the merit of their achievement
to several of the men who have won the much-
coveted dignity. There is no longer any
reason why a lady should be supposed incapable
of attaining a still higher place, and even eclipsing all
male competitors in the race for the first place in
the mathematical tripos. Miss Rickett and Miss
Hewitt, together with the five other students of their
sex who have won less eminent distinction by appear-
ing in the honour list as senior or junior optimes,
deserve to be numbered amongst the heroines who
have established a grand biological principle. In
solving the arduous and puzzling problems presented
to them by the examiners, they have at the same time
set at rest a question of more general interest—
whether the feminine brain and the feminine consti-
tution were equal to the prolonged strain of reading
for a high class at the University. No amount of
theorising or experimenting by scientific processes
could have given us the certainty that these ladies
have now procured for the world, by actually apply.
ing to tte matter in dispute, that indisputable form of
[ argument embodied in the hackneyed schoolmen's
phrase solvitur atnbulanclo.—The Graphic.

t ?"'"-
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-27

MR. LOWTHER, M.P., ON THE
SITUATION.

Mr. James Lowther, M.P:, addressed his consti-
tuents at Market Hann on Tuesday evening. He
said it was contrary to the fundamental principles of
the English Constitution that any Ministry could hold
office unless it could do one of ewo things—either
command a majority of the existing House of
Commons or be in a position to tender constitutional
advice to the Sovereign to enable an appeal to be
made promptly to the country. No Government
formed from the Conservative side of politics could
at the present moment do either of those things, and
consequently he clung to the hope—though from
what he read that hope might be slender—that they
might be spared what he should consider the national
calamity of a Conservative Government unbacked by
a Conservative majority in the House of Commons,
His bumble contention was that it was beneath the
dignity of any political party to seek assurances, even
if they were worth anything when obtained.

SATURDAY, ,TCFNE 27, 1f385.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-27

A STRANGE AFFAIR.

At the Leeds Police-court on Tuesday, 11, well-
dressed young lady, named Lilian Roberts, sixteen, a
student at llalton College, was charged with forging
a telegraph message, purporting to be from the public
prosecutor of the borough to the Imperial Royal
District Court of Justice at Botzen, Austria, autho-
rising the liberation of Maximo Dubois, in custody
under a charge of felony with intent to defraud.
Dubois, a photographer, of Leeds, was apprehended
at Botzen on a charge of stealing partnership pro-
perty, and was kept in custody there pending the
arrival of a local detective and the completion of the
extradition proceedings. Li the meantime, however,
a telegram was received by the authaities, purporting
to come from the Chief Constable of Leeds, and
directing the release of Dubois, who it stated was
innocent and:wrongfully detained. Dubois was accor-
dingly liberated, and since that time all traces of him
has been lost. Inquiries were instituted, which re-
sulted in the prisoner being apprehended for sending
the forged telegram. On being charged, she said she
did not know the contents, as it was written in Ger-
man and given to her by her mother. She was re-
manded for a week.

A Frenchman who had bravely filled a place in
the ranks during the war with Prussia, recently
sought employment from a well-known general of his
own nationality. The private soldier had been un-
fortunate enough to have his nose carried away in
action by a bullet, and his appearance was so singular
that his late superior officer shouted with laughtier
on beholding him. "Where the deuce, my good
fellow, did you lose your nose?" he asked. "I lost
it, general,' replied the private, "in the same battle
where you lost your head."
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-27

MR. LOWELL ON LORD SALISBURY

AND IRELAND.
Mr. James Russell Lowell arrived at Boston on
-Saturday in excellent health. Ire talked freely with
the reporters about English politics, saying that Lord
Salisbury is an able leader, but there is much trouble
ahead of him. The Conservatives will find if they
take office they must largely pattern their Irish policy
after Mr. Gladstone's, which gave the Irish more than
justice demanded. The Irish have vastly more
advantages than the Scottish or English farmers.
The Irish question will be settled peaceably. They
are human like the English. About one-fourth are
thoroughly loyal to the Government, and a much
larger proportion would like to be, but are overawed
by some of their leaders. The Irish are a peculiar
people. They talk for the sake of talking, paying
little attention to what they are saying, or stopping
to consider its effect. "I believe Mr. Parnell to be
earnest and sincere in his efforts on behalf of his
countrymen," continued Mr. Lowell; but many others
are not so. Ido not see how any other policy
can be adopted towards Ireland. She can never be
separated from England. The natural location of the
two countries forbids it. There was much talk about
annexing Ireland to the United States; but the
absurdity of that appears on the face of it. Lord
Salisbury is of the war party, but he will be obliged
.to carry out Mr. Gladstone's Russian policy. lie will
be very careful, now the responsibility is on his
shoulders, how he involves the whole Continent of
Europe in war, for that is what a declaration of war
between England and Russia would mean. I have
never thought there would be war. Much was said
about the effect of
would not be so ad war on American trade, but it
Tantageous as was supposed." Con-
cerning his personal relations with the British Go-
vernment, Mr. Lowell said: "I could not have been
more pleasantly situated. Rad it
not been for the
change in my. family relations I should probably
have stayed m England. There is nothing but
English blood in my veins, and I often remarked that
I was just as much English as they. lam glad to
get home, yet it hardly seems like home," he said
sadly, in conclusion.

If an untruth is only a day old, it is called a lie;
if it is a year old, it is called a falsehood; but if it is
a century old, it is called a legend. ,
No man has ever lived a rig ht life who has not been
chastened by a woman's love, strengthened by her
couraee. and zuided by her disnrstion ,

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

TTIE CRISIS.

In the llousE or LORDS, June 23, the attendance
of peers was very large, and the Peeresses' and the
Diuloroatic Galleries were crowded.

The Prince of Wales was in his place on the cross
benches.

Lord Granville, rising from the Treasury bench. an-
nounced that Lord Salisbury, having accepted office,
had gone to Windsor, and at that noble lord's desire he
would move the adjournment of the House till Thurs-
day.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-27

lIAGLEY.

STOCK SALE.—Messr3 Oates, Perrens, and Wool-
dridge had a very go )d supply of all classes of stock
at their sale on Monday kg. The sale comprised
about 90 head of cafte, 500 sheep and lambs. 24
calvcs, and 125 pigs. There waJ a full attendance
uf butchers, fariner,, and dealers, and prices showed
a decided improvement throughout, best quality of
beef and mutton being in great demand. Fat co A a
made as high as .227 2s 6d, bullocks £23 10s, sheep
633 6:1, lambs 403 61, caivtis £1 10s, cows and calves
.418 10s. A large quantity of bacon, pork, and.
etore pigs natt with a lair demand.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-27

THE QUEEN'S ACCESSION.

The forty-eighth anniversary of the Queen's Acces-
sion was celebrated in London in the customary
manner on Saturday. From an early hour, and at
intervals during the day, the bells of several of the
West-end churches rang out merry peals. The drum-
major doing duty with the detachment of the 2nd
Battalion Coldstream Guards, which mounted the
Queen's Guard, and the other public duties in London
for the day, wore his State uniform in honour of the
occasion, and the band of the regiment played a
selection of music in the courtyard of St. James's
Palace during the ceremony of mounting and changing
the guard. The subaltern on duty carried the Queen's
colour from Wellington Barracks to the Guard-
house at St. James's in place of the regi-
mental colour usually taken, and the officer of the Ist
Battalion Scots Guards, who was relieved from duty,
afterwards conveyed the colour to Chelsea Barracks.
The Admiralty flag was hoisted on top of the
Admiralty Offices at Whitehall, and the Royal
Standard floated on the Royal United Service Insti-
tution in Whitehall-yard. Flags were also hoisted
on several other public and private buildings. At
Windsor on Saturday the bells rang merrily in
honour of the event. The Lord Chief Justice of
England's Court presented a somewhat novel appear-
ance, as the 13 judges of the Queen's Bench Division,
who sat to hear Crown Cases Reserved, wore their
scarlet robes.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-27

A' WARNING TO LADIES.

When a draper has not the "Nonparie " Velveteen in
stock, he is tempted to subsitute another and a 1 inferior
fabric rather than lose a customer. Insist upon seek:l3
the trade marl: stamped at the back of each yard The
finer qualities are equal in appearance and wear • better
th toe veiy hest Lyons Silk Velvet, and cost nlv a
ogrter the, price.
Cau be purchased of all leading retailers, in all
Qualities—Blacks, from 2s to Cs per yard ; Celours,
trout 21 6d to 686 d per yard.

P.NA N ilo I:AL AND STEEL prus
FOR FEMALES quickly correct all irregularities and
relieve the distressing symptoms a prevalent with the
Dozes Is. lid. and 21 91., of all Chemists. Sent
anywhere on receipt of 15 or 34 stamps by the marrer
"Itn% L cl,en ist, Nottingham
A DRLIGHTFUL FLAVOIJR.—CSACROFT'd ARSCS-NIIT
TOOT 1 Parrn.—BY using this di licious Aromat c Den ii-
frice, the enamel of the teeth becomes white. sound, I
and polished like ivory. It is exceedingly fragrant,
and specially used for removing incrustations of tartar
on neglected teeth. Sort by all Chemists. Pots, Is and
2s each, Get Cracroft's.
LIVER COMPLAIIiT —Three-fourths of our functioasl ,
derangements are caused by iuierraption of the iiver's
action. A few doses of Dr. KtEG'S DANDbLIWA AND
QUININE LIVER PILLS, without mercury, are a poteat
remedy. They perform fall the benefits of mercury
, without any of its disadvantaes and ching,rs. Dr.
King's Pills rem -ve all liver arid stomach complaints,
I biliousness, headache, sicknesti, shoulder paiw, heart-
burn indigestion. constipation, sl ensuring perfect
heshli. These oid-fsebioned Pills still Iceep ahead of
all others as the.great liver remedy. Sold everywhere
DR. KING'S LIVRIS PILLS, containing dan-lelimi and
quinine, without mercury, are fr above all ()there as the
surest, mildest means of removing indigestion. bilious-
- ROSS, headache, dyspepsia, otstructions and iiregulari•
lies 41 .the liver cud_ stomach, so ensuring • perfect
health. Dr. King's Pills are sold everywhere.
• To.tiToß Conduwo, a few doses of REPPlllefi WHITE
CODOIS laisirriint arrests,. the Most ircaleanine fit of
coughingLreliet and tranquility to the Irritated mew'
branei sal air-paesages Soothing, comfJrting, and
demulcent. its action is quite different from Cough
Remedies. Bottles. Sold everywhere:
FOR GAROLD:GT/1E TRRola AND Mourn. use PFPPER'S
Timm THROAT GARGLE. appl cation cf great
service for sore throat, whether iinfiammatory, relaxed,
or ulcerated. Tannin Gsrgle is strongly recommocded
to speakers, singers, &c as greatly preservative and sus-
taining. It is also a valuable purifier as a mouth sash,
eiug singularly agreeable, astringent, and cleansing,
BoWee. Sold everywhere. • - .
SuLvaouria t.oAr is a delicately refined, chemically
pure soap, intended for gueeral use, and Is free from
the injurious acrid oils peculit'r to corr mon,impe rlectly
prepaied soaps. Sulpholine ap )! N 1,041-
ing at all times and rendering the siiin suit, clear,
'Sad lisblo. Tablete4d %%oh. Sold everywhere.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-27

EXTENSIVE FRAUDS IN GLASGOW.

responsible for the following:
extensive system of fraud, carried on over a series of
years, has just been discovered by the heads of one of
the oldest warehouse firms in Glasgow. The defal-
cations, it is reported, amount to £lO,OOO or £15,000,
but as no complaint has been lodged with the criminal
authorities, it is difficult to ascertain the exact
particulars. It has transpired, however, that the
thefts run over a series of years, and they appear to
have been effected by several of the trusted hands
inside the warehouse leaguing themselves together
and passing goods to outside representatives in other
parts of the kingdom, where they were disposed of in
due course, and the funds transmitted to a head
centre, who made the distributions. The manner of
the discovery is stated to have been very simple. It
is the rule of the establishment that all
goods sent out should be checked at certain
stages of their transit. A young employe,
however, who had implicit confidence in the person
above him, did not follow out this intruction, and this
innocent aided the thieves in their operations; but
one day last week this young man was replaced by
another employe, who did his duty, found that the
parcels passed on to him did not tally with the in-
voices, and reported the discrepancies, with the
result already stated. As showing the careful and
systematic way in which those engaged in these pro-
ceedings have gone about the business, it may be
mentioned that some of the principal books have
been altered to suit and cover their purposes. It
follows, of course, that that could not have taken
place had not some of those who held responsible
positions abetted, if they did not originate, the pro-
ceedings; and, as already been said, such is the case.
One or two of those concerned—the number in all is
given as seven—have been from ten to twenty years
in the firm's employ, and more than one holds high
office in connection with local churches. All were
regarded as strictly honourable servants, and in re-
spect of those who were prominent church office.
bearers they were held in some esteem by a wide
circle of friends who have been deeply grieved and
shocked by the turn affairs have taken. One of the
men most deeply implicated, who was a traveller in
Ireland, has committed suicide. It is understood that
the greater part of the money was wasted in specula-
tion, chiefly on horse-racing.

, An I
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-27

I '4,4_3,

TEE SEAT'S DILL.

The Commons' reasons for disagreeing with some of
the Lords' amendments to the Redistribution Bill were
considered, with the result that none of the Lords'
amendments were insisted upon.

WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE.
Lord Denman having moved the second reading of
the Women's Suffrage Bill, the motion was rejected by
36 to 8.

THE CROFTERS' COMMISSION.

Lord Napie;;;ZE—tt-ric-k---exPiained that the Duke of
Argyll's protest had been omitted from the report of
the Royal Commission on the Highlands and Islands,
because it had been already printed and circulated
thi oughout Scotland.
The Duke of Argyll held that his protest, which
was an answer to falsehoods circulated against land-
lords, should hare been printed with the report of the
Commissioners.
Their lordships aajortrned at twenty-five minutes to
six till Thursday.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-27

A

(To be continued.)
SOMETHING MORE THAN
BANKRUPTCY.

In the London Bankruptcy Court, an application
was made to Mr. Justice Cave to declare Mrs. A.
Falvey entitled to certain household furniture and
other property, as against the trustee under the bank-
ruptcy of Messrs. G. and A. Mahler. The facts were
shortly as follows:- The bankrupts were commission
agents, of Milk-street, and, having absconded, a re-
ceiving order was made against them in November
last. For some six or seven years Gustave Mahler,
one of the bankrupts, had lived with Mrs. Falvey, a
married woman living apart from her husband, at
various places, in the first instance at Park-walk,
Brompton. Mrs. Falvey was then possessed, as she
alleged, of a house full of furniture, which was from
time to time renewed. Eventually, in the month of
November last, Gustave Mahler absconded, and was
afterwards arrested at Knotty Ash, near Liverpool,
where he was in hiding, and was sentenced
to a term of imprisonment for offences under
the Bankruptcy Act. Mr. Collinson then took
possession of some property at Liverpool, and after-
wards, hearing that a large quantity of furniture had
been removed from Maida-vale to a furniture reposi-
tory in the Harrow-road, he proceeded to claim the
' same as forming part of the estate. It appeared that
among the documents found by the trustee was a
, furniture bill for goods supplied and repairs due for
Gustave Mahler, amounting to 062, and which fur-
niture formed a portion of that claimed by Mrs.
Falvey as her own property. Mr. Herbert Reed ap-
peared for Mrs. Falvey ; Mr. Jones for the trustee.
The case having been opened as above, Mr. Justice
Cave said that the only thing he could do in the
matter would be to refer the case back to Mr. Regis-
trar Hazlit, to inquire as to what goods belonged to
the applicant and what goods belonged to the trustee,
with liberty to the trustee to inspect the furniture at
the depository.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-27

A NEW AFRICAN EXPEDITION.

Africa is irrepressible. We hear (says the Times(
geographers declaring they are tired of the stereo-
typed story of the African explorer, and the mere
mention of the name of that continent fills some of
them with despair, if not rage. And yet the next
expedition of the Royal Geographical Society is to be
to the same continent from which Mr. Joseph Thom-
son has so recently returnesl. This time, however,
the region to be explored is one of more than usual
interest, and the method of procedure will be con-
siderably different from that which has been hitherto
usually followed. We have had many lin.es run
through Africa in all directions, and what is now
needed is the leisurely study of the continent in
detail. This is what will be done by the expe-
dition which will leave England in August
next, fitted out at the expense of the Royal
Geographical Society, and commanded by Mr.
J. T. Last, who, as a lay agent of the Church
Missionary Socidy, has done admirable work in the
Zanzibar interior. Mr. Last, after making up his
caravan at Zanzibar, will proceed south to Lindi, to
the north of the mouth of the Rovuma river. Thence
Mr. Last will proceed to the confluence of the Rovuma
and Lugencle rivers and fix the longitude of the junc-
tion, an important geographical point not yet settled.
He will then go on in a generally south-westerly di-
rection, and, before reaching the north-end of Lake
Sherwr, turn southwards and make for the Namulli
Mils, which, with other new features in this region,
were discovered by Consul O'Neill in the end of
1883. Here Mr. Last will establish himself and
make a detailed study of the whole region in all its
aspects. He will make a complete survey of, the
surrounding country, its topography, its people,
its botany, economic products, climate, and
languages. When this is completed Mr. Last will
enter the valley of the Likugu river, which rises in
the neighbourhood of these hills, and follow it down
to the coast of Quizungu, whence he will travel south
to Quilimaue or north to Angoche, and thence to
Mozambique. Mr. Last will make a special point of
collecting all possible information concerning the
country ho passes through, its changes, its people,
their customs, languages, &c., the climate, its sanitary
conditions, and its suitability for the introduction of
European and other economic plants. The Lukugu
valley is said to be very thickly populated, and must,
therefore, be unusually fertile, and so of interest both
to the colonist and the trader. From what Mr. Last
has already done, the best scientific results may be
expected from an-expedition so carefully planned and
which is likely to be a credit both to its leader and to
the Geographical Society.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-27

A STRANGE FUNERAL.

A curious funeral was witnessed a day or two ago
in Paris. It was attended by the Representative of
the Prefect of the Seine, and the cortege consisted of
upwards of 7000 indigent persons of both sexes and
all ages. It might have been thought a philanthropist
or a benefactor of the poor was being buried, but it
was nothing of the kind, the funeral being that of an
eccentric individual, and the people attending it doing
so at the rate of two francs per head. The deceased
—as has been said—an eccentric character, grew
tired of living, and determined ", to hang himself.
Before doing this, however, he revenged himself on
his heirs for certain real or imaginary wrongs by
bequeathing to the Prefect of the Seine all his pro-
perty, amounting to some hundred thousand francs.
A letter informing that gentleman of the circum-
stance was despatched to the Prefecture, after which
the testator committed suicide. By a clause in his
will he stipulated that the Prefect should give his
body a decent funeral, that the prayers of the Church
should be read over it, and that it should be made
known that every poor person of the district in which
he resided who attended his funeral would receive
a gratuity of two francs. The Prefect executed
scrupulously these instructions, excepting in so far as
the prayers of the Church were concerned, the
Church refusing them on the ground that the defunct
had committed suicide. The family are intending to.
dispute the validity of the will, alleging the testator
was not sane when he drew it up.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-27

LORD SALISBURY AND THE NATIONAL
LIBERAL FEDERATION,

The following circular addressed to the delegates
upon the committee, has been issued by the officers of
the National Liberal Feberation:

"Birmingham, June 22. 1885.
"Dear Sir,—The officers have to-day had under
consideration the extraordinary course which Lord
Salisbury took in the House of Lords on Friday last,
stopping the progress of the Seats Bill. That course,
together with the implied threat .that in the event of
his demands not being conceded by the Liberal
leaders, an appeal might be made to the present
electorate constitutes a serious and dangerous poli-
tical crisis. When the operativn of the Franchise
Bill was postponed until the Ist January, 1886, it was
on the distinct understanding that the Seats Bill
would come into operation at the same time, and to
refuse to allow the bill to proceed and become law
simply on the ground of the present exigencies of the
Tory party is, in the opinion of the officers, nothing
short of a shameful departure from an honourable
understanding. Under these circumstances we beg
to request your attendance at a meeting of the general
committee, to be held on Monday next at 3.30 p.m.,
at the Queen's Hotel, Birmingham. The committee
will be asked at this meeting to consider resolutions
setting forth the opinion of the Federation upon the
course adopted by Lord Salisbury, and to deter-
mine the best means of fitly expressing the views of
the country, and especially of the county constituencie
thereon.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-27

A.4',3 Ls Tjyr) TOYER s'
LIABILITY ACT.

At tb Stourbridge County Court, on Wednesdas
before Sir Rapeit and a jwy, a ease w
Ca led on, in wheh \Yawn Dew sued the Whitley
t),l:ie7y Company, Ilalesowen, for d:niagi s Linde;
the above Act i respect to the d; ath of Widian,
i3r en, his stepson, who was killed at defendant,'
0,1 ie-y on .Tin' 20th, 1834.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-27

BO WLE V.

SCITOYL ATTV.ZDA NCI,: AT ROW LEY.—At the
mon', hr mexing of titi4 Board tie a ten(lau,,h-?
' offie r (Mr. Kibbler) repored the Ate telatie.! at the
vati ms s::11,2018 (luring tne p st inont I as filw:
!!—B tekheath, 1 097 on hoik, and 917 in ay. rage
' ,ttend owe ; Crad ey Heath, 891, 760, ; Old Bid,
-62 651; 0 d ELiI, Ju ior, 265, 236 ; Ga-rat's
Lane, 126, 112 CouLlreaves, 459 379; Knowle,
455, 390 ; fividati, 403. 40.) ; totals, 5,517, 3,855.
Ihe nn,: 'e' for the previo.l3 month were : On he
',Gooks, 4,472 WiLi.an'aerage aretilan,:e of 3,813,
showiti„; an il:crens, of 45 on tile bnks and 2.; . in
tAe atteudatte--. For the corresponding
period last year the number on the books was 3,89)
withian average attendanoo of 3,214.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-27

A SCENE IN A SYNAGOGUE.

At the Thames Police-court on Saturday a man
applied for advice: Ile said that the Council of the
United Synagogue had, with a view to prevent im-
morality as much as possible, passed a decree offering
to marry persons of the Jewish persuasion for the
small fee of 10s. 6d., instead of the ordinary charge
of £3 15s. 6d. As applicant was a poor man, he
applied to get married under the lesser charge.
Accordingly on Wednesday last he and his bride
and friends went to the Jews' Synagogue in
Prince's-street, Spitalfields, to have the wedding
ceremony performed. There were altogether eight
couples waiting to be married, and applicant was
second on the list. The second reader, who performed
the service, married the first couple, and charged
them 2s. 6d. over and above the 10s. 6d. which
Counsel required them to pay. When it came to
applicant's turn the second reader demanded the
extra money of him. This he refused to pay, saying
he was a poor man and could not pay it. The reader
then ordered him to stand from underneath the
canopy, and told them both to wait. He then married
tho other six couples, when the first reader remon-
strated with his brother official, saying it was a cruel
thing to keep them waiting and punishing them in
that manner because they had not the extra money
to pay. The second reader then went to his desk,
and appeared to be busily engaged on some private
matter, takingn on otice of applicant and his friends.
The first minister then sent the beadle up to his col-
league to come down and marry them, but he reused
to do so. The first minister then married them him-
self, and also, according to the Jewish custom, read
The marriage certificate and contract. When he had
finished reading the certificate he handed it to the
bride's mother. Thereupon the second reader came
under the canopy, and violently snatched the certi-
cate away from his mother-in-law and put it into his
pocket, saying, "If you want this you must come to
my office tor it." A struggle then took place between
them, during which the cup of wine was broken, and
while the first minister was finishing the ceremony.
During the struggle the bride's veil and dress was
torn, and she was also pushed about. Applicant was
told that the alleged assault took place outside the
jurisdiction of the Court, and that he must go to
Worship-street and prefer his complaint to the
magistrate sitting at that court.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-27

THE. NEW MINISTRY

The political crisis ended on Tuesday, and the
iormal installation of the new Ministry took place on
Wednesday. On Tuesday afternoon Lord Salisbury
proceeded to Windsor and submitted to her Majesty
a list of those whom he proposed as the prineipal
members of his Government.

The Times says the Cabinet will consist of 16
members, the same as the retired Cabinet, eight being
in the tipper and Eight in the Lower House. The
offices are distributed as follows:
Prime Minister and

Foreign Secretary ... Marquis of Salisbury.
First Lord of the Trea- ) Sir Stafford Northcote
sury j (Earl of Iddesleigh.)
Lord Chancellor ... ... Sir Harding Giffard
(with a peerage).
Lord Lieutenant of Ire.

land ... •••
Lord President of the

Earl of Carnarvon.

Council ... Viscount Cranbrook.
Lord Privy Seal Earl of Harrowby.
Chancellor of the Exche-

quer and Leader of the
House of Common ... Sir M. Hicks-Beach.
Home Secretary ... ... Sir Richard Cross.
Colonial Secretary ... Col. F. A. Stanley.
War Secretary ... Mr. W. H. Smith.
Indian Secretary... ... Lord Randolph Churchill.
First Lord of the

Admiralty ... ... Lord George Hamilton.
Lord Chancellor of Ire-1 Mr. Gibson (with a
land ... f peerage).
Postmaster-General ... Lord John Manners.
President of the Board of

Trade ... ... Duke of Richmond.
Vice - President of the
Council... ... Mr. Edward Stanhope.
We have reason to believe that the following
appointments outside the Cabinet have bee decided:
President of the Local
Government Board ... Mr. Arthur Balfour.
Chancellor of the Duchy
of Lancaster ... ... Mr. Chaplin.
Chief Secretary for Ire-
land Sir W. Hart-Dyke.
First Coznraissioner of
Works ... ... Mr. Plunket.
On Tuesday morning Mr. Chaplin paid a brief visit
to the Marquis of Salisbury at Arlington-street, and
somewhat later Sir Henry Ponsonby called. At one
o'clock a meeting of leading members of the new
Government, including several who are not included
in the Cabinet, was held at Arlington-street.
Amongst those present were Sir Stafford Northcote,
the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, Sir Michael
Hicks-Beach, Mr. Balfour, Lord George Hamilton,
Mr. Gibson, Lord Randolph Churchill, Lord John
Manners, Colonel Stanley, Sir Richard Cross, Mr. W.
H. Smith, the Earl of Carnarvon, Sir Hardinge
Giffard, the Earl of Harrowby, Sir W. Hart-Dyke,
and Lord Cranbrook. The meeting was called for
the purpose of considering some details arising out of
the settlement arrived at between the leaders of the
two political parties as to the conduct of Parlia.
mentary business for the remainder of the session,
The meeting concluded at ten minutes past twr:
o'clock. Shortly after its close Lord Richard Gros.
venor called upon Lord Salisbury as to the arrange-
ments for the transfer of Government, regarding
which Sir Henry Ponsonby had a little earlier called
at Downing-street to consult Mr. Gladstone.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-27

SIGNING WITH A "CROSS.'

Signing the marriage register with "a cross"
appears from the Registrar-General's.report to be in
a fair way to become, in England, a thing of the past.
No longer ago than 1843, the proportion of brides
who were reduced to this humiliating confession of
illiteracy only fell short by one per cent. of one-half
of the entire number of the year; the proportion in
the case of bridegrooms in the same position being,
roughly speaking, one-third. In 1883, the last year
for which the returns have been digested and pub-
lished, the illiterate bridegrooms had fallen to an
insignificant fraction over 121, and the illiterate
brides to just over 15i per 100. Still more striking
as an evidence of the diffusion of plementary instruc-
tion is the constantly-increasing pace of the diminu-
tion of the mark signatures on a comparison of the
last four decades.

A day or two ago a.tramP, giving the name of Joseph
Thompson, made an inconvenient mistake at the West
Norwood Police-station. Deceived, no doubt, by the
rural aspect of the place, he entered the open door, and
was soliciting alms of an inspector before he became
aware of his situation. He was speedily placed in the
dock on a charge of begging, and sent by train to the
Lambeth police-court, where the magistrate committed
him to prison as a vaerant.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-27

OLD HILL.

MAGasTntriA.L.—At the Police Court on We
day before Mr. U. 'ling ley (rnag,istrate), Arthur
Tromans d'uinninker, was fin .d ss. for b.ing drunk
and refusing Lo quit the Bird-in-I:land Inn. Cradley
113ath.—.lainc..s Turner, wag-oiler, wa dircctol to
pay 163, for neglecting- to unlock a wa...roxi wheel
wnen traveltin,c on a main r oad.—Williarn Hoskins,
of no fix !d abode, w ,E 3 charred wi h se 'lin; a
quantity of rope, the property f Msrs. Samuel
Minton and Co., the propri3ors of the Twin Col-
liery, Oakhatn. Pris, ner siid be picked tile rope
up, believiug it to be rubbish. lie was disthirged
wit'l a caution.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-27

A Large and Well-selected Stock oi

MEERSCHAUM PIPES

CIGAR

I/OLDERS

AND
ELEGANT
WillS'S,

OTHER
CIGAR CASES,
Cope's, H ign e Ws.

_",-;
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-27

FRENCH WATERING PLACES.

A commizsion appointed by the French Govern-
ment two years ago to report on mineral water
fegislation has just concluded its labours. It re-
commended the creation ot four districts, each
under an inspector nominated by the Minister of
Commerce, at a salary of 12,0001 r., with 3000 fr. for
travelling expenses. The inspector, a physician ,of
20 years' standing, is to renounce his practice, and is
to visit every station in his district at least once a
year, staying long enough at a place to see the work-
ing, and, if necessary, repeating his visits. There are
now 1027 mineral springs in use, and 391 establish-
ments, receiving 221,000 visitors a year. Up to 1881
the inspectors were entitled to fees from the estab-
lishments, the State acting as intermediary, and levy-
ing the tax on the proprietors, but difficulties having
arisen, a law of 1882 declared the inspectors not en-
titled to any remuneration. The appointment of this
Commission followed, and the majority recommenda
the system above described. At each station there is
to be a resident doctor, to give gratuitous advice ti
the indigent patients, who number in a 1115,000. Th
establishments are to be taxed to defray the expense
al. the new system.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-27

THE CHURCH CONGRESS.

The preparations for the Church Congress, which
is to be held in October at Portsmouth, have made
considerable progress, the Subjects Committee, of
which Canon Jacob is the secretary, having already
decided upon their scheme, and the great majority of
speakers and readers have been selected. In the
Congress Hall an interesting discussion will doubtless
%rise on the first day over the revised version of the
Old Testamcnt, on which the Bishop of Bath and
Wells and Canon Driver will speak; as well as on
the afternoon topics of special Church work amongst
men, upon which the Hon. J. G. Adderley and others
will speak. On the second day the work of women
in the Church and evangelising agencies will be
treated by the Bishop of Oxford, Canon Thynne,
Canon Body, Rev. W. Carlile (Church Army), and
Mr. Stevenson Blackwood. A strong list of speakers
on the teaching work of the Church, which will be
considered on the third day, includes the names of
Professor and Canon Westcott, Professor Wace, the
Dean of Gloucester (Dr. Butler), and Canon Bernard.
The afternoon topic will be the Church in India, in-
troduced by Archdeacon Baly, with Sir Charles
Turner as a speaker, and in the evening Church
defence will doubtless attract an enthusiastic
audience. On the last day, according to custom, the
morning meeting will be of a devotional character,
the spiritual life in three aspects being treated by
Lord Mount-Temple, Prebendary Baker, Canon
Eliot, the Rev. Dr. Welldon, and other speakers. In
the evening legislative proposals with a view to the
repression of intemperance will be discussed by Mr.
J. G. Talbot, M.P., Mr. Stafford Howard, M.P.
Archdeacon Earle, and Prebendary Grier. Subsi-
diary meetings will be held in the lecture-hall in
Penny-street.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-27

AT it LETIC SPOIi S AT NET EIERTON.

A large asst.mblage was present at the sixth
annual sports of the Netherton Cricket and Foottiall
Club on Monday. Toe iiiat event we a 100 yards'
Handicap for an oak and silver chatnpigne cup
and ebony tdscuit box. Heat 1:1,J. J. Wil-on,
Ast,n Unity; 2, W T. Danks, unattached. Time,
10 2 ssec.—Heat 2: 1, H. Kelly, Moseley Harriers;
2J. Gorton, Wolverhampt n Wanderers. 'lime,
10 3-s.—Heat 3; 1, J. Eceleston, Moseley Harriers;
2. J. W. Garrat, ,un ittached. Time, 10 3-5 sec.—
Heat 4; 1, J. H. Isaac, Brockmoor Harriers; 2, J.
Evans. Birmingham. Time, 10 4-ssec.—Heat 5:
F. J. Turnbull, Bridgnorth head; 2, T. Cornfield,
Walsall Harriers. Time, 10 2-ssec.—Heat 6: IH.
W. Sadth, Godiva Harriers; 2, W, Lees, Birming-
ham. Tie. 10L3-ssec.—The final :between the
winners ot the heats was a spirited trace, and re•
suited in a win for H. Kelly, in 10 1-ssec ,by a
yasd nl a hall, H. W. Smith coming in second.—
A 220 yards Scholar's Haandicap, in two heats, for
priz a value £1 is and 10s 6d, proved very interest-
( jag% The final was won in 325ee by F. Gore (1)
I and F. Hotchkiss (2).—A Mile Bicycle Handicap,
for a pair of brouz- s ad Crown Derby egg frame,
was pulled off in the find by H. N. Collins (Speed-
wed) and H. H. Smith (Dragon) A 440 yards
handicap for chimney clock and oak and silver ink-
stand (3 heats) was won in the final by J. Williim•
son (Godiva), and NV. ltobr.s (Handsworth),
second. Time, 56 1-ssec. A mile fiat handicap,
for marble ckck and oak and silver salad bowl, was
conteFted by twenty-th Tee competitors, including
Snook, of Moseley, the winners being J. P. Perry
(Ki idermiuster Harriers) and A I Houldiug (Bar on)
second. Time, 4 coins. 26secs. A three mile
bicycle handicap, was hotly contested between eight
competitors, H. H. Smith Dragon, proving an easy
v et .ry Henry Collins coming in second half a lap
behi id. Time, llinins. 45sec. Consolerarde fun
was provoked by the obstacle race, run in four heats
foi d !es6ing bag and a guinea. The final was a
w,.lk over for 11. J, 13,wd,n, Edgbaston tl,rriers,
and V\ . Goddard, Godiva. The f gentle-
men offieiated : Judges, All. Walker, Councillor
Bre:tle, and Mr. J. W. Iligg.; ; starter, Captain H,
S. Woodhall ; referee, Mr, '1: W. Clulee ; clerk of
the course and hon, sec., Mr, John Cole, Mr. J.
W. Hig.o aftei wards dtstriuuted the prizes. During
the day balloon ascents were made, various enter.
taintu uts provided, and danciag was indulged in to
the . t :aim of the South !Staff.Jrdshire Military
I Band,
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-27

ROWLEY.

Scltoor, lloAnn.—The montliTy meeting of this
Boar j was held on Monday e hg, Mr. Green
presiding. The School Offic, r rJported that the
pei emtage of attendance was 85-4, b ing a slight
increase over the previous moath Some discussion
took place as h the attendinee of iufauts, with the
view of gettiog infant children into the Board
Schools immediately after the next examination.
It was pointed out that the infant departments had
suffered much this year owing to most of the new
coming, children not appearing for admission until
late in the scho 1 year Mr Whitley pointed out
that it was to the interest ot the Boat d to get the
infants' delystments well filled, and thought an ap-
peal should be made to parents to send their young
chillren to school,—Mr. Cave said 250 children
belonging to Rowley parish we:e attending Church
schools at Blackheath, and he argued that these
,aught to be retained in the Board schools.—tlti-
mni the matter was referred to the school officer,
who was instructed t report oa the number of in-
fan ,s in the varish, with a view of getting as many
as possible in the schools.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-27

"SPURIOUS SOVEREIGNS."

The short Act of Parliament passed in 1883 on the
suggestion of the Mint authorities, consequent on the
tricks and frauds resulting from the sale of the
imitation sovereigns known as "Hanover medals,"
seems to have been eminently succcessful. Evident
as it was on the face of them that these medals were
merely counters, they were as a fact passed upon
many ignorant persons for real sovereigns. Cheating
by these means, it may be remembered, was one of
the petty offences of the assassin Lefroy, incidentally
revealed at his trial. Last year it appears from the
Mint report that there was but one prosecution for
this offence as against 26 in the previous year. The
instance was that of a pedlar, who was proved at the
Worcester Sessions to have found persons credulous
enough to give him 12s. 6d. each for these worthless
bits of metal.

Men shotitd not think too much of themselves,
and yet a man should be careful not to forget him-
self.
A three-year-old little girl was taught to close her
evening prayer, during the temporary absence of her
father, with "and please watch over my papa." It
sounded verysweet, but the motber'e,apanseauvat_may
be imagined when she added, "and you'd better keep
an eve on mamma too r -
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-20

YGSIC,-SCTENCE, AND INVENTION.

. .
To Colonel Maplesson and Mr. C. 13. 'farness
belongs the.credit, of a new idea in TUSical entertain-
ments. Who has not felt the tedium ;of a Jong wait
between the perts'Al a concert?- W.rtinsiC, however,
ally her fOPe" viitlAhOse of geience And commerce,
the whelkeyn,tenkor concert-giving is at • mice revolu-
tionised. Judging from the- brilliant , succesi of a
performancis•-giiren at' St.. JtinieWball;. London, by
the aboveLniinied'gentlem '
en one may form a -toler-
ably accurate „notion of the style of entrtafinnent
which may become the fashion under the new regime.
Music will, lipratofore,". Supplythe attraction for
the first and second inrts of the evening; but sciettca„
commerce, and perchance •politic, will: be brought
t
into play. ter :Occiky tha space of time
which tradition has devoted to. refreshment and
frivolous conversation. The novelty at the -ree'ent
concert consisted 'in an address . given livieen the
parts by DryCartisi Moffat upon his *Volition of the
" AmmoniaribteV," "In thi &lase of shis remarks, Dr.
Moffat incidentallirnentioned the fact that it hadbeen
tried by Royalty and also by Mr. Gladstone. The
mention of. the Enernier's name was the signal for an
outburst tie; aproladid, ccompanied bleouriter mani-
festations, which tan' ij 'effect "of . interrupting the
lecture for azi app-reeiable-.space of, time.
.'lTereupon
Dr. Moffat,,, travelling for • a msMont 'outside the
range of the subject he had undirtakeri to giscourse
upon, °Ped'jt aa his opinion that Mr. Gladstone
was not onlfrtbd• Prime' Minister, but the 1‘ primest "
Minister England had esver• had—a view which,wits
vociferously ,---""ered• and hissed. The con Cert pro-
eeeded with•the- appeatb.nee' Of
Madame Labla-ehe 'Madame Marie Roze,
Erritvrr. 'Carpi, and Signor *Marini
in the quartet frimn. Un di ei ben." Of
the art i4ts Who e.ssisted at the concert it is impossible
to speak in ail but the highest tE3rilikl. It is easy to
understand the •enthusiastn.._ittoused by such singers
as those mentioned, an ct Desvignes, Miss
Kate Flinn, Mr. trerbert Reeves; Signor Novara, and
; Air. Arthur Ossiyal.d, as well as by such instru-
' mentalists as Signor Papini, Signor Tito Mattel, Mr.
.Ttn Thomas, ond M. Albert. • The band of the
ThSeat, Gunrds also attended, and performed a ntirnbei
oii
f t.:,?!(-etions. There was a fashionable gathering,
ptetelv filling the hall in every part, and
als after-
"arc], di3tin hg ed company had supper upon the
itivitation
o Mr. Harness.

. _
1•11. Aff4 016-4.1.4...4.4 4