The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-09-29 00:00:00

}MAE, FORFUGN, AND C,OLONIk,..

lI•ARM-LESS. —Sportsman (who has missed again) :
" I sty, Mumbles, the birds seem to be afraid of me."
—Keeper: " Well, sir, they didn't ought to be, for
you never 'urt any on 'em.—Fun.
AN IRON THEATRE,— A company is said to have
been formed to carry out a " reformed theatre, " a
model of which has recently been exhibited. Every-
thing possible about this theatre is of iron. All the
scenes, curtains, &c., are lifted and lowered by hy-
draulic machinery, so that only about one.sixth the
number of men usually required suffice to " work "
everything • and the scenes can be changed in a sur-
prisingly sort time. The stage floor is in a number of
rectangular secti.ns, each of which can be raised and
lowered independently by hydraulic power. This, it
is said, gives power to produce many very remarkable
and picturesque effects which are impossible with
ordinary stage machinery. "Thus the stage may be
made to slope backwards and downwards, so that the
audience may suddenly find themselves at the top of
a mountain range, looking down into a series of deep
valley.."
GOOD GROUNDIL—Koffee Kalkalli has been defeated,
and forced to retreat from the Ashantee capital. Just
what might have been expected. Another case of
Koffee going to pot.—Funny Folks.
A LIVINC SLELETON.—On Crites Mountain,Braxton
county, lives a man whose curious sickness is attract-
ing wide attention among physicians. He has been
an invalid for five years' and is wasted to literal
living skeleton. When taken ill be weighed 180
pounds. Receotly be was weighed and found to have
fallen off to 42 pounds. This statement, incredible as
it seems, is vouched for by physiclans in good stand-
ing. His thigh can be spanned by a man's hand. He
presents a ghastly and unnatural sight, his ribs and
bones showing plainly through their covering of flabby
skin. His backbone can be felt when he lies on his
back by pressing on his stomach. With all his suffer-
ings he is able to walk about the house, and sometimes
takes a turn out of doors. The doctors predicted hie
death long bgo, but he still lives to bails their skill
and perplex them. He has consented to a thorough
autopsy after his death, the result of which will be in-
teresting. He grows weaker slowly but steadily.
Tim PARIS MORISIIIL—The Arc/tiled says that in a
few weeks' time the present Morgue in Paris is doomed
to disappear, and the establishment will be transferrei
to the Caaerne de la Cit 6. It may be interesting to
know that the lugubrious institution originated with
the Sisters of Mercy of Sainte-Catherine, generally
known as the Catherinettes, who undertook to pick up
the dead bodies found lying in the public thorough-
fares, and bury them at their own charge in the Ceme-
tery of the Innocents. In 1714 this merciful function
of the Sisters is found to have lapsed, for the dungeon
of the Cheitelet was then used as a receptacle for un-
claimed bodies which were thrown down pell-mell on
a thin layer of straw, and left until sought for and
recognized by some relation or friend groping about by
the light of him own lantern, In 1804 the Morgue was
transferred to the old slaughter-house of the March
Neuf. The existing Morgue was established in 1884

SMALL FARMING.—The possible results to be schieved
by small farming are well illustrated by the State of
New York. In that State the great majority of the
farms are small, ranging from 10 acres to 200, the
average being something under 50 acres. In 1879 the
total quantity of land cultivated in farms was
18,000,000 acres, and the farms were 377,000 in num-
b.-r. In 1881 there were 7,360,000 acres reported by
the several county assessors under cultivation in the
State of California, But these reports are considered
short of the mark, and the total acreage may be taken
at 8,500,000. The total products of the 18,000,000
acres in small farms in New York were valued at
178,025,695 do!s. Only one other State, Illinois, whidi
has 26.000,000 acres cultivated, produced more than
New York. The acreage cultivated in Illinois was 40
per cent, more than in New York, but the value of pro-
ducts was only 13 per cent, more. This illustrates the
difference between large and small farms; in the case
of the latter, every acre can he brought under close
and direct supervision. New York, while not a great
grain State, produces one•seventh of all the hay of the
country, and that signifies a large dairy business,
which is generally more profitable than grain farming.
In 1879 New York State produced nearly one-seventh
of all the butter made in the United States, and nearly
one-third of all the cheese.

QUITE RIGHT.—The authorities of the Post Office
have now prohibited the carriage of live lobsters
throegh the post. Why was not the clause (claws)
thought of before ?—Judy.
THE CORAL INDUSTRY.—The following figures will
show the importance of this industry in Italy :—lm-
portation of raw coral-1882, first six months, 51,604
kilogrammes, value 1,898,840 francs; 1883, first six
months, 47,207 kilogrammes, value 1,652,245 francs.
Exportation of raw coral-1882, first six months,
21,650 kilogrammes, value 757.950 francs ; 1883, first
six months, 15,908 kilogrammes, value 556,780 francs.
These figures show that there is a decrease this year
compared to last in both the exportation and importa-
tion of raw coral, but with worked coral it is the
reverse. Importation of worked coral-1882, first six
months, 934 kilogrammes, value 700,500 francs ; 1883,
first six months, 1,611 kilogrammes, value 48,508,500
francs. Exportation of worked coral-1882, first six
months, 42,963 kilogrammes, value 39,722,250 francs;
1883, first six months, 64,668 kilogrammes, value
48,508,500 francs. The difference in advantage of the
present year is therefore 11,715 kilogrammes exported,
at a value of 8,715,250 francs.
LONDON TO JOHN 0' GROATS ON A TRICYCLE.—Mr.
Alfred Nixon, champion of the London Tricycle Club,
who last year made the first and at present only
tricycle, journey from John o' Groats to the Lands
End, a distance of 1,007 miles in a fortnight, has
just accomplished the above-mentioned ride, a distance
of some 750 miles, also for the first time, on a tricycle
in eight days twenty•three hours. Mr. Nixon left, the
Eank of England on the 12th inst. at twelve o'clock,
(Ind reached John o' Groats House on Friday at
eleven am.

FRANCE TO CHINA.—" You Hanoi me much."—
Punch.

THE Woomm NUTMEG OUTDONE.—The New York
Sun publishes a story that a firm in New Jersey is
angsged in making artificial eggs, which are very hard
to distinguish from the genuine hen fruit, and which
sell as readily and for as much money. The operation
is thus briefly described :—The yellow or yolk is a
mixture of Indian meal, corn starch, and several other
ingredients. It is poured into a machine in a thick,
mushy state, and it is formed into a ball and frozen.
In this condition it passes into the other box, where it
is surrounded by the white, which is chemically the
same as the real egg. This is also frozen, and by a
peculiar rotary motion of the machine an oval shape
is imparted to it, and it passes into the next recep•
tacle, where it receives the thin, filmy skin. After
this it has only to go into the shelter, where it gets its
last coat in the shape of a plaster of Paris shell, a trifle
thicker than the genuine article. Then it goes out on
the drying trays, where the shell dries at once and the
inside thaws out gradually. It becomes, to all
appearances, a real egg.
GALLANT RESCUE EY A YOUNG LADY.—The Royal
Humaiie Society's medal has been unanimously voted
to Miss Francis H. Loyd, daughter of Lieutenant-
Oolonel E. Loyd, for saving a boy named White, aged
ten, on the 3rd inst., at Cowes, Isle of Wight. The
boy fell off the quay, opposite the Royal Yacht
Squadron Club-house into deep water, and was being
washed some distance by the heavy sea and strong tide,
when Mies Loyd, who was walking on the seawall,
seeing the boy's dangerous condition, determined to
save him, if possible. Without divesting herself of
any of her clothing, she at once plunged into the sea,
swam out to the boy, and with great difficulty brought
him safely to the shore. The little fellow was then in
a state of collapse, but snbsequenely recovered.

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VETEBANS OF THE NAPOLEONIC WARS. —The Jewish
Chronicle cuntains an account of two veterans of the
Napotenni:: wars who died in America last month.
Wolf Meyer, for whom the age of 106 is claimed, was
born in Western Germany and served in many of the
campaigns of the Emperor. He was over six feet
high, and leaves an eldest son six feet four inches high.
He leaves seven children, 53 grandchildren, and 32
great-grandchildren, His second who died aged 94.
Hi eldest son is aged 80, and lives at Newark, New
Jersey, where the father died. Aaron Goldstein, the
" oldest inhabitant" of Paterson in the same Stats,
died in his 105th year. He was born in West Prussia,
and was a tinsmith. He went through the Russian
campaign, and was at Waterloo. He leaves, by three
marriages, six children living in Paterson San Fran.
chic°, New York, Berlin; 33 grandchildren, and 31
great•granchildren. Our contemporary points out
that no documents attesting the age of these veterans
are referred to, although the fact of their service in
the Napoleonic wars may be accepted.
TITENTNG THE 'TAP."—The Minister (scenting the
" morning air) : " Eh, John, it's terrible bad stuff,
that Whiskey."—John : "'Deed, sir ! 'deed, sir
Aw'm soarry tae hear that, sir! Whaur mioht ye bile
bought it, sir.—Fun.

ENSILAGE EXPERIMENTS.—Lord Tollemache has
opened one of the large silos which he has constructed
at Peckforton, and has ascertained that the experi-
ment has been quite successful. Ttie ensilage was
stored when very damp, but it comes out sound and
sweet. Horses and cattle have been tested with the
food, and they will leave their dry fodder and take to
ensilage with avidity
RATES or FATTENING CATTLE.—From the experi-
ments carried on during 1882 83 at the Ontario Agri-
cultural College and Experimental Farm it was found
that a pure-bred short•horn steer could be brought to
a weight of 1,700 lb. when one month under two years
old, or a daily rate of increase equal to 2i lb. per day.
Hereford grade steer calves could be made to average
611 lb. in 233 days, or a rate of 2 2.3 lb. per day; and
Aberdeen pole grade steer calves could be made to
average 720 lb. in 273 days, or a rate of 2i lb. per day.
‘Flughr beet weight for weight with inangels and
turnips, ad in association with equal kinds and
quantities of other foods, gave the highest returns in
feeding cattle, or 270 lb. per head per day. Mangels
gave 2'38 lb.per head per day under similar condi-
tions to the sugar beet. Swede turnips added 230 lb.
per head per day.
FOREIGN LITE STOOK AND FRESH MEAL—The
umber of live stock landed at Liverpool last week
from the United States and Canada only amounted
to 941 head .of cattle, being the smallest arrivala
during a. single week for many weeks past. There
Were no sheep landed by any of the conveying
steamers; but the quantity of mutton brought was
unusually large, and amounted to 1,199 carcases.
' The supply of fresh beef was a slight decrease on the
• previous week's arrivals, but above the average of the
last few weeks. The arriving steamers were eight in
number,' ,and were as follows :—The Missouri, with
944. cattle and I,qlp,quarters of beef; the Spain, with
'1,446 quarters of Aeef and 284 carcases of mutton;
the: Furnessict, with 1,680 quarters of beef and 350
carcasea of mutton ; the Arizona, with 960 quarters
of bee Mod 203 carcases of mutton; the City of Riet•
.mcond, with geo quarters of beef and 65 carcases of
mutten4„the Baltic, with 780 quarters of beef, and
[-10ItY .carcases of. mutton; the Germanic, with 720
' quarters of beef and 200 carcases of mutton ; and the
Sarnia, with 642 quarbers of beef—making a total of
941 cattle, 8,040 quarters of beef, and 1,199 carcases
of mutton.

THE Cm or BIEHARCL—With the beginning of
the current halt•year the Territ 4-37 of Dakota, ia the
United States, receivei a new capital in the city of
Bistnerck, instead of Yankton, which has hitherto
been the chief t iiismarck is on the Missouri,
and is one of the important railway stations of the
Northern Pacific line, which cro,ses the Missouri at
this point. Dakota has an area of about 230,0
square miles, being larger than France. It was first
organised as a territory in 1861 the first white settle-
ment . having been established at Vermilion, Yeakton,
and Sioux Falls in the course of 1858.59. The census
of June. 1880, gives 162,000 as the population of th°f
whole Territory, including Indians. The city o
Bismarck is a specimen of rapid Western develoP-

ment.
A BIG CLAMIAICE.—At a recent fat man's festival
in Connecticut a gigantic clambake was cooked which
was 25! t. long and 10ft, wide, and consisted of 2,00°
ears of corn, 600 pounds of lobster, 600 pounds of fish,
1,000 chickens, innumerable oysters and clams' tic?
barrels of sweet potatoes and two of the ordinary lEirni
and the whole topped off with two immune Owll
puddings and 150 water melons,
FIVE ACRES OF EELS.—The greatest eel-pond in
America is on the farm of James N. Wells, in the
town of Rivermead, Mass. It covers five acres and le
so full of eels that they can be raked out with a garden
rake. Two years ago Mr. Wells put 2,000 dozen of
eels into the pond, intending to leave them undis-
turbed for five years. They have increased to mil'
lions. They are fed regularly every day on " horse-
feet," a peculiar shell-fish. The eels know when the,'
are to be fed, and the stroke of Mr. Wells' wbiP
against his waggon call thousands of them up t°
dinner, although any one else may pound away ell
day without any effect. One of these shell•fishi
fastened to a strong cord and thrown into the waters
may be drawn out in a few minutes with hundreds °I

eel fastened to it.

COMING RAILWAY WORK.—The Engineer earl:"
"Seven hundred and eighty-two miles of railway t°
be constructed within the United Kingdom represents
a quantity of railway work which has not had en
equal for many yews. For such a length, however,
powers have been granted to existing and new railwet
companies during last session. An expenditure 9
£30,682,100 has been authorized for new lines en°
connected works, and nearly three millions and a bLI!
sterling have to be added to this as the author'"
expenditure on about 150 miles Of tramways, which
have a'so been authorized. There will thus be 11
good deal of railway and tramway making, and plea?
of new stock will be required within the next year er
two. Internal trade in these industries certainly boa
not a very gloomy outlook."

THE COCOANUT AS FOOD,— The Fiji Times in a re;
-cent article calls attention to the immense utility
the cocoanut as food rations, and the valuable Tor
ities which it has for sustaining nutrition. The fol:
lowing instance is given in the case of a vessel thas
once left San Francisco with 400 passengers for SO:
ney, and which in consequence of running short of
stores had to put in at Samna, where a large quantiti
of cocoanuts were obtained. During the remainder
of the passage very heavy weather was encountered,'
in which the vessel became waterlogged and all/
reached Sydney after a perilous journey of 80 dor'
during which time all the provisions ran short, and olelh
women, and children were fed only upon cocoanut&
being at last reduced to one per diem for each adult;
Notwithstanding the diet, not a life was lost, and
a single case of sickness occurred, all the passengt._ol
landing in a healthy and well-nourished condition.
another instance, two men &Med in a whale boat on
to Quairs Island, where they remained for seven year;
before they were taken off. They had no food beYorlu
a chance flying fish and cocoanuts, and yet whell
rescued were in excellent condition, and had pine'
in weight.
TYPE FOR THE FISHERIES EXHIBITION CATALOCTIL--
Pike—a !—Judy,

TEA PLANTING IN THE CALVASIM—A movemenkof
considerable economic importance is being made WO
a view to the cultivation of the tea plant in the Canes'
sus and according to the IVouveau Temps some Oen'
tations have already been =Lie at Soukhoum, both le
the Botanical Gardens, and in the garden of Ntr'
Wedensky. The plants of the qualities there grosrli
have matured perfectly, and the question of the pog•
sibility of a successful cultivation has been practicelli
solved. It is considered that other Portions of
.tlie
Caucasus are equally well adapted for tea growinft
and especially in the western part of Trans-Cancan*
in the valley of Alazan, where the climate resemb.leg
that of Chins. It is somewhat singular, considering
the enormous quantity of tea imported and CO
sumed by the Russians, that no effort has hitherto
been made to utilize this region, for even if the highest
classes of tea cannot he grown, it will undoubtedl9
give a good enough quality for brick tea, for whic.b
5,000,000 of roubles are annually paid to China. It la
proposed also to attract a Chit.ese immigration to the
Caucasus, so as to make certain of a proper cultiVe'
tion and manipulation.

DEATH FROM TER lISR OF A NARCOTIC.—An inquest
has been held in London respecting the death of
Walter Woodcock Wilmot, aßed 18 years. His fathers
Mr. Walter Benjamin Wilmot, residing at 251,
Brixton-road, stated that on Thursday morning et e
quarter past eight he went to the bedroom of the
deceased, who was a medical student, and found 11103
in bed with a blue bottle, containing chloroform, I°
his right hand. Being unable to arouse him the
witness sent for a doctor. Mr. Edwin Jacqueet
surgeon, 206, Brixton-road, deposed to being called to
the deceased, and finding him quite dead. The cause
of death was asphyxia, consequent upon inhaling the
vapour of chloroform. It appeared from the evidence
that the deceased was in the habit of using chloro•
form for the purpose of inducing sleep.—The jury re'
turned a verdict of "Death from misadventure."

GRAZING LANDS OF NORTH-WESTERN AMERICA."'"
By a recent estimate the grazing lands in the Ncrth•
Western territories of the United States, including
Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming, M9ntana, Washington,
Eastern Oregon, and Idaho, are placed at no less
than 1,000,000,000 acres. The Oregon short line of the
Union Pacific is now opening up a region capable of
snpporting 5,000,000 cattle and 10,000,000 sheer),
which, when it shall be fully occupied, can export
yearly 650,C00 cattle, 1,500,000 sheep, and 10,000,00,
lbs. of wool. The Union Pacific recently offers
1,775,003 acres in Nebraska at an average of 1 dol.
per acre, besides large blocks in Colorado, Utah, spa
Wyoming, aggregating over 2,600,000 acres, at fal
average of 75 cents per acre.

THE AMERICAN - INDIANS.—It appears that the
policy of rendering the Indians in the United State/
self-supporting is making steady progress. Secreted'
Teller has now declared his intention to purchage
stock cattle for the red men whenever he can, and en'
courage them to become cattle raisers. A similar ex:
periment which has been tried with the Navajoes 01
New Mexico has proved completely successful. The
Government furnished them in 1869 with 11,000 BheeP
and 1,000 goats, at an outlay of SO,OOO dole., and tilt
number has in the course of 14 years increased to the
enormous figure of 900,000 sheep and 20,000 goats,
The wool clipped in 1881 amounted to 1,000,00111 f
and 200,0001 b. were manufactured into blankets. Tba
result is that while before the purchase of the sheeV
and goats the appropriations for this tribe amountea
to nearly 200,000 dole, a year, they are now self-sup•
porting. This is a most significant fact as to the
capabilities of the Indians as stock raisers. As quite
one-half of the Indian reservations are better adapted
to stock raising than agriculture, and the Indians tare
much,greater experts at herding than farming, there IS
every reason for such an extension of the Belt-support'
ing system as is now proposed.
WRICK OF A STEAMER.—The screw steamer, Hug!!
Sleigh, 1,411 tons register, arrived in Plymouth Souna
on Sunday, having on board the captain, officers,
clew, and one passenger, from the Zeimbra, 427 tong
register, of Liverpool, which was wrecked off Cape
St. Vincent on Tuerlay last. The Zeimbra left
Salmon River, Labrador, on the Bth of Sept.taber•
for Leghorn, with a cargo of fish. On the 18th of
September, at six a.m., the ship went ashore la 9
dense fog on a reef of rooks about one and a half miles
from Cape St, Vincent. The ship was going full epee
when she struck. The engines were at once reversed,
and the vessel backed into deep water, where she
foundered within ten minutes. The crew took to the
boats' and were thus saved. The Iluoh Sleigh received
the shipwrecked men from the Japanese gunboel
Tego, which picked them up two hours after 01
disaster. The crew were landed at Plymouth, azi"
taken to the Sailors' Home.

TOMATO Pm—Take six good•sized tomatoes 806
peel them, cutting each irlto about three slices. Pu.
a layer of bread crumbs in a pie dish, then a ayer of
the sliced tomatoes, a little salt and pepper and smaq
lumps of butter. Then acid another layer of bresa
crumbs, tomatoes, kc., until the dish is full, puttivg
crumbs for the last layer, with a good supply of butter.
Bake for about an hour and serve in the dish.—M
Gardeners' Magazine.

ELECTRIC LIGHTING IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Mr. Shaw Lefevre has r urchased the Edition plo"
whieh has been in use in the House of Common°
during the past session. It will be remembered that
the existing plant consists of two 250 light dynara°6
and 276 lamps, with all necesesry fittings. The nel
plant will comprise an Armington and Sims high.spee
engine and two L (250.1ight) dynamos. The tot';
number of fresh lamps to be employed will be 214, ao'
they will be distributed as follow :-32 10 candle pnfel'
pillar lights in the House, 48 pendant lights in division
lobbies, 24 table lights in division lobbies, 32 &of?
lights in retiring rooms, 8 lights in vestibule at back ot
chair, 12 lights in w.c.'s and lavatories, 12 lights cin
staircases, /cc., leading to retiring rooms, four lights 13
Ministers' rooms, 12 lights in reading.roome, kb.. an
30 lights in reporters' room.—The Electrician. _

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DEAD PRISONERS.—The Sanitary Engineer tells
recent story from Texas, which illustrates in a grotes-
quely horrible way the indifference of people to the
condition of their drinking water. A public well io
Brownsville was cleaned out a short time ago, and
it were found the remains Of a prisoner who to'
disappeared, it is paid, several years since. Then the
people remembered that, to be sure, the water did al
one time taste bad, and hair and flesh had been feu"
in it. But as it was supposed these came only frail
drowned rats or cats, they went on drinking the Weter
unconcernedly. The question of dirt was of no inr
portance ; distilled dead animals they endured with
equanimity—only when it proved to be a dead prisonel
did they attach any importance-to the bad taste ell"
smell.—The Sanitary Record. •.*
VISITORS FOR CANADA. Among the pagaengers
who sailed on Friday in last week from Liverpool fot
Quebec by the Allan Royal Mail steamer Parisilr
were the Earl of Denbigh, Lord Fending, Sir 1"
Medlycott, Mr. J. Goodwin, the well-known c°l3;
tractor of Ottawa, Mr. G. Hague, cf the Merchaets•
Bank of Montreal, Mr. Andrew Robertson, chairraeli
of the Harbour Co zcmissioners, and Professor Sheldo°'
Professor Sheldon vroceeds to Canada at the invitatioe
of the Provincial Government of New Brunswick
to give a practical exposition of the English systenl4:
butter making at the Centennial Exhibition at .
John, N.B. Sir Charles Tupper, the High Cowell,
sioner in England for the Dominion of Canada, v,..'„3
nestied the embarkation of the passengers, and evin"to
a hearty interest in the departure of 600 emigri'll
who sailed for Canada by the same vespel. The
w_r„
jority of these emigrants were going forward to rti
friends and relatives who went out to Manitoba itfi
spring, and it is believed that a finer class of erniiir°
never left the port