biglam/hmd_newspapers huggingface dataset:
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-11-15

DEATH OF ABD-EL-KADER.

The Paris Correspondent of the Daily Telegraph
says :—" The death in announced, at Damascus, of a
man who gave. the French a great deal of trouble
many years ago—Abd•el•Kader of Oran. The son of
the Marai,out of the province. this patriotic A.ra.h strove
to free hs country from the Turkish and French rice,
and from 1832 to 1847 he held his own with indomit-
able energy against Clauzel, Bugeaud, and Lamori-
ciere, only giving in when his last resources were
exhausted. According to the terms of the capitula-
tion Abd-el-Kader was to be allowed to retire to
Alexandria or Acre, but the French Government refus-
ing to ratify these conditions, detained him in custody
until he was liberated by Napoleon 111., who con-
tented himself with his oath on the Koran that he
would never again bear arms against France. Abd-
el-Kader kept his word, and, living at Damascus, he
always displayed the utmost sympathy for this country,
notably during the Syrian massacres, when be energe-
tically defended the Christian?. On this occasion he
received the Grand C3rdon of the Legion of honour.
Abcl-el-Kader also enjoyed an annual pension of
100,C00 francs, which expires with him."
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-11-15

ST 0 URBRIDG E UNION.

PIGS FOR SALE.
?THE GUARDIANS of this Union will, at
1 their Meeting on FRIDAY. the 21st Immix?,
receive TENDERS horn pergola wilting to pushes*
the FOURTEEN BACON PIGS, at per score or lot,
at the Workhouse, at Kingswinford.

Tenders to be sent to me by the 20th mat, but the
Guardians do not bind themselves to accept the lowest

or any Tender.

By Order,
THOMAS WALL, Cletk.
Workhouse, Kinsswinford, Nov. 14th, 1179.

STOURBRIDGE IMPROVEMENT ACT,
1866.

AND THE ACTS INCORPORATED THEREWITH.

IMPROVEMENT AND HIGHWAY RATES.

NoTicE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that at the
next MONTHLY M k.FTING of the STOUR-
BRIDGE IMP/LOVE/11RM' COMMIsSION...ItS, to
be holden at the COMMISSIONERS. Room, CORN
Is.XCHANGE, STODRDIitIDGIK, On MONDAY. th• 24th day
of NOVE3II3BR instant, at Three o'clock in the Afternoon.
It is intended to make an IMPROW,MENT RATH
of Nine Pence in the Pound, and a HIGHWAY BAIR
of Seven Pence in the Pound, pursuant to the 74th anti
72nd Sections of the Stourbridge Improvement Act,
18156.

And Notice is Herehy Given th‘t Statements of au. h
pi ()posed Rites are deposited for Inareetion by the Rate-
payers at the Office of the Clerk to the said Commis-
sioners, No. 56, High Street, Stourbridge.
Dated this 140 day of November, 11179.
JOHN TAYLOR.
Clerk.

VICTORIA HALL AND RINK

BELL STREET, STOURBRWGE.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-11-15

THE ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY.

On Monday the opening meeting of the Royal Geograpisical
Society for the session of 1879-80 was held in London in the
Theatre of the London University, Burlington•gardens. The
chair was occupied by the President, the Earl of North-
brook, who delivered the inaugural address: After some
introductory observations, the President said :
The most important geographical achievements dur-
ing our recess has been, without doubt, the completion
of the North-Eastern Passage by the Swedish Arctic
expedition, under the direction of Professor Norclensk-
jold. (Cheers) After a successful and rapid voyage
along the Siberian coast in the suminer of 1878, his
exploring vessel, the .Vega, was aertaen by winter
near Behring Straits, on the 25th of September.
She was released from the ice on the 18th of July
last, and arrived at Yokohama on the 2nd of Sep-
tember. I hastened, in the name of the society,
to offer to Professor Nordenskjiild our hearty con-
gratulations on his Success, and to express our hope
that he would be able to visit England and to give
us an account of his voyage. I have heard from Mr.
Oscar Dickson, of Go, henburg, the munificent pro-
moter . of . this great undertaking, .that •he is not
expected to return to Sweden before the.. end of
March; but that he will no 'dotibt„avail himself.
of our invitation. 'I have every confidence, there-
fore, that we may be able in thepourse-of the spring to
give them a hearty welcome in bii haiL I:C7h-eerie)
The cruise of Captain Albete: Biarichainein the
Norwegian cutter Isbjorn, of only 40 tuniveridAhat
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-11-15

J. T. HICKS AND CO.

BUILDERS, PAINTERS, AND PAPER.

HANGERS.

13.41•11 in Drain Pipes, Chimney Pots, Cements

Plaster o Paris, Cow Hair, &a.

ALL KINDS OF JOBBING WORK ATTLNDED TO.

Address :
Us PARK STREET, STOURBRIDGE.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-11-15

HOP.

Business continues rather quiet, and no great change can
be reported in prices. Choice hops are scarce and well held;
but the tone as regards Inferior grades is somewhat easier.
Foreign markets are less active, and quotations are not so
good. Mid and East Kent, £8 10s. to £18; Weald i.Kent,
; Sussex, £9 to £l2; ditto inferthr, £3 ss. to £7 is.;
Bavarian, £9 to ; Alost, Lb to Lb lffm• ; American,
410 PA to 61$.

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Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-11-15

THE IRON TRADE.

WOLVERHAMPTON, Wednesday.

The market was steady to-day' and there
were some heavy inquiries for bar sheets,
hoops, and billets for forward delivery,
while, for early consumption, prices were
very strong. Boiler plates were much asked
after, but very few sales were made. The
pig trade is more animated, particularly for
part-mine quality, which is going off at £3,
though several of the makers have still some
low-priced contracts on their books. The
high rates being asked by the hematite
people enable the native all-mine makers to
sell at better prices *; Middlesbrough pigs,
which are very much stronger in price, being
chiefly sold for foundry purposes. Derby--
shire brands have a tolerably good sale,
though some of the smelters are withholding
iron from the market. Tin plates were to-
day done at 255. 6d. per box of coke quality.
Ironstone is a shilling dearer on the week,
and cokes are worth is. to is. 6d. more
than a fortnight ago. All kinds of coal are
in active request, particularly household fuel
which dealers are seeking to stock before
bad weather sets in.

BIRMINGHAM, Thursday.

This afternoon a goog business tone per-
vaded the iron market, and transactions
were fairly numerous, and were evenly dis-
tributed. Large contracts were rare, inso-
much as manufacturers are not in a position
to execute any orders of magnitude in addi-
tion to those they have in hand for some
time to come. The leading finished iron
firms are indeed more regularly occupied
than they have been since the prosperous
period which terminated about four or five
years ago. The increase of lOs a ton upon
marked iron has not provecildetrimental to
demand. The agitation among the iron-
workers for increased wages, however, will
he calculated to unsettle trade, and such a
possibility cannot be contemplated without
regret. It seems to be cverlooked by the
operatives that the bulk of the orders the
ironmasters have in hand, which will keep
them in operation, till the beginning of the
next year, and at the low rate of prices, and
that if the manufacturers are benefiting by
increased business so the men are benefiting
by more regular work and the general in-
crease of employment. Some of the hard-
ware manufacturers, and particularly the
engineers, are complaining that they have
a difficulty in obtaining new contracts owing
to the advance in price which they have been
compelled to make cover them for the in-
creased cost of the raw material. Hence any
further advance in iron at present would
hlve a damaging effect upon the general
trade of the district. Increased business
characterises the coal trade, the demand for
household coal being augmented by the cold
weather, while the greater activity at the
works and manufactories is causing an in-
creased consumption of manufacturing fuel.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-11-15

POTATO.

Good potatoes were in large demand, and are very firm,
but the trade as regards inferior remains dull. Prices:—
Scotch regents, 130 s. to 150 s. ; ditto champions, 130$. to
150 d. ; Lincoln ditto, 138$. to 150 s; Victorian, 120 s. to 150 s.
per ton; German red and Belgian kidneys, ss. 6d. to 6s. 6d.
per bag.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-11-15

HALES OWEN.

Tun HALESOWEN AMA.TEUR DEAMLTIC SOCIETY.—
The members of the above society gave their
first performance on Friday the 7th lust, in the As-
sembly Room of the Halesowen Institute, and judg-
ing from the manner in which they acquitted them-
selves on that occaston, although several of their
number had never appeared on the stage before, they
bid fair towards ranking among the first of amateur
theatricals, and are to be congratulated on the suc-
cess which attended their efforts. The programme
consisted of Dibdin's Ballad Opera, "The Water-
man" and a "Phenomenon in a -Smock Frock". by
William Brough, Esq. The characters in the for-
mer being Mr, Bundle, Mr. T. Hodgetts : Tom Tug,
Mr. C. E. Bloomer; Robin, Mr. G. F. Bloomer;
Mrs. Randle, Mrs. llinton ; Wilhelmina, Miis Har-
court, and in the latter Mr. Sowerberry, Mr. T.
Lloyd Jones ; \lr. B irker, Mr. J. Smith ; Buttercup,
Mr. W. Hinton; James, Mr. A. J. Young; Mrs.
Chirrup, Miss Hodgetts ; Mrs, Barker, Miss Homes.
All the parte were admirably performed. The room

0•11••.imiow.

was well filled with au appreciative audience, who
thoroughly enjoyed the evening's entertainment.
Messrs. E. and T. Hodgkins gave selections during
the evening on the piano and piccolo.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-11-15

THE GERMAN POST OFFICE.

The development of the postal system in Germany,
as measured by the sale of postage-stamps of the
various descriptions, has been extra Ordinary. In 1855
it was still more the custom not to prepay letters or
to affix stamps on them, and the number of gtaseps
sold in that year was only 1,535,000, besides 3,757,600
stanaued envelopes, the total value being ()lily 801,660
marks, or £40,083.
Ten years afterwards the value of the stamps,
61,240,000 in number, and of stamped envelope,
numbering 11,341,100, sold in 1865 was 8,423,165
marks, or £421,158.
In 1873. under -the new imnerial Government, the
tote value hs r en to 59 980,071 marks, or £2,999.003,
wli h was the sum re, eived for 507,886,800 postage-
stamps, - .11,#33,0013 stamped envelopes, 27,319,100
simple past-ovds, 694,500 postcards with prepaid
answer. and 5,089,800 stamped wrappers.
In 1878, only five • years later, the progress was
still astonishing. In that year the German Post.
Office sold 646,750,000 postage-stamps, 5,251,000
stamped envelopes, 92,018,000 simple post-cards
963,500 pootcarda foi sum by return, 6,525,000

stamped wrappers, 90,000 stamped envelopes and
cardsrforiltai,stabd• pods mod 2,245,600 foreign post.
card,' •

The total value lamt year was no less than 83,743,960
marks, or £4,187,198, being a hundred and four fold
the receipts of 25 years previously.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-02-01

COST OF SMOKING AND DRINKING

IN AMERICA.

Judging from the statistical summaries contained
in the annual report of the Commissioner for Federal
Taxes, the amount spent in the United States On
smoking and drinking is enormous. During the fiscal
year ended on June 30, 1878, votwithatanding the
hard times, 1,905,063,000 cigars were consumed. The
report estimates each cigar at, on an average 10c. ; so
that the total value of the cigars consumed in the
year would be about 190,5c6,300 dols., or about
£3)3.101.260. In addition there were also cnisunied
25,312,5331 b. of tobacco for smoking the value of which
is estimated at 15,300,000 dole. (23,000,000).
But the expenditure on tobacco is almost insignificant
when compared with the sums spent on drinks of various
kinds. Thus, 317,465.600 gallons of fermented liquors
were consumed, or over seven gallons per head of the
entire population (estimated at about 44,000,000), in-
cluding women and children. Fermented and
spirituous drinks cost the people of the United States
according to the estimate of the report, 596,000,000
dole. (i;119,200,000), or 13dola. 25c. (2 13e.) per bead.
The figures of the report show further that during the
last financial year the consumption of beer had in-
creased, while that of spirituous liquors had declined,
1,500,000 gallons more of the former and 6,520,000
gallons less of the latter baying been consumed than
during the preceding year, a fact which, perhaps,
ought .to be considered an advance on the road of
temperance.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-02-01

, .

A NEW THEORY.

A German physician has started a new theory with
regard to food. He maintains that both the vege-
tarians and meat-eaters are on the wrong, tack.
Vegetables are not more wholesome than meat, or
meat than vegetables, and nothing is gained by con-
suming a compound of both. Whatever nutritive
qualities they may possess, he says, is destroyed in
great measure and often entirely by the process of
cooking. All food should be eaten raw. If this
practice were adopted, there would be little or no illness
among human beings. They would live their appr.
toned time and simply fade away, like animals in
a wild state, from old age. Let those afflicted
with gout, rheumatism, or indigestion try for a time
the effect of a simple uncooked diet, such as oysters
and fruit for instance, atcl they will find all medicines
unnecessary, and smolt a rapid improvt ment of their
health that they will forswear all cooked articles of
food at once and for ever. Intemperance would also,
it is urged, no longer he the curse of civilised com-
munities. The yearning for drink is caused by the un-
natural abstraction from what are termed " solids " of
the aqueous element they contain—uncooked beef, for
example, containing from 70 to -80 per cent, and
some vegetables even a larger proportion of
water. There would be less thirst, and con-
sequently less desire to drink, if our food were con-
sumed in its natural state, without first being sub-
jected to the action cf fire. Clothing, our adviser
also thinks, is a mistake, but he admits that the world
is not yet far enough advanced in civilization to go
about undressed. Whatever differences of opinion
may exist as to this anti cooking theory there cannot
be a doubt that in getting rid of the kitchen with all
its abuses—including the cook—housekeepers would be
spared a vast amount of worry, and probably on this
account alone would live to a greater age than at
present. —Pall Mall Gazette.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-02-01

REVISION OF THE PRICE LIST IT THE
NAIL TRADE.

BIEXINGaillit Thursday.
There was a fairly iarge attendance on
'Change ,this afternoon, and inquiries were
numerous, but only in respect of finished iron.
Pig-iron was in decreased demand, and prices
were weak for nearly all qualities except cinder
pig. Four or five furnaces have been blown
out by firms in the Wolverhampton and Dudley
districts, including one of Mr. W. O. Foster's
furnaces at Shut End, Kingswinford. Mr.
Fo.iter is well known as a producer of only the
very best quality of Staffordshire pig, and his
lama .es have been almost continuously in bl set
for forty yea•rs. Air. Pearson, of Netherton,
has just blown in a furnace in that locality for
making high-class pig, but he will even then
have only three out of his five furnaces in oper-
ation. Ihe furnace blown in is one of two re-
cently • taken from Messrs. Hingley, and has
been out of blast for a long time. The nail rod.
trade is reported to be a little more active,
principally on local account. Foreign orders
are not so brisk as some months ago, and, in fact
it must be acknowledged that a considerable
portion of the nail rod trade of this district is
indirectly going to Belgium. This is one of
the home trades that is suffering from the un-
equal and unfair restrictions which are placed
upon the British manufacturer by the protec-
tive system of other countries, it is a well-
known fact that whilst not a single rod of iron
can be admitted to Belgium without paying a
a heavy duty, Belgium rods are freely admitted
into London, and thence are transmitted to all
parts of the world. One Staffordshire firm has
lost an Eastern market which formerly pur-
chased from them 4,000 tons- of nail rods a year,
and the whole of the trade of that market has
gone to Belgium via London. The reduction
of wages recently enforced by certain masters
the wrought nail trade ha • rendered secamary a
modification of the list of prices. Yesterday a.
well-attended meeting of the masters was held
at the Midland Hotel, under the presidency of
Mr. Ephraim Ball, Chairman of the Masters'
Ast.ociatiora, and took into consideration the
under-buying of the masters who had departed
from the recently revised list. It was shown
that these masters were buying certain classes
of nails at a ten per cent. reduction from the list
and. were selling them in the market at cor-
respondingly lower prices, to the detriment of
those firms who adhered to the list. It was
thereupon decided to revise the list in accord-
ance withithe alterations effected by the fume
referred to. The revised list will be issued
next week. Some regret was expressed by
employers present that the action of isolated
&Ills had rendered a further reduction neces-
sary in the wages of the already miserably paid
nailers.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-02-01

A NEW MATERIAL FOR PAPER.

The consumption of esparto grass by paper maker
in France and England is now very large, and it is
yearly increasing. Sir Joseph Hooker and Mr. Ball,
in their recently published journal of a " Tour in
Morocco," tell us they saw immense bales of this grass
being shipped from the port of Mogador, and " that
it is there said that the greater part of what reaches
England from Morocco is used in the paper-mills
that supply The Times newspaper." The great value
of this grass as a paper-making material lies in the
tenacity of its fibre and .the comparatively minute
quantity of silica in. its composition. In these respects
it would appear that we have in all wet, heathy places,
moors, and damp woods throughout Great Britain and
Ireland, and extending over all Europe and into Russian
Asia, wherever suitable places for its growth are to be
found, a similar material in the grass long known as the
purple molinia (it olinia arrulea). It is a rather coarse,
stiff, perennial grass' often growing to a height of 3ft. ;
the leaves chiefly form tufts and start from the
base of the plant; the flowering stalk is of a greenish
or purple hue. It is found over all the moorlands
of Scotland and in all the bogey pastures of Ireland,
and has been considered of little, if any, agricultural
value; it is gradually by cultivation being destroyed.
From an analysis of hay made from this grass by Dr.
Cameron, it would appear to contain an unprece-
dentedly small amount of ssii—only 085 parts out of
100 parts of hay (dry weight)—and a scarcely appre-
ciable amount of silica. In 100 parts of the ash only 0 55
of silica was found. Dr. Cameron does not suggest this
grass as being of value as a paper-making material, but
he calls the attention of farmers to the fact that it is
well worth saving as a food product, as its composition
indica,tes a high degree of nutritive value; indeed, it
appears to be quite as rich as meadow hay in nil its
common ingredients except digestible non-nitrogenous
matters. Its analysis however, indicates it,. qualities
ad a paksysnak,ing atsrial, as whirl it would Wm
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-02-01

KIN VER.

ARREST WITHOUT A WARRANT.-At the Brierley
Hill Polies Court, on Monday, before Messrs. H.
Hull, and L. Freer, Thomas Brown, forgeman,
Kinver, was charged with having stolen four hen
fowls, the property of Henry Borasten, at Kinver,
on Or about the 25th ult.—Mr. Waldron defended.
—Police-sergeant Stevenson stated that the pri-
soner was only arrested on Sunday afternoon, and
he therefore asked for a remand, so that another
man could be apprehended and the fowls recovered.
—ln cross.examination by Mr. Waldron, Steven-
son admitted that he arrested prisoner and searched
his house with Borasten without having had a
warrant. He took the prisoner into custody be-
cause Boraston told him to do so.—Mr. Waldron
objected to a remand being granted, as the
magistrates had nothing .to remand upon.—The
witness, Police-sergeant Stevenson, then said that
on visiting the house of tie prosecutor he found
blood traces, and footmarks, which led from the
prosecutor's house. He was unable to trace the
marks any further in consequence of the inter-
vention of the road. He found a quantity of
feathers at the prisoner's house, and his boots cor-
responded with the footmarks traced.—lt was again
urged by Mr. Waldron that the magistrates had
no power to remand the prisoner, as he was
illegally in custody owing to the blundering in his
" almightiness " of the officer, who had made mis-
takes more than once before.—The magistrates
said they should remand the man.—Mr. Waldron
ask xl the Bench to make a note of his objection,
as it was most certainly time that this sort of
thing should be put a stop to at Kinver.—The
magistrates then remanded the prisoner for a
fortnight on his own recognisanceg.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-02-01

THE MICROSCOPE IN GEOLOGY.

In London, on Sunday afternoon, the Rev. J. F. Blake,
M.A., F.G.S., delivered at St George's Hall, Langham-place,
under the auspices of the Sunday Lecture Society, au in-
teresting lecture, with oxyhydrogen lantern illustrations, on
" The Microscope in Geology."
- -

The lecturer showed that there were large numbers
of animals of the most exquisite forms which had
formed masses of rocks, and these invisible to the
naked eye, had been clearly discerned by the micro-
scope. The microscope brought to our knowledge
the first animal that over inhabited this world, which
was called Eozoon, or "dawn," because it showed
the dawn of life. This animal stretched for
miles along the shores, and constituted a colony
of thousands of millions of animals, forming
one large mass, something like corals do now along
the shores of Australia. The lecturer proceeded to
explain the formation of chalk, flint, green,and,
other sands, rod and other clays, nummulite lime-
stone, and colite through the agency of animals
which the microscope revealed. Indeed, an important
series of rocks owed their origin to this means.
There was another class of rocks which was formed
in a different way. There was the rock known to us
as coal, which was constituted of vegetable remains.
If they took a thin section of an ordinary house-
coal and Inspected it with s microscope they would


in all- probability find some proof of its vegetable
origin. By the aid of the microscope, fluid and gas
cavities had been discovered in crystals, proving the
agency of water in their formation, and the depth at
which they were formed. He spoke of the micro-
scopio characters of rook-forming minerals as supply-
ing a possible guide to the age of the rocks. They had
heard a great deal of the usa of the spectroscope in the
study of the minerals in the stars, but he ventured to
hope that the microscope had as useful a rote in geo-
logy as the spectroscope had in astronomy, and that
we should learn as much of the earth by the microscope
as we did of the stars by the spectroscope.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-02-01

HYDROPHOBIA IN FRANCE.

It is one of the duties of a French •trefect to give
information of the particulars of every case of hydro-
phobia in his department; but, as may be supposed,
these political servants very often neglect a matter
Which has so little party interest. For the eight years
included between 1869 atvi 1877 only thirty-five out of
eighty-six departments returned replies to the official
inquiries. On these, however, Dr. Proust in his own
name and that of Professor Bouley have recently
issued an interesting report; Professors Tardieu and
Houley had previously' given an abstract of the
facts they had gathered with regard to the
eighteen years from 18,0 to 1868. Their state-
ments show that only half the persons bitten by
a mad dog or other animal escape hydrophobia. The
number of deaths from this cause during the twenty-
six years in question of which they have notes was
740, or little less than 28 per annum. More men
than women were bitten, but sex made very little
difference in the mortality. The liability to be bitten
of young persona from fivo to fifteen years of aga
found to be greater than that of their seniors, though
the fatality of the bite was not so great—not more
than one-fourth; while among aged people from sixty
to seventy it amounted to two-thirds, and above that
age to three-fourths. Children, therefore, seem to be
less readily affected by the poison, though their chances
of meeting with the accident are greater. The animals
reported as causing the bites during the twenty-.six
years were—dogs, 707; wolves, 38; cats, .23; fox, 1 ;
cow, 1; and the disease was pretty equally distributed
over all the seasons. Observstions on the incubation
of the disease show that in a large proportion of cases
it declares itself within the first sixty days of
inoculation. Thus out of 221 attacks 139 occurred
within three months of the bite, 51 between 60
and 100 days, 21 between 100 and 180 days, and
3 at yet later periods. The time was generally
longer in old people than in young ones. The
disease lasted from 1 to 15 days; the greater number
of cases holding out about four days. Cauterization,
either by actual burning or with butter of antimony,
is generally resorted to by Freneh surgeons. This
remedy seems to have a great influence in preventing
the effect of the poison. In a given number of cases
duly operated on the mortality was only 35 7 percent.,
while out of 117 persons left to themselves, 00, or 82
per cent., died. Facts like these prove that the great
evil is not the number of deaths, but the terror and
anxiety caused to persons bitten by a strange dog.
And the moral is that somebody ought to be made
responsible for every dog in the country.—Pall Mall
Gazette.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-02-01

HOUSE RENT AT BERLIN.

A report just issued by the director of the statistioal
department of the municipality of Berlin shows that
the divellings of the poor in that city are now in a
much worse state than they were fourteen years ago.
In 1861 the number of dwellings up one pair of stairs
was 262 per thousand; it is now 207, while the under-
ground dwellings have increased from 9 to 102 per
thousand, and those without kitchens from 69 to 231
seer thousand. In the most expensive quarter of the
town (the Konigsplatz) the average rent of a dwelling
is 2,592 marks and of a room 476 marks. The cheapest
quarter is the Wedding district, where the average
rent is 190 marks for a nom. The average rents for
the whole of Berlin are—for an apartment on the
ground floor, 259 marks; on the entresol, 24; on the
first floor, 235; on the second floor, 199; on the third,
170; on the fourth, 143; on the fifth, 116; under the
roof, 129; underground. 157. Nearly 120,000 people
live underground, and 90,000 of them are lodged at
such a depth below the surface that the atmosphere is
dangerous to life. Of the 940,571 inhabitants of
Berlin about 10,000 live in dwellings where a fire can-
not be lighted, and 426,000 in dwellings where one
room only can be warmed.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-02-01

__ to the taste,
warranted free from inything injurious to Abel. an, ,
.00•6 delicate constitution 01 eittier sex ,the rffuT u1.1"°"
-Ale&

TO THE NERVOUS AN) I.)k, ILI EATED
Read the New Work entitled
HOW TO ENSURE HEALTH. •

Just published for two. stamps.!
BY Da. BARBS, M.D., (U.S.)
A. TREATISE on the LAWS GOVERNING
LIFE, and the CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, and
TREATMENT of all diseases depending on Exhatuttion
of Nervous Vitality, such as Nervous Debility, Mental
and Physical Depression, Palpitation of the Heart,
Noises in the Head,and Ears, Indecision, Impaired bight
and Memory, Indigestion, Prostration, Lassitude, De-
pression of Spirits, Loss of Energy and Appetite Paw.
in the Back and Limbs, Timidity, Self-Distrust:Dizzi-
ness, Love of Solitude, Groundless Fears, and mazy
other ailments, which, if neglected ,bring the sufferers
to an early Death; together with Hints on Chroni
Rheumatism, Gout, Neuralgia, Epilepsy, Hysteria, and
all disea.aos of the Nertous and alimentary system.
The Appendix to this valuable work contains many
useful PRESCRIPTIONS for the alleviation of suffering
and the cure of minor disorders, with full instructions
for theicareparation and use.
Contarns also some friendly advice on Hygiene, or th

WAY TO PRESERVE HEALTH.
Illustrated by numerous testimonials from grateful
patients who have been restored to health through he
author's instrumentality.
Sent post free for 2 stamps; or by letter post, three
stamps.

to- Address. Dr. BARNES, 48, Lonsdale Square
Barnsbury, London, N.
IMPORTANT TO COUNTRY PATIENTS.
pR. BARNES may be consulted personally
i
or by letter n all private and confidential cases
and for the benefit of Nervous Sufferers who,cannot visit
him, he will, on receiving a description of their case, en-
closing a stamped envelope for ."eply, be ready to give his
opinion upon 'the nature of the case, and the principles
of treatment necessary to effect a permanent cure.

Address, Dr. BARNES, *B,,Lonsdale Square, .Barns
bury, London, N.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-02-01

A LIVING ORNAMENT.

Mr. Frank Buckland publishes in Land and Water an
account of a living beetle -worn as an ornament by a lady at
General Grant's recent reception. Re says :

"The fortunate possessor of this new-fashioned
living ornament is Mrs. Randolph Clay. She carries
the beetle about wrapped up between two pieces of
flannel, and that again encased in two pieces of
coloured cloth. The first sight Of this captive beetle
I shall never forget. He is about two inches
long, and his colour is very wonderful. It is not a
gorgeous colour, but matte, which by connoisseurs
in cesthetic taste is called 'dead gold colour.'
The edges of the body are almost iridescent, and the
lower portions of his legs are tinted, so as almost to re-
mind one of the subdued light of a glowworm. His coat
of dead gold colour is relieved by 'markings in beautiful
pattern of an ebony black. So beautiful is this captive
insect that he is bound to his mistress by a band and
chain of gold of the most delicate workmanship. The
chain is of such length as to allow the beetle to march
about at his will. He is not always lively and in good
temper, but moves about the drawing-room table when
the room becomes quite warm. Mrs. Clay wears him
on different coloured satin ribbons to match the dress.
She has been to the British Museum to see if there is
any specimen of the same kind in the collection. There
are two but no history is given of them. The history
of this beetle is that it has been sent over from Yucatan,
the south coarit of the Gulf of Mexico. The channel
of Yucatan separates Cuba from the mainland. It has
been now in captivity seven months. Mrs. Clay is in
great distress, as she cannot persuade it to take any
nourishment of any kind. My own idea is that this
creature, in its beetle state, does not eat so much
as when in the grub state, even if it eats at all.
Mrs. Clay, however, thinks that from the conforma-
tion of its legs, which are armed with sharp claws for
holding on, and for other reasons, that it finds its
food on the bark of the wild fig-tree of Yucatan;
but she would be very pleased if any one learned in
entomology would give her advice on the itubject,
as she is very fond of her tame beetle, which is
certainly one of the most interesting pets I ever
saw. I have been to the Zoological Society, but the
librarian could find nothing about this beetle in the
books in their poskession. I also sent Mr. Searle to
the British Museum, where by the courtesy of Dr.
Guther he was enabled to examine the cases and iden-
tify Mrs. Clay's beetle as Zopherus Bremei. The
gentleman who showed the beetles to Mr. Searle in-
formed him that they were found under the bark of
and under fallen trees ; that they probably live on
vegetable matter if they feed at all.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-02-01

BROMSGROVE.

COTTAGS HosPrrAL.--The annual meeting of sub
beriberi to the Cottage Hospital was held at bhe Institut
on Tuesday evening last ; -tne Bev. G. W. Ilium in the
chair. The attendance was limited.—The report for the
half/ear from My Ist (when the date of holding the
annual meeting was altered) showed that whereas there
was then • deficiency in The funds of ER). 3s. 101,
there was now a balance ill hand of £6. 14s. 4d. This
increase in the funds was mainly due to the Hospital
Sunday collection, which realised £lO5. 6s. 2d., and
thanks were given to the ministers of all denominations
and to the congregations for subscribing. The Building
Fund had also received from £39. 14s 91d. to• £4l 181.
511. Since July 1 twenty-one cases had been admitted to
the hospital ; of these thirteen were cured, six relieved,
and two left from other causes. Seeing that the hospital
had been so useful, the committee confidently appealed
for further funds to increase its usefulness.—Thank4
were given to the medical genthmen of the town flu' their
services, to Miss Ryland (the lady manager), and the
ladies of the Visiting Committee, and to Mr. Lea (the
auditor).—The report and statement of accounts were
adopted.—The president (Mr. J. Cobett, M.P.), the hon.
secretary (Mr. G. Nicholls), the hon. treasurer (Mr. J.
LangtOb), and the auditor (Mr. J. Lea), were re-elected.
—The other business was formal.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-02-01

THE FROST AND SEWAGE FARMS.

The Tine .3 publishes the following letter
Sir,--As it often puzzles people to know what
becomes of sewage when it is applipd to land in a
frozen state, it may interest some of your readers if
now I call attention to the fact that although we have
had about eight weeks of continuous frost, there is no
difficulty whatever in filtering sewage through natural
soil if properly prepared for the purpose, and of
securing by that means an effluent admissible into
rivers.
Yesterday a deputation from the borough of Dews-
bury visited the sewaged land at Barnsley laid out by
me for intermittent filtration two years back, and
witnessed the application of the sewage of that town,
of about 27.000 population, to a comparatively small
area of land which had received it alternately with
another area of equal extent all the while the frost has
lasted without any interruption whatever.
The effect of applying sewage intermittently in a
concentrated quantity on a small area of land is to
keep the land thoroughly open for percolation, the
temperature of the sewage beirg sufficiently high to
thaw any ice that may be formed on the i.urface during
the interim when the sewage is not on the land.
At Barnsley there is no subs-il water to dilute the
infiltrated sewage. Hence the diluent, which has
e
been declared by both Dr. Tidy and Professor Attfield
to be well within any recognised standard of purifica-
tion and quite admissible into a river, i sewage and
sewaee only freed of pntrescible matter,
I need hardly say that when the Dewsbury deputa-
tion saw the sewage in its raw state, absorbed by the i
ground, and discharged from the underdrains n the
condition I speak of, they were perfectly satiafied with
the efficiency of the mode of treatment adopted at
Barnsley.—l am, Sir, your faithful servant.
J. BAILEY Draiza.
22, Valtethall-plao, Lospiou, Zia. 25.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-02-01

THE EXPENSES oF • THE AFGHAN
• WAR. •

In London, last Saturday evening, there was a con-
siderable attendance of'lndian gentlemen reiident in
England at a meeting hell at the Charing-cross Hotel
for the purpose of discussing the prow_ incideribe of
the expenses of the Afghan War. Millt4 Peer Buksh
was in the chair, and three resolutions were passed.
The first declared that, in the opinion of the meet-
ing, the expenses of the war ought not to be charged on
the Indian revenue. 'lt was proposed by R-ijah Rampal
Singh and was supported by several other gentlemen,
all of whom, while virtually conceding the necessity of
the war, laid especial stress on its imperial character
and on the desirability of imposing no further finan-
cial burdens on India: It was argued that though
India was benefited by the prosperity of the empire,
and so might reasonably be expected to contribute her
share of the expense, yet her actual condition made it
all but impossible for her to.do so. Her proverbially
fabulous wealth was a delusion, and her most impera-
tive need was the establishment of a famine fund.
By the second resolution it was decided to petition
Parliament to exempt India from the expense of the
war.
The last resolution was to the effect that Mr. Few.
oett should be requested to present the petition, which
recites the Imperial objects of the war and the fact
that for many years past the wealth and resources of
India have steadily dinainished. A vote of thanhe to
the chairman brought the proceedings to a close.

[
VINEGAR BIBLES.—There i an edition of the Bible
known by the name Of the 'Vinegal Eible,!! from the
errat?hm. in the twentieth chapter of B't: -Luke: in
which the `• Parable of the Vineyard" is printed
"Parable of 'Vinegax." It Wag priutod La 1717, at the
Cileiculcia rose.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-02-01

THE ELECTRIC LIGHT IN SALT
MINES.

The practical utility of the electric light for illumi-
nating salt mines has been tried in Messrs. Verdin and
Sons' rock salt mine at Marston, in Cheshire, the ex-
periments being conducted by Messrs. Welch and
Scott, of Manchester. The mine is one of the largest
in England; its capacity is about seven or eight acres,
being a gigantic space the roof of which is eupported
by natural pill.rs of rock salt. Up to the present
time to more effective means of lighting mines have
been found than the me of tallow candles. This, in
other words, means almost total obscurity, the work-
men having,to find their way about more by instinct
than anything else. Even this feeble illumination is
more costly than that given by the electric light. In
Thursday's experiments the electric light was gene-
rated from a Siemen's machine, the motive power
being derived from Marshall's special electric engine.
The light was very powerful, and the result was satis-
factory in every way, the woikmen being able to carry
on their mining operations with the greatest facility.
From the successful result of this experiment a general
use for this purpose may be predicted.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-02-01

MR. MO/CELLA on TRADE I'ROSrEcTS.

The annual meeting of the Sheffield Chamber of
Commerce was held on Monday in the Cutlers' Hall.
Mr. -Alfundella, M.P., was present, and Fpoke on
several subjects. In the course of his speech, the hen.
member proceeded to refer to the great distress
which prevailed, not only in Sheffield, but in other
parts of. the country. He said the present out-
look -was very aloofly, yet there were certain con-
ditions now observable that ought to bring about a
better state of. things before long. They had now a
lower price of food than they had had for 20 years, a
lower price of materials than they had had since 1830,
abour was very much reduced. These things ought
to be breeders of good trade, which he hoped would
return before long. With respeot to the future he
firmly believed that we had not permanently lost any
Portion of our national trade. He was convinced that
our industries would revive, and that the country
would be in as good a commercial position as it ever
had been. We had all the resources at our command,
and it virtually depended upon us whether we allowed
some portion of our trade to depart, or whether we
maintained the position which had been ours in the
past, that of the first commercial nation of the world. If
we lost anything it would be for want of good sense, good
management, and good conduct of our affairs, and he
firmly believed we should hold our position against
the world. He believed that in a short time America
Would be, in spite of herself, a"good customer. She
could not help it if she became prosperous. The
thousands of her citizeni;, who were going into the
Interior, were voters against the protective system,
which must break down, both in America and in
Europe ; 'and in that case no country was so capable
of supplying all the needs of life and industrial pro-
ductions as our .own,
Adverting to the question of reciprocity, Mr.
Mundell& maintainedlthat What the country wanted
Was reciprocity between capital and labour, more
mutual consideration between employer and employed.
There must be a greater readineea to meet the circum-
stances of the time, and to adapt thßaselves to the
LVOivoet loo_thokle to meet the_ccosistitou of ictoisu
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-02-01

CHARITY ABROAD AND AT HOME,

The Times of Tuesday published the following letter :
Sir,—l have been favoured during the last few days
with a 'circular proposing to raise a Memorial Fund to
the late Princess Alice and that the memorial should
take the form of
,extending and supporting the Alice
Hospital at Darmstadt.
Now, I must protest against the sources of English
charity being so frequently tapped and funds supplied
most liberally to benefit foreign charities and hospitals
while our own in England are so much in need of
support and the finantes of our metropolitan hospitals
are at so desperately low an ebb. Take, for instance,
two of the largest and most deserving of the London
Hospitals—viz,, Charing-crels and St. Mary's,
Paddington. I think lam correct in saying that
their income (for both are entirely supported by
voluntary contributions) is about £5,000 per annum
each, while their expenditure is £12,000, and thus,
owing to the falling off in public charity, they have
been obliged to encroach upon reserve funds, which
are now swallowed up. Unless, therefore, unforeseen
donations or legacies should fall in. they will have no
alternative but to curtail their work of usefulness and
close some of their wards.
No memorial fund is needed to perpetuate the recol-
lection of the late lamented Princess, particularly in
Darmstadt, where her memory will survive for genera-
tions. But if Englishmen are to subscribe to raise
such a fund, let them rather benefit the country of her
birth than that of her adoption, the more so seeing
the great need the former, and especially the metro-
polis itself, with its numerous inhabitants, has of aid
to its charitable institutions during the present state
of stagnation and depression of trade.
Your obedient servant, ROBERT LODE%
Whittlebury-lodgP, Towcester, Jatuary 21.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-02-01

LYE.

PRLISIWORTRY CONDIT—CT—OP WORKING MR5.....
Amongst the efforts made to alleviate the distress
existing at the Lye, the conduct of the men in th
employ of Mr. Thomas Rhodes, bucket manufacturer,
of the Lye, deserves special mention. On Saturdays,
or pay nights, they make a subscription amongst
themselves, and it is disposed of in the following
manner. Their wives, who are equally interested in
this charitable purpose, go round and find out the
most needy cases, and leave tickets for bread,
oatmeal, &c., which is procured at the house of Mr.
Jenkins, foreman at the works. We hope this worthy
example will be followed by other workpeople in
L he district.

HAGLEY.
STOOK SALL --iit this utast weekly sale let Monday
there was a good time of the year supply of sheep
cattle, and pigs of very good quality. There was over at
average attendance, end fair market prices were realized

BROMSCIROVE.
BOARD OF GUARDIANS AND OVT-DOOR RBL/KK.—The
fortnightly meeting was held on !Tuesday, Mr, Joseph
Reason is the chair.—The Clerk read a letter be had
written to the Local Government Board, at the sugges-
tion of the Chairman and several of the Guardians,
asking the Board to give the Guardians authority to
grant temporary out-door relief to abte-bodied persons
during the severe weather. The, Local Government
Board replied that they were unable to sanction such a
general departure from the Labour Test Regulation
Orders, and whilst there was room in the Workhouse
that was the only relief the Guardians had power to give.
—The Chairman said it ought to go forth to the public
that the Guardians had no power to grant relief to able-
bodied persons.—An application was received from Mrs.
Baker and other ladies for permission to establish a
Boarding-out Committee to board out the children in the
house amongst the cottagers in the neighbourhood. The
estimated cost was 3s per child per week, and £2 2s per
year for clothes and other necessaries.—Lord Lyttelton
spoke in favour of the principle, and proposed a resolu-
lion to the effect that the Board approved of it, but could
not pledge themselves to any definite scheme until they
bad some further information as to the cost and the
number of children likely to be affected, and the experi-
ence,of other Uuions.—The resolution was seconded by
Mr. Fetherston, and carried.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-02-01

AN ENTERTAINMENT TO THE BLIND.

In London' on Tuesday evening, the annual tea and
entertainment given under the auspices of the " Chris-
tian " Blind Relief Society to the blind of the metro-
polis took place in the large Schoolroom of the East
London Tabernacle. This excellent institution was
formed in 1856, and has for one of its patrons the Earl
of Shaftesbury. Its object is to grant weekly and
monthly pensions to the needy blind of good moral
character in all parts of the United Kingdom, irre-
spective of any religious qualification.
It is computed that the proportion of blind to
sighted persons is as one in every thousand, and that
there are not more than five out of every hundred
blind who are able to earn a living. Allowing twenty
per cent, as those who can.earn a partial maintenance,
which is about the average, we get 75 per cent, out of
every hundred entirely unprovided for. It folio we, then,
though somewh ‘t startling, that out of .30,00 blind
persons in the United Kingdom, nearly 22,500 are in
needy circumstances. These facts abundantly prove
the need of such a society, while the claims of the
afflicted Glee., whom it has been established to succour,
upon the sympathy and help of the benevolent will be
readily acknowledged.
The number of blind and guides of both sexes pre-
sent on Tuesday evening amounted to about 800. For
these an excellent tea had been provided. That the
meal was, however, if a substantial character will be
evident when it is stated that the provisions consumed
were 3 cwt. of ham and beef which had been cut up
and made info sandwiches, 110 quartern loaves, and
2201 b. of cake. For fully an hour nothing but the clatter
of cups and saucers was heard, except the occasional
loud buzz of conversation and merry laughter, which
sufficiently testified to the appreciation on the part of
th blind guests of the good cheer that had been pro-
vided for them. But if further proof that this was so
were wanted, it would be found in the hearty response
which was given to the question put by Mr. Clarke,
hon. secretary of the society, as to whether they had a
good tea. No lest; vigorous was the manner in which
they responded to a proposal by the same gentleman
that they should thank the kind friends whose sub-
scriptions had provided the tea.

At the conclusion of the meal, the entire assemblage
rose and sang grace in adm.rable time, and with much
effectiveness. Then followed an entertainment of a
varied character, consisting of a selection of music
performed by a brass band, to which a portion of the
company beat time on the floor with their feet;
recitations and songs by several friends of the society;
and selections by the Metropolitan Blind Choir. Not
the least acceptable feature of the evening's pro-
ceedings was the gift of a shilling to each guest upon
eaving.