biglam/hmd_newspapers huggingface dataset:
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-01-05

A STRUGGLE WITH A BURGLAR.

A burglar broke into the house of the Hon. Lot M.
Morrill, in Augusta, Me., on the night of the 11th
inst., but was met by a watchman named Morrill, and
after a desperate fight was put to flight. Morrill,
healing the dining-room window broken, darkened his
lantern and placed it on the floor, and in his rubber
boots crept stealthily into the room and took his posi-
tion, crouching, with a seven-shooter in his hand, be-
side the window. Just as Morrill saw the butglar
enter the room he seized him. The man struck
Morrill's fight wrist with an iron bar, knocking the
revolver from his hand, which, as it fell to the floor,
exploded. He also struck Morrill two or three blows
on the head with the bar. Then commenced a hand-
to-hand encounter. Morrill produced a marlin spike,
which was in his Cardigan jacket, and while he held
the housebreaker with his left hand, commenced
punching him in the face and mouth with the spike.
This caused great pain, and he screamed out for help
to a confederate in the yard. Morrill found that
the burglar was reaching for his right jacket
pocket, in which in the melee he thought he had felt
a pistol. While keeping him from getting to his
pocket Morrill felt the blow of a knife in his lett breast.
The fellow aimed a heavy blow, but the blade struck
on the buckle of Morrill's suspenders, passing through
that, but bringing up on the sides, and preventing the
knife frt-nn entering the body at any great length, a
wound between the ribs, in the region of the heart,
being made to the depth of about one-quarter of an
inch. Morrill's next effort was to wrench the knife
from the hand of the would-be murderer, and to do
this while he was slashing around in the dark was no
easy undertaking. He pricked Moriill several times
in the back of the head, cutting to the scalp, and
cutting also his ear and neck. Morrill finally got
hold of the knife handle and dragged the blade
through the burglar's hand. When the burglar lost
his knife he stooped and attempted to escape, ordering
his confederate to "shoot him !" The ball came
crashing through the window, a few inches above
Morrill's head. The burglar got away, but after he
went through the window Morrill followed him with
two shots from his revolver, one of which he thinks
took effect. The fellows then made off.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-01-05

WHEN DOES, THE YEAR END?

If we ask an Englishman when the year ends, he
will name the 31st of December. But there is some-
thing to be observed "on the other side." Our financial
year ends on the 31st of March, with the exception
that the Income-tax year expires on the sth of April.
It is to be remarked also that, although the details of
Inland Revenue are given for the financial year, the
Commissioners of Customs in making their important
annual report take the 31st of December as the end of the
year. The Local Government Board in giving the annual
account of the administration of relief to the poor in
England—in shorter phrase the Poor Law Report—hold
to Lady-day as the end of " the parochial year." The
ecclesiastical year dates from Advent Sunday; but
the Ecclesiastical Commissioners make their annual
report for "the year preceding the Ist of November."
The local taxation returns have hitherto varied out-
rageously in this respect, but an attempt is now being
made to compel local authorities to make out accounts
for the national financial year. As regards the annual
reports of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Schools, the
" year " ends on the 31st of August. The savings-
banks year ends on the 20th of November. The
Factory Commissioners report for the two half-years
ending on the 30th of April and the 31st of October.
The returns relating to clime in England do not all re-
late to the same date. In regard to indictable offences,
the returns showing the number of these and the persons
apprehended for them and the number committed for
trials are for the year ending at Michaelmas; but the
returns showing the results of trials for indictable
crimes are for the year ending the 31st of December,
and so are the returns of coroners' inquests. So far
as may be, the calendar year appears to be the most
convenient period for official reports showing the con-
dition and progress of the nation. It seems rather
tiresome to have to be continually naming two years
—1877-78, for instance—when speaking only of a
twelvemonth. In the -United States some public
writers in referring to their "fiscal year," ending on
the 30th of June, name -it from the last portion, and
have for several months been speaking of "1878"
when referring to the year which began on the Ist of
• July, 1877—The Times.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-01-05

BOARD OF GUARDIANS.

The weekly meeting of this board was held
ye3terday, Mr. Grainger in the chair. There
were also present Messrs. H. Billingham,
llaybould, Hingley, Burr, Thompson, Griffiths,
Wood, Hale, J. Billingham, Giles, Hall,
Fiddian, Lavender, Kelley, Eveson, Guest,
and Smith. Admitted into the house
during week 29; discharged 17; born 0; dead 2;
remaining 461; against 372 last yea.,. Out-door
liingswinford district, £24 63. 8d ;
Stourbridge district, .Cl 6 9s, Bd., Halesa wen
district £l5 15s. 6,1 ; non-resident Os 41., total
£57 is 2-Id, against £5O 19s 7J.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-01-05

Pr '—
re oPrietors

RY SMITH', 8, Burton Cesoent, London
W.C.

I at,
is,
.i

LONDON PHYSICIAN BY ETTER
WITHOUT FEE.
-
thti• SMITH, the Emilie; , Specialist fo
of all dobilitatiug and Jontagious diseases
per,
ll°Diui
os
a" o,!3nelit of country paticntF who cannot consult
• -,.,:tY, on receiving description of there case, send
'esto,2,.`j with advice and directions for the most success
miou to health and vigour.
br Tr
... SMITH 8, Burton Crescent, London, WO


TO THE NERVOUS AND DEBILITATED

Read the New Work entitled
HOW TO ENSURE HEALTH.

llustrated by numerous testimonials from grateful
patients who have been restored to health through he
author's instrumentality.
Sent post free for 2 stamps; or by letter post, three
stamps.

eir Address, Dr. BARNES, 48, Lonsdalo Square
Barnsbury, London, N.
IMPORTANT TO COUNTRY PATIENTS.
DR. BARNES may be consulted personally
or by letter in all private and confidential cases
and for the benefit of Nervous Sufferers who cannot visit
him, he will, on receiving a description of their case, en-
closing a stamped envelope for reply, be ready to give his
opinion upon the nature of the case, and the principles
of treatment necessary to effect a permanent cure.
Address, Dr. BARNES, 48, Lonsdale Square, Barns-
bury, Loudon, N.

44d,e4a

•
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Just published for two_stamps.l
BY DR. BARNES, M.D., (U.S.)
TREATISE on the LAWS GOVERNING
LIFE, and the CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, and
TREATMENT of all diseases depending on Exhaustion
f Nervous Vitality, such as Nervous Debility, Mental
and Physical Depression, Palpitation of the Heart,
Noises in the Head and Ears, Indecision, Impaired Sight
and Memory, Indigestion Prostration, Lassitude, De-
pression of Spirits, Loss of Energy and Appetite, Pain-
in the Back and Limbs, Timidity, Self-Distrust, Dizzi-
ness, Love of Solitude, Groundless Fears, and mady
other aihneilts, which, if neglected ,bring the sufferers
to an early Death • together with Hints on Chroni'
Rheumatism, Gout Neuralgia, Epilepsy, gysteria, and
all diSeases of the Nervous and alimentary system.
The Appendix to this valuable werk contains many
useful PRESCRIPTIONS for the alleviation of suffering
and the cure of minor disorders, With full instructions
for their preparation and use. •
Contains also some friendly advice on Hygiene, or th
WAY TO PRESERVE HEALTH.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-01-05

SEED.

The few samples of English cloverseed offering were of
poor quality, and held too high for the views of the buyers.
Good parcels of French were quite as dear, with a fair sale.
Trefoil was held at the recently enhanced values, but busi-
ness transactions in this article were limited. White and
brown mustardseed were in short supply, there was no
variation in the value of either sort, and few sales were
effected. Winter tares sold slowly at prices in favour of
the buyers. Canaryseed sold in small lots, at former quota-
tions for the best samples of English. Hempseed was fully
as dear with a good sale for good qualities.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-01-05

CHRISTMAS APPEALS.

Writing from the Gourmet Club, Mr. Guttler plain-
tively appeals to the large circle of his friends, and im-
plores them not to press him to partake of either
mince-pies or plum-pudding at this extremely festive
and indigestive season, and if possible to spare him the
sight of either roast beef or boiled or rout turkey for
the next three weeks atleast.

Mr. and Mrs. Roseleaf of the Turtledovecot,
Cooington, appea to their dear relatives, the
Growlers and Snarlings, that no cross word or looks
may be suffered to disturb the harmony of the even-
ing whereon the usual family gathering takes place.
Miss Wallflower has some notion of circulating a
piteous appeal for compassion to the young gentlemen
of her acquaintance, when they behold her pining for
a partner in the valse.
Master Tommy Tucker will, as usual, plaintively
appeal for a second helping of plum-pudding. .
A piteous appeal has been addressed by Mr.
Jollydog to his dear wife by no means to sit up for
him if business should compel him to be late in coming
home.

Old Mr. Singleton Kerr Mudgeon has had serious
thoughts this Christmas of appealing to his relatives to
abstain from bothering him with calls and cards and
csmpliments of the season, which serve only to re-
mind him that his next of kin are waiting to step into
his shoes.

Many hundreds of appeals have beenissued by small
children, imploring dear Papa to take them to the
pantomime, and beseeching dear Mamma to let them
have a Christmas party.
Miss Selina Slypuss, in her utter helplessness, ap-
peals to Cousin Charley, not to catch her under the mis-
tletoe, which is hung most awkwardly just outside the
dining-room, exactly where he once suggested that it
should be placed.—Punch.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-01-05

VIA,4 ,

STOURBRIDGE SCHOOL OF Atc is.

AMEETING for the DISTRIBUTi()N OF
PRIZES, will take place at the Samar. of .‘frr,
on MONDAY, the 7th day of JamtranY, 1878, at 7-80
o'clock in the Evenirg. The chair will be taken by
Rupert Kettle,;Eq
the Works of the. Studcnt iil be OD Exhhill at
the ficnool. of ALT, OD Tuesday, January the Stir, from
12 till 4, and from 7 ail 9, and on Wednesday, January
the 9th, from 12 till 4.

Admiesion Free. Tickets for admission may LP ob-
tained at the School, on Saturday, the sth of "Tannery,
from 1.2. to 4,

The School will Re-open on Monday, January 14th.
December 21st, 1877, "

GEORGE PERRY, Hon. Sec•

CORN EXCHANGE, STOURBRIDGE.
THE
4T. -DENIS DRAMATIC CLUB
Have the Honour to announce their Seeon;l Visit
to Stourbridge.
WHEN WILL BE PRESENTED
ON TUESDAY. JANUARY Bth, 1878.
Goldsmith's Celebrated Comedy,
"SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER,"
AND
ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 10th,
A Domestic Drama, 1?y T. Craven, Esq., entitled
"THE CHIMNEY CORNER,"
To be followed by the Comedietta of
"NINE POINTS OF THE LAW,"
By Tom Taylor, Esq.

1, The Orchestra under the Direction of Mr. S.
SI MM S.

STAGE MANAGER - - - MR. SHENTON,
COSTEMIERS - Messrs. SIMMONS.
(Covent Garden),
Wigs supplied by Messrs. CLARKSON, Wellington.
street, Strand.
Scenery, &re. , by ME. I,,IAISEY, Cheltenham.

The Proceeds will be devoted to the Guest Hospital,
Dudley.

The Performances will commence each Evening at
730. Doors open at 7.

Reserved Seats, ss, ; Second Seats, (Unreserved), 2s 6;
Back Seats, is.

Family Tickets, to admit Five to:Reserved Seats.
One Guinea.
Tickets may be had from Mr. Broomhall's,where a
Plan of the Room may be seen.

STOUR,B.RIDGE
SKATING. RINK

OPEN DAILY.

MORNING : 11 a.m., till 1 p.m.
AFTERNOON: 2-30, p.m., till 5 p.m.
EVENING 7 ~ ~ 10 „

THE STOURBRIDGE BRASS BAND
Will be in attendance Every Evening, and on
Saturday Afternoons.

ADMISSION, SIXPENCE.
PLIMPTON'S SKATES, SIXPENCE.

Select day, Wednesday, when the charge for
Admission is One Shilling.

SEASON TICKETS, 11(1111ittillg at all times, when
the Rink is open for Skating, are now ready, and
may be had on application at the .Ne wspaper Offices,
of Mr. 13rooralial1, Stationer, High Street; or of
the Manager, at the Rink.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-01-05

CHANGED FOR THE WORSE.

Not very long ago it was customary for the Prefect
of St. Petersburg in his monthly return of crimes to
point with pride to the fact that no capital offence had
been committed in the Russian metropolis since his
last report had been issued. Sometimes an entire
quarter would pass without a single murder being
committed, and then a laudatory comparison would
be instituted between the citizens of law-abiding St.
Petersburgh and the homicidal communities of
Western Europe. Since the Imperial Goveinment
with the military forces of the capital, left St
Petersburg for Bulgaria General Trepoff has not
been able to present the public with such satis-
factory returns, and has to confess with indig-
nation that sometimes half a dozen murders take
place in a month. The last recorded, which occurred
a week ago, has caused a great sensation in the "law
abiding" capital. On Wednesday evening, in one of
the manufacturing suburbs of the city, three strangers
entered a clothing store kept by an aged Jew and
inquired the price of some " shoobs " exposed in a
press. Dissatisfied with the terms proposed by the
Jew they went away, but after a while ieturned
saying that they would like to examine the mantles
again. Rubinovitch turned to the press to take
down the mantles, and was engaged in this opera-
tion when a blow from an axe "split his head
down to his chin." The murderers then ran into
the parlour and chopped his wife to pieces, after
which a servant girl in the kitchen was set upon and
left for dead. They then proceeded to ransack the
house, performing the operation in a most leisurely
manner, although the street was crowded with people.
Finally, having appropriated everything of value on
the premises, they effected their escape. A short while
after a neighbour entered the house and saw the Jew
lying dead behind the counter. The police were im-
mediately summoned, and the above details were
elicited from the servant girl, who is now lying with-
out hope of recovery in the Oktinsky Hospital. The
indignation of St. Petersburg at the audacity of the
murder has led the police to arrest a large number of
suspected individuals, but up to the present moment
the real culprits have not been found.—Glebe.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-01-05

"IN THE AIR."
(From the Whitehall Review.)

"Rumour is rife in dealing with the various causes
which can have induced L')rd. Beaconsfield to call
Parliament together at so unwontedly early a period
as the 17th of January. We will deal with these
many-coloured statements as we did with cthers last
week, leaving the reader to dissect and analyze them
in the manner most congenial to his inclination and
his political sympathies.
"In the Queen's Speech, says one report, the Prime
Minister intends to expose the full programme which
he proposes for this Empire in the existing grave
European crisis; further, Lord Beaconsfield wishes
the nation to approve his policy, and therefore, im-
mediately after the Queen's speech has been read, he
will announce the dissolution of Parliament, and an
appeal to the country as the basis of the Speech. We
believe the basis of this programme of the future to be
that which we have detailed in the article on " The
Purchase of Rzypt." But can it be necessary for
Lord Beaconsfield to adopt so extreme a step as an
appeal to the country for this purpose? Is there not
a sufficiently large majority, composed of Members of
both Parties, to efficiently support the Prime
Minister in what is emphatically a national and a
patriotic policy?
"There reaches us the statement that the Prime
Minister, failing the possibility of his carrying-out the
arrangements respecting Egypt, is prepared to pro-
pose the purchase of the Island of Crete, as affording
our Fleet a position which, next to the holding of
Gallipoli itself, would give us the strongest amount of
control over the passage of the Dardanelles by any
other Power.

"The rumour also comes to Us that the Premier is
prepared to propose the still more daring policy of
sending 10,000 men to take possession of and fortify
Gallipoli so obtaining for England the absolute con-
trol of die Dardanelles in perpetuity, and making of
Gallipoli a second Gibraltar which no country in
Europe could wrest from this Empire. To carry out
such a scheme—at once both bold and practicable—
would of course require the sanction of Parliament
and the voting of a considerable sum of money. But
then it would be the saving to England of at least
0,000,000 A year, which will otherwise have to be
added to the Navy Estimates for the protection of our
route to India should Russia be able, as she proposes,
to make the Black Sea 'a Russian lake' closed at the
Dardanelles to all ships of war but her own."
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-01-05

HYDROPHOBIA.

At the Devon Quarter Sessions Earl Fortescue
moved the adoption of a memorial calling the attention
of government to the danger to man and beast occa-
sioned by the recent spread of hydrophobia, and pray.
jog that measures might be introduced into parlia-
ment for affording further protection from the danger.
The chief constable reported that since June two
persons had died in Devonshire from hydrophobia, 25
persons had been bitten by mad dogs, 140 dogs had
been destroyed, 44 of which were undeniably mad,
and a large number of cattle and sheen bitten by these
dogs had also been killed.
The noble earl, in making his notion, said during the
last two years hydrophobia had very considerably in-
creased. The present outbreak seemed to have origi-
nated in that focus of disease, Lancashire, a county
whose sanitary condition was terribly bad; and, ex-
tending northward and southward, it had caused death ,
and destruction to a great quantity of cattle, great
numbers of sheep, and several packs of valuable
hounds, besides the mischief it had wrought among
human beings. The law applicable to this matter
was evidently framed without any expectation of the
disease ever becoming an epidemic, and the various
courses now open to the different authorities in
what was practioally the same district, made it
impossible effectually or advantageously to grapple
with so serious and dangerous an epidemic.
The Earl of Devon said circumstances certainly
pointed to the necessity of same increased action on
the part of the government. During the discussion it
was pointed out that since the lowering of the dog
tax, dogs had increased in such numbers as to b2come
a public nuisance. The most effectual means to pre-
vent the sp!.ead of disease would be to take steps to
diminish the number of dogs, and no one could accom-
plish this better than the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
By doubling or trebling the tax he would diminish a
great public nuisance, and do much to stamp out a
horrible disease.

The motion was agreed to, as was a motion for re-
ducing the close time for wild birds the proposed
poriud of prohibition being between th'e Ist of March
and the Ist of August.

BREAD AND BEER.—" W. P. B. S." writes to The
Times :—" Taking the Post Office Directory just pub-
lished, I notice by rough estimation—number of
publicans, 4,730; number of bakers, 2,20. Why need
there be more agencies, even more than double, to dis-
tribute beer and spirits required by a portion of the
metropolitan community than to distribute bread, the
staff of life for man, woman, and child?"
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-01-05

ROWLEY.

TREAT TO THE AGED AND POOR.—The annual treat to
the aged and poor people of the parish of Rowley was
Riven on Monday night in the National Schools.
About 200 persons, varying in age from sixty to eighty-
five years, were provided with a most substantial dinner,
consisting of roast beef, together with a liberal supply
of beer and tea. About fifty persons, who were Unable
to be present at the school through extreme age or
infirmities, were supplied at their own homes. Alto-
gether about 1851 b. of beef, besides a large quantity of
vegetables aril brea I, were consumed. After dinner
earls person received a large piece of carrant cake, and
was again supplied with beer and tea. Pipes and
t ibacco were afterwards handed round, and the re-
mainder of the evening was spent by the old people in
a ve.v pleasant manner. The funds were raised by sub-
scription, by a cominittee of gentlemen residing in the
parish.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-01-05

THE INDIAN FAMINE.

On Tuesday the Indian Famine Fund, now being
raised at the Mansion-house, reached the splendid
total of £500,000 sterling, or, reckoning it in Indian
currency, over five and a half million rupees. The
fund was opened on the IF,th of August last, when, at
the request of the Duke of Buckingham, the Governor
of Madras, the then Lord Mayor (Sir Thomas White)
made a public appeal for help. The donation of the
Prime Minister came by the first following post, and
those of Her Majesty and the Prince of Wales the
same week. Since then over 16,000 separate dona-
tions have been paid in at the Mansion-house, besides
many more remitted direct to the bankers. The
largest sum received in any one day at the Mansion-
house was £13,000. In the box outside the Lord
Mayor's residence over .:1,000 was contributed in coin
by passers by in the space of six weeks.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-01-05

CRADLEY HEATH. HALE AND DISTRICT CHRONICLE.

,r 4

S WIP:
TTTI A •
.L

JOHN pARKER,

HILL STREET, STOURBRIDGE.

JANUARY 5, 1878.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-01-05

HALESOWEN.

TRE6PASSING.—At the Police Court, on Toesday,
before Me,srs. E. Gem and E. B. Phillips, Joseph
t;ooper .and Henry Cooper, farmers, of Quinton, were
charged with trespassing on lind at Ridgacre, in the
occupation of Mr. Deeley, in pursuit of game.—idr.
Deeley and the gamekeeper said they saw det-mdants
beatlng the field with greyhouuds —rho defence was
that they were after seine strayed sheep.—lliq were
each fined 6d and costs.

CLIARGE OF EHBEZZLEMENT.—At the Worcester,hire
Quarter Sessions, on luesday, before Mr. O. W.
Hastings, William Wilson (50), gardener, pleaded not
guilty t embezzling £1 15s, at Halesowen, on the 25th
of Sepamber, the moneys of his master, Mr. Watson, a
wagistrate for the c3unties of Worcester and Sta 113 rd.
Selfe prosecuted.—The prisoner received the
Immey for the keep of a horse on his master's premises,
.ind it was alleged he had never accounted for it to his
employer.—The jury acquitted the prisoner.—He was
then tried Ern a charge of embezzling 14s 6d belonging
to his master, and also of getting coals from Joseph
Record, in September, by means of false pretences.
Re was convicted on the charge of enaTiezzlemeut and
acquiCed on the other.—Sentencell to three months'
hard labour.
InE.: LATE CHARGE OF ASsAULT WITH INTENT.—At
Cm Worcestershire Quarter Sestdons, on Wednesday,
before Mi. G. W, Hastings, Emanuel Fisher, a married
man, on bail, was indicted Lit having, on the 4th
December, criminally assaulted Sarah Dawson. On
the night in question prisoner followed the prosecutrix,
a married woman, down a lane. He made improper
overtul es, which she resented, and he then threw her
tnto a ditch and attempted to effect his purpose, bat her
stt uggling preventtd him doinr, so.—Prisoner was con•
T.,ced of an indecent assault, and was sentenced to nine
months' hard labour.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-01-05

IN THE MIDST OF HARD TIMES.

Preaching at the afternoon service on Sunday at St.
Paul's Cathedral, before a large congregation, and
taking as Ms text the words of Ecclesiastes, chapter
xi., v. 4 :—" He that observeth the wind shall not
sow, and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap,"
Canon Liddon contrasted the close of the last with
that of the present year, when the political, religious,
social, commercial, and national horizon were darkened
with clouds that presented a gloomy prospect for the
forthcoming year, upon whose very threshold they
were then standing. With stagnation of trade, con-
tinued and unceasing conflict between capital and
labour, commerce is far from a flourishing condition,
and the prospects of the revenue, as they were told,
far from buoyant, they were in the midst of what had
been truly called hard times; but to add to these, the
war cloud seemed now to lour over their beloved
country. He prayed that this calamity might be
averted, and that this Christian land would not be
drawn into a war for the championing or support of
an ancient and corrupt system of cruelty which, con-
demned by Almighty Cod, was going to decay and
destruction before their very eyes.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-01-05

KIN VER.

THE LATE CHARGE OF STEALING A DRESS PIECE.—At
the Staffordshire Quarter Sessions, on Tuesday, before
Mr. H. I', Davenport, Catherine Morris, a domestic
servant, and Jane Morris, her mother, were indicted f
steeling one dress piece and other articles, the property
of Sarah W. Berridge, at Kinver, in July last.—The
,first-named prisoner was in the employ of the prosecu-
trix as-a domestic servant for six weeks. Prosecutrix
had reason to suspect her, and, accompanied by a
policeman, she went to Jane Morris's house. On open-
ing the door and seeing the policeman she rushed up-
stairs to her daughter, who was then seen to throw a
bundle out of the window, which was afterwards found to
contain clothes missed by the prosecutrix.—The pri-
soners were found guilty, and sentenced to six mouth,'
imprisonment each.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-01-05

A HORSEFLESH DINNER.

The Paris Correspondent ot the Daily News writes ;-
I went yesterday to a horseflesh dinner iven by a
M. Ducroix, Veterinary-in-Chief to the Etat Major
of Paris. It was prepared by an ordinary cook, the
host wishing his guests to know that the food
placed before them owed none of its palatable
virtues to extraordinary culinary science. Every-
thing except the sweets at desert were of chevaline
extraction. I thought the soup better than bouillon
made from beef. The bouilli was very toothsome;
" Cheval k la mode" was also excellent; but the
crowning dish was roast filet, which was very
tender and succulent. There was no flavour or
odour that in the remotest way reminded one of
the stable. The weak point of the feast was the
salad, which was dressed with oil taken from horses
feet. M. Ducroix is an enthusiast, and dreams of
nothing less than cheapening meat, and rendering the
lives of horses tolerable by getting people to become
hippopophagists. If the ultimate fate of the horse was
to be sent to the butcher's shambles instead of to the
slaughter-house, cabmen, he opines, would be more
merciful to the beasts they drive, and the poor would
be able to fall back from dear beef and mutton upon
cheaper and more nutritive meat. Since hippopop-
hagy has been introduced here, more than 12,000
horses annually have fallen into the stewpans and
soup-pots of the French capital. It appears,
indeed, that the supply is scarcely equal to the
demand. On sitting down I felt, I confess, some-
what nervous. It occurred to me that sun-
dry chevaline diseases were propagated by inoccula-
tion. M. Ducroix, who suspected my misgivings,
informed me that the inspection of horseflesh for the
flesh market is more close than that of beef. The
living animal has to pass a veterinary surgeon, and
when it is reduced to the condition of butcher's meat
it is again subjected to a microscopic examination.
Some members of the Society for the Protection of
Animals have invited M. Ducroix t London to make
arrangements with them for a horseflesh banquet at
the Crystal Palace, prepared by a French cook.

In India rifle matches have been introduced as a
new means of amusement for ladies

A letter from Dr. Vaughan, the Roman Catholic
Bishop of Salford, was read on Sunday in all the churches
and chapels in the Roman Catholic diocese of Salford. The
Bishop, after suggesting that a solemn service of thanks-
giving should be held in all the churches, refers to the
practice of spending the last hours of the old year and the
first of the new in public and promiscuous feasting and
dancing. This, he says, is simply a revival of a Pagan
custom. In addition to the many grave dangers to purity,
morality, and temperance attending such promiscuous
gatherings at all times, there is the further grave danger at
this particular time, viz., that many persons who spend the
last night of the year in dancing and eating and drinking
will begin the new year with the mortal sin of neglect of
Man.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-01-05

STARCH.

CLARKE'S

RHEUMATISM.

RHEUMATISM, Gout, Lumbago, Pains
in the Head, Side, Back, Joints, and Limbs
cured by DAY'S RHEUMA.TIC PILLS. Price is; lid.
per box. Sold by Mr. Pith, Patent Medicine Vendor,
51, Coventry Street, Stourbridge ; and. aJ.I Chemists
Witel9l4o by 6U tho 1.49096 Pam

• -Q MMUS and Liver Complaints, indigestion
I_, Headacb3. Loss of Appetite, Drowsiness Gid-
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3awels are quickly removed by that well-known remedy
VRA.MPTON'S PILL OF HEALTH. They unite the
recommendation of a mild operation with the most suc-
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6Q14 by a ChePaibtol at leo ii.jbLti W,1,10 tQZ