The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1871-02-11 00:00:00

eur grafrton torrtspolibtnt.
, deem It right to 'trite that we do tat al at time/
qtaltib 01.11,0 Vu3 oat& our eorresparotimv,- 4vinjous

With sad and deep interest are read the many ac-
counts of the awhil distress existing in Peeks. At the
moment of capitulation—evidently forced on the
Parisians by Waal sareation in nnmeroue CUSS ...nd
the prospect, of thcuetande being starved utelen intake-
diatelzy relieved—it appears that the food supply of
Paris was well nigh exhausted the only meat existing
was horseflesh, and that in very small quantities;
bread was awfully scarce; and though the weather wee
very inclerectit, there MSS very little fuel to be obtained
tend Gnat at extravagant prices. Mr. George
186,.re, of Cheapeide, (who, with Col. Stuart Wortley,
are now in Paris superintendieg the distribution
of food for the French Relief Pund), states that on
the night of the 291 h ult, there was not a loaf of tread
In Pads ; that the starving people had broken all the
windows of the Hotel de Vile ; and that the people
were dying of hunger. But since then grand and
..oble efforts have been made to relieve the misery and
diatrese of the Patmiana, At the close of last week 58
tons of stores, sent out by the Mansion-House Cm.
mittee, arch-el In the unhappy city, and this has been
epeedily and continuously followed by supplies of food
from rations quarters. The promptness and li"erality
Of the merchants and citizens of Borden are worthy of
ell praise. Money has been rapidly poured in, and Fill
Is coming with profuse liberality, and the utmost
energy has teen infused into the arrangements for
the dispatch of provisions. I particularly mention
the efforts made in London becanee they come snore
Immediately within my province, but it is pleasing to
see that in other quarters also, tine well-known liber-
ality and benevolence of our countrymen are being
manifested. There are many, many ilia arising
from war which cannot be remedied by any human
agency, but this terrible calamity of Inadequate food
is one which can be at once mitigated, and this is
being done with marvellous energy and good-will.
Poor, broken.hetrzed France, if we can relieve bee
distress, we shall be doing a nobler and a better work
thaw bled we taken up the sword in her behalf.
'Notwithstanding the probable close of the war, there
is no doubt that we shall have a naval and military
resider ; and army reform and the development of our
militia ard volunteer systems will certainly be much
discussed. Preliminary suggeetive farts; are making
themselves apparent. It is announced that the Royal
Artillery is to be immediately augmented by the
addition of six batteries to the Royal Horse brigade,
and of twenty new field batteries. 3.g15 men of all
ranks being added to the regiment. This will please
those among us who consider that our army requires
reinforcement, but it is scarcely in accordance with
what was generally understood to be the Government
policy with regard to the regular army. Another sug-
gestive announcement le made—that a Royal Com-
mission has been issued to examine whether the re-
commendation of a Commons' Select Committee, " thst
an arnalveznated list of colonels be formed from
the British list, the staff corps and the Indian
local list, from which promotions should be made
to the rank of majorgeneral, by seniority," can
be carried into effect. This points back to a Royal
Commiwion on the purchase system, appointed several
years ago, and whose rep rt was iesued two or three
years since, and Incidentally It shows what a curios
habit we have of shelving, subjects. by royal COMMiSSMSS
and entombing their suggestions in blue books. But
the statement may be also regarded as preparatory to
warding off an or.eanised attack on the army-purchase
!system. Whether the proposal will have any effect
that way, remains to be seen.

Who hay not heard ef the evils of absentee land-
lordism in Ireland? Truly, we have not of late heard
so much about it as was the case not very massy years
ago; and the Encumbered Estates Act has done much,
and the Irish Land Act will do more, to mitigate the
evils of landlords being abeent from their estates.
Attention is just now directed to this subject be a
memorial to Lord Derby from his Tipperary tenantry
and his lordship's reply. The tenaute beg him not to
sell his estates. To this Lord Derby repFes that the
duties connected with propt rty in Ireland can lue-t be
performed by a resident landlord, and he declines to
promise that he will not rell them to some honourable
man who will treat his tenants as fairly as they were
treated by his late father. This must be regarded as
equally honourabl • to the present and the late Earl.
The latter was universally regarded as a "good land-
lord," a common phrase which means much. 0:1 sic
mars / It may he remarked, however, that the Irish
Land Act, only a few months old, has already Fro-
minced good fruit, and will produce much more. It is
gradually improving the value and stability of tenant.
fanning, and promoting good feeling betweeen land.
lard and tenant.

As the war diitracted public attention from the
really important and interesting Workninn's Inter-
national Exhibition which was held at the Agricultural
Hall, from July till November last, so the war has di-
verted attention from a much more important affair—
the London International Exhibition of IS7I. This
will be opened on the lot of May next, and it is
thought highly probable that Her Majesty will in.
augurate the great International show. The gentle.
men officially connected with it are now work-
ing, bard at the preliminary arrangements, and
goods for exhibition are rapidly arriving. The public
have hitherto not taken tlr,t interest in the affair
which it deserves—from the cause mentioned—but
should peace ensue we shall become vividly alive to
the forthcoming Exhibition, which momisee to be most
entertaining and instructive. The principle on whidy
the "exhibits" will b arranged will be that adopted
at the Paris International Exhibition of '67, that is to
say, that the articles exhibited will be arranged in
Owes and not according to nstionalities. For
example, pottery of all nations will be in one depart-
ment, and thus the vitalr will be at once able to
exercise his judgment on the comparative merits of
rival nations, the cality whence the articles ate sent
as well an the names of the manufacturers, being
appended. Before this exhibition opens, her Majesty
will in person inaugurate the Roy al Albert Hall of
Arts and Sciences, on the 291.6 cf nest month, and
when the two places put forth their attractions
simultaneously we may expect that our COW try cousins
will Hock into London in large numbers, to ray nothing
of Continental visitors.

It may be remembered that there is a farce entitled
" The Ladies' Club," supposed to be established by
ladies en revanche for their husbands, brothers, and
lovers enjoying themselves at their clubs and neglect
log their homes. But what was ridiculed SA an cor.
travagant idea has for a couple of years been a fact
in London. Under the present designation of the
Berners Club, few may recogise the Womena Club
and Institute, which was established two years
since for ladies with small incorr es—governesses, glop
assistants, dec. The objects are that the members may
obtain "society, opportunity for reading, and provi-
sions at a moderato, cost "—in fee, the very objects
!ought to be attained a: ordinary club,. Th-re is one
marked distinction, however, that the Berners Club is
Partly philanthropic, and it sadly needs hinds to pay
its way. This fact seems to indicate that there are in.
herent difficulties in establishing a club for the gentler
sex ; and no wonder. A." women's club," sided by
subscriptions from outsiders, we can understand, but
happily society has not yet come to the ladies forming
clubs for themselves.