The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-02-13 00:00:00

Next morning it was pitiabre tAT see the inhabitants, AN AUSTRALIAN TREE.-Some idea of the
with sad and mournful faces, looking at their ruined loftiness attained by trees of the genus Eucalyptus
houses. Before the sun had fairly risen, some of the may be formed when it is stated that some of the -
people were astir, turning over the dCbris to see if haply specimens of the E. amygdalina, measured by Baron
they might find something undestroyed. In pretty von Maar, the Government Botanist of Victoria,
nearly every case it was a fruitless search. Poultry, would overtop the cross on St. Paul's Cathedral.-
and in some cases pigs and goats, had been burnt to a Garden.
cinder, and their calcined remains lay in many a back DAIRY PRODUCTS. - The Custom-house re-
, yard.SjVarious rumours were rife as to the losses of turns seem to indicate a great increase in the number
human life, but we have ascertained on the best a,utho- of persons able to consume dairy products. In the
rity-though, of course, it is premature to make any year 1844 the import of butter into the United King.
decided statement - that only one person perished. dom from abroad amounted to no more than 185,511
This *as an aged coloured 'woman named Myburgh. cwts and of cheese 213,850 cwts. These 400,000 cwts.
She lived at a house in Plein-street, and after it had seem quite insignificant when compared with the three
caught fire she returned to fetch something. Her dress millions imported in 1874-namely, 1,620,674 cwts. of
caught fire, arid her body was subsequently found in butter and 1,488,223 cwts. of cheese. In 1854, the
the garden literally roasted to death.
- - stated, there were among them 871,228 cwt. of butter
COOKERY FOR THE WORKINGid;" and cheese, of the declared value of £3,077,272-
namely, butter, £2,171,194; and cheese, £906,078. In
kseee, CLASSES. ___ -------1874 the 3,108,897 cwts. of butter and cheese imported-. •
The following letter in connection with the School of were of the value of £13,536,793-namely, £9,053,157 -
Cookery at South Kensington has been sent to The Times, butter and £4,483,686 cheese. Very near to the latter,
for publication :- in the alphabetical list of imports, stands the item of
Sir,--The interest which through your various re- eggs; our imports of these in 1844 amounted to less -
ports of the School of Cookery at South Kensington than 68 millions, but in 1874 we imported more than
you have manifested in the welfare of this institution 680 million eggs. We paid less than a quarter of a
induces me to hope that you will allow me through million sterling for foreign eggs in 1854; in 1874 we
The Times to draw some attention to the opening of a paid nearly two-and-a-half millions for foreign eggs. .
branch of the school for training teachers in artisan
AMERICAN SOLDIERS.-According to an Ameri- „
cookery. Having, as a student for some months, gone
through the several branches of cookery which are can account of soldiers engaged in the civil war, the -
prescribed in the coulee of instruction at the school tallest men were from Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin;
,
I have become fully sensible of the importance which the next tallest, New England, New York, New Jersey ;
attaches to the new branch now started. It has, as I and the ehortest from Scotland, England, Germany.
said, entire reference to the treatment of food for the In weight, the men of Kentucky and Tennessee were
use of families of artisans. The classes at the School the heaviest, averaging 150 pounds; England, Scot-
of Cookery have as yet been devoted to the higher land, France, Belgium, all between 138 and 139
branches of the art. I think lam right in believing that pounds. The ratio of weight to stature gave in pounds.
• ;
, the main object of its promoters is the establishing to the inch-Ohio and other Western States, 2185
'
of a school for training teachers in artisan cookery. New England, 2121; England and Scotland, 2-118;
'
Experience has already shown the valuable and mere-
Germany, 2 168.
dible saving to be effected by simple and economical THE BISHOP OF MANCHESTER ON " CEREMO-
methods of cooking (with the most ordinary ap- enee."-The Bishop of Manchester preached on Sun.'
pliances) the food that is so lamentably wasted and day at Cambriclee University Church to a crowded
even destroyed in the homes of our artisans and congregation. Rebuking the persistent ndvocates o
labourers, spending from 7s. to 20s. per week in the ceremonial observance, his lordship remarked t hat with .
purchase of food that must be cooked. The state of all the outward show of religion he should like to be
the knowledge of cookery among the English assured that this interest in ceremonial was commene,
middle and working classes hat; long been deplorable, surate with and expressive of a vital sense of religion.,
and it is satisfactory to find that this institution pro- It had been said, better that man should be free than
mised to give the means of supplying deficiences. It sober. He would say, better that man should be
will, no doubt, be said that, without an elaborate righteous and truthful than merely orthodox. His.,
batterie de cuisine, the practice of this economical lordship concluded by exhorting the students to
cookery is impossible. Fortunately, however, this is steady pursuance of their purpose in life. Both ,
entirely incorrect, since all the utensils required for Church and State were in no inconsiderable &Inger
carrying out the operations as taught at the School from a lack of persons properly qualified to serve Grod!
are to be .found in every labourer's dwelling.. Thus it in the Church and in the State. •
will be seen that the School proposes no imposition LORD Sr. LEONARDS ON LONG LIFE.-I WaS
of expense, in order that its doctrines may be satis- sorry to see the death of Lord St. Leonards, who-
factorily adopted and practised. What the School really deserved to be a centenarian and disgust Mr.-
really seems to be thoroughly teaching, is that it is Thorns. In the year 1871 I dedicated a book to him,
ignorance and not want that has to be overcome and and he acknowledged the dedication in a thoroughlY
remedied. The labouring classes almost always have . characteristic letter, which runs thus :-
more than enough actual material with which to "Boyle Farm, 6th Nov., 1871.
sustain themselves and their families, and it is the "My Dear Sir,-Your kind present will be a great erns,-
absence of a knowledge how to use these materials ment to my library. I must altogether disclaim the posses-
advantageously that is at the root of much of their stole of the secret of long life. My own great age-in raY
unfortunately real discomfort and often apparent die- 91st year-is singular in this respect: its operation on 9.1?
tress. It is up-hill work to overcome the prejudices House
classessa o i,otrod
Lords
ft:i)eerloeiel:e,
am
mm
calledt gems tf lather n f 111:
which one finds engrafted in the present generation of
, house. I am the oldest member of the bar, and, therefore,
wives of artisans. The difficulties would be infinitely lam called the father of the bar. After so long a period.
lessened were these prejudices gently approached never withdrawing from the duties attached to the position
through the rising generation of daughters of artisans, which I have occupied, I have ultimately retired from publics
who should be encouraged to attend the-School, and life, but still find myself called upon to exercise the facultiel
of which a kind Providence has left na
ie in possession. 1.
so gradually to impart the benefit of their instruction
lead a life which seems likely to extend itself. I enter nto
into the family circle. As the School Boards now no speculation, and have nothing to agitate me. I avoid all
insist upon the general education of stray children, luxurious living, and limit myself to a moderate quantity o
so
-
so might they insist upon the enforcement of such wine. Igo early to bed, and my moderation is rewarded bY
useful domestic instruction as cookery. In a corn- a good night's sleep. I get up early, and am always down to
paratively short course of lessons intelligent pupil a nine o'clock breakfast. I pass much of my time in reading.
teachers could, I feel sure
I live a happy life, for which I thank God, and submit myself
to His guidance and mercy. This, then, is all the secret
of instruction to enable the acquire a sufficient amount m
to superintend classes of which I possess of long life.-Yours faithfully,
cookery in every national school in the country, and es. LEONARDS."
this woald be an effective stroke at the canker of igno- This, I venture to think, is a very charming letter. I
rance which undermines the domestic arrangements of believe Lord St. Leonards was wrong in believing him
artisans' homes. The subject, although serious, is one self the Jather of the House of Lords; that positio.
which might be not inappropriately approached by pertained to the late Duke of Leinster.-Press and
many young country ladies, the daughters of the clergy James's Chronicle.
especially, who, instead of working slippers and playing
croquet with the curates on the plea of being engrossed A NARROW ESCAPE .-On Saturday evening
in parochial affairs,might take up with cookery and form last, at the Ilileworth station of the London and South.
classes in the various districts in which they have at,pre- Western Railway, the Rev. Robert Craven, curate of
sent but a futile influence. lam afraid of encroaching on St. Mary's, Isleworth, nearly lost his life while en-
your space, but as an example of prectical work, I may deavouring to rescue a favourite dog. It seems that
perhaps describe how a neat's foot, which costs is. or Mr. Craven was on the platform with his dog (a larg-
iven less, may be treated, and excellent food, &c., water spaniel), when the animal ran on the railwaie
)btained therefrom. Break the neat's foot in pieces Just then a pilot engine was observed coming at sone
xnd simmer it in a saucepan with water; the stock speed up the line from Hounslow. Mr. Craven, thinlee
obtained from it, after the fat has been removed, makes ing it was a train coming into the station, ran on '
an excellent jelly, and if flavoured with porter or beer front endeavouring to get the animal off, when th
is an inviting and nourishing dish for invalids. The engine came up, passing over the dog,Mr. Craven some which was
-
fat or oil, as it is termed, is of great value, and when Pletely cut in two, and knocking
clarified is most useful and efficacious as an outward distance away. Mr. Craven was picked up insensible
application in cases of sore throats, colds, &c. The and at once attended by Dr. Bullock, of Hounslovee
flesh from the neat's foot, which, after the oil is ex- who happened to be at the station, when it was found
ti-acted, becomes what is technically called a cow-heel, that the calf of his right leg was dreadfully cut. Dr.
Makes a delicious stew, and with vegetables or rice, Bullock, having bound up the wound, had the unfortne e
&c., would prove a good meal for a family of at least nate sufferer removed home, when Dr. Day and
three or four. The bones must not be discarded, as
another medical man were called in, it being thoughts -
they will be of use in the stockpot, where all scraps at first that the leg would have to be amputated; be;
should be put, and with a few vegetables, and perhaps as the bone was not injured it is hoped the limb ma
the flavouring of the skin of a ham, to be bought for be spared.
id. another meal might be provided. ' STATISTICAL SOCIETY.-The following is th •
fn conclusion, it will, I think, be useful to say that title of the Essay to which the Howard Medal will be
a scale of fees has been drawn up and can be obtained awarded in November, 1875. The Essays must be sent,
at the School from the lady. superintendent. If in on or before June 30, 1875 :-" The state of the ,
charitable persons were to nominate students to the dwellings of the poor in the rural districts of England;
School and to pay the necessary fees for their instruc- with special regard to the improvements that hav
' -
tion such acts would surely be a far more efficacious been made since the middle of the 18th century, and
and lasting relief than those which may follow from their influence on the health and morals of the inmates...,
the indiscriminate gifts of charity, as they are, per- Further particulars or explanations may be obtained
haps, wrongly termed, made on the spur of the from the assistant-secretary, at the rooms of the Sten
moment. -I remain, Sir, yours obediently, tistical Society, Somerset-house-terrace, King's Col- *
L.-- A PUPIL OF THE SCHOOL. lege, Strand, W.C.
Feb,
IMMIGRA.TION FROM THE WEST.-The follow- .
ing is a statement of the number of immigrants
arriving in Liverpool from Canada and the United..
States during the year 1874 :-January, 2,660;
February, 1,789; March, 2,683; April, 3,057 ; May.
6,471; June, 7,293; July, 11,867; August, 10,78:3;
September, 8,706; October, 9,634; November, 5,488
December, 6,715; 78,146, 1874; 38,000, 1873-40,1'
excess 1874 over 1873. Of those from the Dominion $
Canada 93 per cent, had return tickets, and were onl
visiting this country to see their friends, and had f
intentions of returning to Canada.
A HINT ON FRUIT CUITURE.-A writer '
the Akhbar, Journal de l'Algerie, offers the following
useful hint to gardeners and aboriculturists generally:
"I have for many years practised a cheap and hand
method of improving the products of my orchard, b
grafting in the following manner :-I receive my shoo
of pear and other fruit trees from Holland and vario
places by pattern post. Several shoots can be sent
one packet by this method, and they take no harm
the two extremities are dipped in a solution of gulp
Arabic; in fact rt t
, the most efficacious means of preso
jog the shoots s this preparation, into which they ali
i
be dipped entire if the journey is a long one. T e
light wash of gum effectually keeps out the air and
preserves the bark, and adheres better than any othe
preparation to green wood. On arrival you place the
shoots for a few days in the ground, after which the
will be found as fresh as if just cut from the tree an',
ready for grafting."
PREACHER 1,. FLOGGEE.-Q. Why are WI
'fa-
beaters like Her Majesty's Opposition 7-A. Becangs
they want a Liberal Whip to keep them in order.--
Punch.
WESLEYAN METHODISM.-During the past,
year there was sanctioned the expenditure of the stun
of £328,413 in the erection in this country of 1 ' •
chapels, 30 ministers' houses and schools, 186 enlarge''
ments and alterations of chapels, and a further sane of
£9,022 in the erection of 40 new organs, being £60,.0
more than in any previous year. The amount raise,
by voluntary contributions was 2271,086, to supple--
ment which grants from the Chapel Fnnd committee
amounted to £10,866 leaving 255,483 to be provided
within a limited period. To the Chapel Fund *
legacy last year amounted to £20,000. Several addle
tional chapels, schools, and organs were also °recto
at the cost of private individuals. The number of sit- .
tinge provided by new erections and enlargements last ,
year is 22,745. During the past twenty years the en-,
tire outlay in this country in these erections and en."
largements has been 23,236,053, and debts to the
amount of £1,021,565 have also been liquidated. In
the first decade 709 chapels were built, and in the
second 1,214. The total number of places of worshiPl
in Great Britain is £7,485, and the number of sittings
provided 1,723,495.
A PROMISING PUPIL.-" How does you
brother get on in New York, Parker ?"--" Very well, ,
indeed, ma'am, thank you. He's only been there three
months, and he's already beginning to speak thtelan-11
guage beautiful! 1"-Punch. iT" '-
A HINT ABOUT CARPETS.-If you aspire to • $
Axminster carpet, see that your purse is well stocked"
with golden guineas before you give the order (says a
writer in Cassell's Family Magazine). I should be well%
content with Brussels -a good bona-fide Brussels-
than which none will wear more satisfactory. If yoll-
find the outlay too great, get a Kidderminster.
will prove serviceable, and is less expensive, for it is *-
quarter of a yard wider than Brussels. The onlys
objection to this make of carpet is that custom hag"
awarded it its place in the bed room. Some people,
prefer a tapestry carpet, but the patterns of these ars'
usually of so florid and glaring a character that they
detract much from the general effect as it ought to be.
It is considered correct taste to represent thseearth by-
the carpet and the sky by the paper-that is to say,
the carpet should be dark in colour and the paper
light. If, however, it should happen that you are
'obliged to study economy and to think of the future, lee
should advise you not to buy a carpet having a dark r
ground, for undoubtedly it will become shabby verYs-
much sooner than one having a light ground. EverY ;
dusty footmark shows on the dark carpet, and at the:
end of a year every place over which there has been. •
much passing to and fro will show visible signs of the)!
,traffic, whereas on the lighter ground threadbarereess
is not nearly so discernible. The most Monomial
colours are different shades of drab, but e'en a white,
ground is mor -'.7 C
aeusefid than one of 1
.ret or 'maroon. f•
,
THEATREs IN JAPAN,-4n Jupan the theatres' -
are very much patronised. The play commences at
six o'clock in the morning and terminates at eight or •
nine in the evening; often the same piece occupies two-
and three days in the representation. Gentlemen are
not particular about the question of full-dress but the '
ladies are; tha latter, to ctver their swathe' looks,
have the face and shoulders whitewashed with almond',
milk; a black-lead pencil marks the eyebeows, and the:
lips are coated with gold, which, after a time, take a' • •
red rue. The headdress is a veritable piece of engineer-
ing; it is a scaffolding that has to be commenced the
evening previous; but the beauty reclines dressed tg.
the theatre opens, and once there she forgets '1:
fatigue; the robe appears to be swathed in ribmb°e;
sashes, forming an immense knot at the back.
scene changing on the stage is simply on the plansoethe turn-table for locomotives ;at a given signal the table
whirls for the space of a half circle, taking away actors
in the midst of their dialog-an, ote, and bringing "
era on
the scene in the act of continuine the conversationi.si
stand
who never
nneeveedr
representing something
evthinegrytnhiewng.
be may R, viimry 'adter
"shadow," an individual dressed in black, -
quits him, handing
of. And when the shades of evening fall, he holds a.
candle in one end of a stick under the actor's nose, to
allow the spectators to judge of the actor's gestures
and expreasiott of the pafidollat

ruary

ntisatlaitunts
HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL.
ANTICIPATION. The Spanish residents at
Berlin are delighted at the prospect of gay doings at
their Embassy, Sefior Merry having been appointed
Minister for Spain at the German Court. Let us hope
it may not be a case of "a short life and a merry one."
—Punch. •
Mn. CARLYLE.—It has excited some surprise
that Mr. Carlyle should have declined the Grand Cross
of the Bath, after having accepted the Ordre pour le
Write. There is, however, a great difference between
the two. The Ordre pour le Merite is not given by the
Sovereign or the Minister, but by the knights them-
selies. The king only confirms their choice. Secondly,
the number of the knights of the Ordre pour le Merite
is strictly limited (there are no more than 30 German
and 30 foreign knights), so that every knight knows who
will be his peers. In Germany, not even Bismarck is
a knight of the Ordre pour le hferite. Moltke was
elected simply as the best representative of military
science, nor does he rank higher as a knight of that
order than Bunsen the representative of physical
science, or Ranke the historian. Besides, the honour
come trop tard. Goethe was 27 years of age when
Karl August made him a member of the Privy Council.
—Academy.
THE CHANNEL TUNNEL.—At the last meeting
of the French Academy of Sciences, M. de Lesseps
made some observations on the Channel Tunnel.
Numerous soundings, he said, had shown that the
maximum depth of the sea between Dover and Calais
was only 54 metres, and that the bottom consisted of a
compact and homogenous bed of grey chalk of the
estimated thickness of 250 metres. At each extremity
a shaft would be sunk 100 metres in depth and eight
metres in diameter, whence the gallery would be
carried, destined to join in the middle of the Channel.
To get the trains down to this level underground
tunnels would be necessary on each side 10 kilometres
in length. The Submarine Tunnel will be 30 kilo-
metres long, and, as at Mont Cenis, will be ventilated
only at each extremity. The arch of the tunnel will
be 100 metres deep, and will be protected by a solid
bed of chalk 50 metres thick.
COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS.—The other day
there was a debate in the French Assembly on dyna-
mite. Stormy as the proceedings often are in the
Chamber, on this occasion, strange to say, there was
no explosion.—Pitizch.
A NEW DOCTOR OF Music.—The Archbishop
of Canterbury has notified to Mr. W. H. Longhurst,
organist of Canterbury Cathedral, his intention of
conferring upon him the degree of Doctor of Music. Mr.
Longhurst began his musical career as a chorister at
the cathedral, and had been for twenty-six years the
assistant organist, when, on the death of Mr. T. E.
Jones, the organist, at the close of the year 1872, he
was appointed to the vacant post, the duties of which
he had practically fulfilled for many years previously,
, owing to the long and' serious illness of Mr. Jones.
IMr. Longhurst has been the director of all the most
I important concgrts given in the cathedral city for
• many years past, and he was the conductor of the
Harmonic Union established under the auspices of the
late Dean Alford. It was we believe, by this society
• that his oratorio "David and Absolom" was performed
a few years ago. The work was very favourably
received, and the march from the oratorio has been
frequently performed in public. Mr. Longhurst is also
known as the composer of anthems and other works for
church use.—Pall Mall Gasette. •
I GARIBALDI AND TIIE TII3BR
I Scotsman publishes a letter from General Garibaldi to
the editor, of which the following is a translation :
"Rome, Feb. s.—The people of Scotland have always
been friends and champions of Italy. They have co-
operated with the moral and mat-zial help enthusias-
tically towards the accomplishment of Italian inde-
' pendence. Now, I count on their help for the realiza-
tion of the project for the deviation of the Tiber and
for the redemption of the Roman Campagna. I count
i especially on the Press, that powerful agency in a free
' country, to render popular 'this idea, in order that—
the, Italian Government guaranteeing the interest of
!the necessary capital—a sufficient number of shares
(which I propose should be of the value of 100 lire
Italian currency, £4) should- be subscribed for, to
,undertake and complete OAT enterprise.—G. GARI-
113ALDI."
SELF-DEVOTlON.—,PlainSering-Man. "What
'with these 'ere new Laws, Mum, the Birds is more
!Troublesome this Year than ever. The place Swarms
;with 'em 1 "—Old Lady. "Well, Thomas, we'd
:better put up a Scarecrow."—Servtng-Man. "Lox.'
tbless yer, Mum! Scarecrows ain't no use. 'Believe
'Alley Birds 'd come just the same if I was to go and
'stand there myself! I "—Punch.
TESTIMONIAL TO DR. HAYMAN.—In London,
on Monday, the Bishop of Gloucester, after haMtig
been waited upon by a deputation from the Hayman
Testimonial Fund at his residence in Great Cumber-
land-street, Hyde Park, presented Dr. Hayman with a
testimonial, consisting of a handsome silver vase,
valued at £lOO, on which was a suitable inscription in
English and Latin, and a purse containing .460.
;His lordship said that he regretted that the wishes of
the committee had not been fully realitsed,, Xlitlt he
hoped that thase wishes would at smile fUture Vibe be
crowned with cceasootstamoossixisDit Hayman, in
returning thanks, said that the gift, supported as it
was by so large a number of distinguished persons,
carried with it a weight which no amount of money
could equal. He most deeply thanked his lordship and
the numerous friends who had shown towards him such
strong and active sympathy,