The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1885-06-13 00:00:00

Our Frilooll arOrrtspnbeuf.

tWe deem it right to state that we do tot at all times
Identify ourselves with our Correspondent's opinions.]

The House of Commons, on reassembling after
a recess, resembles a school returned from a holi-
day. The mind cannot all at once be braced
together from the previous relaxation, and it is
very difficult to settle down to business. This
has been the case more especially with respect to
the recent vacation. In the first place the Par-
liament is growing old, and in a few months will
be dissolved. Many of those who were returned
to it will in that event know it no more. The
interest which they take in its proceedings is now
small, and when the House is in Committee of
Supply, as it always is on the first night after a
recess, they absent themselvesaltogether. Again
there is no doubt that many members resented

what they regarded as a -too brief holiday at
Whitsuntide, remembering the very short one
•at Easter. Had Thursday and Friday been
thrown into the recess it would have included
three clear Sundays, whereas by meeting on
, . Thursday the week—ono of splendid summer
weather—was broken up. The natural conse-
quences followed. No business of public
importance was transacted on Thursday, and on
Friday it was found impossible to keep 40
members together. There was a count-out at
eight o'clock, and nothing whatever was done.
It would have been much better to give the
House the clear fortnight than to have had
valuable time wasted in this way.
When the proposal to grant an annuity of
6000 was placed before Parliament it was
noticed that not a word was said about the
dowry of i:30,000, which under similar circum-
stances had been granted to Princesses Alice,
Helena, and Louise. Mr. Gladstone, in moving
the annuity, confined himself to that subject,
and left the dowry alone. Those who recollected
• the precedents could not understand this, as
there was no apparent reason why Princess
Beatrice should fare worse than her sisters. The
sum of £30,000 is a_ very substantial one, and if
it can be had for the asking, there are not many who
would be inclined to forego the application. At
length. the notice appeared quietly on the paper
of Committee of Supply—" The Chancellor of
the Exchequer to move that the sum of ,t 30,000
be granted to her Majesty as a marriage portion
for her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice." It
came upon many member § with surprise ; but
fourteen years had elapsed since such an applica-
tion was made, and the usual course had been
forgotten.
So far as London was concerned, the official
celebration of the Queen's birthday was greatly
marred by the weather. Last year the ceremony
of what is called trooping the colours was not
permitted, in consequence of the recent death of
the Duke of Albany; while on Saturday the
heavy rain considerably interfered with the
success of the spectacle. In the evening, which
was as dull and dismal as any in 6iovember, the
usual dinners were given by the Ihnisters and
great officers of State, the Prince of Wales and
his eldest son dining with Mr. Gladstone. Large
numbers of persons proceeded to the West-end
thoroughfares to witness the illuminations,
which, as a rule' are well worth seeing, more
especially in the streets of Regent and St.
James's.
Princess. Louise has returned from Balmoral
in time to take part in the numerous engage-
ments which will fill up the time between now
and the prorogation of Parliament, and where
the presence of Royalty is so much appreciated.
The next few weeks are always busy, and if the
presence of a Princess can be procured for the
opening of a bazaar, the distribution of prizes,
the opening of the new wing of a hospital, or,
indeed, any work of benevolence or charity, so
much the better. The Princess of Wales, the
Queen's daughters, and the Duchess of Teck,
who has just returned from Florence, are very
obliging in this way, and in the season they have
their hands full of engagements. Princess
Beatrice has as yet taken no active part in such
work, and having always lived with her Majesty.
either at Windsor, Osborne, or Balmoral, has had
no experience of London life. We shall be anxious
to see whether her marriage relaxes this exclu-
siveness.
The enthusiastic greeting given to Sir Peter.
Lumsden on his arrival at Charing-cross on Satur-
day evening showed the appreciation felt by the
public for the services of a gallant officer, per-
formed in the face of considerable difficulties.
The. privations of a life on the Afghan frontier
have been revealed to us lately in glimpses, and
in Some of the expeditions which Sir Peter
Lumsden had to undertake, the number of his
followers diminished with the progress of the
* marches through hardships of the severest
' • character. The fact that three field-marshals of
the British army were amongst the distinguished
• crowd on the platform at Charing-cross is a
-sufficient testimony to the highest professional
-.- opinion as to how Sir Peter Lumsden has dis-
charged.his military functions.
The ;Epsom ,Summer meeting of 1885 is one
. that will be remembered for the splendid weather
• that favoured it. This had a great deal to do
• with the attendance on the famous Surrey
downs, which on Derby Day were a marvellous
sight. The road of course is not so extensively
patronised as it used to be, owing to the
increased railway accommodation; but still, the
number of different conveyances certainly
showed an increase on previous years. Lord
Hastings can now say with pride that lie won
his first Derby; this makes up for his disappoint-
ment a year or two ago with Beau Brummel.
The race will always be remembered for the close
finish, one of the finest displays of horsemanship
-witnessed for many a long day. Archer is cer-
tainly a wonderful jockey, and is now riding
better than ever he did. It is quite likely
that Melton would have had to put up with place
honours if he had had any other pilot than Archer
on his back.
The sudden death of Sir Julius Benedict, at
the advanced age of 81, did not surprise those
who remembered how seriously ill he was not
long ago. The preparations for his benefit
concert were going on up to the time of his
decease. It is not long ago that we lost Sir
Michael Costa another eminent musical com-
poser and conductor, so that the removal of Sir
Julius Benedict will be sensibly felt. G. R.