The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-06 00:00:00

Ora Pillion Grarespoithent.

fWe deem it right to state that we do not at tdl Vine
ienttfl 0,-selves with our Correspondent's apinlons4

The announcement on Saturday that Russia
had accepted the terms of the English Govern-
ment with regard to the Afghan frontier was a
most welcome one after the prolonged suspense
which had been experienced upon this very
serious matter. Indeed, some impatience was
beginning to be manifested at the long delay' in
receiving the reply of the Cabinet of St. Pet.ers-
burg to the despatch which had been forwarded
to Sir Edward Thornton. An excellent test of
the value of a piece of news is the effect which it
produces on the Money Market, and on Saturday
. Consols, although already above par, closed a
better than they opened. Lord Beaconsfield
was fond of using the word "happy" as applied
• to the termination of a difficulty, and it is hoped
this is equally applicable to the close of negotia-
.
• —tions which must have been a cause of over-
whelming anxiety to the Premier and the
Foreign Secretary.
Earl Granville has spent the recess between
Walmer Castle and Carlton House-terraco,
coming up from Kent to read the despatches
which had been received at the Foreign Office,
and then returning to the residence of the Lord
Warden of the Cinque Ports: -Mr. Gladstone
has passed his vacation quietly at Hawarden,
and for once has steadily resisted the appeals ot
bodies of excursionists to make speeches. When
it is remembered that the veteran statesman
entered the public service more than fifty years
ago, that at seventy-five he has the burden of a
mighty empire upon his shoulders, and that the
work of leading the House of Commons is now
most trying and exhaustive, it will be admitted
that he requires all the rest he can get. But lie
would not have had much peace if he had grati-
fied every wish of the delighted tourists who in.
Whitsun week admired the beauty of Hawarden-
park and the position of the Castle.
Another indication of the long-delayed
approach of summer was given on Saturday
by the first meet of the Coaching Club
at the Magazine in Hyde-park. The
meets of the Coaching Club and the Four-
in-Hand Club are about the most popular sights
of the London season. There is always a vast
crowd at the Magazine, and Saturday is not a
busy day with a large proportion of the popula-
tion of London. The spectacle of five-and-
twenty or thirty coaches, each with four horses
of the best breed, and driven by representatives
of the best families in the land, is one un-
doubtedly worth seeing, and no surprise can be
experienced at the multitude which assembles to
, witness it.
At the Lyceum, "Olivia," by Mr. Wills,
founded on an incident in the "Vicar of Wake-
field," is drawing crowded houses. Mr. Irving,
who takes the part of Dr. Primrose, has scored
another great success. Miss Ellen Terry, as
Olivia, acts with considerable grace, and it would
be impossible to find a more suitable Squire
Thornhill than 'Mr. Terriss. The minor parts
are also well filled. The Promenade Concerts at
Her Majesty's are now discontinued, and a,
grand spectacular Italian ballet, entitled "Excel-
sior" has been produced. Mr. and Mrs. Ban-
croft are giving their farewell performances at
the Haymarket, prior to their retirement from
the Management of that house. "The Silver
King" at the Princess's has been discarded for
Mr. G. R. Sims's pathetic play "The Lights o'
London," one of his best productions. Mr. Sims
has also another piece running at a London
theatre, "The Last Chance" at the Adelphi.
"Peril still occupies the boards at the Prince's,
with Mrs Langtry in the chief part, and the
"Private Secretary" continues its career at the
Globe. Those who wish to enjoy a good laugh
should see the comedy Mr. Toole has produced
at his theatre "The Shuttlecock." This was
commenced by the late Mr. H. J. Byron, but the
author died. before its completion, and it was
finished by Mr. J. Ashby Sterry. "The Can-
didate" at the Criterion, in which Mr. Charles •
Wyndham appears as Lord Oldacre, has lost none
of its popularity. Drury-lane is at present
closed, but on June 23rd Sir Julius Benedict gives
- his grand dramatic and musical benefit.
The damage to the pictures at the Royal
Academy is still a subject of controversy, which -
is divided between the contention whether the
injury has been done by accident or design. On
this point there is :thus far no agreement, nor•
does one seem likely to be arrived at. The
authors of the. accident theory suggest nume-
rous .causes, some of these being. of an amusing
character: For instance two animals so totally
dissimilar as data and bats have been named as
the authors of the Mischief, but how a colony of
- either could enter Burlington House in sufficient
• force to scratch the splendid pictures of the
artists is not clear. The supposition of malice
does not agree with the fact that the paint is
"only -abraded, and the canvas is not broken.
This is held to be a strong point in favour of the
accident theory.
When, some time ago, the committee of the
Gordon National Memorial proposed to devote a
large sum of money to the erection of a hospital
at Port Said, on the banks of the Suez Canal,
the suggestion was very coldly received by the
public. Inquirres have since been made by a
. sub-committee, and at a meeting held at Marl-
borough House on Saturday, it was unanimously
resolved to abandon the scheme. This course
was supported by the Prince of Wales, the Duke
of Cambridge, General Sir John Cowell, Sir
Henry Acland, Cardinal Manning, and Lord
• Napier of Magdala. The committee will now
have to decide what to do with the money
which they have in hand, amounting to about
£16,000. The task is not an easy one, and there
is certain to be much criticism on whatever way
the money is spent. But it is satisfactory to
laaow that it is not to be taken to Port Said.
The Horse Show at the Agricultural Hall,
Islington, is always held in the week following
the Derby, and it is one of the most popular
institutions of the whole year. The leaping and
jumping exercises attract vast numbers Co the
great building in the north of London. There is
an element of excitement in them; hence the
attendance. This exhibition is invariably a
favourite with the members of the Royal Family.
The Prince and Princess of Wales are generally
there on the opening day, and such of the
. representatives of the reigning House as are in
town go at other times and seasons. The
familiar truth laid down in t,he old spelling book
that the horse is a noble animal is perhaps better
exemplified at a collection like this than under
any other circumstances which can be suggested.
G. R.
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