The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-09-13 00:00:00

Cur rontm gorrtspodent.

(We deem it right to state that we do not at all tima.
ldentis, ourselves with our Correspondent's opinions.]

The Bth of September is the anniversary of an
event which, at the time of its occurrence, was the
topic of conversation throughout the civilised world ;
and, though a generation has not passed, so far as
celebrations are concerned the capture of Sebastopol
might almost as well never have taken place. It was on
the Bth of September, 1855, that the stately mistress of
the Euxint, after 5 siege of eleven months, fell before
the united attacks of the allied armies of England,
France, Turkey, and Sardinia; and although so
little notice is taken of it now, the successful
termination of that protracted investment was
regarded at the time as a great national relief as well
as a subject for national congratulation. Investment
in the regular sense of the term it however Viraki not.
The whole of the north side of the city was open, so
that the Russians were enabled to obtain as much pro-
visions and ammunition as they pleased. The siege
had been conducted at a costly sacrifice of human
life, and people were greatly relieved when it came to
an end, for it virtually terminated the last European
war in which this country was engaged.
In striking contrast to this absence of commemo-
ration of a momentous event is the way in which the
Germans celebrate the capitulation of Sedan. It would
be too much to say that the anniversary of the fall of
-Sebastopol was kept up at all. Happening in 1855, it had
•certainly faded from the public mind by 1857, when we
were full of anxiety over the accounts of the Indian
Mutiny. Bet here we are, with fourteen years added to
-our lives, and we find the Germans merrily celebrating
the victory of Sedan as though it were but
a thing of yesterday instead of one of half a genera-
tion ago. No doubt Sedan was a greater triumph
than Sebastopol, for it destroyed one empire and set
-up another; and the Germans have every reason to
be proad of an achievement which will always rank
as one of the decisive battles of the world. But it is
at least doubtful whether the English are a com-
memorative people in the sense that the Germans
and the French are. We have too much practical
business to attend to. Our concerns are with the
things of to-day, and not with those of the past.
As the cricket season draws to a close, it may be
admitted to have been one of the most successful of
recent years. The weather, albeit hot, was favourable
enough for the prosecution of this national game; and
the great interest with which the playing of the Aus-
tralians is regarded marks the season out altogether
as one of exceptional importance in the eyes of the
devotees of a national pastime, which is immensely
popular amongst all classes. Could the primordial
cricketer, whoever he might have been, now look
upon the development of a health-giving recreation
he would feel a pardonable pride in witnessing the
appreciation of his efforts. To the uninitiated
the jargon in the cricket reports is like so much
Greek or Hebrew; but the rising generation seem to
understand it if we may judge from the eagerness
with which they turn to that part of the daily news-
paper.

Putting aside extraordinary eventualities, the
Queen and Princess Beatrice will remain at Balmoral
until the middle of November. A Cabinet Minister
is always in attendance upon her Majesty in her
northern residence except when as in the present
recess, councils of Ministers will have to be held in
London in consequence of the meeting of Parliament.
As a rule, the Minister selected to attend upon the
Sovereign is one who is not troubled with heavy
departmental duties. The Lord President of the
Council or the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
are familiar enough with this duty, which, however,
seldom or never falls to the head of the Government.
As a rule, the Premier of the day is a man of advanced
years, who does not care much about a railway journey
to and from Balmoral.

Mr. G/adstone's declarations at Edinburgh that Oaf
Lords cannot be permitted to force a dissolution of
the House of Commons has set people thinking as to
what course he will pursue should the Peers again
throw out the Franchise Bill at the October session.
Sir Charles Dilke has told us that the bill must be
presented again and again until it is accepted; but
this is a struggle that may last for years, in which all
other legislation must stand aside until the present
Parliament has run its course, and an appeal would
have to be made to the existing, constituencies
by efaux of time. We have read of constitutional
deadlocks in ether countries; but have never had to
face one like this ourselves. As a matter of fact ti e
present House of Commons is not yet four and a half
years old, so that the sessions of 1885 and 1886 are
clearly before it, should it be the Premier's will to
keep it sitting. The prospect of a prolonged wrestle
between Lords and Commons over the question of
Parliamentary reform is not encouraging to those who
place great value upon social subjects, which, even at
the beet of times, receive but little attention at the
hands of our legislators.

The marvellous success of the Health Exhibition
will not be marvelled at by those who have paid a
visit to South Kensington. It would be too much to
say that all that is to be seen there intimately bears
upon the question of health; but the collection is one
of eaceeding
.interest, and the attractiveness of the
grounds after dark is alone sufficient to account for
the popularity of the place. Thousands of
coloured lamps and Chinese lanterns suspended
amongst the trees, lighting up the fountains,
and illuminating the cascades with globes of elec-
tricity high in air, rivalling the light of the moon
herself, combine to make up a picturesque scene
which is not often presented in this country, and has
thus made the Healtheries, as the Exhibition is
called, a very formidable rival to older established
mlaces of popular entertainment.
• The harvest thanksgiving services, which are so
plentiful in the month of September, are peculiarly
appropriate this year in view of the favourable
yield which has taken place. The summer was
remarkable for the continuance of its heat, as well as
for the intensity thereof. It has been frequently said
"Three fine days and a thunderstorm," but the saying
has not been applicable this time, although it was
when the depressing but,transient heat of July, 1881,
passed over the land. As 1879 is still remembered as
the wettest of modern years, so 1884 is distinguished
as a summer of Indian temperature, recalling the
brightest memories of the English climate before it
had experionced such atmospheric vicissitudes as those
of recent years.