The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-06-29 00:00:00

SATUE.L.Y, JUNE 29, 1878.

SUNDAY AT Ho mE —Wife. "Good-bye, Dick, I'm
going to church. Now premise you won't platy the
flute."—Anti - Sabbatarisn Husband. " Poon I why
not ? "—Wife. "Well Dick, the-new cook has come,
and she might be shocked you know."—Punch.

A SILVER BRICK FOR "THE MAN AT THE WHEEL.
—The San Francisco News Letter has the iollowing
We learn with great pleasure that it is the intention o!
the British residents in California to present the Earl
of Beaconsfield with a silver brick, beautifully mounted
in California wood-: and adorned with quartz spel.
mens, as a token of appreciation of his action with re-
gard to the Eastern question. The gift, which is t?
cost from one to two thousand dollars, will be presented
to the Premier by the Marquis of Salisbury, Secrets*"
of Foreign Affairs. Large contributions have ahead,:
been made, and we feel sure that all loyal subjects of
Her Majesty, whether Conservatives or Liberals, will
be glad of this opportunity of showing their esteem for
a Minister who has done so much to uphold the dignil9
of Great Britain. The present attitude of Envland
10
one of which all her sons may well be proud, W.`
whether war ensues or not, her conduct will have shed
additional lustre on her ancient name. Lord Beacon-
field has been the means of this, and it is fitting that
those whose ship has been so safely steered should
show their regard for the "man at the wheel."
A SETTLER.—Jones went to see Brown in his new
house. "Yes," said Jones, after a critical inspection
most
of the handsomely furnished dining-room.
complete, I must say; everything here but a dunili
waiter- why don't you have one—eh ?”—" Why'
said Brown, "fact is, you know, I don't find thern
answer." Jones asked no more questions.—JudY•
DISASTERS AT SEA.—There Were 16 British and
foreign wrecks reported during the past week,
making the total for the present year 682, or a de-
crease of 276 as compared with the corresponding
period of last year. The approximate value of pro-
perty lost was L'9O,COO, including British £65,000.
"SECOND THOUGHTS."—Priest: "Wilt thou have
this woman to thy wedded wife ? " Bridegroom Elect:
"Well, aw's warned aw'll hey to hey her. But set
wad rayther hey her sister! ! "—Punch.
A PATRIOTIC ACT.—The Overland China Mail pub-
lishes the following from Hong Kong :—" In connec-
tion with the fortifications in course of construction in
this colony, we may mention that a well-known
resident, on application being made to him by the
Government for two land lots on Bonham.roa,d, which
were needed for deiensive purposes, at once replied bY
placing them absolutely at the service of the autho-
rities, without asking any remuneration whatever,
although the usual indemnity was offered him. Till!!
is a gratifying instance of public spiritedness and die'
interested generosity, and is all the more commend-
able inasmuch, as the owner of this land had not 0017
determined to build on one of the lots in question, but
had actually got the plans prepared for the aPPrOII"
of the Surveyor-General."
A KITTEN.—A boy at school, on being asked to de-
scribe a kitten, made the following graphic statement :
"A kitten is chiefly remarkable for rushing like raasl,
at nothing whatever, and generally stopping before 14
gets there 1" That boy got a prize that half.--JudY-
A MODEL STAGE MANAGER.—George 11., the reign'
ing Prince of Saxe-Meiningen, himself manages the
Court Theatre of Meiningen. The Prince himself per-
sonally drills a player-king into conducting himself
like a real "kaiser" or " konig ;" he compels own/
player who assumes an important part to dress accou.
mg to a drawing prepared by himself. He is at once
the most dictatorial and the most painstaking of all
living stage managers. He is said to have undertaken
the supervision of all the preliminary studies prelim's'
tory to the execution of Kleist's Prinz von Homburt
which is shortly to be presented in Berlin. He °Peni
fourteen days at the Court of Berlin making drawings
in the Monbijou Collection, in order to secure correct'
mess in the costume and in every similar accessorfl
Nobiling's attempt on the German Emperor's life le".
the Meiningen company, now at Berlin, to postpcn'
an intended performance of Shakespeare's Jull
Ccesar, in which political assassinatiln has a pronainen
place. The Emperor having recovered, the comPaq
proceeded with their rehearsals, and were about tO
produce the play, when they received a telegram fr°93
the Duke of Meiningen forbidding the performance'''.
Theatre.
A CAUTION TO RELATIVES.—Pet Nephew, corral
to Man's Estate: "I say, grandpa', I heard ann.
Julia say the other day that you were almost in re'
second childhood. In that case, hadn't we better
change horses ?"—Punch.
BISMARCK'S NEW BEATITUDE.—The Times'
Correspondent reports a truly happy change ta hey
come over Prince Bismarck :
"Those who come near him state that he is stronglY „„,
pressed with the necessity for peace, and that after for Yew
esteeming military triumphs the real glory of the Statesieri;
recent experience, even that of the last few days, has she by
him that the greatest men can only benefit their States
ensuring them the blessings of peace."
Europe will be much reassured by the announce
men
that the Great Chanceller ha l been brought to see
more excellent way than a policy of "blood and iron.
Let us hope he will realise the beatitude promised t°
the Peacemakers.—Punch.
e 01
NOT A SHINING EXAMPLE.—The Registrar'....
reports that the durati in of registered sunshine during
one week in the present month was only 253 hours,
although the sun was above the horizon 114 5 MI
the recorded duration of sunshine therefore being eque
to only 22 per cent, of its possible duration. Froc;
these figures it is quite plain that during
the greate
part of his time, Sol was not only above the horizon'
hut was above his work as well.--Judy.
ea
A SLEEPLESS MAN.—A man who does not sleet). nateaq
Saunders, lives in Virginia, U.S. Some time in 10%
or 1863, Saunders enlisted in the Fourth Virgil:
Volunteers. For several years be had not slept at a
so he said. But it bdc,ining known directly in carP
that he made such pretensions, it aroused the curiosiq
of many of the officers and men, and they set a wa"
sal
upon him. It is told by a colonel that he and
others lost a good night's sleep in endeavouring to en-
trap Saunders, but during the whole time that he I;
mained a member of the Fourth he was never cang r
asleep. Hestood guard night afternight, and week site
week, paid by sleeps -head soldiers to take their turn!,
60.
but never was caught napping. During the year 18 a
it is stated, he went to Philadelphia, and was eYareit
by the leading physicians of the country. t
up with him in relays of five, night and day, an,a
up an almost constant stream of conversation with
and at the termination of twenty-nine days discharirr,
him with a certificate, but could give no explanatle'
of this freak of nature. Many stories of the untirinil
energy and activity of this man are told, and all agOe
who knew him that this antipode of Rip Van Wie
is the most sleepless man they ever met. Mr. Saunde 0
is now fifty-six years of age, and says he has not kn°l°6o
what sleep is for eighteen years. He cannot hime.oo
account for it, as he says the change in his organizati,cir
occurred within three days, and that he never was 810
in his life, and took medicine frit once, and that e7io
when he had catarrh about three years ago. Fre
conscientiously opposed to making a display of 11;
self, or no doubt long ago would have been before
public as one of the human curiosities of the world