The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1879-10-25 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN,

The pedestal of a bronze statue, bearing Greek in.
scriptions of the second century 80, has been discovered
near Sebastopol, and the Odessa Archmalogical Society is
about to decipher them.
The house in which Garibaldi was born at Nice in
about to be pulled down to allow of the construction of a
port.

_ lt is stated that the marriage of the King of Spain
with the Archduchess Maria Christina will take place on the
29,11 November.

The Mayor of Portsmouth has received a telegram
from Lord IL G. Lennox, M.P., expressing his cordial ap-
proval of the proposed welcome home to the seamen and
soldiers from Zululaud, and requesting that his name may
be added to the local committee.

Lest week 174 hours of bright sunshine were re.
gistered at Greenwich. At Glynde-place, Lewes, the
Speaker of the House of Commons recorded 21'2 hours.

The Conservatives of Liverpool claim a gain o 1
3,661 votes on the recent borough revision.

•
Her Msjeety has been graciously pleased to appoint
the Yen. Lord Alwyne Compton, Archdeacon of °althorn, to
the vacant deanery of Worcester.

Dr. William Thomas Domville, C. 8., Inspector.
General of Hospitals and Fleets and Hon. Surgeon to the
Queen, expired at Hasler Hospital en Tuesday evening, after
a very protracted illness' from fever. It was in consequence
of Dr. Domville's illness that the firing of heavy ordnance at
the recent torpedo attack was dispensed with.

The American merchants want an express train
put on between Washington and New York, so that pas.
sengers may leave New York in the morning, have a full
official day in the capital, and be home in time for tea; but
upwards of 450 miles of railway travelling in a day, going to
and from "business," takes some of the pleasure out of the
work,

Princess Louise (Marchioness of Lorne), as has
already been stated, embarked at Quebec on Sunday last on
board the Allan Royal Mail steamship Sarmatian. The
vessel, having been detained by fog for 16 hours beyond the
usual time for sailing, need not be expected to arrive in the
Mersey before Monday evening or Tuesday in next week.

A good word for the blackbirds is thus spoken by
the Natchitoches (La.) Vindicator : "Our farmers tell us
that thousands of blackbirds are swarming in the fields of
cotton and destroying the cotton-worm as they go. Very
few worms can be found 'webbed up,' and the planter feels
good. The destruction by the birds this year is accounted
for only by the effects of the Game Law, which are just being
felt."

The library of the late Dr. David Laing, librarian
to the Signet Library, Edinburgh, will be sold in London
towards the end of the year. Dr. Laing was an insatiable
collector, and his collection of Scotch books is unique.
Among other works which will be brought to the hammer
are "Froluart's Chronicles," "Black Letter Chronicles" of
Holinshead, Hale, and Grafton, a "Breeches Bible," &c.
It was stated at a conference on emigration and the
depressed state of trade, held on Monday at the Homerton
Evangelical Hall, that the ex-Mayor of Natal is prepared to
take out in a short time 200 artisans, provided each man
can raise £.lO, and a resolution was passed asking the various
friendly societies if they are desirous of forming a land by
which the subscribers would have the privilege of voting
passages for persons who had been nominated to go to the
colonies.

The hair of the Presidents of the United States,
from Washington to Pierce in 1853, is carefully preserved in
the Patent Office at Washington. Most of the locks are
bleached by age, Washington's hair being nearly pure white,
but fine and smooth; while Jefferson's is a mixture of white
and auburn, and rather coarse, and General Jackson's locks
are also coarse. Since Buchanan sucaeeded to the Presidency
in 1857 the custom has been dropped.

Mr. Cubitt, MY., speaking at the dinner in con-
nection with the annual ploughing match of the Chertsey
Agricultural Association, observed that there would be
throughout the country a feeling of gratification that at last
the clouds of war appeared to be rolling away, and that if
the Empire was not at this moment at peace, still the
troubles of war were only existing in a very remote corner.
Referring to the depression, he remarked that as the farm-
ing interest was the last to suffer from the depression, per-
haps it would be the last to recover; but at all events there
was fair reason to hope that prosperity, if they were
favoured with sunshine next year, would return.—Mr.
Sidney Buxton, in proposing "Prosperity to the Society,"
observed that as last year the farmer had to live on faith,
and this year on hope, so next year, unless things improved,
they would have to live on charity.
Mr. Colledge, secretary to the Warwickshire Miners'
Association, in an address issued on Tuesday to the colliers
throughout his district, says there are unmistakeable indica-
tions on every hand of not only improvement in the iron
trade, but that coal will soon be in far greater demand than
for years past. He urges miners throughout the country to
be united in order to participate in the returning pros-
perity.
According to the Official Messenger of St. Petereburg,
the damage caused by tires in Russia during the month of
September represents a sum of 8,500,000 roubles, and this
only refers to those conflagrations of which notice has been
given to the authorities. An immense fire lately broke out
in Ufa, the chief town of the Government of the same name,
by which more than a fifth part of this large town was con-
sumed. Many persons were burnt to death, and the loss
of property WBS enormous.

- -
The committee of the "United Services Memorial
to the late Prince Imperial" state that up to the 15th of
October the sum of £2,600 has been received for this fund,
from about 10,000 subscribers, in sums varying from Id. to
£l. Contributions have been received from all ranks now
serving, or who have served, in every branch of her Majesty's
sea and land forces. Some time must necessarily elapse
before the subscription list Is closed, in consequence of the
unavoidable delay in communicating with naval and military
forces at distant stations.

Mrs. Butler—better known as Miss Rizabeth
Thompson—has been commissioned by the Queen to paint
for her gallcry at Windsor two subjects, the one from the
Afghsn, and the other from the South African war. Mrs.
Butler's painting for the Royal Academy next year will be
"The Charge of the Scots Greys at Waterloo."—Court
Journal.

The Sussex Express states that the Duke of Rich-
mond and Gordon has deferred the payment of rents due
from his tenants on the 29th September to the Ist January
next:—The Earl of Sheffield has postponed the collection of
his Michaelmas rents until the end of November.—Lord
Sheffield has also informed his agricultural tenants that in
consequence :of the continuous depression, be will then
make the same abatement in their rents as he made at the
audit in April last, namely, 25 per cent.
The Sydney Morning Herald, of Sept. 1, states tbat
a memorial, In the form of a golden salver, is to be pre-
sented by the R man Catholics of New South Wales to John
Henry Newman, as an expression of love and admiration,
and as a token of the joy which has been afforded to Dr.
Newman's co•religionists on that side of the globe by his
elevation to the Cardinalate by Leo XIII. The subscriptions
far more than covered the cost of the memorial It has
been arranged that the memorial shall be transmitted to
the Duke of Norfolk, with a re quest that his Grace would
nresent the memorial to the Cardinal on the partlof the
CAtholics of New South Wales.
The Pittsburg Southern Railroad, extending from
Pittsburg to Washington, Pa., a distance of over 36 miles,
has discarded the telegraph instruments for the telephone
in the transaction of business, including the running of
trains. It is said a whisper in Washington can be heard in
Pittsburg. Several western railroads have also resorted to
the use of the telephone instead of telegraphic instruments.
—Electrician.
The Chinese officers who have been attached for
some years past to regiments in the Prussian army, with a
view to becoming acquainted with the rules in the practice
of the German service have now resigned the honorary post
to which they had been appointed • and will return to their
own country. They have been in appointed;
about four years,
and have had ample opportunity during that period of ac-
complishing the object for which their visit was undertaken.
The annual meeting of the United Kingdom Al-
liance was held at Manchester on Tuesday, under the presi-
dency of Sir Wilfrid Lawson, M.P. In the morning there
was a conference of the council, at which Sir Wilfrid said
that a general election was rapidly approaching, and that
" having the men it was necessary to have the money, too."
He attributed the depression and suffering now existing
mainly to the drink traffic. In response to the appeal for
special subscriptions sums amounting to over £5,000 were
promised in the room. Sir W. Lawson headed the list with
£l,OOO, Mr. Hugh Mason gave £5OO, and the Messrs. Pease
£600. In the evening Sir W. Lawson took the chair at the
annual public meeting in the Free Trade Hall, at which it is
estimated about 4,000 persons were present. A supple-
mentary meeting was held in a neighbouring building, at
which it is stated 1,800 persons attended, and 1,000 more
had to be refused admission.

U .A
S/6010 X: aai Ili

"

Last Saturday a farmer named Stratton, occupying
land on both sides of the railway to Portsmouth, was cross-
ing the line just above that town, when he was knocked
down by a passenger train and cut to pieces.
-

- - -
It is said that among other congresses, one of Evan-
gelical, Protestant, and Baptist pastors is about to be held
In Rome.

It is announced from Stockholm that the Hotel de
Ville of that city and a number of surrounding houses have
been destroyed by a fire, which broke out on the 18th inst.
German and English insurance companies are, it appears,
chif fly interested in the calamity.

Bishop Colenso is printing hi Natal a complete digest
of the Blue-Books on the Zulu War.

Mr, GlAdstone was entertained, on Sunday evening,
at a grand dinner at the Foreign Office at Paris. 111ra and
Miss Gladstone were present, as well as AL Leon Say, 31. L 5
Royer, 31 Roustan, the Comte de rontecoulant, 11. Deprez,
and 31. Meuraud.

The United States' official retnrns 'how that the
value of the cattle exported from the United States to Great
Britain during the fiscal year 1873 was 2,408 813 dole., and in
1879 6,616.114 dole. It is expected that the improvements
made in the transportations and care of the cattle will
largely increase the exportation.
- - -

An hotel of extraordinary dimensions is being
erected at Berlin. It occupies a site opposite the Central
Station, and contains 500 bedrooms, together with a theatre,
two chapels, and a synagogue. Large courtyards, orna-
mented with statues of the most celebrated travellers, are to
form a special feature of exterior adornment.

A Copenhagen paper states that the Duke of Cum-
berland contemplates definitely renouncing his claim to the
throne of Hanover.

Artiatic ladiea who like to ornament their own
dresses, and are tired ot crewel-embroidery, may enjoy copy-
ing their American sisters, who are wearing silk costumes
painted by hand. This charming trimming is executed in
water-colour, and chiefly represents trailing flowers or water.
plants combined with birds and insects, the tiny china

- buttons being painted to match. -
The letters of the world In 1873 amounted to
3,300,000,000, or about n millions daily. As to teleßrams,
nearly 130,000,000 were sent in 1877, an average of 353,000 per
diem, while one-third of these were private, dealing with
purely personal concerns.

- - -
The Cesarevitch has given 500 roubles towards the
funds of the committee that bas been formed at St. Peters-
burg, to celebrate the twenty. fifth anniversary of the repulse
of the allied French and English fleets before Petropavlovsk,
by the erection of a grand monument on the spot where the
Russians, who fell in the defence, are buried. _ _ _

A large meeting of agricultural labourers was held
last Saturday evening in the Theatre at Canterbury, at
which a resolution was carried requesting the Royal Commis-
sion on Agriculture to receive evidence on behalf of the
labourers of Kent and Sussex.

During a heavy squall on Monday afternoon a boat,
containing several men, capsized off Portland, and the whole
of the occupants were drowned.

Madame Goldschmidt, better known by her maiden
name of Jenny Lind, or the Swedish Nightingale, was born
at Stockholm on October 21, 1821, thus completing her 58th
year on Tuesday.—On the same date, in the following year,
Mr. Sims Reeves, the greatest of English tenors, was born at
Shooter's dill, near London, and thus attains his 57th year
on Tuesday.

Fair hair has entirely gone out of fashion across the
Atlantic, and Veronese, Murillo, and chesnut brown, "with
yellow reflections," are the favourite hues.
- -

- .
It may not perhaps he widely known that though
the 24th Regiment has suffered twice from almost complete
annihilation, it can lay claim to the honour of having
received more Victoria Crones than any other regiment in
her Majesty's Service—more even than the 60th Rifles and
Rifle Brigade, with their four battalions. The numbers, in
fact, would more than double those of any other corps.—
Court Journal.

Letters receiveA from the Pacific station state that
her Majesty's ship Opal had been on a cruise to the Pitcairn
Islands and had placed in the church an American organ,
the &Lied the Queen. The first tune played on it was "God
save the Queen !" in which the islanders joined heartily.

A "Bird Tug" has been invented by an ingenious
fisherman at Morgan, South Australia, who has trained a
large pelican to tow his boat about the lake. The pelican
goes most obediently in a harness of fishing-lines.
A man who is always going in for figures, has
arrived at the following calculation :—That, if a person
were born in a railway carriage, and were to be continually
travelling till he was killed by a railway accident, he would,
according to the average number of deaths and passengers,
live 960 years.
From the official statement of the vote in the
recent California election on Chinese immigration, it

-appears that• the numbers for the measure wire 883: and
• • • • - - •

those against it, 154.
The fortnightly meeting of the managers of the
Metropolitan Asylums District was held on Saturday, when
the report presented showed that there had been a decrease
of small-pox, but a slight increase of fever. The number of
small-pox patients under treatment was 45, leaving 627 beds
vacant; and the number of fever patients was 374, leaving
97 beds available.
One of the first uses to which the St. Gothard

Tunnel will be put will be to afford the means of conveying
an underground wire between Goeschenen and Airolo, thus
securing the telegraph department against the numerous
delays which now occur through the breaking down of the
wires by storms and avalanches.

On Sunday the Empress Eugenie attended Divine
service in the Roman Catholic Church, Braemar. Mass was
said by the Rev. Mr. Stewart, after which the Empress re-
turned to Abergeldie. Notwithstanding the inclemency of
the weather, there being occasionally falls of snow and sleet,
she occupied an open carriage. A large crowd assembled at
the church, and it was subject of remark that her Majesty
appeared considerably improved in health since her resi-
dence in the North.

As a farmer was digging near a hedge at Mantua a
few days ago he found an earthen pot containing a large
number of" gold pieces belonging to the 16th century, in-
cluding some half and quarter doubloons of Spain and
Genoa and some florins of Cosmo 111. and Ferdinand de
Medicis, Grand Dukes of Tuscany.

At the annual meeting of the Berwickshire
Naturalists' Club, there was produced a fragment written in
1832 by Sir Walter Scott at Rome. It is the last poem
penned by him, and is unfinished. The verses were written at
the request of the Countess of Woollenluss, a Russian lady,
and in them Sir Walter Scott describes himself as "A
withered Scottish thorn."

A return has been issued showing that the number
of bullOing societies in England and Wales, Incorporated
under the Building Societies Acts, 1871 and 1875, up to the
31st DecembPr, 1878, was 987, of which 826 have furniehed
statements of their annual income, and 830 of their liabili-
ties and assets. The total number of members of 767
societies was 275450; the liabilities (of 830 societies)
£28,218,005, and the assets £28,226,153, leaving a balance de-
ficient in 129 societies of £19,852.

The new station at Lime-street, Liverpool, which has
been constructed by the London and North-Western Rail-
way Company at a cost of £.200,000, was formally opened on
Monday. The entire area of the two stations is 28,100 square.
yards, the new portion covering 13,700 yards. The tunnel
has been enlarged and opened for a distance of a quarter of
a mile from the bottom end, and it is in contemplation to
make it wide enough for four lines of rail for the whole dis-
tance from Lime-street to Edge-hill. The terminus now
comprises no fewer than eleven platforms.

The leading manufacturers of tinned goods in Wol-
verhampton and district have issued circulars to their cus-
tomers stating that owing to the advance in the price of
iron and tin all their price lists are suspended, discounts are
reduced 5 per cent., and that all new contracts will be sub-
jected to the special circumstances of the market.
It is believed that no further call will be made on
the shareholders of the City of Glasgow Bank. The third
dividend, 13s. 4d. per £1 111 all, has just been paid out of
money in hand. It is hoped that a rise in the value of
securities held will enable the liquidators by and by to meet
all claims.
Speaking at a meeting of the South Staffordshire
Church Sunday School Association, held under the presidency
of Canon Lonsdale, at Lichfield, the Dean of Lichfield advo•
cated definite religious teaching, according to the principles
of the Church of England, in their Sunday schools. He
believed the prosperity of the country was bound up in their
maintaining religious elementary education upon the prin-
ciples of the reformed Church of England.
The report of United States mercantile failures for
the three months, July, August, and September, shows
15,276,550 dols. liabilities, compared with 66,378,363 dols.
in the corresponding period of 1878. For the first nine
months of 1879 the liabilities amount to 81,054,940 dols.,
compared with 197,211,129 dole. in the corresponding period
of 1878. This is regarded as another indication of the im-
proved state of American trade.
"Once more the Queen has given proof of the affec-
tion with which she regards the defenders of her Throne
and the country. Several times Her Majesty, I learn, has,
through Lady Freer, commanded particular inquiries to be
made as to the condition of the sick and wounded in hospital
at the Cape. Further, the Qaeen gave specific directions
months ago that she was to be kept fully informed of the
progress made by those sick and wounded men remaining
under treatment. It is in this womanly way that Her
Majesty essays to show the world that she is not only the
Ruler but the Mother of her People."—Whitehaif Review.
Notwithstanding increased supplies of foreign wheat,
activity and excitement have prevailed in the corn trade
during the past week, and under the stimulus of enlarged
consumption and speculation prices have, says the Mark
Lane E.cpress, risen from 3s. to 41. per quarter.
The Bishop of Ely, in opening the Archidiaconal
Conference at Cambridge on Tuesday, warmly complimented
Mr. Martin, M.P., upon his Burials' Act, and urged the
clergy and churchwardens to give it effect. In the matter of
erecting chapels and the appointment of chaplains, he
should, however, wish to see some amendment. Mr.
Martin, in explanation, said he thought the Act conld be
easily worked without amendment. His remarks were
warmly applauded.
Ge seto r
gaer e
Kraer cool
yr ef da t
hi ne r co of ntnheec
At iuosn.
amounts to 1,700000 florins, and among the various collec-
tionswtrii Ttahn4;Eohne vfdoaeycatttsoh England. gCloianuntndet.r The legacy duty on his fortune)
left by the deceased is one consisting of over 150 meer-
schaum pipes—his hobby.—Court Journal.
The French Minister of War has published a regula-
tion for organizing optical telegraphy in time of peace. The
several places on the French frontier are to be connected by
pcsts ; apparatus are to be manceavred by persons trained
and keeping records of communications sent or received.
This new service is to be placed under the supervision of the
Director of Aerial Communications, who already has com-
mand of the balloonists and the colombophiles, for carrier-
pigeons.
One of the largest of the dry goods stores of Paris
was visited on Monday week by 64,921 Person.,
and the
money taken amounted to 1,135,3721. 80c. There were sold
400,0001. worth of sdk, 7,0001. worth of umbrellas 35,0001.
worth of artificial flowers, and 25.000 i, worth of fichns.
The ladles were making their provisions for the winter
season.—Parisian
A Reuter's telegram from St. Petersburg says that
the Gobs, commenting on the recent speech of Lord Salisbury
at Manchester, expresses astonishment at the tone of hos-
tility towards Russia whlch it perceives in his lordship's
utterances. "If," proceeds the Gobs, "the reported alliance
between Austria and Germany prove to be true Russia must
secure allies for herself to act in the rear of 'the enemy in
case of emergencies. Lord Salisbury's speech has opened
the eyes of Russia and has afforded her freedom of action."
The Paris correspondent of The Times says that the
Villa Lamartine, Avenue du Trocadero, presented to the
poet by the municipality in 1869 and redeemed by it from
his heirs for a perpetual annuity of 12,0001., was sold on
Tuesday in three lots for 478,0001.
There were 2,637 births and 1,499 deaths registered
In London last week. Allowing for increase of population
the births exceeded by 135, and the deaths by 43, the
average numbers in the corresponding week of the last ten
years. The annual death-rate from all causes was 21 6, a
higher rate than has prevailed in any week since the
middle of May. Only one death from small-pox was regis-
ered throughout the whole of the metropolis.
Sir Henry Drummond Wolff, M.P.' presided on
Tues lay evening at the annual dinner of the South Avon
and Stour Agricultural Society. In responding to the toast
of the Houses of Lords and Commons, helsaid the recent coali-
tion whether it was a tacit understanding or an alliance,
that been formed between Germany and Austria was one
of great consequence to the people of Europe. It was formed
he believed to resist the aggressive tendencies of Russia. He
believed that neither the Emperor of Russia nor the Russian
Government was fully responsible for this, but that they
were carried away by the torrent of an unknown democracy.
Alfred Henry Garrod, F.R.S., one of the most dis-
tinguished of our younger zoologists and comparative ana-
tomists, died on the 17th inst., at the early age of 34 After
taking a first class in natural science, Mr. Garrod was elected
a Fellow of St John's, Cambridge, in 1673, and was subse-
quently appointed Prosector to the Zoological Society of
London and Professor of Zoology at King's College. His
papers on animal temperature and on the use of the sphyg-
mograph are well known to physiologists, as also his
numerous memoirs on the structure and affualties of the
higher vertebrata,—Obituary of no Tames, Oct. 20.