The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-20 00:00:00

isallantous IntelligtntO

:1

PAPER FROM SEAWEED.—A Japanese inventor liar
discovered a means of making paper from sealret
It is thick in texture, and from its transparency 0511_4--
substituted for glass in windows, and when colour,'"
makes an excellent imitation of stained glass.
Coax AVERAGES.—The following are the average
prices of British corn for last week, as received fre,
the inspectors and officers of Excise: Wheat, 33s-
sbpaorinedying k t year: barley, 30s. 2ede.; oats,
y22s. I:d.wTeat,
ns. d.;
imperial4qr. Corr&
bald.
28s. 3d.; oats, 21s. sd.
ROYAL BOTANIC SocarrY.--At a meeting of thie
society, held on Saturday, Lord Aveland, vice-pret
dent, in the chair, the following candidates
balloted for and elected Fellows: Mrs. W. F.
Mrs. Brodie, Mrs. Byas, Mrs. Curwen, Mr. nun'
Phillips, F.Z.S., Miss E. W. Retch, and Mrs. R. Holnlel
White.
POISONING BY A CARPET.—Such an event is a r... 911
occurrence, yet a /slew York lady recently had an `""'
pleasant experience of this kind. She bought a grur9".
carpet, and whilst making it to fit the room was seize,'
with most violent illness, declared at once by the doctor
to be severe metallic poisoning. The carpet has been
sent to a Government chemist for analysation.
A NEW ALPINE FORT.—The French Government',
acting upon the repeated and strong representatione
of their military counsellors, have determined to erect
a new fort upon the Alpine frontier. It will be to the
south-east of St. Michel de Maurienne, and will W
built on the well-known "telegraph mountain," wiurn
is about 53701 t. above the level of the sea, andyr°: '
completely command the Val des Valloires. The vr2r,l"
will be taken in hand at once, and a vote of 1,000,0 w
francs has been taken for the first expenses.
INTERNATIONAL INVENTIONS EXHIBITION.—AIn°I/1
the recent additions to the historic loan collection W
Queen Elizabeth's lute (lent by Lord Tollemache
Helmingham), which was left by the Queen in 1584
Helmingham Hall, Suffolk, where it has been preset=
until the present day. The lute is in an exceptions-0T
fine condition, and bears the maker's name;" Joanne"
Rosa Londinifecit. Iu Bridewell, the 27th of Julio
1580." The number of visitors to this exhibition fa°
the week ending June 13th was 140,909. Total since
the opening, 785,216.
A NOVEL POSTAL AGENT.—Last autumn a bookselA
named Meyer, of Ronfieburg, tied a water-proof lace',
under the wing of a swallow which had occupied a ne"
at his house, and had become comparatively familiar'
On it he wrote a query in German, to the effect that he
wished to knew where the swallow would pass ril*,
winter. The bird returned to its former nest bearioli
an exchange label similarly fastened saying, in Genoa°
also, "in Florence, at Castellari's house, and I beee
many salutations."
LAST WEEK'S WRECES.—EIeven British vessels (is:
eluding two steamers with a total tonnage of 3653 toes)
were reported as actual shipwrecks last week, the
foreign vessels numbering thirteen. Six British and
small foreign vessel sank off the British Icles, including
two (British) by collision. An American sailer soli!
by collision off Japan; two British vessels abandon
at sea. Four (two British) reported with all hand9'
Total wrecks for year 518.
LONGEVITY OF PROFESSORS.—Among the professore
at German universities there are at the present time V.
fewer than 157 who are between the ages of 70 and 9",
of whom 122 still deliver lectures, seven of these being
between 85 and 89 years of age. The oldest is V 0,13„
Ranke, now in his 90th year. Eleunich, of Bresla, s
only 39 days younger, and still shows energy in a r
thing he puts his hands to.
GENERAL GRANT.—The condition of General Grant
is unchanged, excepting that of late he complains of
sleeplessness—chiefly caused by the mental strain re'
suiting from several hours' daily labour upon his boa'
This work is finished, save that the final proofs hale
still to be corrected. His family is arranging for the
sending of his gifts and relics to Washington, and {ll9
Secretary for War has sent an officer to New York 03
receive them.
KOMAROFF'S SWORD.—The sword of honour whirl
the Emperor of Russia has presented to Gene
Kernaroff is described as being a magnificent weanol.3`
Its shape is that of an old French sword: the blade 19
made of Damascene steel; the scabbard as well as Or
hilt is of gold; between the chased ornaments on Wl'
sides of the scabbard there are rows of jewels, and
the upper end of the sword there are clusters of si% "
seven large diamonds. At the lower part of the
scabbatd are engraved the words, "For valour," all
surrounded by precious stones. Further ornaments It
the shape of roses formed of jewels are set in differ°
places.
VICTOR HUGO.—The following is an anecdote of
Victor Hugo, as told by his secretary, M. Leselide:.!:
charitable lady, Madame Paul Meurice, used, during rine;
siege of Paris, to distribute the poet's alms, beci,u.t
many gifts of her own, to the necessitous during
trying time. She came one day to tell Vir';3
Hugo of a poor woman whom she had found 1
the most wretched state of destitution, and ,1;
mediately received from him a hundred francs for ti_
alleviation of her needy protegee. A hundred francc,
even with siege prices, could
.be made by care to g 0...!
long way, and the poet was accordingly somewhat 6,_l7it
prised when next day Madame Meurice told him
"Louise was as badly off as ever." "What about t
he
benched francs of yesterday?" " Ah, the hundre,!
francs. She has given them away to poor mothers, 11
little children starving of hunger and cold."
11
here is another hundred francs upon the express co
tion she keeps them for herself." "Is it only .on tPr_
condition he gives them?" said Louise on nearing tbil!
message. "Exactly." "Then you may take th.elo_
back. Thank Victor Hugo for his good intentions, rr"
which I am grateful." Mdme. Bleurice was ember!
rassed. She dared not take the money back to Victa
Hugo, and so handed it unconditionally to the "°
stinate Louise." The obstinate Loulse was no other thso
Louise Michel.
PUBLIC RECORDS.—Ths 45th annual report of tie;
Deputy Keeper of the Public Records, drawn up und:ci
the direction of the Master of the Rolls, and presen_
to Parliament, contains a mass of curious informatlr;
as to the proceedings in the Public Record Office for
the year 1883. Among other things an account is gives
of the progress made during the year in making 170
similes of national manuscripts and other documele
by the process of photozincography, and with nllB'3
calendars. The volumes of calendars published in 1° 0
were the seventh volume of the Calendar of I,ette
and Papers, foreign and domestic, of the reign of 11.81:0,,
VIII., for the year 1534; the elOth volume
Calendar of Domestic State Papers during the
wealth, the fifth volume of the Calendar of Tress:ll4l"o
Papers, and the second part of the fourth volume 01 ",,o,
Calendar of Letters, Despatches, and State Paper° :0
lating to the negotiations between England and SPal
including the years 1531-3. Six additional volurne,9 9,40
the series of Chronicles and Memorials of Great Blind
and Ireland during the Middle Ages were publis!•!.;';
during the year. The researches made in foreign• ea
ments and the investigation of the Canadian arci" 00
are also referred to, as well as the amount of lansine
done in the Search Office, and other matters.
AN EXPLORER'S TRAVELS.—An Indian explorerr,,ro
the employ of the Indian survey, has returned ft:),
four 3-ears' journey in Thibet, during which he 813e1/10f
year in Lhasa, the capital of Thibet, and the Rosee_,o
Buddhism. Before this traveller only four Euroecbe'l,
in this century have visited Lhasa. Hue and G9citg
the French missionaries, were driven from the
forty years ago, after living there a few eao1;31
Blooreroft was killed after he left the city, and aor"'
traveller was permitted to remain there only a few d_9lto
He says the city is crowded with temples, and
Vatican in the monastery at Patois, where the v •
of
Lama lives, who is regarded as the incarnatioalded
Buddha. The building is surmounted by five gild
cupolas, which, when sparkling in the sunlight, pre co,
a dazzling spectacle. It contains numerous
n of w irc
the
ee
middle
eicohf isFebruary
high. During
iDbeutrainnsg
gtahtehefresattivl
aoa
,60,0
from all over the country to pay homage to all the Eeso
and goddesses who are supposed to be present.
ceremonies last about a month, at the end of whicP for
the citizens are considered to have become purified

another year.