The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-07-24 00:00:00

alisallantnits gutriligtme,

ROME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL.
MESSAGE FROM TifE SEA.—A bottle was picked up
last week at Ballybunian, a small watering-place near
the mouth of he Shannon, containing a paper, on
which was written the following :—" S.S. Zanzibar,
Thursday, 15th January, 8 p.m.—We are preparing
to leave the ship, as she is fast filling ; lee rail under
water; fires out for three hours. Crew trying to
throw cargo overboard. The weather is moderating a
little, but there is a great deal of water in the
ship, and little hopes of saving ourselves.—GEOßGE
CAMPBELL, Second Engineer." The Zanzibar, steamer,
of West Hartlepool, official No. 72,664, left New York
for Glasgow January 11, 1879, and was posted at
Lloyd's as missing on March 26, 1879. It has been
ascertained that George Campbell WAS really second
engineer cn board the Zanzibar when she sailed out
from the United Kingdom for New York, in
December, 1878.

ON A BREAD-PLATTER.—" Well, Austin, can you
read that? "—"No, mamma."—" Well, it is rather
difficult! Those are Old English letters."—"Are
they? Then no wonder the ancient Britons con"
read or write ! "—Punch.
TIIE ‘` MABSEILLATsr.''—Tho oommitteo for nreeth.,
a statue to Rouget de l'lsle, the author of the " Mar-
seillaise," have issued a stirring appeal to the French
nation to aid them in their object. They remind the
people of the services rendered to the cause of France
by the great revolutionary hymn; how one general in
command of the Republican armies wrote after a,
battle, "We were one against ten, but the Marseil-
laise ' was on our side ;" and how another, asking for
reinforcements, wrote, "Send me a thousand men
and a copy of the Marseillaise,' and I will answer
for the victory." The appeal is signed by a large
number of Deputies, members of the committee.
THE LITTLE RASCAL.—Miss Flirtington. "Yes, I
like the place very much, Major; you have such a
jolly set of men down here." The Major. "Yes,
awfully jolly. You'd better steel your heart, Miss
Flirtin ' gton in case of accidents." Miss F. "Well,
while I'm about it, Major, I'd rather steal somebody
else's, don't you know. "—Fun.
TILE KALOPHONE.—A new musical instrument has
been invented by a Russian peasant. The York
House Papers say it is composed of a framework sus-
taining a number of wheels, with rims so grooved and
notched as to make a humming noise when rapidly
revolved. Each wheel sounds a different note, and as
the required rate of revolution cannot be immediately
attained or discontinued, many remarkable effects
may be produced, which, with the peculiar timbre of
the instrument, render the invention a decided addi-
tion to the musical world. It is known in Moscow
as the Kalophone, and is shortly to be exhibited in
Paris and London.

REVENUE OF .THE CITY OF LONDON MARKETS.—
We learn from the City Press that the amount of rents
and toll collected at the Meat Market and the Poultry
and Provision Market in 1876 was £68,254 13s. 5d.;
in 1877, £69,477 17s. 7d.; in 1878, £70,071 13s. 5d.;
and in 1879, £75,317 18s. Id. ; added to which the
sums of £12,001 18s. 6d. in 1878, and £13,887 6s. 7d.
in 1879 was received from various Railway Companies;
and £2Bl 4s. • 7d. in 1878, and £379 Bs. 11d. in 1879
from the Shipping Companies. The amount of rental
from the Meat Market in 1879 was £35,676 18s. 11d. ;
and from the Poultry and Provision Market was
£16,118 ss. 2d.; making a total rent of £51,795 4s. id.
This with an amount a £23,522 14s. for toll, gives a
total amount of £75,317 18s. ld„ exclusive of the rental
of the substructure of the Meat Market (22,000) which
is paid direct to the chamber.
AN INTERESTING RELIC.—Mr. James H. Makenzfe,
bookseller, Inverness, who is a collector of curiosities,
has at present in his possession a small piece of wood,
(which is said to have formed,a part of the staff of
Prince Charles Edward's standard in 1745. It is of
tflr-wood, is quite dry, and dark in colour, but does
not show any symptoms of decay; and experienced
arpenters, who have examined it, say it is undoubt-
dly very old wood. A piece of paper attached to it
ives the following history of this precious relic :
:" This piece of wood is part of the staff of Prince
Charles Stuart's standard, borne by one of the Edmon-
stone's of Newton during the Rebellion of 1745. Sub-
sequent to this period one of the family joined the
Royal army, and, for fear of anything pertaining to
the unfortunate Prince might be ' discovered in their
possession, it was conveyed to the }logos of Kew, in
whose family keeping it remained
.until the late Miss
Fogo removea to Sterling."
FALL OF A MONUMENT.— A lofty, obelisk, which is
in course of erection on Tower-hill, teaumaris, as a
public memorial to the late Sir Richard Bulkeley,
formerly lord-lieutenant of Carnarvonshire, suddenly
fell on Monday morning--a number of workmen
having a very narrow escape. The monument, which
was to have been formally unveiled next week, stands
in a very exposed situation, and it is supposed that
the recent heavy storms weakened its foundations.
"MORE THAN SEVEN."—MabeI: "Give us a cake,
Auntie. I know you've got one in your basket."—
Auntie (an early riser) : "No, dear, they are roses
I've been gathering, and they wouldn't like being
given to a little girl who gets up so late in the morn-
ing."—Mabel : "Go on, Auntie, they wouldn't mind;
they lays in their bed all day, when they gets a
chance, and nobody don't pick them."7--Fun.
VALUABLE SALVAGE. A telegram received at
Lloyd's says :—" According to the Courier de Bretagne,
the Plongeur, schooner, belonging to -Messrs. Guerin,
of Brest, which went to Lankion with several divers,
for the purpose of finding the place where was lost in
1851 a vessel laden with ingots of silver and lead, has
fallen in with the cargo in 10 fathoms water, quite
close to the Triagos Rocks. The divers had already
brought up several tons of these precious metals.
Salvage arranged at 75 per cent. on the value re-
covered.
A GOOD EXAMPLD.—It is not given to every lady
to be an early riser. The highest lady in the land,
her Majesty, sets a good example in thisrespect, rising
at seven both in winter and summer, while ,the
accuaations of each hour of the day are arranged with
a due appreciation of the value of time; hence she is
able to undertake the heavy task of conscientiously
reading over all papers and documents Submitted for
her signature, which she never appends without care-
ful perusal of each, besides which she personally enters
into a wide correspondence, and, in addition to the
hours devoted to official duties and to the hours given
to walking, driving, paying and receiving visits, a
portion of each day is set apart for reading of a varied
character.

TECHNICAL EXHIBITIONS Al THE CRYSTAL PALAcr.
The directors of the Crystal Palace have decided to
hold a series of technical exhibitions, and will begin
them next year with one of wool and woollen roa,nu-
factures. Everything relating to wool, from the fleece
to the perfected cloth, will be shown, and visitors will
be able to see the various processes of manufacture
at work under the care of skilled artisans. Next year's
exhibition will include all that relates to hair, fur, and
feathers, and their many commercial applications. It
is arranged that these exhibitions shall be under the
management of Mr. P. L. Simmonds, who has for p,
long time been known in connection with [such
*us at Elouth lieLlSireglitn anti olsrivhere.