The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-07-01 00:00:00

STOURI3RIDGE OBSERVER.

Bradford made the goods which Germany and Russia
bought. Some one had to arrange the exchange of
those goods. There was no reason in the world why
those people should not be English. (Hear, hear.)
Generally speaking, they were, however, Germans.
Why? Because the young men of Germany received,
such an education that they were able to conduct com-
plicated bargains in a foreign country. (Hear, hear.)
Both German and French should be learnt in
England. Germany had now become a more im-
portant country than it was before. When he was in
America he was struck with a remark made at an enor-
mous school in New York--perhaps the largest training
school for girls in the world. He was told that the
pupils all learnt either French or German. He said,
"Most of them French, I suppose?" The reply was—
and here was shown the practical American—" About
two-thirds learnt French before the battle of Sedan,
hut about nine- tentbs learn German now," (Laughter.)
He did not want them to judge of success in that way
—(laughter)—or forget that France was a grand
country—with an industrious people, who possessed a
magnificent literature. He had observed that the
scholars had a great knowledge of the Bible. It was
by acquaintance with its precepts and study of the life
of Him with whom it dealt that they would be good
men and women—that they would succeed as men of
business, and be able to bear up against domestic suf-
fering and disaster. (Cheers.) The right hon. gentle-
man concluded by handing £5 to the head-master for
the children, half to be devoted to amusement, and
half for those children who could not leave the institu-
tion during the holidays.
At a cold collation which followed, Mr. Hughes,
the treasurer, said they wanted £lO,OOO in the course
of the year for new baths and other improvements.
Dr. Butler, of Harrow, proposed the toast of Mr.
Forster, and said he might add Mrs. Forster, for
while the name of her husband would always be identi-
fied with the elementary education of England, she,
as the daughter of the great Dr. Arnold, bore a name
that would always be connected with our great public
schools. (Cheers.)
' Mr. Forster briefly responded.

I in

shot, or unless they were surprised through some
negligence or accident. The former contingency is
one that would be only remotely probable; for the
vessels have but small beam in proportion to their
length and tonnage, and, even without considering
their rapid movement, would offer only an
iincon-
spicuous and 'fficuljmnark to a gumikerMov over,
the resources .modern artillery render sit possible to
arm these in chant steamers 13() formidably that to
,rsue them would be a service of no small danger.
.:.ach steamer, at very small cost, might be equipped
not only with torpedoes, as suggested by Mr.
Brassay, but also with a gun capable of being
worked from her deck, having only a limited recoil,
requiring the services of only two or three of the
crew, and carrying a shell, with considerable accu-
racy of aim, over a range of more than six
miles for 15 degrees of elevation. The shells, at more
moderate ranges, would be quite capable of penetrating
four-inch armour-plating; and a vessel able to dis-
charge such missiles would not be one to be assailed
without good reason. A ship of war that captured her
would gain no glory by the achievement, and would
Incur a risk greater than her probable advantage. The
ship of war, it must be remembered, can only carry
coal enough for very limited performances in the
way of steaming; and if she either wasted this coal
the vain pursuit of a swifter vessel or was herself
crippled by the shot of her chase, she would not
only be rendered unavailable for her proper purposes,
but would abo fall an easy prey to her natural
antagonists. On these grounds, then, it seems mani-
fest that our large merchant steamers might be ren-
dered so far self-protecting that their loss or capture
would be only a remote contingency, and that they
would require no further assistance from the Navy
than to keep the neighbourhood of their ports of
destination free from hostile cruisers. If employed as
military transports, they would have the same advan-
tages of combining the speed necessary for flight with
an armament that would render pursuit dangerous;
and thus, in the greater number of instances, they
might be expected to carry their precious freight safely
to its destination.

I moil
I V-

are better' critics of new games than men ate. We
have heard much against La Crosse from grave elders
who will believe in nothing new; but the Eton boys,
who play cricket and football, Paw at once that here
100 r.
was a game with excellent poin and they quickly
fell in with its characteristic 4 Wh small goals
they have !" said on it obseri , "Ph - 'was a neat
stroke,' cried a second; and calls of ' ell stopped,"
"Well run," "Well caught," were becoming loud
nd frequent when, in the midst of an exciting melee,
the game was ended. Then the clapping of hands by
all the boys betokened a genuine satisfaction; and a
hearty cheer from the Canadians and Iroquois was
taken up by the school, so that the departing players
of La Crosse had nothing to regret in their visit to
Windsor and Eton.
_ -
_

and

LORD AMBERLEY'S WORK.
The Countess Russell prkfixes the following " Ad-
dress " to the work by the late Lord Aniberley, "An
Analysis of Religious Belief," published by Triibner
and Co. :