biglam/hmd_newspapers huggingface dataset:
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-21

JOCULAR CUTTINGS FROM AMERICAN

PAPERS.

A Denver paper, in an outburst of indignation at
the advertising legends on Pike's Peak, exclaims—" When
freedom, from her mountain height, unfurled her standard
to the air, she little thought that naughty man would adver-
tise hop bitters there.
- -

The editor of a backwoods paper is reported to have
discovered a New Testament on his desk the other day. He
at once wrote an elaborate review of it, and was very much
disappointed %hen the foreman brought his copy back and
told him it was not anew book.

A claim has recently been proudly put forth in New
Yolk by a family of the name of Moss to be the most ancient
family of whom there is any record and scientific proof.
They base their claim on the statement of Mr. Darwin that
the origin of life was " the moss-grown fragments from the
ruins of another world."
Some of the girls in a town in Michigan seem to
have been more annoyed than flattered by the attentions of
the young men who kindly wait after church in order to keep
big dogs from biting them on the way home. The girls have
therefore procured the irregular insertion in the paper of
that place of the following notice :—" The Donkey Club of
this village would respectfully inform the young ladies
especially, and the public generally, that they have made
arrangements for an extensive demonstration on the steps
in front of the Methodist episcopal church—the members
locating themselves on either side of the main entrance—on
Sunday evening next. Positions taken immediately after
the close of the religious exercises4vithin." If these forlorn
maidens now have to go home by themselves, they will have
nobody but themselves to blame
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-28

SELF-DATING LETTERS.

"The ?At of verifying dates," in which the French
have for a century past with some justice claimed to
excel, has just been applied after a somewhat new
method by an ingenious member of the nation. The
new invention belongs once more to the domain of
the Post Office; and though it cannot be compared
with the famous discovery of punctured stamps, it
is sufficiently important to play a considerable part
in criminal and other trials of the future. The in-
ventor is an empigile of the Post Office in Paris, and
his device is intended to make letters to a certain
extent capable of dating themselves—that is to say,
of receiving, without any necessity for publicity, an
official stamp marking the time of their delivery at the
office. The person intending to adopt this precaution
applies to the envelope a special chemical preparation
which covers the whole of the interior. The letter is
then inserted and sealed up, and the packet posted
in the ordinary way. When the official stamp of the
day is impressed by the postmaster, the pressure,
acting upon the chemical substance with which the
envelope is lined, prints itself off upon the paper
within and the letter is thus marked indelibly with the
same date which appears on the outside of the envelope.
It is clear that by this process a great advantage will
in many cases be obtained by correspondents who
have an intereet in proving the real dates when their
letters are posted. As it is, nothing is more com-
mon in commercial cases than a dispute as to the
real date of a letter; and the only mode of proof
now available is the production of the dated letter
together with the envelope in which it is alleged to
have been enclosed. But there remains always the
necessity of proving that the particular letter in ques-
tion belonged to the particular envelope produced;
and it is this difficulty whieh the new invention is
intended to remove. It is true that the official test
does not always mark itself very distinctly on the out-
side of the envelope. But it would be keeping well
wi in bounds to say that in nine cases out of ten it
dots sufficiently mark itself, and if this is so, the ex-
pected advantages resulting from the now process would
not by any means be insignificant, —Globe.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-28

FV.(;.

lre• by post,in Envelope. six stamps.
ttSEASES PECULIAR TO WOMAN.
the Cause, Symptoms and Cure. This
bo.)li is pribiished for the special use of Females, and is
a Private Guide to the Treatment of a class of ailments
peculiar to the Female Constitution.
DB. HENRY SMITH, $ BIIITOW CZNIC/INT, LONDON
,W.C.

It ow Needy, the THINTINTI THOUSAND, Pries One
ShWing. Free by post, 12 stamps, in envelope.-
WOMAN : AS A MAIDEN, WIFE, AND
VT MOTHER. Illustrated with ENGRAVINGS ON
Woos, Cloth gilt. This is a Book of great importance
te Roma.

)711• HENRY MGM 8 BIIITON CZROBINT, LONDOW,
W.C.

NOTICE TO COUNTRY INVALIDS.
Cousa:ta,tiou by Lettor without Fee.

DR. HENRY SMITH, (By Diploma of the
Royal University of Jena) who has devoted
TRIBTY TZARS to the Special Treatment of Diseases
et the Nervous System, resniting from Exhaustion of
Nerve Power, Local Weakness, Lc., will for the benefit
et Cali:dry Invalids, on receiving a statement of case,
semi his. °Solon, with Advice and Instructions, which,
f followed, insure a Cot.; a Personal Interview and
expengive consultation-fees are thus avoided.
A Cnnadontisl " form of Correspondence to assist
tile Invilide in doscribinn their ease sent Post Free.
DR. 'HENRY SMITFI. S. BURTON CRESCEN
LONDON. W.C.

WVATED A. QUICK GIRL, to assiat in
hop. fr-no 14 to 15 year, of atte,—Ap
the IT Trial Inn, *A. John's Road, Kate's Hal.

WANTED.—For House near Stonrbridge,
*4* AN vi WHIT, Man as Gardener. suet to
astosi to Pony Wife 44 an speriAneed Cook. without
savusberenel. sad 4194 about 40.—Apply by letter.
ViiletrineUe, Lord's W.ood Road. ihrkonrne.

E21(1 Will b, taken to nr Tw well built
%.! Brisk aid CAllarei COTTAGY,Sorith
a Outhass.s, Plotyrs, swi Garden, very
plows y 'Haste at top of Castle Attest, IE liver. and
let at the low rented of 113 par &WIWI!. —Apply Mr.
Masa, 1, Charch Street, Harparhey, Manchester.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-28

GOSSIP ABOUT TOBACCO.

,

The Society for Discountenancing the Abuse of
Tobacco has just presented a memorial to M. Albert
Gigot, Prefect of Police, pointing out that the Paris cab-
drivers persist in smoking while on duty, in defiance
of the disciplinary regulations forbidding the practice
in question. The fumes emitted from the pipes and
cigars of the cabbies are, it seem, 4 particularly offen-
sive to ladies. This reminds me of an anecdote related
of the late excellent Qiieen of Holland. Her Majesty
was taking a solitary stroll in the Wood at Loo one
summer's evening, when she became aware of a
sentinel who was indulging in a few furbidden
whiffs inside his 133 x. The poor fellow, with
no end of courts-martial before his eyes, threw
away his pipe, and, in broken accents, piteously
begged the Queen not to denounce him to the autho-
rities. "Don't be afraid," answered the kindly
Sovereign; and here is a ducat for you to buy some
good tobacco. I wonder you can smoke such nasty
smelling stuff." If the Parisan Jehus would only
smoke a tolerably decent preparation of the Indian
weed, the ladies might be more tolerant of their in-
fringement of the cab laws. One anecdote may be
reckoned upon, as a rule, to suggest another. rile
story about the Queen of fifolland reminds me of one
told of Frederick the Great, who, wandering in dis-
guise through the camp one bitterly cold winter's
night, tried to tempt a sentry into the commission of the

illicit act of smoking. "It's forbidden" replied the
soldier doggedly. " But I'll give you permission," per-
sisted Frederick. "You give me permission," cried the
grenadier disdainfully; "who are you I should like
to know ? " "1 am the King." " The Kin;z be
hanged!" exclaimed the incorruptible sentinel; " what
would my captain sty?" .The Great Fritz was im-
mensely pleased to learn how strictly discipline was
preserved among h iitroops ; and I fancy that it was
not long before that incorruptible sentinel was pro-
moted to be a sergeant. Perhaps he was wise in his
generation, and had known very well to whom he was
speaking. There is a way of flattering the great, even
while appearing to be rude to them. Did not Mr. Pye
get his poet laureateship through anathematising the
wig of George 111. to his Majesty's face ?—" G. A. 5.,"
in the Illustrated London News.

•
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-28

BROMSGROVE.

BOARD or GUARDIANS' CONTRACTS.-A.t the fortnightly
meeting of this Board, on Tuesday last, at the Work•
house, there was a full attendance; Mr. J. Rumer in
the chair. The returns for the past fortnight showed a
large increase in in-door and out-door relief as com-
pared with the corresponding week of last year.-The
master reported that scarlet fever had broken out in the
house, there being one case, but every precaution had
been taken to prevent the spread of the dis-ase.-Ten-
ders for contracts were opened, and the foil ,wing were
accepted :--For twelve weeks from the sth October :-
Good seconds flour, 6s 61 per bushel, Mr. J. Gibbs,
Wichbold Mill; beef, mutton, and suet, Mrs. Harvey,
Bromsgrove, Si. per lb. For twenty-five weeks from the
same date: Grocery goods, Messrs. W. JeffJzies and J.
Green, Blornsgrove ; drapery, Mr. T. Hall and Messrs.
eordell and Sous, Bromsgrove ; coal, Cannock hard, 12s
p3r ton, Messrs. Usher and 'Jo., Worcester ; shoes
(men's, 6s 93 ; women's and boys', 5s : girls', 34 10,1
per pair), Mr, S. Harford, Broinsgrove ; brooms and
nrushes, Mrs. T. Johnson, Bromsgrove ; books, sta-
tionery, and printing, Messrs. Perkins and George,
Bromsgrove ; ale, port wine, brandy, and gin, Mr. U.
Barrows, Golden Cross Hotel, Bromsgrove ; shaving and
haircutting in the workhouse, Mr T. Laugher,
Bromsgrove ; making and baking the bread at the
workhouse, Mr. R. Albutt (8,1 per bushel) ; coffins,
Bromsgrove district, Mr. James Amers (large 9s, small
4s each.
PRIZE SHOOTING.-The competition for the :annual
prizes given by the commanding officer of the 21st Wor-
cestershire Rifle Volunteers, the tradesmen of Broms-
grove, and others has concluded as follows :-Com-
mending officer's prize for efficients : Ist, £l, Private
Fawke ; 2nd, 15s, Private Workman; 3r3, 10s, Private
Walters.-Ditto for recruits: Ist, £2, Private Mole ;
2nd. 15s, Private Davenport; 3r3, 10s, Private Tupper.
-Mr. Smallwood's challenge cup, and £5 added: Won
by Private Walters.-For the aggregate scores in the
c )mpetition : Ist, £5 (given by Lord Windsor), Private
Walters; 2nd, £4, Private Fawke ; 3rd, £3, Private
Workman; 4th, £2 2s (given by Mr. J. Corbett, M.P ),
Private A, J. Hobbiss ; sth. 30s, Private Williams; 6th,
£l, Private Stone; 7th, 17s 63, Lieutenant Hornsby;
Bth, 15s, Sergeant Nokes ; 9th, 12s 6d, Private Crozall ;
10th, 103, Private Wardle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-28

[From Punch.]
ADIEU TO THE AUSTRALIANS.

" The Australians have completed their victorious career
among our County Clubs. Since their first memorable match
at Lord's in May, when they beat the M C C. by ten wickets
in a single day, they have played well nigh in eyery pat oi
England, ana their hard work has been rewarded by
aztonishing success."
The Australians came down like a wolf on the fold,
In a trice the MC. C. were caught, stumped or bowled;
Not a batsman 'gainst Spofforth "the demon" could stay,
4nd the match, a rare marvel, was won in a day.
They have travelled since then many cricketfields through,
From Swansea to Sheffield, from Cambridge to Crews;
And though here and there scoring a casual "duck,"
They have everywhere shown us good play and good pluck.
They have given us rare proof that the noblest of games
May be learned near the Murray as well as the Thames:
That courage, good temper, and patience abound
Whether commons or "Lord's" be the cricketing ground.
So a hearty God-speed on their homeward-bound way
To the gallant Eleven whose watchword is "Play 1"
With their comrades we'll make ever free of our soil,
Captain Gregory, Bannerman, Blackham, and Boyle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-28

THE ETIQUETTE OF RAILWAY
TRAVELLING.

A question with regard to the etiquette of railway
travelling was raised the other day, and led to an alter-
cation which it is to be hoped is not of very frequent
occurrence (says the Court Journal). An erroneor,2
opinion appears to prevail that carriages marked
" smoking" are exclusively reserved for persons who
consume tobacco. It has been the custom on some
Linea for the holders of season tickets who are also
smokers to make up parti,,s going to town, and to claim
the right to reserve seats for friends who may subse-
quently join the train at stations nearer the metropolis.
it is but right, of course, that persons who desire to
smoke should select the carriages intended for their
use, and when there is room in other portions of
the train people who do not smoke make it a
practice to avoid intruding upon those who do. It
does not, however, by any means follow that
those who cannot find room elsewhere are necessarily
to be excluded from using smoking carriages because
they happen to be non smokers. A party of smokers
claiming is right to reserve seats for the smokers who
may subsequently join the train are not justified in
resenting the appearance among them of persons who
have paid similar fares to their own, and who desire
to get to their journey's end as soon as possible. A
cue recently arose in which objection was taken to the
addition of a passenger who appeared to be of the non-
smoking class. The " seasons" in possession raised a
chorus of opposition to tha stranger. They asserted,
first, that it was a smoking carriage; and, secondly,
that the seats were reserved for friends who would
join at the next station. The first place was accepted
by the new comer, but to the second a demurrer was
entered. A reference was made to the station-master,
who, of course, ruled in favour of the intruder. An
animated conversation ensued, in the course of which
it was explained that as the train was quite full, and
no other seat in a carriage of the same class could be
found, there was no alternative but to seek refuge
among the smokers. The reply was. "This is meant
for smokers," to which the response was, " How do
know that I do not intend to smoke?" The re-
spondent was a lady!
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-28

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Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-28

GLENFIELD
STARCH.
Has for many Years been Exclusively
used in the Royal Laundry.
" Th
oevebrueet Sta.l,•ch I The Queen's Laundress.
" Admittedby far and
Ich 1‘
sway the best Star The World."
attainable."
" Particularly ad. }"Englishwoman's
'pied for clear starch-
ing muetim. Doraeetio Magazine,"
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-28

I REGISTERED FOR 1
I TRANSMISSION ABROAD. )

SALES BY AUCTION.

MONEY ready for immediate investmeat in large or
small Bums not under £5O, on any description of
real or personal security no less than one year, at a low
rate, viz., 4 per cent. on personal, and 3 per cent on free-
hold or leasehold security. Interest in all cases payable
half-yearly, and not in advance. Distance no object.
All applications will be treated with strictest secrecy and
despatch. Money obtainable on the shortest notice. No
ccmmission.---Apply with full particulars as to nature o
security, amount required, and for what period, to WIL-
LIAM SEIMORR, Esq., Financier, 9, Great Russell-street,
London, W.C.

G. F. GRERN,
PIANOFORTE

T. 4-j • HICKS.

BUILDER, CARPENTER AND COFFIN
MAKER,
DEALER IN CEMENTS, PLASTER. COW-HAIR,
LitTgs, NAILS, AND ALL RINDS OF
BUILDING MATERIALS.

PAINTING, PAPER HANGING, WHITEWASHING,
COLOURING, AND GLAZING DONE ON
THE SHORTEST NOTICE.

ADMIX
PARK STREET, STREET, STOURBRIDOB.

260, Castle Street, Dudley,
4nel 67, Perk Street, Walsall.

. •

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1878.

T II NER

RAS GREAT PLEASUREIN PUBLIBRING TEE FOLLOWING
TESTIMONIALS,
prom Mr. C. Potter, Professor of Music, from the
ustitution for the Blind, St. dohn's Wood, London:.—
'I can confidently recommend Mr. Green as a Piano
erte Tuner He tunes by equal temperament, and eh.
Rina an exact scale. (Signed) C. POTTER."
From Mr. J. F. Patterson, Organist, St. Patrick's
Church, Huddersfield :—"I have much pleasure it tes-
tifying to the abilities of Mr. Green as a Pianoforte
Tuner. He lays the bearings with exactness and pease-
Hon. (Signed) demas F. Perrunsox."
From Mrs. Sanderson, Solo Pianiste, of the Leaden
and Liverpool Concerts :—" Mr. Green is one of *hallow
who can Tune my Piano to the nicety I require previous
te giving my Public Recitals. (signed) E. K. sAN,Bit
UN,

From Mr. Butterworth, Organist, Doberess' Re
Ban be r : 712 w"a tlari th. . (iaGreen
ge eequ al JIB a Piaoeforte Tuu
ny i ) DAVID BIITTERWORTD

s . d
Terms for Yearly Taxing, including minor re-
pairs—
Cottages, per annum
Grande do ..
Single Tunings (in Town).
I. d. s. d. s d s.
Cottages.... 8 6& 5 0 Fall Grande 6 6 k
Semi-Grands 6 0& 6 0_
oraCorlis .. 7 6
Concert Iron
Trishord

Obligue.. 4 6 & 6
Pianoferiee Tuned o the Freweh Pitch (now waver
sall. 1 I required.
y*.adAoplatregdethstroocukghoofuctiltungelaani and
Modern Music, a.
Half-price.
Please observe the Address-260, caBilestreet,D,(l/0
and 67, Pork treat, W 41,5811,

p :
Le

TRADESMEN'S ADDRESSES,
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-28

THE FLOCKS OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

_ .
On sabre than one occasion we have alluded to expedi-
tions having for their object the exploration and
development of the unknown districts of the vast
tract of country lying between the Gulf of Carpen-
taria and the Indian Ocean, which is called the
Northern Territory, and forms part of the colony of
South Australia, From various causes all attempts at
colonization on a large scale in this extensive region
have met with little success in past years, but now an
important one is being carried out, which if successful,
as it promises to be, will doubtless gradually lead to
its being turned to profitable account. An almost
insuperable difficulty has hitherto been the conveyance
of flocks and herds in large numbers, but this is now
being overcome by the daring experiment of
driving the sheep and cattle across the continent
from South Australia. Stony deserts and stretches
of country where water is not to be obtained for 200
or 300 miles have, we learn, been passed in safety, or,
at any rate, with but small loss. Various devices
have been resorted to in order to surmount the dangers
of the journey, and so far they appear to have proved
successful. Some 20,000 or 30,000 sheep and 10,000
cattle are slowly making their way northwards to the
immense tracts of grass-land in the Northern Territory,
which are now lying fallow. The expedition consists
of several parties, one of which is under the leadership
of Mr. Ernest Giles, the well-known Australian
traveller, and the sheep and cattle are distributed
among them, with the view of reducing the risk of loss
as far as practicable. The time occupied on the
journey is expected to be at least seven months, but,
owing to the necessity of making long and frequent
stoppages, it will not improbably be even longer.—
ca,denty.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-28

The ERUPTIONS of
.MOUNT VESUVIUS.

Vesuvius is al parently preparing to contribute a
new sensation to contemporary hi-tory. For some
days past it has been in a state of partial and intermit-
tent eruption, and aecoeding to the latest accounts
from Naples the volcanic activity is on the increase,
the encter beieg almost lull, while flames and lava are
issuing from immense fissures at the base of the cone.
Considering to what fearful consequences these
symptoms of perturbation may possibly lead, it is
not to be wondered at that a lively interest
is always taken in the progress of the vel-
canic phenomena whenever the mountain is in
labour. There have been several disastrous eruptions
of Vesuvius besides that which buried Pompeii and
Herculaneum, together with two hundred thousand
people, in the year 79. Terrible destruction has been
wrought by the burning lava at various dates much
nearer to our own time. It is estimated that not less
than four thousand persons must have perished in
the destruction of Torre del Greco by the me-
morable eruption of December, 1731. The de-
structive power of the volcano was also dis-
played with fearful demonstrativeness on three
other subsequent occasions during the last cen-
tury, namely in 1759, 1767, and 1794. It was during
the grand explosion in the midsummer of the last-
mentioned year that the top of the mountain fell in
and the circumference of the crater was thus widened
to the extent of nearly two miles. Five thousand
acres of vineyards and rich pasture lands were also
destroyed, and Torre del Greco, for the second time,
shared the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah. Within the
last twenty years there has been a succession of
eruptions, terribly disastrous to property, though
fortunately not remarkably destructive of life, although
the ill-starred Torre del Greco was once more
partially laid in ashes in 1861. The continuous
belching forth cf smoke and flames which produced
phenomena of remarkable grandeur during the four
months from 'Nov. 12, 1867, to March, 1868, will be
fresh in the memory of many, as will also the great
eruption of the last week in April and first week in
May, 1872, when much havoc was committed, and
some sixty or seventy lives were lost. We may at any
hour be startled with the news of a volcanic effort on
the part of Vesuvius which may equal in violence any
of the eruptions that have become historical, though it
is to be hoped the present symptoms of unrest which
the mountain is exhibiting may not develop into any-
thing more alarming than an ordinary outburst. Still,
a Vesuvian " out-put" is better than an earthquake;
and as volcanoes are merely vents for letting off the
superfluous effects of the earth's pent-up energies, it is
satisfactory to reflect that an eruption, however dis-
astrous, may, after all, prevent the world being torn
asunder.—Daily Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-28

THE WRECK Oe THE PRINCESS
ALICE.

During the past week most of the rewards due for
the recovery of bodies have been paid by Mr. Howse,
one of the churchwardeas who has taken this die
agreeable duty as part of his share of the work. There
are more than 100 charnants for the ss. pa: head;
some regular watermeo who ply for hire, and some
professional "gaffers," who are constantly drifting
about and searching for the flotsam of the river. One
waterinan of Greenwich has established his claim for 32
rewards. and there are several who picked up as many
as 10 or 12 bodies. In one case a waterazan received a
reward of £5O for finding thebody of a missing person,
and smaller rewards of from £2 to £5 were given in
other instances. The parish officers have allowed claims
to the amount of £l4O, which pays for 560 bodies, and
it is the general opinion of watermen that there are
more rewards to be earned. Mr. Howes, who has
questioned most men on the subject and has studied
the list of missing, thinks that there are nearly 100
bodies in the river. Some may have got into holes
where bargemen have been dredging for sand and been
there buried by the wash of the tide, and the men
with drags seriously avow that they can " feel " bodies
at the bottom of the river, but cannot disengage them
from the suction of the niud.

The local authorities have ascertained that the police
employed on special duty during the crisis numbered
400, and that to pay them at the usual rate of 3. 6d.
pier day the sum of 210 will be required. It has been
decided by the Mansion House Committee that no por-
tion of their fund can be applied to paying the police,
but several small sums sent specially for their reward
will be handed over, and unless the special services of
the force be recognised by the Commissioners, the
churchwardens and overseers will endeavour to do
justice.

No identification of bodies were made on Saturday or
Sunday, but there have been a good many inquiries for
mining friends. A good many persons dressed in mourning
Visited the graves in the cemetery on Sunday. Several
wreaths and crosses of flowers lie on the fresh earth, and the
little daughters of Mr. Anderson, the superintendent, daily
renew the blossoms with which the ground is scattered.
Compared with the crowds which have visited the wreck on
the last two Sundays, there were but few persons on the
beadi or river on Sunday.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-28

EDUCATION AT THE EAST END OF
LONDON.

• Mr. Le Page Renouf, Her Majesty's Inspector of schools in
the metropolitan district of the Tower Hamlets, in his report
for 1870, makes the following statement :

The great defect of which all examiners complain is
want of intelligence. It is to be lamented, but cer-
tainly not to be wondered at. Persons who have had
the advantage of a liberal education are apt to ignore
conditions under which their own minds have been
formed, and which are altogether lacking in the educa-
tion of the children who frequent elementary schools.
Our own education was, in fact, going on, uncon-
sciously to ourselves, during most of our waking
moments. We learned as much, like the ancient
_ _ _

rabbi, from our companions as from our teachers.
It is not so with the children of our schools.
Their education is almost entirely confined within
the school hours. The vocabulary of their fami-
lies is extremely limited. Home influences are
destructive of school influences. This is the case even
with reference to pupil-teachers, whose reading up to
the moment of entering college is often as deficient in
accuracy, intelligence, and expression as that of the
younger children. It is perhaps natural that little
children who know what a donkey is, or a " moke,"
should not know what an " ass " is, or that, if asked
how many legs a fish has, they should say "four,"
"two," or "one ; " but it is almost incredible that
great girls, pupil-teachers, in the East end of London,
should not know what is a "mushroom," or that both
boy and girl pupil-teachers should habitually under-
stand as a "churchyard" the " rampart " to which the
body of Sir John Moore was hurried. One of the most
favourite pieces of prose learned by pupil-teachers in
their fifth year is the famous speech of Lord Chatham.
I have not yet had one who understood what is
meant by "extending the traffic to the shambles of
every German despot." The meanings of the words
. were not always known the sense of the entire passage
never. An amusing known,
about a sow was lately
given out for the composition of the pupil teachers. A
good many understood "cow " instead of "sow," but the
animal, whether as " cow " or sow," was in almost every
case spoken of as "he" or "him." The following is
the account of the Indian mutiny given by a female
pupil-teacher in her fifth year of service and the
eighteenth year of her age :—"There was a dreadful
massacre in India, and thousands were slain; it was
placed under the hands of a governor, but he did not
attend properly after the country, and so the people
took the law into their own hands, and the country
became in a dreadful state, men and children being
killed. The Queen then became Empress of England.'
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-28

AMERICAN FOOD IMPORTATION.

There was a large increase in the total of each
descljption of food landed at Liverpool last week from
the Urnited States and Canada, when compared with
the previous week. It was thought that the boisterous
weather which most of the vessels arriving last week
encountered in the Atlantic would have cauled con-
siderable mortality amongst the live stock, but fortu-
nately this was not the case, as the vessels arrived
with their consignments—which in several cases were
much augmented—in excellent order, and with a
very nominal deatlvrate. The steamers with live
stock were the Bulgarian, having on board 285
cattle, 703 sheep, and 1,384 pigs; the Mississippi
with 64 cattle and 1,596 sheep • the Macgregor with
381 cattle and 190 sheep; the Lake Nepigon with 114
cattle and 719 sheep, the Sicily with 284 cattle, the
City of Limerick with 228 cattle, the Gracia with 122
cattle and four calves, and the Atlas with 392 sheep—
the totals for the week being 1,478 cattle, 3,590 sheep,
1,384 pigs, and four calves. The number of sheep is
the largest ever landed in one week. Of fresh meat
the Montana had 1,400 quarters on board, the
Adriatic 700 quarters and 100 carcases of sheep, the
England 7C4 quarters of beef, and the City of Chester
480 quarters of beef and 75 carcases of mutton—making
3,284 quarters of beef and 175 carcases of mutton. The
steamer British Empire landed 185 tubs of fresh butter
and the Sicily 209.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-28

TRADESMENS' ADDRESSES.,

GOUT AND RHEUMATISM.—The ex-
cruciating pain of Gout or Rheumatisn2 quickly
removed and cured in a few days by that celebrated
Medicine, BLAIR'S GOUT and RHEUMATIC PILLS.
They require no restraint of diet or confinementiduring
their use, and are certain to prevent the disease attack-
mg any vital part.
Bold by all Chemists at is. lid. and 2s. 9d. per box.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-28

ADVICE TO 111.0THHIS I—Are you broken in your rest
by a sick child suffsring with the pain of cutting teeth?
Go at once to a ahem:list and get a bottle of Mac
WINsLOW'I4 SOOTHING STROP. It will relieve the poor
sufferer immediately It is perfectly harmless AIM
pleasant to taste, it produces natural, quiet sleep, by
relieving the child from pain, and the little uherub
awakes" as bright as a button." It soothes the child,
it softens tbe gums, allays all pain, relieves wind,
regulates the bowels, and is the beat known remedy far
dysentery and diarrhoea, whether arising from teething
or other causes. Mrs Winslow's Soothing Syrup is
sold by Medicine dealers everywhere at is lid per
bottle. Manufactured in New York, and at 498, ()and
Street, London.

THE ILILIE.—F or 40 years Mrs. S. A. ALLun'a,
WORLD'S HAIR HRSTORER has received the commendatiol,
and favour of the public. It has acquired the highest
place that can be obtained for any moderate enterprise.
sadcontributed to tbe adornment of tens of thousands of
persons, who have the proof of its servicable character.
It will positively renew alscl restore the original and natu-
ral colour of grey, white, and fa led Hair. It will
strengthen and invigorate the Hair, top its fallizg, ant
induce a healthy and luxuriant growtb. No other pre-
paration can produce th e same beneficial result. bold by
11 Chemists and Periumers, in large bottles, 6.. DWI/
/4 116, Southampton low, Load9o.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-28

THE GRAND PARIS EXHIBITION
LOTTERY,

The writer of the interesting papers entitled " Round
about France," in toe Daily N euis, gives the following par-
ticulars respecting the Grand Exhibition Lottery :

"Who wants two thousand pounds' worth of diamonds
for tenpence? The French Government, in honour of
the Exhibition, has instituted a grand lottery endowed
with a multitude of prizes selected from among the
exhibits. The tickets, costing one franc each, are
purchasable in all the tobacco offices; and the two
chief prizes consist of jewellery valued at 50,000
francs; but if the winners prefer money they will
get £l,OOO inscead of the diamonds. Among the
other things to be won will be steam-ploughs, furni-
ture, china, chicks, candlestick., ready-made clothes,
toys, hampers of wine, &c. ; in fact, something has
been bought out of every bection, and all the money
subscribed will be given away in prizes, for the Go-
vernment does not seek to make profit out of the con-
cern. The lottery has been got up solely to amuse the
public and to enable a certain number of persons,
whether natives or foreigners, to carry away substan-
tial souvenirs of the Exhibition. There will be 200
prizes in all, and as one million tickets have been
iesned this will give every drawer one chance against
5,000." • ,
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-28

SHOCKING DEATH WHILST BATHING.

The ship Alice Davies has arrived in the Mersey
from the coast of Java, and reports the death of one of
her crew, a Welshman named William Jones Owens,
under shocking circumstances. Owens, with four
others of the crew, went to bathe as the ship lay at
anchor at Probolingo. They had not been in the
water many minutes when Owens,- who was the
furthest from the vessel, uttered a piercing shriek. It
was then seen that he had been attacked by a shark,
which with one bite had completely disembowelled
him. The mate being on deck, and hearing the cry,
threw a rope to the unfortunate man, who grasped it.
He was then hauled towards the ship, but becoming
exhausted he loosened his hold of the rope and sank
immediately. The shark, which was following Owens,
disappeared below to complete its work. Owens was
only 22 years old, and belonged to Bangor, North
Wales. Owing to there being many sharks hi the
river the men had been previously warned against
bathing in it. The shark appeared to be about
fifteen feet long, though many of them measured
over thirty feet. The other Nur men got safely
back to the ship. The sharks in the river are ground
sharks, and scarcely ever come to the surface of the
water except when disturbed.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-28

COTTON FACTORIES AND COTTOY
WORKERS.

As a rule, when an interest is flourishing, the public
don't hear much about it. Men make money, as bees
make honey, quietly. But when hard times come
there is much stir and talk, just as a mighty buzzing
arises among the bees if a wasp gets into the hive.
The wasp which at the present time is vexing the
Lancashire beehives is known by the name of over-
production. Thirty years ago it
w more concisely
styled a "glut," There is something very sad in-
theas contemplation of the ideas suggested by this
little word. In these days of swift and easy inter-
course there can be no such thing as a really genuine
glut. In the United Kingdom alone there are
hundreds of thousands of people who would be only
too glad to have new shirts and shifts for their backs,
and new sheets for their bed s, if —ah ! there it is that the
pinch cowes—if they could but afford to pay for them.
Hence general thrift and temperance would do much for
Lancashire industry—far more than the foolish short-
time panacea—because those virtues would save for the
purpose of buying cotton goods thousands of pounds
which are now muddled away in strong drink. But, as
our countrymen are not likely to become suddenly thrifty
and as meanwhile foreigners are busy spinning and
weaving as they never spun and wove before, it seems
pretty clear that, as regards existing requirements,
Lancashire has more spindles and looms than are
wanted. Instead of working a hundred mills at short
time, it would be better to shut up five-and-twenty,
" and work the remainder at full time, so as to keep the
dead" expenses down to the lowest level possible.
The New England cotton factories, whose brightness
and cleanliness, owing to climate, water-power, and
anthracite coal, Old England cannot but envy—are, in
spite of hard times, running full time, but then their
workmen are content to receive proportionately lower
wages than are current here, and they have
also, thanks to Protection, the monopoly of their
own market. Nor does there seem to be any tendency
towards shorii time in the newly-established Indian
factories. 'where the greed
millowners (unfettered at
present by any Ten Hours' Act), work women and
even tender little children thirteen or fourteen hours
a day. It seems plain to us that if, while theirforeign
competitors are everywhere working full time, Lanca-
shire operatives insist on working short time (thereby.
enhancing the cost of production) they will find them-
selves beaten out of the market by their rivals.—
Graphic.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-28

A LITTLE FLOCK.

Captain Garth, of the steamer Ariel, in a recent
voyage from Melbourne to Fiji, called at Lord Howe
Island, on which he found twenty-five inhabitants—
men, women, and children, all told. The island is
mountainous, of volcanic origin, but well wooded,
about five miles long, and from a mile and a half to
two miles broad, 400 miles E. of Sydney. As the
steamer approached the island on the west side, with
ensign flying, a boat came off with two men in it,
and brought the vessel to an anchorage. Shortly
afterwards a bullock was seen in harness coming
towards the beach, drawing a sledge loaded with
fowls, oranges, bananas, eggs, &c., which the settlers
brought off and gave to the captain, without making any
charge or taking any payment. A blacksmith's shop
was given up to the engineer to do whatever he re-
quired. The inhabitants assisted in cutting wood and
getting water for the vessel, and rendered every pos-
sible assistance. Captain Garth speaks very highly of
their hospitality. Their communication with the out-
side world is very uncertain ; formerly whalers called
in often, and got a supply of provisions, but they very
seldom do so now. Ships can get supplies of fresh
beef, pigs, or goats, potatoes and onions, fowls, &c.
The people live in happy content, their only complaint
being the want of a schoolmaster and clothing. About
five years ago a ketch, belonging to the island, left for
Sydney with eight souls on board, but was never
heard of.

A BLIND CONGRESS —The idea of holding at Berlin
next spring a congress of persons connected with insti.
tutions for the blind, rriginated with Herr Rosner, the
director of the Royal Institution for the Blind in that
city. The object of the congress is to set on foot an
agreement as to the method of teaching between the
managers of the several institutions throughout Europe
for the instruction of the blind, so that in future all
blind persons taught in those institutions in any part
of Europe shall be able to understand one another.
At present, owing to the differences in the methods of
teaching followed in the several countries—e.g., French
and German—blind persons cannot understand each
other unless with the greatest difficulty. An attempt
to bring about unity of method has been already made
more than once, but had no success worth speaking of.
Herr ROsner has addressed himself to the Berlin Board
of Magistrates, requesting them to make arrangements
for receiving the representatives of the several European
institutions, and they have agreed to do so.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-28

FROM A VALUED CORRESPONDENT.

GLORIOUS APOLLO DI PONCHO,
I am just off to my comitry residence at Colney
Hatch, but send you my latest and best. It is a
conundrum to be proud of :
Query. Who was, historically, the king of all the
Dumb-waiters?
Answer. LOUIS TRAYS.

Hooray! I'm off! When I return to my senses for
the season, I am goinc7 to set up in business, for my-
self, as a "Simile-Maker." Any Author unable to
make a simile for him' elf will send to me, Orders
punch-tually attended to. Conundrums mended on the
shortest notice. No objection to a butler where one
or more is kept. Would like to be a bird, but am,
yours ever TOPLIGHTS THE FIRST.

P.S.—Make P.O. Order payable to me for not less
than i!2.000, to he drawn at sight, or sketched,—or,
stay, instead of a P.O. Order, or cheque, send me a
Lettre de Cash-it. Aha! Off again.! Bang ! Punch.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-28

SOMETHING NEW IN LABELS.

An old newspaper man from Ohio has started a drug
store in the city of Detroit, and a local paper, com-
menting on his iunovatione, remarks that he will either
be a millionaire during the next three years, or
" bust" in less than six months. His store is very
cheerful. Skulls, crutches, forceps, chromos bones,
false teeth, almanacs, parrots and stivks of liquorice
are scattered around in delightful profusion, and there
isn't a drawer or bottle without an original label. On
one drawer he has : "Glue—She sticks right by
you, no matter what the weather," On another :
Copperas—eat slowly and chew fine." On
another : "Paris green—Sure in its operation—
lasting in its effects." The label on one of the
bottles read : "Buy some of me and stop that
blamed cough." On another: "I'm sal. petre—who
are you?" On another: "Prussic acid—Don't fool
around with a revolver." Hanging against a wall is a
beautiful sign, which reads: "If you don't want to
ask for a fine comb, just point your finger at me ! "
At the back end of the store is a still larger sign' and
it bears the tender sentiment: "There is 130 flock
without its missing lamb. Sometimes you find him in
the bedstead. I keep the stuff to make him weary of
life. Don't ask him for bed-bug poison, but call it
'The Lost Lamb Restorative.' I shall know what you
mean." The front of the store bears several happy
thoughts. Among them is one reading "Walk right
in here if you had buckwheat for breakfast last winter."
Another says: "I can cure that red nose in just
fourteen days." A third reads: "You man with the
catarrh—please step this way."
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-28

UNITED STATES FINANCES. .

On the sth of September at St. Paul, Minnesota, President
Hayes in the course of a speech on the Public Debt of
America when speaking of the currency said :
"The commerce of the world is the commerce now
in which we are taking part, and that is the same
thing the globe around. We have with us to-day the
gentleman who is at the head of the Signal Service of
the United States. He is known popularly as Old
Probabilities.' (Great Laughter.) He is not old, and
I fear he is not always probable. (Renewed laughter.)
But certainly, in the science of meteorology, he has gone
further than any other, and what does he tell us? He
says that this atmosphere of ours, this circumambient
air that surrounds the globe, is one as a unit, and
that they have discovered by observations all over the
globe, that a great commotion, a great disturbance on
any sea or any continent, sooner or later, is felt in
every other sea and every other continent, Lnd so the
commerCe of the world is one. When there are very
hard times in one great zillion, sooner or later it goes
around. We should, then, base our financial system on
principles and by • the instrumentalities that are
sanctioned and approved by the best judgment of the
whole commercial world. Then, I repeat, if we want
our standard of financial prosperity to be based upon
sure and safe foundati, ns, let us remember that its
best security is an untarnished national credit and a
sound constitutional currency." (Great and prolonged
applause.)
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-28

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER.

Sunday, having all the week to do so, and dis-
missed the summons:

KEEPING HOUSE OPEN DURING PROHIBITED
HOURS.--James Bevan, landlord of the Rose and
Crown Inn, Coventry Street, with keeping open
his house on the 22nd after time. Superintend,:nt
Wheeler proved that he visited the defendant's
house at 5 minutes to twelve o'clock, found a man
named Phillip Drewery, saw him drunk out of a
cup of lab. Police-constable Hollingsworth cor-
roborated. The defence was that Drewery called
upon him to go a walk as he was in the habit o f
doing so he was having his lunch and merely asked
Drewery to drink out of the jug and he did so.
Drewery could not have come for drink as he kept
a publichouse near himself, had been in the habit
of walking out on Sunday morning together
Philip Drewery corrobrated. The magistrates
considered it a proper case to bring before them,
and dismissed the summons.

CHARGE OP ASSAULT.—Mary Ann She ward was
charged with assaulting Emily Wilson, on the
21st inst.—After hearing the evidence of the com-
plainant, who is daughter of the defendant Mary
Ann Sheward was bound over in £2O to keep the
peace for six months.
ASSAULT CASE.—Thomas Sheward was charged
with assaulting Emily Wilson, on the 21st inst.—
Mr. Wall appeared for complainant, and Mr.
Addison defended.—Complainant said she was in
the Market buying some fish when she received a
severe blow on the eye. She turned round and the
defendant, her brother, struck her several times
and cut her ,lip open and she bled very much.—
Several witnesses were called to corroborate and
defendant was fined 5s and costs.
SCHOOL BOARD CesEs.—A number of persons
were summoned by William Jasper, for neglecting
to send their children to school and they were
fined.

WOMEN QUARRELS. - Elizabeth Smart was
charged with assaulting Sarah Westwood, on the
20th inst.—The assault was not proved lo the
satisfaction of the Bench and they dismissed the
SULTIIIIOII9.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-28

• COURAGEOUS ACT OF A FRENCH
SENATOR,

M. Wallon, senator, and formerly Minister, has
(Galignani says) just performed an act of courage
under dangerous and difficult circumstances. On
Saturday four inhabitants of Paris, a M. Bayard and
his two daughters, and a gentleman friend of the
family, were bathing in the early morning at Petites-
Dallas (Seine-Inferieure). They swam out somewhat
farther than bathers are in the habit of going, when
they found themselves being carried off by an under-
current. They speedily raised cries of distress, but
the beach was deserted at that early hour, and there
were no bathers but themselves. . M. Wallon, whose
residence is near the sea, was writing in his study,
and, alive to the danger of the party, he seized
a life-buoy, hastened down to the beach, and
rushed into the water without taking time to
throw off even his coat. Almost at the same
moment his second son, M. Etienne Wallon, following
his father's example, also rushed into the sea to assist
in the rescue. M. Wal!on, aided by his buoy, soon
reached the eldest of the young ladies, who was sup-
ported above water by the gentleman referred to, who
was almost exhausted by his efforts. Young M.
Wallon soon reached the other sister, but when an
attempt was made to gain the shore by the whole
party the current proved too strong for 'them. The
Clanger was fearfully threatening, when four residents
took a boat and went to the rescue. They succeeded
in getting all the party safely into it—just as they
were becoming thoroughly exhausted—except the
father of the young ladies, who had been drifted away
by the current, but who fortunately was landed by it
at some distance—in terrible agony, however, for he
believed that his children were lost. One of the young
ladies was only restored to consciousness after long
efforts.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-09-28

A CURIOUS STORY.

A curious story of a " bat cave" in South-western
Texas appears in the Boston Home Journal, " from the
pen of a gentleman who has recently visited the place."
The cave, which is of unknown extent, is entered by a
mouth some thirty or forty feet wide, by twelve or
fifteen high, and the. interior walls, of a hard, bluish,
limestone, are perfectly dlry. No crystallisations of
any kind were discovered by the explorer, but the in-
erior was "perfectly alive with uncounted millions of
eather-winged bats. Hanging to the walls and ceilings
were, everywhere, knots of these creatures, like bees
that had settled, while the air seemed literally
alive and vocal with the incessant hum Of
myriads in ceaseless and apparently objectless flight."
Every evening, we are further told, the bats come
forth to seek food. "First." says the narrator, "came
a small detachment of a thousand or two, and, after an
.interval of some minutes, the flight commenced by
millions and billions. For two and a half hours the
bat stream was incessant, filling the mouth of the cave
completely, and on our way to camp we could see the
undiminished stream of animal life still flowing, and
looking in the distance not unlike long lines of black
smoke from the chimney of a sea steamer." At the
first blush a bat cave like this does not seem a
-very desirable thing for a man to have on his "home
lot." But the shrewd Texan proprietor is of a dif-
ferent opinion. The floor of the interior was found to
be twenty-five feet deep in a deposit smelling so
strongly of ammonia that, forthwith, a ssnsple was
despatched to the nearest analyst, who propounced it
colnpare favourably with the guano of Peru. Here
was a find indeed, inasmuch as the known parts of the
cave are estimated to contain 80,000 tons. When our
cOntemporary's correspondent left, the proprietor was
busily sinking a shaft down to the main chamber, and
receiving the congratulations of his friends on having
"struck guano."—Daily Telegraph.