The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-12-31 00:00:00

OUR LONDON CORRESPODENT.

(We deem it right to state that ere do not at all times identify
ourse4ves with our Corresporaletlt'l opinions.]

"A Happy New Year !' This is the wish which
one can most cordially give to every reader of
these lines, and it is one which is being accorded
in tens of thousands of homes at this moment.
For, although it may be contended by the strict
believers in literalism that New Year's Day is a
mere expression, and that it is a simple effort of
the imagination to consider that that hour which
is signalised by the midnight chimes on December
B'st waves out an old year and ushers in a new.
We know, of course, that there is no such pre-
cise division of time B.§ the colloquial expression
appears to indicate, but what then? Is life to
be reduced to the most literal expression
on every circumstance it comprises ?
imagination and sentiment to play no par;
in the world's affairs? It is a poor heart ths;
never rejoices, says the old saw, and equally
is it true that it is a poor mini that neve:
imagines. Most of us will continue to consider
:New Year's Day as a very real institution, and
will go on giviog and welcoming the time.
honoured wish, " A Happy New Year." True al
it may be that many of the excellent resolutioni
formed at this period disappear into nothingnesi
as time moves along, we shall still hold tha;
those which are kept justify the custom, an I
shall not cease to give good wishes, and mak(
good resolutions as the revolving years pass
swiftly around.

Of the invention of swin-dles there appears to
be no end, and one especially appropriate to the
Christmas season has just been exposed. The
mode is an exceedingly simple one. Hardly a
householder in comfortable circumstances exists
who does not expect, or, at least, would not be
surprised to receive a present at Christmas.
Upon this fact the swindler builds.
He secures a hamper or a box, places
in it a few bricks, dexterously inserts
a few pheasant's feathers where they are
certain to be seen, addresses it to some respect-
able householder, and, on delivering it, demands
three or four shillings for carriage. This sum is
paid by the unsuspicious mistress of the house,
the bearer of the package vanishes, and a few
moments of pleasing anticipation is followed in
the case of the receiver by a sight of the unsub-
stantial reality. Clever people will say at once that
the swindle is too obvious,and that they themselves
would never be taken in by anything so palpable.
But who that receives many parcels at Christmas
time would dream of opening them before pay-
ing the carriage? There are a lot of people in
this world who can always manage to be very
wise after the event, but the ordinary individual
will agree that, simple as the swindle in question
is, it contains the elements of success. The only
thing to say is" forewarned is forearmed," and to
be prepared for next Christmas accordingly.
One set of facts reported at the end of the old
year is full of good omen for the new, and that is
that our shipbuilding trade, after a period of
deep depression, is exhibiting renewed activity.
During a temporary burst of good trade
four or five years ago, our shipping, espe-
cially as to steamers, became greatly over-
built. There was a rush to invest in steamers,
with the customary consequence that very
large 'profits were made for a brief period to be
followed by a long season of loss. The steamers
built under the influence of that inflation have
been "lying up" for years, and scarcely any new
ones were laid down, and our yards became
silent, and thousands of workmen were dis-
tressed. But not only the renewal of good
trade with which the country is being
visited, but the effect of natural causes
in reducing the number of our ships, is
now bringing these long laid-up vessels
into use, while others are wanted, and
so the shipbuilding industry, whether in the
Tees, the Tyne, the Thames, and the Clyde is
showing at this moment a distinctly better
tendency than for some years. And such a
movement betters more classes than the ship-
wrights themselves. The trade in coal and iron
is increased, the railways profit by the greater
amount of material carried over their lines, and
by such means the whole community benefits by
what at the first sight may look only the addi-
tion to a single industry.
Shipping suggests harbours, and a petition to
Lord Salisbury unanimously adopted by the Town
Council of Dover a few days ago bears on this
Jitter subject verymaterially. The memorialists
urge on national grounds, as well as for A refuge
and coaling station for the navy, fiat the deep-
sea harbour so long proposed to be constructed
at Dover should be proceeded with at once. They
point out to the Prime Minister that accommo-
dation had now been provided at the convict
prison there located for six hundred convicts,
and that it is advisable that a site should be
definitely decided upon for the eastern break-
water of the harbour, so that these men may be
employed. All may be certain that this me- ,
morial will receive the very careful con- I
sideration of the Premier, and although
nothing is decided as yet, it has the
greatest chance of adoption because the exten-
sive breakwater works at Portland are now com-
pleted, and a further enterprise of the same
kind may be desired so as to keep our convicts
employed. Happily for the country, the numbes
of such has largely decreased of late years; but
for those who remain work must be found, and
the more useful the work the better it will be.
Those military officers who are interested in
inquiring into the desirability and practicability
of employing 'cycles for army purposes, have
not yet concluded their investigations,
but progress continues to be made. At
their last meeting a few days since in
London, it was reported that the matter
was still engaging the earnest attention of
the War Office as well as the commanders of
Continental armies; and that it was wished that
the committeelothen assembled should inquire
and report, for the information of the Com-
mander-in-Chief, on the types of 'cycles suit-
able for military requirements ; where
such machines could best be manufac-
tured, and at what cost; the clothing,
arms, equipment, and kit of a volunteer
cyclist, and the means for carrying the
same in the field; and further, to
consider the course of training and conditions of
efficiency. It will be seen that the committee
has all its work cut out for it in attempting to
solve these varied and important problems, but
the result of their labours can hardly help being
productive of good. More and more is it being
recognised by practical military men that cycling
may play a no insignificant part in the warfare of
the future, and it is, therefore, their duty in this,
as in greater matters, to use the time of peace in
preparing for war. All will hope that necessity
for their use will not come upon England, but
with so vast an empire no fairly defensive means
can be with safety neglected.
A curious addition to an advertisement of
death appeared a few days ago in some London
newspapers, in the words, Friends are most
earnestly requested not to send any flowers."
The custom of placing flowers upon a coffin has
Frown at such a rapid pace during the few years
at has been generally adopted as to suggest the
reason for this somewhat strange announcement.
Originally it was a pleasing and simple observ-
ance, but for some time there has appeared a
tendency to over-do it. When it was intro-
duced, it was hailed by many as a means of re-
ducing the cost while enhancing the touching
beauty of a funeral; but as wreaths became larger
and their number at every interment increased,
it was seen that the original object was
being lost sight of, and its primitive excellence
was being sacrificed to the exigencies of fashion.
It is a pity that this should be so, but the fact,
to any careful observer, is unmistakeable, and
evidence has now been afforded that a reaction
has set in. How far that reaction may go one
cannot now guess. That it will proceed as far as
the abolition of the custom no one would hope.
But it may fairly be expected that, once such a
hint has been given, it will be taken by thoso
most concerned, and that we shall return to
greater simplicity in the matter of floral emblems
at funerals. A. F. R.