The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-09 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

According to the Coblentzer Zeitung, there still lives
in Bappard, on the Rhine, a certain Herr Thomas, who was
in St. Helena with the Emperor Napoleon. He was in the
suite of Sir Hudson Lowe.

A violet-coloured meteor, with a reddish train, was
seen at &anislass, Austria, on the evening of the 24th nit,
in the Great Bear, and moving in a northerly direction. It
is described as thrice the size of Jupiter.

Last week's pedestrian contest at the Agricultural
Hall, in London terminated on Saturday evening, when
Corkey had walked 51 miles, Brown 505, and Rowell 489;
the first taking £5OO and the champion's belt, the second
£lOO, and the third £5O.
The Americans are uneasy about the prevalence of
shortsightedness, and are discussing how best to preserve
children's eyesight.
A statue is to be erected to Lord Beaconsfield at
Hong Kong.
In London' the other evening, at a meeting of the
Farmers' Club, held at the Caledonian Hotel, Mr. J. G.
Edwards read a paper on the necessity of greater unity of
action in the agricultural interest Ravin; pointed out the
power which union gave, he mentioned, among grievanc,s
which required to be nimedied, the restriction on the method
of cultivation, the undue preservation of game, and the want
of greater representation in the House of Commons. A dia•
cussion followed the reading of the paper.

Last week there were -2,532 births and 1,386 deaths
registered in London. Allowing for increase of population,
the births were 33 and the deaths 205 below the average
numbers in the corresponding week of the last ten years.
The annual death-rate from all causes, which in the two
preceding weeks had been equal to 200 and 211 per 1,000,
declined again to 202. The deaths included 3 from small-
pox, 15 from measles, 40 from scarlet fever, 10 from
diphtheria, 22 from whooping-cough, 34 from different
forms of fever, and 21 from diarrhcea.
- - -

•
Short time has been announced in all departments
of the extensive works of the London and North-Western
Company at Crewe, employing 7,000 men. On each Satur-
day till further notice the works will be closed, and not
opened till nine o'clock on Monday morning, the total loss
being seven and a half hours each week. The reduction Is
slightly greater than that made two years ago, which con-
tinued nine months.

H M.S. Devastation, while returning from the Sea
of Ifarmora, ran down and sank the brigantine Escort, of
Plymouth, in the Bay of Biscay. All hands were, however,
saved.
A requiem mass was celebrated on Saturday at the
tomb of the late King of Italy. Immense crowds assembled
and deputations from all the regiments of the garrison of
Rome deposited garlands upon the Royal tomb.
This year'a vintage in Hungal y ia reported to have
been ektraordinarily good It is consilered the beat since
1834.
A Daily News telegram from Rome states that a
church, built hy the American Baptists at a cost of £4,000,
was opened in Rome on Saturday. The ministers of all the
evangelical denominations and the members of the Young
Men's Christian Association took part in the first service.
- -

- - -----
The additions to the Zoological Gardens in Regent's
Park during the past week include two Macaque monkeys,
from India, presented respectively by Captain E. Water-
house and Mr. Samuel Thomson; a common roe, from
Greece, presented by Mr. Edward Jones; acommon jackal,
from India, presented by Captain Hasson a common seat;
European, presented by Messrs. Thompson andGough; a
Bornean fire-back, from Borneo, presented by Mr. A. Bent',
two mandarin ducks, tram China, presented by Mr. Edward
Trelawny ; a common marmoset, a tuberculated lizard, a
Teguexin lizard, a Merrem's snake, a black-headed snake, a
plutnbeous snake, a d'Orbigny's snake: an,anaconda, from
South America, purchased; a collared fruit bat, born in
the gardens.
The Lancet is enthusiastic on the subject of tricycles.
Obviously the danger of falling is minimised in the three-
wheeled machine as compared with the bicycle. The great
objection to the bicycle, according to our medical authority,
Is the vibration communicated directly to the spinal
column. In the tricycle, it says, the motion is not either so
great or so directly propagated as in the bicycle, while the
leg action is as good, and the seat is comparatively safe, and
admits of a change of position at Will.
The Swedish Government has agreed to the Austrian
request to exchange the thirty MSS carried away from
Moravia during the thirty years' war by the Swedes, for
editions de luxe printed by the Imperial press at Vienna.
Charles Mathews was singularly liberal as a
manager—liberal, that is to say, in his free admissions. The
stalls were well•papered in those days, and the free list was
never suspended. But he would sometimes act rather
capriciously in refusing his favours. One friend wrote for
the accustomed admissions, and got no answer; met the
manager, and told him so. "Perhaps," said Mathews, "you
did not enclose a stamp with your envelope 4" The friend
said he did. " Well," said the manager, "go on doing it,
for they are often useful I "—Mayfair.

A Boston lady has two tame lions about two and
a-half years old, which have been brought up as household
pets from birth. Until lately they have roamed round her
house as freely as dogs; but when the city authorities re-
quested that they should be somewhat restrained, she put
them into a room back of the parlour, although its grated
door was often open. At the call of their mistress the lions
come to her, and perform many little tricks. She is not in
the least afraid of them, and evidently has no apprehension
that their nature will show itself in any unpleasant or dan-
gerous ways.
The report of the Mining Department for the year
1877 shows that Queensland has a gold-mining population of
17,903, including 4,634 Europeans and 13,269 Chinese. They
obtained in the year 373,2660 z. of gold, s.hich, at an average
price of £,3 108 per ounce, represents £1,306,431 the average
yield of gold per man being 200 z. 17dwt., worth £.72 191. 6d.

At a luncheon in connection with the distribution
of prizes at the Devon County School, West Buckland, Earl
Fortescue, who occupied the chair, made some observations
on the subject of education, especially urging the encourage-
ment of middle-class schools There was a great lack of this
kind of school, and consequently pupils were sent to insti-
tutions where the instruction given was not suited to the
requirements of those who were intended for commercial
pursuits.
It is reported that a lady applied the other morning
at the box-office of a theatre for "preserved seats for two.
—Court Journal.

The " Columbarium" in the new cemetery at G,)tha
has been completed. The town authorities have decided
that the coffins for cremation are not to measure more than
2,25 metres in length, 076 in width, and 072 in height. The
urns to be placed in the Columbrian are not to have more
than 080 metres in height and 040 in diameter. The expense
of cremation of each body will amount to about 30 marks
(El Sc.)
Whilst in Paris their Royal Highnesses the Prince
and Princess of Wales paid a visit to tle Kiosque Biblique,
which has been erected by the committee of the Crystal
Palace Bible Stand in front of the Trocruie'o. Their Royal
Highnesses evinced their interest in the work by cow ributhig
towaids the expenses, and both accepted a small Bible ass
souvenir of their visit. Since the opening of the Exhibition
one million and a half of Gospels have been distributed from
this kiosque in twenty-two languages.

- -
Although the Princess Alice Fund at the Mansion
House reached the high figure of £37,000, it has all been ex-
pended or bespoken. Besides the grants to widows, widowers,
and dependent relatives' several athni.sions int orphanages
have to be purchased for children, at a coat of between
£15,000 and £16,000.
The German Empress has presented Lady George
Gordon Lennox, Lady Elizabeth Bryan, Mrs. Osborne, Mrs.
Jones, Mrs. Daniell. and Mrs. M'Conell with golden brooches
in recognition of the active sympathy displayed by them on
the occasion of the loss of the Grosser Kuritirst.
- -

Palimy, the Potter, is to be commemorated by a
statue to be erected near the Bois de Boulogne, at the
expense of the Municipality of Paris. raffia), lived in the
Rue Taranne during his residence in the French capital. but
ti e reason for the present site for the statue being chosen is
that he is supposed to have worked at the decorations of
the Chateau de Madrid, constructed in the vicinity by
Francis I.
A meeting of the Birmingham Liberal Six Hundred
was held on Tuesday night, and a resolution was pissed
approving of those adopted at the meeting of the National
Federation of -Liberal Associations. Mr. Chamberlain,
M.P., who was unable to attend, wrote that the recent
municipal victory in the borough was the answer to the
appeal of the Chancellor of the Exchequer for confidence in
lier Majesty's Ministers. They would now go forward to
further conquests with all the confidence which was given
by perfect organization, a united party, a noble cause, and
past successes.
On Tuesday evening the Earl of Oarnarvon inaugu-
rated the aeries of lectures at the Philosophical Institution,
Edinburgh, with one upon Imperial Administration. At the
outset he spoke of the colonies generally, and their relation
to the Colonial Office. Then, turning to India. he expressed
his regret that there were indications of a conflict impending
between the home and the Indian authorities. The relations
between these two demanded the closest attention, and they
should be placed upon such a footing as to makb a conflict
impossible.

An exhibition of the electric light was wade in the
Gymnasium, Edinburgh, WI Saturday night, and WAS bighiy
successful.

Since the lad centsue there have been .412 can•
tenartans in Austria-189 men and 229 women.

Mayfair says that Messrs. Krupp, of Essen, have
just completed an order which places Russia in possession
of the largest, if indeed not the finest, park of artillery in
the world.

There were 35 British and foreign wrecks reported
during the past week, making a total of 1,257 for the present
year, which, compared with the corresponding period of last
year, shows a decrease of 212. The approximate value of
property lost was £430,000 including British £220,000.

- -
The will of Mrs. Bravo has been proved, and the
property sworn under £60,000.
The Electrician hears that M. Jablochkoff, far from
being satisfied with the electric candle bearing his name, is
still pursuing an elaborate series of investigations for the
purpose of obtaining a still more suitable means of pro-
ducing the light.

The Porte has issued telegraphic orders for the
evacuation of Varna, and directed the Commander to return
to Constantinople with his troops and war material.
The Queen, accompanied by Prince=s Beatrice, and
attended by the lords and ladies of the Court, is, accordirg
to the latest arrangements, expected to leave Balmoral about
the 21st inst. and return to Windsor Castle.
The Emperor of Germany has forwarded to the
Rev. M. Woodward, Vicar of Folkestone, a beautiful bible,
bearing the following inscription on the cover :—" William,
Emperor of Germany, to the Rev. Matthew Woodward, in re-
cognition of his valuable services, assistance, and sympathy
shown on the occasion of the loss of H.M.S. Grosser
Surfarst."

At Bath on Monday, Mr. Murch, the Mayor, was
presented with a testimonial, con shting of a salver, together
with a marble bust and a bronze copy of the Warwick Vase,
in token of the untiring zeal and great ability with which
during a long period of years he has striven to promote the
best interests of the city of Bath and county of Smnerset.

Fresh beef is being exported from Hungary into the
London Meat Market. The first consignment of beasts were
killed at 'Vienna, and sent thence without any speciul
arrangement as to the preservation of the meat. The meat
is said to be of the first quality.
A French physician now asserts that liability to
yellow fever is prevented by drinking only boiled water. He
believes that the fever is the exclusive result of using cor-
rupted water, and that if one is attacked by it, he may be
cured in a few hours by drinking large quantities of boiled
water.

A new use of the kernel of the cocoanut has latelr
been initiated in New Zealand, first in the extraction of the
oil, and then in the conversion of the refuse into cake for
feeding cattle, which show a very great fondness for the
article.

In the New Testament Revision Committee it was
proposed to get rid of the word "penny,' as giving a wrong
Idea of the Roman denarius, and to read, "Lie gave every
man a denary." But to this a witty dean objected that there
might be confusion with a deanery, which poor and
unlearned persons must not suppose can be got so easily.
A Spaniard, of Madrid, has invented a novelty in
revolving firearms It consists in the addition of a special
chamber for receiving from the rear end of the cylinder, a
portion of the gas resulting from the explosion of the cart-
ridge, and conveying it to one of the discharged chambers to
expel the empty shell.

The Viceroy of Egypt has lately fallen in love with
old English furniture, and he wants a room in his palace in
Cairo to be furnished in the Queen Anne style. He has sent
to the Paris Exhibition and bought a cabinet there for 2,000
guineas, at the same time giving instructions for the rest of
the fittings of a room to match this magnificent work of art.
His room, when it is completed. will cost not less than
48.000.

Lord Francis Hervey, M.P., speaking at an
education meeting in Southampton, said that while there
was reason to doubt the wisdom of every step taken in the
direction of public education, yet the wide and rapid in-
crease of that education was most gratifying, and there was
no fear that the tide would turn.

The glories of Napoleon L's Reign were once in-
scribed on the soles of a pair of boots by a Bonapartist shoe-
maker, who wrote the history in different sized nails, and a
Hungarian Crispin, whose son is fighting in Bosnia, has pre-
sented a somewhat similar pair to Marshal Philippovich.
On the heel of one boot "Bosznia" is clearly marked out by
nails, and on the other heel figures " Magyarorszag."

Mr. Spurgeon is to have a big testimonial. At the
close of the year he will complete his twenty-fifth year of
work as a Baptist Minister, and his congregation are raising
.05,000 to present to him.—Court Journal. _ _

The Church lifisgionary Gleaner for November,
says.—" Mr. W. C. Jones, who five years ago gave the Church
Missionary Society £20,000 as a capital fund for the support
of native evangelists in certain missions, has now given a
further munificent sum of £35,000 to he employed for
the extension of evangelistic work by the Native Church in
India.

This year's harvest in Belgium has been good. The
average produce of grain was 23 hectolitres per hectare, and
both grain and straw are of good quality. The produce of
oereals amounts to 16,044,625 neetolitres—about 600,000 more
than in an average year.

-
Mr. H. Edwards, the Liberal member for Wey-
mouth, having advanced £.5,000 to the Corporation at five
per cent interest for the extension of the outer pier, has
written to the Mayor handing over the entire sum for the
benefit of the poor of Weymouth.

The total yield of the seal and whale fishings to the
Tay fleet this season is calculated to be only £65,800, com-
pared with £141,900 last year.
The "Hospital Sunday" collections in Liverpool
this year amount to £10,044, a slight increase on last year.
A Treves newspaper paints out that the length to
which their chaff is cut exercises considerable influence Lpon
the well-being of horses. In stables where it is chopped too
small attacks of colic are of unusual frequency as its direct
effect. About three quarters of an inch is considered the
most advisable length.

Colonel Loyd• Lindsay, M.P., speaking at a meeting
held at Abingdon, declined to believe that the Emperor of
Russia wonld depart from his pledged word on the Treaty
of Berlin. Referring to the Afghan difficulty, he said they
all knew quarrels very often arose out of misunderstandings,
and it was most essential there should be no misunder-
standing between England and the Ameer of Afghanistan.
Therefore it was that before we proceeded to war an
ultimatum should be forwarded to explain to the Ameer
precisely the position we wished him to adopt.
Colonel Henderson has issued a notice warning
London publicans that all Christmas draws tor geese, (ix.,
are illegal, and that offenders will be prosecuted,
Guy Fawkes Day was very tame in the metropolis ;
but there were the usual gath( rirgs of young urchins dresst d
out in cocked bats and feathers escorting nondescript "Guys "
through the s:reets. Last )ear the Emperor of B,usila and
the Sultan of Turkey were paraded in mimic show througit
London, but this year the Ameer of Afghanistan was the
prominent figure paraded for the diversion of juvenile
crowds.

The Archbishop of York was present at the opening
of a coffee-house at Rotherham, built at the sole expense of
the vic,r, the Rev. Newton Hall. The building cost
£5,500, and will be used as a coffee house and centre for
Church work. The Archbishop preached in the parish
church, and said that temperance was the crown of man.-
hood, and that by it and it alone could people follow Christ.
At a meeting held subsequently, his Grace said that this
work now taken in hand would bring the ministers and the
people more together.
Severe storms prevailed throughout Austria on Sun-
day. Much damage was done to the telegraphs, and for
some time communication was completely interrupted. In
Vienna snow fell for twenty hours.

A Renter's telegram, dated Naples, Nov. 2, says :
" After numerous variations the activity of the eruption of
Vesuvius appears to be now at its height. The lava flows
Into the same ravine into which it fell during the eruption in
1872. To-day the sysmographs denote an approaching
Increase in the eruption."

A. letter from Orenburg which has reached St.
Petersburg, and is telegraphed thence to London, states that
the Chinese Governor of Kashgar has not only prohibited any
commercial dealings with the Russians, but has also ordered
all the latter to accept Chinese nationally or leave the
country within two weeks.

A. slight increase in the number of small•pox cases,
as compared with a fortnight ago, was reported to the Me-
tropolitan Asylums Board (~n Saturday. During the interval
50 had been admitted, two had died, 32 had been discharged,
and 112 remained under treatment. It was determined, on
account of the small number of patients, to close Fulham
Hospital. At Homerton Fever Hospital there were 1,950,
at Clapton, 350, and at Leavesden 2,016 patients under treat-
ment.
The number of torpedo cutters that Russia has
added to her fleet during the past twelvemonth now amounts
to nearly 150. Most of these have been distributed among
the mbn-of-war in the Baltic. At Cronstadt, which is the
centre of torpedo activity in Russia, there is no suspension
of the energy that has characterised the department since it
was established two years ago, and the construction of
Whitehead torpedoes is proceeding at the same rate that
prevailed during the early part of the summer.—Mayfair.
On Saturday night, Mr. W. Macdonald, a retired
captain in the merchant service, aged 68, belonging to
Sunderland, dropped down dead on the platform of the Mid-
land Railway station at Leicester. He had hurried up to the
station to see his daughter off by a south train before leaving
for Sunderland, and was walking with his wife, when he
suddenly dropped forward on his forehead. He was lifted up
quite dead.—An inquest has been held, when Dr. Emmerson,
who examined the body, attributed death to the rupture of a
blood-vessel in the head. A verdict in accordance with the
medical evidence was returned.

Mr, Kenneth Mackay, miniature painter, the last
of the originators of the Royal Scottish Academy, died in
Edinburgh on Sunday, at the age of seventy-ali.
A serious and fatal accident has occurred at the
Newport Ironworks, near Stockton. A millwright, named
.Tewitt, whilst unloosing a rope from a roller, had his coat
caught by a nail in one of the spindles, and was carried
round and thrown against the sides of the pit under the
spindle, death being instantaneous.

A letter from Gene‘ra Bays that many infereating
finds continne to be made in the lacustrine stations laid bare
by the shrinkage of Like Neucbatel. Among the latest are
a complete bronze axe mould and a human skull. Rings,
pins, buckles, hatchets, flint Implements, and the bones of
animals are in great abundance. Human bones, however,
are very rarely found, from which it is supposed that the
tombs of the lake dwellers have not yet been discovered.

A new style of earring is to be worn by Trans-
atlantic fashionables this winter. It consists of a sort of
net of finely spun gold, which will fit over the ear some-
thing like an ear-snuff. The net is made after the fashion of
a spider's web, and resting upon it is a fly in iridescent
namel.

At a largely•attended hiring fair for agricultural
servants for the winter half-year, held in Newcastle-on-
Tyne on Monday, the wages of men suffered a reduction of
£3 and women of £2 for the six months, as compared with
those paid for the corresponding period of last year. The
reduction is attributed to dull trade and lower prices of farm
produce.
On Monday a pul lic meeting of corn merchants,
factors, millers, and others interested in the corn trade was
held at the London Corn Exchange, to consider the steps
necessary to comply with the provisions of the Weights and
Measures Act. Resolutions were passed expressing an
opinion that grain of all kinds and the dry products thereof
should be sold by weight only ; that the ceutal of 100 imperial
standard pounds would be the most convenient selling
stardard ; and that the meeting would be glad to see it
become the only legal denomination for general use,

The last of the sufferers of the Sittingbourne acci-
dent left Sittinabourne on Monday. The genth roan in
question was Mr. Horton, an invalid residing at Rugeley,
Staffordshire The railway company placed an invalid car-
rlage at the disposal of Mr. Horton Mrs. Warden, his com-
panion, and Frederick Middleton, his valet, who was also in-
jured in the accident.

- The well-known Russian painter Vereetchagnine has
purchased a salon in the outskirts of Paris, and intends
devoting the next two or three years of his life to executing
a aeries of paintings illustrating the leading events of the
recent war. Verestchaguine himself served some time with
the army as a volunteer on one of the Danube torpedo-boats,
and while making a midnight attack in June last year on the
Turkish morat,ors received a wound in the ankle which in
capacitated him for service for the rest of the campaign
.
Mayfair.'

The Government is establishing at Shrewsbury
another of the protected garrisons, or enclosed keeps, which
will hereafter form the nucleus of each brigade dep6t centre
throughout the kingdom. These centres are all constructed
on one
itnarr the
barracks, officers'
shape o
plan, each consisting of a castellated keep or armoury
to two towers, a walled•in quadrangle with
wanadte
pumping station a
r
quarters,provde at nh
little
s g aa
garrison
ritshoen sides, w
th
independent of the outer world. The main building is
rendered fire-proof by concrete floors, and the walls are
freely pierced for musketry. It is intended that the militia
of the county or district shall assemble and reside at these
places during their annual training, and that the arms of the
reserve and auxiliary forces shall be deposited there for
wifely,

An agricultural college for natives is to be starteda
In Bombay.

In the Crathie Established Murch on Sunday after
noon, the Qmsen, Princess Beatrice, ai.d Lady Erma
descendqi from the Royal pew and entered the pew of the
parish minister, the Rev. Mr. Campbell, where they partook
ot the saerani.nt.

The operative stonemasons of Bolton have reoeived
notice of re(loot1.,11 in their wages of one penny per hour,
equal to 3, 61 per week, and aho to work extra hours per
week

The Fupply of American food at Liverpool last
week was less than for many months past. Only three
steamers arrived with live stock, and only three with Ame-
rican fresh meat. The totals for the week were— 510 head
of cattle, 2.649 quarters of beef, M 9 carcases of mutton, 75
pigs, and 970 packages of butter.

A collection of interesting coins of ancient date has
been found a short distance north of Dronljem, in N,rway.
The collection consists of 2,260 coins, most of them dating
from the time of King Harold Haarderaade of Norway, who
dnd in 1066 There also some German Coill3, bearing the
superscripti in of some Emperor Henry (though it has not
3et been ascertained which Henry it is), and some few
Anglo-Saxon coins.

A report from South Australia states that Frank
Scarr and an exploring party from Blackall, Queensland,
have arrived at the Tennant's Creek Station, on the overland
telegraph line They rewrt finding five horses and dis-
covering evidences of a party having been murdered by
blacks on a tributary of the Herbert River. The horses were
recognised as belonging to Prout's party, who started from
the Herbert last November.

Salmon a cent a piece; that is the market value of
the fish along the banks of the Fraser River at present. The
" run' " as the fisherman call it. has been unprecedented.
Indeed the canneries have more fish than they know what to
do with, and thousands of dead salmon are daily thrown
into the river because there are not men enough to can
them. _ _ _

The Ito 3 al Society announces that applicationsf or
grants from the Government fund of £4,000 for the pro-
motion of scientific research, or from the Government grant
of £l,OOO, must be forwarded to the secretaries of the society
before the last day of the present year. The meeting of the
committee to consider the applications made will be heldl ii
the month of February, 1879.

"Standing the other day on the grand etairease of
the British Museum I heard a remark that certainly showed
both originality and considerable powers of observation. A.
country houseman, after looking for some time at the archi-
tectural chef d'ceuvre ecstatically remarked to her friend
and companion, Lot, Mary, what a lot of 'arth•stoning
them there steps would take I ' "—" The Tatler " in Pictoria2
World

"Captain, please give me a light," said a volunteer
the other day. " Certainly ; but if we were in the regular
army such a liberty would not be allowable." "Is that so?"
said the private, " but if we were in the regular army you
wouldn't be captain, perhaps."—Court Journza.

The Novaja Vremja learns that new discoveries oi
gold have been made in Siberia, near the source of the
Konnisar ; and another Russian paper announces the finding
of an ingot of gold weighing 1471 b., the largest ever dis-
covered in Russia, and probably in the world, on the banks
of the Upper Toungouslta, about 100 versts above the mouth
of that river.

On Saturday afternoon, as a football contest was
proceeding at Portway House Middle-class School, Weston,
near Bath, a young man named James Hunt, aged 23, an
assistant-master at the above establishment, was suddenly
seized with a fainting fit, and although medical assistance
was immediately available, he expired. Deceased had been
playing for some time, but was compelled from fatigue to
cease. He cried out to his fellow players, "Go into it boys,
I can't help you any longer."—An inquest has been held,
and the jury retuned a verdict of death from natural
causes

The "Howard Medal" of next year is to be awarded
by the Statistical Society, in November, 1879, to the bed
essay on "The improvements that have taken place in the
education of children and young persons during the
eighteenth and nineteenth centuries:" £.20 will also be pre-
sented to the successful writer. The mays are to be sent in
before June 30, 1879

The villages of Cyprus, however picturesque they
may appear at a distance, do tint improve on a close
acquaintance. Mr. Hepworth DEcon says they are built of
"mud mixed with straw, dried in the sun, and cut into
large square cakes, a cross between the hovels built of sun-
dried bricks on the Nile and the adobe cabins raised on the
Colorado and the Sacramento."—Echo.

In a Poor-law Conference at Exeter the Chancellor
of the Exchequer spoke upon the subject of the better appli-
cation of the " dole" endowments, which throughout the
country are estimated to yield £1,200,000 a year. He thought
they must not be considered as applicable mainly to
educational purposes. They would be useful if devoted, for
instance, to the relief of the family of an industrious
labourer who had died before the children had grown up, so
as to save the latter from the demoralisation of the work-
house. But what was wanted first was an efficient body of
local administrators ; if that want could be supplied,
Parliament would have less difficulty in dealing with the
endowments.

The death is announced, at Neuilly, of Mr. Charles
Summers, the sculptor, of Rome. Mr. Summers was born in
Somersetshire, in 1825, and while a student at the Royal
Academy took several prizes, including the silver medal for
modelling. His father emigrating to Australia, he went to
that colony, where he lived for many years, and produced
many busts and medallion portraits of well-known men In
the colony, one of the best being the bust of Captain &tut,
the explorer. In ISM, Mr. Summers returned to Europe,
and settled in Rome, where he produced a large number of
works. Shortly before his death he completed four sitting
portrait statues of Her Majesty, the Princess of Wales, the
Prince Consort, and the Prince Gf Wales, and bad he lived it
was his intention to have gone out to Melbourne this year to
have superintended the setting up of these statues in the
gallery of the Public Library there.

It is said that apples are so plentiful in New Hamp-
shire, and prices so low, that the farmers cannot affqrd to
pay for picking them. Barrels, no the contrary, are in such
demand that when some thieves entered a barn in South Sea-
brook recently they emptied the apples upon the barn floor
and carried off only the barrels.

Dr. R. Hensel, of Proskan, Prus.ia, has for sale a
collection of over 200 species of the crania of mammalia,
many of them represented by a large number of spEcimens.
The collection was made specially for the purpose of securing
material for the study of the variations of the domestic
animals in connection with their wild types, and will be of
very great value in this connection. In the 1,600 objects in-
cluded there are skulls of 241 cats of different races, 296
dogs, 27 wolves, 140 foxes. 36 badgers, 26 hogs, 22 stags, 25
oxen, 27 goats, 55 sheep, 10 horses, ctc., ct.c. A large number
of complete skeletons accompany the collection.

Miss Emma Bulkley, a young lady student of
Shurtleff College, at Alton. Illinois, recently carried off the
medal offered as a prize in the State Inter-Collegiate Ora-
torical contest at Lebanon, against the combined opposition
,f Knox, Monmouth, Champaign, Illinois, Bloomington and
Mac-Kendree Col'eges. When she returned home a grand
pride was arrang,d in her honour, the procession being
headed by Miss Bulkley in an open carriage, followed by
the Bluff City Band, waggon containing a bevy of young
',idles, and about 250 students bearing torches, banners, and
113gs.—Echo.