The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-07-20 00:00:00


Ont fonbon (Earrtsponbtni.
We twain it ngtit to vude tiwt we do not at all times
;malty ourselves with our Corretrondent's opinions.)
Now that the Anglo-American difficulty and the Ballot
arc severally all but settled, Iliere is to very exciting
public topic, and the Parliamentary Session is, com-
paratively, peacefully drawing to a c inclusion; in-
deed, it may be said to be dying out. There are of
course yet many bills to carry through their remaining
stages, or to massacre, as the case msy be; but none
these bills excite that general interest which was
leguaileeted in the Ballot Bill—not so much, perhaps,
for the vi-asure itself as owing to the long-waged
conflict between Lords and Commons. Happily, the
Lief points in dispute have been anticably settled,
and at last the bill has been carried, and thus a very
vexatious question is set at rest. But if there is no
very exciting subject demanding the attention of l'ar-
lianient, there is a great deal of business yet to be
done, and we must not look for the Houses being
"up" helmet the second week in August. There were
no lees than 48 orders of the day on the business paper
of the House of Common* last Monday. Mr. Glad
stone's speech on that evening— a speech of course
variously regarded by opposing politicaue—affords a
curious illustration of the differenee between the
promises at the beginning of a session and the per
fonnanees at the en!, and also shows the enormous
difficulties which private members have to contend
agaluait in endeavouring to carry their several bills.
When Govenunent sacrifices at one fell swoop seven
bills, private members alio at that moment have bills in
various stages may well despair of carrying them.
Though rather late in the day I cannot refrain from
briefly alluding to that interesting ceremony that I
witnessed, the laying the first stone of the New Hoe
pitel for Siok Children. The beneficent work which
the Prince and Princess of Wales thus aided cannot be
too highly praised. It was a treat to see a whole
neighbourhood unwontedly gay with flags and decor-
ations, to hear the hearty cheers with which the young
royal temple were welcomed, and really touching was
it to hear the feelde "hoorays" t d the "sick children"
at the windows of the old hospital, some of the little
sufferers lying in their cote actually taking up the
cheers. But I wag specially plewted to observe how
well the Prince looked. Never in hie life has he been
apparently in better health, and this impression was
strengthened by the strong sonorous voice in which he
read his reply to the inevitable achlress. As to the
Princess, all who sat near me agreed that he never
looked more beautiful aid never was more charmingly
dresaterL

Whethei or tot it id advieriale to open museums and
cloture gar,. ries en Sunday is a much disputed point,
but there can be little difference pf opinion whether
such museums should be open on Sundays to a
privileged few and closed to that very class for which
museums, dec., are specially established. Accordingly
it is satisfactory to hear that the Government has con-
travened the orders that they had given fur the admis-
sion of a privileged few to Bethnal Green Museum on
Sundays. 'rite only wonder is that any such orders
were ever given. apropos' of this museum I ant glad
to 'add that its treasures are being highly appreciated
by the inhabitants of the pear and crowded district in
which it is placed, and that, mach to their delight, it is
open till ten o'clock at night, like the South Kensington
Museum. I have recently heard several visitors to
London express the wish that other museums were
open till as late an hour in the evening. There is
really no valid reason why they should not be, and
such an extension of time would especially be a boon
to that large elasa of people who object to theatres.
The honour of placing K.C.B. after his name is
worthily bestowed upon Mr. Arthur Heti., whom I
came a but think may be regarded as a deservedly sue-
easeful, rather than a fortunate man. Thirty-two years
ago, when he was a young man of 23, be was ap-
pointed to clerk in the 1a ivy Council, which is a
very different thing to Clerk of the Privy Council. The
heat appaintatent was so far fortunate that in those
days a subordinate Governmeat appointmeat was much
more valuable than hi these days of appointment
by examination and promotion by merit; but it may
fairly be said that Mr. Helps was promoted by merit,
and that he worked his way from this junior clerkship
to the high and honourable post he now tills. Con.
eidering, however, that he is letrov.-n to have possessed
the eeteera and friendship of the late Prince Consort
anti of Her Majesty, it is somewhat remarkable that
he has not lung since received the reward of a title.
At any rate the public can now congratulate him on
the reception of a well deserved honour.
The visit of 115 Belgian artisans—working men in
the strictest sense—who have devoted their leisure
time moot auccessfully to the cultivation of vocal
music, is a very agreeable feature of the London
season, and the way in which they have been
honoured by members of the royal family, and by
many among the upper duties, as well as the cordial
reception of these Belgian artisans by their English
brothers .of the working classes, form pleasant
topics of conversation. I can speak from experi-
ence of the masterly execution of diftiallt vocal
music by these Belgian artisans, as well as of their
really gentlemanly manners. We have heard much
of the refining influence of music, and I eeppuse
this is Lot ail sentiment. This friendly visit
may give an impetus to the cultivation of singing
among our oars working class., and may possibly
lead to a return visit to Belgium on the part
of some of our working-class vocalists. Why
not? We hove plenty of really good singers among
that class—men that could with a little organization
and training sing as their Belgian visitors. English
and Belgian volunteers have paid mutual visits, and
surely the friendly visits of singing parties of working
men would be quite as international and quite as
agreeable.
It might. have been thought that the ex-Emperor of
ilia Preach would by this time have become sick of
war and (a gloire, especially as of late years he has had
much more of the former than of the latter; but it seetus
that it is not so, if we may judge by the fact that he
has entered his sou a student at the Royal Military
Academy at Woolwich. Her Majesty has girien per-
mission for the Prince Imperial to join this Academy.
Poor Prince his military career has hitherto been a
very unfortunate one, and his friends must now look
back with a rrow on that memorable incident when he
as re baptised with tire." Long may it be betore his
Imperial }Hahness has a chance of gaining fame if it
is oily to be gained by tire and sword.
I suppose we moat regard the improvement of the
Channel pasfage as a reform postponed till the Greek
Kalentia Only a short time ago there was a reason.
able hope of an impor'ant scheme with this object
being carried out. A well-known engineer had planned
large steamers to run between Dover and Calais—
steatnere of such a size that a train of several car-
riages could be taken bodily on board and be car-
ried across, the passengers then changing luta the
Freak caniag,ela There were such advantages in this
scheme that it lb not surprising that the House of
Commons peered the Bill, but there were such dis-
advantages in it that it is also tot surprising that the
House of Lords threw it out. And et, good-bye to the
steam ferry aeheale. There are now three other
ecbenuas--deepening the harboura on the French coast,
so that larger and swifter steamers can be employed ;
a bridge over the Channel; and a tunnel under it. The
find ought to be done, under any circumstances, but
France has PO money to spare. The second would cost
millions., and has immense objections against it. The
third is practicable, and is simply a questions of money
and of Anglo-French enterprise. At any rate it is a
pity anal a shame that nothing is done in this age of
wealth, scientific triumphs, and companies for every
imaginable object.
The enormous value of ground in the City of London
has just been shown by the sale of the freehold plot of
ground on which stood the church of St. Mildred,
Poultry. Close to the Bank, the Exchange, and the
Mansion House, no more desirable site could be found,
but still the price that it has fetched is marvellous—
or at the late of real Is, per square foot I
The plot of groued has been bought by an aaeurance
society, and incidentally this shows what enormous
profits some of these companies must make.
From a Swiss paper we learn that at Chant there are
10,000 quarts of milk condensed every day, and as
many more at certain branch establishments, and
that fear-fifths of this are sent to Landon. Well,
we want all we can get, for, notwithstanding this
enormous importation, milk in the metropolis is
as dear as ever. As the trade in condensed milk
expands, however, surely the price will fall. But it
• seems a very difficult thing to lower the price of any
kind of foo,l or drink just now. As to meat, its enor-
mons price is getting very ;crieus. I think lam right
in eayiag that it never before was so dear as it now is.
ettal the price of coal is decidedly serious, hearing her
amid that we are warned that it will be higher yet.
'ibis is rather a sorry look-nut for next winter, and
meanwhile the enormous priees of coal, iron, and
metals generally tend to increase somewhat seriously
the cost of our manufactnrea. Take one fact in illua-
tratiou of this. The china manufacturers of the
Potteriee have decided on an early advance in their
prices to most the increae in the cost of fuel and
wet-rods. It would be rosy to cite other similar
facts, hut it is needless. It is known only too well
that the largely increased price of coal is in itself
saitivient to account for many of our manufacturers
"aeity naurs csatly, and we all know that there are
ogaz cluabe teraiiug to intensify the same result.
Garden partici have this season been more fashion-
able than ever. Given all the neotaaary oonditiona of
ar.,4 few thing., more thoronahly enjoyable
that a gardea party can las imagined. Prettily de
a:dolts:Ms andavraings,kotely flowers awl shrubbery,

a military band or a chorus party of accomplished pro-
fessional singers, winesand isms, light refreshments, and
"pampered menial." to do one's bidding; and all this
conjoined with elegant andeagreeable company, a blue
sky, and genivl and balmy airs playing upon one's not
particulaily levered brow—what can be more delight-
ful ? Put if Jupiter Pluvius be not favourable, how
very provoking; how hope and pleasurableanticipatione
are changed to disappointment and mutual laMenta-
tion ! And it must be confessed that hitherto the
summer has not been particularly favourable to there
a? from enjoyments.