The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-02-09 00:00:00

Utistellanegits

HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL.

A NEW AMERICAN SECT.—A writer in the Boston
Advertiser (U.S.) of Jakuary 18 gives an account of
what he considers to be a new development of a very
common form of hysteria. This new development is
the latest doctrine of a sect founded some years ago in
Park-street, Boston, U.S., under the name of Christian
Scientists ; the meeting being "thinly attended by
devout if not strictly philosophical or scientific ladies."
The new doctrine Is called the "Mind cure."
"Matter in itself," they say, "is inert, insensate, life-
less, and unpotontial," the power which animates
matter is divine. Illness is want of vital power, there-
fore want of divinity. "A mini healer is a person
who is full to superabundance upon his own cognizance
of the Almighty, and who is willing to allow his, or
more ,Tnerally her, superfluity or abundance to over-
flow i o the person of some patient in whom it is de-
clared he presence of d.sease proves the absence of the
Lord. The process is of the simplest. The healer sits
down with his back in contact with the corresponding
portion of the patient's person, and for the moderate
price of a dollar an hour allows the supposed Divine
infiaenea to filter from vertebrae to vertebrsi."

THE EXTENSION OF THE HOURS OF POLLING.—At
the monthly meeting of the Birmingham Trades
Council on Saturday a number of replies were read
which had been received in answer to a desire ex-
pressed by that body for an extension of the
hours of polling until eight p.m. at all
elections held under the Ballot Act. Sir
Charles Dilke, writing through his secretary,
Worms the council that the question of the extension
of the hours of polling at Municipal as well as Parlia-
mentary elections has not escaped the attention of her
Majesty'l Government. Mr. Bright, writing from
Rochdale, says he ,does not see why the proposed
change should not be extended to municipal elections,
and that he would take an opportunity of writing to
Sir James Dilke on the subject. Mr. Chamberlain
says he will be glad to do anything in his power to
farther the object, but fears there may be difficulties in
the way of securing an extension of the hours at all
' elections in the same hill; Mr. Muntx expresses him-
self in favour of the extension of the hours of polling,
but thinks eight o'clock too late, especially in winter
• months.
DISASTERS AT SEA —The direction of the Bureau
Veritas has just published the following statisties of
maritime disasters, reported during the month of
December, 1883, concerning all flags: Sailing ves3els
reported lost.-7 American, 4 Austrian, 69 British, 4
Danish, 9 Dutch, 7 French, 19 German, 2 Greek, 11
Italian, 10 Norwegian, 1 Portuguese, 3 Russian, 1
Spanish, 14 Swedish; total-161. In this number are
included 13 vessels repoited missing, Steamers
reported lost-13 British, 1 Belgian, 2 French, 2
German, 1 Norwegian, 1 Spanish, 1 Swedish; total-
-21. In this number is included one steamer reported
LAST WEEK'S WRECKS.—In the number of actual
shipwrecks the gales during last week were not more
disastrous than previous storms of the same magni-
tude, and compared with the bad weather for a week
in December last the number cf wrecks nearly
balances. The total for the week is 128, bringing up
the aggregate since the Ist of January to within about
half, aslozen of the total for the corresponding period
of ISB3—viz., 277; although against the same week
laßt year there is an increase of 49. But while the
total wrecks last week were not more than usual, the
proportion of Beitish losses was greater, the number
having been 86, end nearly all of those went down off
the costs of the United Kingdom. The loss of life
exceeis 240, comparing with 109 for the same perlod
best year. With "all hands" nine vessels (eaven
British, one Dutch, and one Swedish) are reported,
as well as a German barque and a Liverpool atemner
with "Tate of crew unknown." Stem vessels only
numbered ten.

THE PRINCE OE WALB5.—The Prince and Princess
of Waifs, with Princesses Louise, Victoria, and
Maud, accompanied by the guests of their Royal
Highnesses and by the ladies and gentlemen of the
household, attended Divine Service at the church of
St. Mary Magdalene, Sandringham, on Sundhy
morning. The service was conducted by the Rev. F.
fervey, M.A., rector of Sandringham and Domestic
Ch&plain to the Prince and Princess of Wales, and
tie sermon was preached by the Ven, Archdeacon
Farrar, Canon of Westminster and Chaplain in
Ordinary tó the Queen.
STRIKE OF COTTON OPERATIVES Di AMERICA. —AI
the peratives in fitty•one cotton mills at Fall River,
Maa4achussettts, went on strike on Saturday. Over
801,0 persons are thus thrown out of employment.
The F.trikers complain of the recent reduction of wages,
iv which they are able to earn only eight dollars a
week. They say that since 1874 their wages have
bel 4t per cent. The outcome of the strike
is doubt-u!, hi.t the pmspects are believed to be bad
fur the cip.r .tlve., as the market is dull and falling.

MR, MATTHLW ALNOLD IN AMERICA,—Mr. Yiat.•
thew Arnold lEcturing in the Western cities to
nio.lerate ancliche:9 only. Repeated efforts are made
by :nterviewers to cbtain h 4 views on America, but
with slight success.. The most definite expression ob.
t"i"13.1 rui!') i•zg Lt2t. Louis : "There alp r-
taln things Englishmen don't like in America at first.
Tba cuntry is so vast, and tbere are so many thlngs
vgliflmen consider comforts whit:Ft they dot's get
hare. They 'Faye to help themselves, pa!Pgcularly at
Or tallow atatiops,"