The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-05-04 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN,

A ticket-counting machine has been introduced in
Germany, which is said to count packages of ten, fifty, or
hundred tickets with absolute exactness, bringing to view
the face of every ticket as it is counted. The machines have
been used for some time on the Hanover railroads, and have
recently been ordered by several other German aud Austrian
roads

A modki of the New York Post Office, constructed
on the scale of one-thirty-second of an inch to the foot, has
been sent te the Paris Exhibition. It was built from the
plans, and contains 234,000 pieces. It occupied the time of
one man, working six hours a day, for six years to complete
it.
A Spanish correspondent says that the propaganda
against bull-fights has commenced in downright earnestness.
Several members of the Cortes have asserted that the con-
tinuation of this brutal form of amusement disgraces Spain
before Europe, while it must act injuriously upon the
Spa Dish character.

On Wednesday morning the annual custom of
parading "Jack-in-the-Green," with the usual motley group.
of decorated sweeps carrying garlands, ite., was duly ob-
served in the streets in South London, and the ancient cus-
tom yet seems popular with the public. A lot of "Morris
dancers" also celebrated May Day, and were well patronisecl.

. Wednesday (May 1) being the twenty-eighth anni-
versary of the birth of his Royal Highness the Duke of Con-
naught. the occasion was celebrated at Windsor with the
usual rejoicings.—A Renter's telegram from ,Berlin 6a3s it is
understood that his Royal highness will be betrothed to the
Princess Louise, third daughter of Prince Frederick Charles
and Princess Marie of Prussia, at Darmstadt, on the 9th Lust.
The Rev. Thomas Francis Barker, M. A., Incumbent
of Thornton-in-the Moors, Rural Dean of Chester and Canon
of Chester Cathedral, was stepping into his carriage after
visiting a sick parishioner on Thursday in last week, when
he stumbled and fell. He was at once taken home, but de-
spite every attention he died the same night.
The American Correspondent of The Times writes
—"There are rumours to-day from San Francisco to the effect
that Russian agents are negotiating for a steamer to fit out
as a privateer. Blank letters of marque and blank commis-
sions for officers are reported to be there ready f or filling up,
while 200 men, drawn chiefly from the unemployed classes,
have already signet:l articles. Two officers, former 4 of the
Pacific Mail line, have been named as likely to be appointed
to command the privateer. I send this report as received
without, however, vouching for its authenticity. A Russian
corvette, the Craysser, has been for some time at San Fran-
cisco."

The Turkestan Gazette states that on the 2nd of
April, at twenty minutes to twelve in the morning, there
was a perceptible earthquake at Tashkaut. Three days
later, at banjoist eight a.m., there was a second shock, more
violent still. Earthquakes be!ng very uncommon in Central
Asia, these shocate-ttave vacteett great excite ment among the
native population, who see in them prognostication of a
coming Central Asian war.
On Monday, amid a scene of great military enthu-
siasm, a detachment of the first-class Army Reserve, num-
bering just 100 men, left Chester Castle. under escort of the
23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers, to join the depOt of that regi-
ment tit Wrexham. Colonel Briggs addressed the men
before leaving, complimenting them on their excellent con-
duct and the ready way in which they had responded to the
call the country had made upon their services. Three cheers
were given, and the men marched away to the station.
Hundreds of people lined the rows and cheered them as they
passed down.

There is an extensive strike in Catalonia, and 130
actortes have had 0 stop work.

The Crown Princess of Germany arrived at Dover,
on Tuesday afternoon, and proceeded by special train to
Windsor to visit the Queen. The Princess Beatrice and
Lily Biddulph met the Crown Princess at the station, where
a large number of persons had assembled; and along the
route to the Castle the streets were lined with people, who
gave the Crown Princess a cordial welcome.

Mr. Cowper-Temple, M.P. spoke at the opening of
a newly-organised Trades School in Southampton on Mon-
day. He attributed the superiority of German and French
over English handicraftsmen to the wider diffusion of science
and art instruction on the Continent, and said the time had
come for an effort to put our workmen upon a more equal
footing with foreign competitors. Trades schools he re,
garded as valuable in training boys to be artisans and in
counteracting the tendency of elementary schools to dc-
,velop a race of mere clerks.

The Registrar General's weekly return states that
daring last week 6,391 births and 3,956 deaths were registered
in London and 22 other large towns of the United Kingdom.
The mortality from all canses Was at the average rate of 23
deaths annually in every 1,000 persons living. In London
2,640 births and 1,661 deaths were registered. Allowing for
increase of population, the births exceeded by 100, and the
deaths by 156, the average numbers in the corresponding
week of the last 14) years. The annual death-rate from all
causes, which in the two preceding weeks had been equal to
21.6 and 26 9 per 1,000, further declined last week to 24.2.
The 1,661 deaths included 63 f4een small-pox, 38 frcm
mr'afiles, 2-2 from scarlet fey. r. 11 from dphtlse,i, 106 from
whooping-cough, 24 from different forms of fever, and 3.1
from diarrtcea.
Hobart Pasha arrived in London on Saturday
evening by the South. Eastern Company's mail train from
Dover. Noticing Hobart Pasha's visit the Whitehall Review
remarks :—" The fact of three months' leave of absence
having been granted to Hobart Pasha to enable him to visit
England must be taken as showing that the Turkish Govern.,
ment does not apprehend having any call upon the services
of its fleet for some time, or that the presence of the gallant
English effleer who has done ro much for the Ottoman Navy
in the past would not be required. Hobart Pasha's visit to
this country, though non-official, will not be without its
Uses, and we may be sure that his arrival in this country will
not pass unheeded by those in office WIN het th„A tby
denary may yet have a dine -inteMt Ma Cblldlikll kid
elititt* We Ttlltish Thntt.6

From a return jugt issued, it appears that the Mid-
land Railway Easter excars:on traffic has been considerably
In excess of that of any previous year.

It is solacing to on' patriotic frelings to know that
the Army and Militia Iteserve-men have turned..up in .0:o
niot satizfactory manner all over the county
Review.

In order to investigate the conteLts of the Par
Exhibition the vititur will have to w.il twenty milea.

The number of young men in the kingdom of Spain
who this yt ar attain the age of twenty, when they become
liable to be called upon t 3 serve in the army, amounts to
150,809 Of these, however, nearly half are 'declared to be
physically unfit for service, or are excused for some other
reason ; and of the remaining 75 OM, about 20,000 are re-
quired for the navy, for the army maintained in the foreign
possessions of Spain, or have purchased exemption from mili-
tary service by paying £BO each to the State. The rest form
the contingent of recruits for the present year.

The Standard says that Portland will be the rendez-
VOll3 of the ships DOW preparing to form the fleet for the
Channel and North Sea, and to that port the coast-guard
and turret ships bill proceed as s.oon as ready.

An observing correspondent eulogizes our Premier's
turn-out, and thinks it the neatest thing ill town. Th)
horse is a strongly built high-stepping bay, the servants in
light chocolate livery, with every 'button like burnished
gall—the carriage itself a quite unpretending one, with the
tiniest of coronets on the panel, while inside, as it rapidly
passes, you just catch a glimpse of that wi.ite, strangely
immovable face which is never looking towards you, but is
always apparently engrossed in studying the dimensions of
the coachman's back. The Premier scarcely ever sees a
a bow, arid would hardlyever recognize a press interviewer
if he got into the vacant seat in the brougham to have a
talk.—eourt Journal.

Reports of the sufferings from famine of the popula-
tion in Brazil continue to be most grave. No less than
60,000 fugitives from the interior are assembled at Aracaty
alone, and they die off at the rate of 100 per day. Atißar-
balho cats and other animals starved to death are eaten
raw. In other places the dogs live upon the unburied human
bodies.

The United Service Gazette has it on trustworthy
authority that the necessary machinery has been completed
for calling out every naval reserve man of the mercantile
marine in the United Kingdom, if deemed necessloy, and
when put in motion forty-eight hours will suffice for actually
placing the men on board the several ships in which they
may be detailed to serve.

The ship Southesk, of 1,150 tons, Captain Grey,
R.N.R., sailed from Graysend on April 26, bound for Bris-
bane, Queensland, and had on board 115 single men, 63 single
women. 98 married people, 78 children betwem the ages of
12 and 1, and 9 infants, maliing a total of 363 souls, equal to
315 adults. The single women are under the care of Mrs.
J.ap, Dr. J. Raphael Jo.seph acting as surgeon-superinten-
dent.

Last Saturday night Mr. Archibald Forbes narrated
in the largest public nail in NV oivernampten his lecture on
his personal experiences as Correspondent of the Daily Nens
during the Russo-Turkish war. The gathering was a very
large one, "ar,d included Dr. Bond Moore, well known as one
of the Stafford House surgeons during the late war. The
lecturer was received with much enthusiasm; his graphic
descriptions were listened to with wrapt attention, and he
was frequently and warmly applauded.
Mr. Cecil Rakes addre sed his constituents at
Chester on Monday evening. Referring to the great ques-
tion of the day, the hon. gentleman said that England was
standing forward as the champion of the public right of
Europe. She did not grudge Russia some reward for a
gallant campaign, but she would not allow treaties which
expressed the public right of the world to he altered in a
corner "between one man who had got his foot on his
adversary's neck and another who saw a dagger at his
heart."

Several engagements with the Kaffirs are reported
from the Cape of Good Hope. and disaffection appears to be
spreading. The Governor of the Colony, lu replying to an
address at Grahamstown, regretted that he could not hold
out any hope that peace was near. A debt has been incurred
by the war, and a million and a half of money will be required
to complete the railways.
A Russian journal, describing the "curious" drcsi
of the Highland regiments in Her Majesty's service speaks of
them as being the " untamed " descendants of the Ancient
Britons, whose fantastic garb they still affect. "They are huge,
robust, red-headed men are these pictineque Highlanders ;
few of them can speak the modern language of the Euglish
people ; but still this does not hinder them from lighting
well, and they make excellent infantry Bashi-Bazouks for the
British Army."— Vanity Fair.

Prince liismsrck's medical adviser, Dr. Struck, has
intimated at Berlin that the Prince will be able, and that he
intends, to return to the capital in about a fortnight or
three weeks from this time.

A disappointed poultry keeper who had exception-
ably bad luck last season, closes his chapter of lamentations
by declaring that "every prospect pleases, and only hens
are vile "—Mark Lane Express.

The first catch of mackerel at Weymouth this sea-
son took place last Sattuday, and on Monday there was
another "take."

In London, on Monday evening, a committee for
the promotion of the active service volunteer movement
was held at the committee rooms, Strand; Lieutenant-
General Raines presiding. It was stated that there ore now
on the committee two generals, five colonels, six majors,
nine captains, and a numlicr of members of Parliament.
The actual rumber of those who have given in their names
is about 8,000.

•
The death is announced of Mr. F. H. Moran, the
trumpeter who sounded the memorable "Charge" at
Balaclava when the order was received. Moran was
dangerously wounded on that occasion. For the last
sixteen years he has been bandmaster of the lud battalion
of the sth Fusilers.

There has been a sale at Salt Lake of a liortion of
Brigham Young's personal property. Some of the articles
fetched quite fancy prices. His gold watch realised LISO,
and his guard £6O. And it is said that if all the rest of
Brigham Young's chattels sold at a similar figure they would
go far towards making a handsome provision for the widows
and orphans.

Mr. C. S. Read, M.P., at a meeting of the Norfolk
Ohamber of Agriculture on Saturday, spoke on the Highways
bill. The bon, gentleman said that while generally agreeing
with the measure, he regretted that personal property as
well as real property was not to be taxed for the maintenance
of the highways. He thought that some taxes, and particu-
larly the tax upon locomotion, should be given to the
counties to assist in maintaining the main thoroughfares of a
district. He also thought that the receipts from the dog
tax, and from gun licenses, should be paid to the local auth0.;.,...1—
.;.,...1— (inn. in the case of the dog tax, _in
Ireland. He further contended that quarries and mines, the
products of which caused considerable damage to roads in
their conveyance from place to place, should be assessed at
the same rate as agricultural land.

A hint to purchasers of Russian stock. On Saturday
last I passed some large works jittt as the men were going
home. I heard one man say to another, "Well, Bill, are we
going to war with the Roossians ?" "I don't know," replied
Bill, "I suppose the Roossians are only waiting till we give
them the money to do. it .f "—Vanity Fair.

At Rawal Pindee, on the 24th ult., a tiger came
down from the hill, and went into the regimental bazaar,
where he wounded six persons and killed two. The animal
was afterwards killed by six soldiers. —Times of India.
The Arohdeacon of Chester delivered his visitation
charge to the churchwardens at Ovcrton Church, Frodsharn,
on Al onday, remarking that "we lived in times when it was
necessary to husband, and not waste, our energy; to be
zealous, and not fussy." They might, he said, be official if
they Hied, but he asked them not to be officious.
The attempt to raise the Eurydice has been un-
successful, and in consequence of the falling tides no fresh
endeavour is likely to be made for some days.

At the Egyptian Hall, in London, on Monday
Light, Mr. Maskelyue introduced to a public audience
Fanfare, a trumpeter, the latest of his additions to the
remark:.-le automatic figures exhibited in 3laskelyne and
Cooke's entertainment at the Egyptian Hall. The oitliculty
of producing the notes from the musical instrument held by
the figure has for the first time been successfully overcome,
and duets and trios the automaton performed with extra-
ordinary skid. Although some of the higher notes were
not so pure as those of the best human players, the succesi
of the invention was placed beyond all doubt.

Her Majesty held an investiture of the Imperial
Order of the Star of India at Windsor on Monday.

Experiments in the methods of destroying an
enemy's guns when captured have been some time iu pro-
gr,ss at the Royal Laboratory Department, Royal Areenal,
Woolwich, and are now near completion. It is found that
in most cases a 11b, slab of gun-cotton laid upon the Aim
near the muzzle will either break the gun or so distort it as
to render it incapable of being loaded, and attempts are now
being made by. similar means to render the gun unservice-
able by .damaging the vent. .It is proposed to furniih bat-
terie3 of Artillery with discs of gnu-cotton, lengths of faze,
and detonators for this service in the same manner as the
Cavalry pioneer, carry the means for destroying railway
metals and bridges. _

The Emperor of Brazil is to visit Europe again
in June, when it is stated he will be at the Paris
tints.
A Greek gentleman who has just returned from
Athens infornis us (Globe) that the current of feeling in
favour of England is wonderfully strong all over Greece.
Not only is this the case in the towns, but the peasants, who
take a keen and intelligent interest in foreign affairs, arts
always arguing, "If only England will take us with her we
shall be all right." This correspondent thinks that besides
tke Greek army, which would snake a respectable figure,
there would be large numbers of volunteers, if their pay
were guaranteed by England.
Preachinir to the iiallarnshire Rifles, at St. Mary's,
Warley, on Sunday, the vicar, the Rev. T. Smith, closed his
discourse as follows :--1" Should the time ever arrive when
your services may be required to fight for your country, your
wives, and your children, or to resist an invader who might
hypecritioally approach our shores to protect poor Chris-
tians,' I have such faith in my countrymen, such thorough
confidence in their Christian character, their irresistible
will, that I ray with that grant old man, the member for
Sheffield, John Arthur Roebuck, 'Should occasion require
it, England will rise against the world in axms.'"

_
General Trepoff, who was fired at by Vera Zasln-
titcli. has been relieved of his functions as Prefect of St.
Petersburg and of the Police.

At the annual meeting of the Salford Constitu-
tional Association, held on Monday night, Mr. ilardcastle,
M.P.' presiding, a resolution was passed, on the motion of
Mr.. 0. 0. Walker, M.P., exproniug confidence in the
Governmilit, and, in view of the nienacinz position of
forsign affairs, approving of the calling out of the Reserves
and the placing of the naval and military services on a
footing of the utmost efficiency, and strongly disapproving
of the conduct of those who by their sympathy and
encouragement are aiding the military despotism of Russia.
The Bill to abolish actions for breach of promise of
marriage has been fixed to be discussed on the 21st of May.
Three hon. members have given notice of their i:a.ention to
move that it be read a second time that day six months.

A man employed in a brewery at Sheffield, while
taking a thermometer out of a vat on Saturday night to
ascertain'the temperature, was overpowered by the fumes,
fell in, and was suffocated.
On Monday evening Mr. Stansfield, M.P., presided
at a meeting in the Mechanics' Ifall,illalitcx, and presented
the certificates to the successful students in the Cambridge
Local Examinations. Ile reviewed the educational facilities
afforded by various grades of instruction, from the ffoard
schools to the grammar schools and Universities, and re-
pudiated the idea that the spread of education wculd have a
tendency to dissatisfy the masses with the station in life in
which they had been placed. lie strongly advocated the
perfection of the various grades of education, and justified
School Boards in the provision of higher-class schools for
*those who could afford to pay and those whose quick per-
ception had enabiect them before attaining the age of
thirteen to obtain the full advantages offered by the
elementary Board schools. Ile desired the formation in
Halifax of a voluntary education council, coinpiaed of
gentlemen and ladies of ability, who being interested in the
advancement of the people would endeavour to make the
elementary school the stepping-stone to the higher-class
school, and the higher-class school to the grammar school
and finally the University.

-- -
A telegram from Washington says that no official
Information has been received by any department of the
Government as to preliminary arrangements having been
made by the Rug.taa Government, in San Francisco or cite-
where, for fitting oat cruisers against England, in anticipa-
tion of the outbreak of war.

In accordance with a resolution arrived at on
Saturday afte rn o on, about 2000 men employed on the North
British Railway works at Cowlairs, near Glasgow, came out
on strike against the.increase of working hours to 54 from
51. --A. deputation waited upon Mr. Drummond, the Super-
intendent at Cowlairs, and endeavoured to bring about a re-
conciliation, but without any effect. Mr. Drummond stated
that the notice would not be withdrawn, and that tho works
would be kept open till Friday afternoon, when he would
consider what further steps should be taken. The men
then returned to Glasgow, where a Man meetinu of the
workmen was being held, and reported the result of the
interview. After consultation they agreed to abide by their
former decision and remain out. It wa.s staren that pro.
=la Olef to suPport tD.e ntn on strike hal Ufcn re•
WM Waft trutrte'rsi

A nephew of the King ci Eartnah, named Moonz
Eat, who has resided for Lowe St .3 as a St-ate prisoner at
Cannanore, has been baptised by the c,hapiain a that
station.—iimes of India..

-Vesuvius is showing some signs of An CIMPi()". O
he even!, g of the 231(1 a column. of thine rtge at bliort
into rvals fr,ni the crater.

A limited liability company i about to be establishe d
in Eirmingham, to be called the Smh.ery Supply A ..soviation.
It c% ill have fur its oojects the development (.1 ssinita:y
science and the application of the drainage and ventilation
of pnbllc buildings and private dwellings.
-

The new dog-tax of is. 6 I. will come into operation
on the Ist of June next, but the licenses taken out previ-usly
wit remain in force until the end of the year. It is stated
that
.the authorities of Somerset House have already 10,000
511111/110b8E3 to deal with against persons for having dogs in
their possession without licenses.

Every one knows that woman's sphere of labour
Is much less limited in America than in this country ; but it
gives one a new idea of her range of ditties to see an illus-
trated advertisement of a lyTse-ralte with a vtoinan perched
upon he implement as driver.—Mark Lane Express.
After lunche,n on Monday, Her Majesty the Queen,
acc:ompanied by Priv cess Beatrice and suite, went to the
riding.school of the Royal mews, and witnessed some new
militLry exercises by the let Life Guards. The Queen and
Ptlsces3 Beatrice took up their position in the gaaery, and
the men went through some "double ride" exercises and
various other cavalry IIIaBCCINTe9 with the lance sod the
sword.
In view of the present critical state of !affairs, the
Liverpool Customs authorities, it is understood, have received
Instructions to exercise special vigilance in the examination
of export cargoes, and considerably increased activity has
prevailed amongst the officials during the past few days.

Japan has sent 15,000 dollars to the Chinese famine
fund, among which are subscriptions from the Emperor,t
Empress, the Queen-Mother, and the Press.
According to official returvs just issued, it appears
that the stoppages from the pay, &e., of soldiers for drumken-
ness amounted to £179 Ss sd. in the financial year 1576-7-
In the previous six years the aggregate amount of these fines
exceeded the above sum in four years and was less in to.) years.
The amount thus received Is applied to the purpose of rant-'
lug gratuities to well-conducted soldiers on their disciNre
from the army.

A n accident, which ended fatally, occurred in London
on Satuiday morning. One of the omnibuses plyhig between
the City and the Edg eware-road was passing Chancery-lane,
when a wheel came af, the constquence being that two
gentlemen who were en the roof were thrown violently to
the ground. One of the gentlemen escaped with a few
slight brutes; 1-iut tie othtr, Dir. Sandwiih, of Hammer.
smith, was picked up insensible. Though immediately
carried to a neighbouring chemists, where restoratives were
applied, he never regained consciousness. His wife was one
of the inside passengers.

Mr. Joseph W-hitwell Pease, M.P., in opening a
bazaar at atocatou-uu-, ee.fb i 5
the depression in trade, said another cloud was banging
over us which we kept on hoping from day to day would
pass, as its passing would tend to the commercial prosperity
of the country. A war would be especially disastrous if
begun without knowing what we were fighting for, and what
we were to win. He regretted some had a feeling that war
shoal be lightly entered on, and depreaated the apptavp4
by high personages of war songs

No less than thirty persons were summoned ati
Maidstone on Saturday and tined for keeping dogs without
a license.

"At the conclusion of an article in reply to the
question, 'Jo what extent are the recent reductions in wages
compensated by cheaper commodities,' the Economist
sf.ys Altogether we do not regard it as an unfair deduc-
tion that the cost of maintaining the household of an artizan
Is on the average from 7 to S per cent. less than it was five
years ago.' But,' it is added, 'the recent reductions in
wages in the coal and Iron districts have reached a far more
considerable percentage.' Probably the poor down-trodden
f inn labourer is just now about the best off of working men,
taking the position of whole classes into consideration."—
Hark Lane Express.

In their ire, some people are calling England a great
polypus, which wants to claw over everything. Others, on
the opposite side, show Russia's bearish clutches, and bid
Europe bewaro of it. "Ha!" says one, "the Russians should
have taken Gallipoli and Constantinople at once, and have
destroyed the whole English fleet. But, never mind! Wen
now they can take possession of the Sultan and all his
miuhters, and thus floor England I" We are told here that
Russia is arming ships in every port throughout the world
in order to explode simultaneously on every English ship as.
soon as war is declared I Friends and foes to Russia all
admit that she is working most diligently in secret and
underhand, to be prepared for England's attack; and that
Gortschakoff has planned this muddle for long, long years I
—"Paris Notes" in Land and Water.

Prize° Ibrahim Paella, on of the Khedive, having
expressed a wish to visit the Royal Dockyard at Portsmouth,
the Admiralty has given instructiors that he is to be received
by the authorities at that port, and given every facility for
inspecting the ships urder construction.

In consequence of the inquiries which have been
made respecting the views of Professor Henry Smith, one of
the candidates for the representation of Oxford University,
his committee have published a letter written by him to one
of their number, in which he says that, although there has
been much in the foreign policy of the Government during
the last two years of whicn he cannot approve, yet, looking
at the most recent events, he generally concurs with Lord
Salisbury's despat,h. He adds that if there is a war party
in Eng:slid he has no sympathy with it, but he is not for
peace at any price.
The Midland Railway Company have introduced
the use of the telephone into their extensive establishment
at Derby, and are employing it in several of their principal
departments, where it has been pronounced to be a complete
success. _ _ _

"We have been authentically informed that Ad-
miral liornby has issued strict orders that no .r.e writing
home from the fleet is to give the sli2htest information as to
its whereabouts, or anything concerning even the ordinary
or extraordinary work of the ships; neither, at the same
time, is any intelligence to be given concerning anything
whatever connected with the well or ill being ol the different
ships or the fleet."—Evening Standard.

Colonel Marcus Beresford, who has represented
Southwark since February, ISio, has issued an address to his
constituents, stating that in consequence of the incessant
strain of the past eight sessions he cannot continue to hold
his seat for S.4uthwark without prolonged leave of absence,
and a comparative immunity from correspondence. As such
a course is entirely opposed to his views of duty, and also on
account of serious illness in his family, he has placed his
resignation in the hands of the Conservative Council, to deal
with as they may think tit.

'rho Emperor of 11‘tool. (wv-Itoo kb* Marla OusAc-
gpondent of The Times) is said to be very downcast. The
explosion of the sentiment of which the acquittal of Vera
Zasulitch is the signal, the rumours of the movement in
Bulgaria, the attitude of the Roumanians, the probable
policy of the Turks, and the hostility with which Europe has
received the Treaty of which General Ignatietl claims the
paternity, seems to weigh heavily on him. All these con-
siderations, added to a need of money, which is becoming
daily most pressing, lead to the supposition that Russia will
abandon her unbending attitude and will agree to a compro-
mise which will enable her to conform to European law
without wounding the national susceptibilities.

A public conference in connection with the Midland
Temperance League was held at Dudley on Monday. The
Rev. Dr. Cosens, who presided, suggested the opening of a
limited liability cocoa house. Dr. Totheriek, physician, of
the Wolverhampton and Staffordshire Hospital, read a paper
" Alcohol; the gain or loss from its use." He pointed
out the advantages of alcohol in medical cases, but held
that it was like a surgeon's knife, dangerous in mist ilful
hands. He denied, however, that there was any strength
obtained from alcoholic drinks. £147,000,000 was spent in
drink, and £140,000,000 was lost, and worse, for men were
killed, minds overthrown, and homes rendered wretched.
He recommended the establishment of cocoa houses. Dr.
lieslop spoke strongly against alcohol. He looked on alcohol
as a superfluity. Wipes, spirits. or beer meant the difference
between misery and comfort, cleanliness and filth, proper
medical attendance and premature death.