The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-04-11 00:00:00

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A lest, on; .beei, ' 1 711, few ys ago - a wine.grou . nam BRIT 11 AND ICOREION. :
fire.; ed 47, wife' and their tiOn, SO ..j3
An •- e d. A 'ewe of , the t o •rh owing , giving furtlie pa ars of of t : of co . ious ' h y inc 7
"ni aleo oil, the u a side und lo secti. the , , allt v., t us had uov han effect on .ma
s , Eas . ondaykthe beau ideal of a London
t. is, howev - ser matter r
•Y 't . hi, Pb dna, under tc Mar, - 1 ii, ye, .th . r E d Ith bec 'very nding,and d min •
,_ holiday •and all the nci and one entertainments pro-
• e , a4d altho m them Mil: t . put an el dto . 4e, aud e persuaded th there to ' sided lOr huhda3-makers found abundiud patrons. Armies
exodu The .ti-w , ey crusade,' /I° far:: 'lll - "ales 'the COD - Ona 0 ' .•- ein ed were, i.l
sit heasamp e ' ha :ave eke le WOMen't 'l)M:ring bands are concerned, is still Borough Petty Sessions and .Count t S '
y ty esuona, do the same. To accomplish their object they shut of excursionists left London for the seaside and the north.
c themselves up in a room, lit a charcoal tire, tied their Thousands more hastened t the various suburban parks and
carried on energetically in the form of Temperance 96 in 1868 •85 in 1869 ; 57 in 1870 ;90 in 1871 : and
, . mping grounds. e Crystal Palace. the Interne-
' meetings and appeals to sign the total abstinence 139 in 18721 During handkerchiefs tightly round their throats then fast In,liday pi
the Ii weans there were only six t Donal LAI-libitum, the LoolTh oocal Gardeas. mid every other
pledge. Liquor dealers are, however, banded together convictions under the 14th section of employers, of coed the arms of the son, one to each of the sirena, .
in all directions for organized resistance, and, as it which four oeaurreits*Ploughlev, in Oxfordshire, two and sat down round a brazier containing the combns. favourite resort of sightseers had • crowd of its own. At
s ...usual nu each ewes, the ultimate tletory 'II probably in 1568 aor oin ItTI, in the 'division of Cheishunt, l tible. About twelve o'clock they fell down insensible. iliuht the theatres and concert-rooms did an unusual share of
Easter business The Volunteer Review at Wimbledon.
quid.* note tie on the side of the le, orts if the wick The Tern in Essex, sentence in each cape being seven days' ' and remained On the floor until about three, when the though successful enough u a tuilitary point of view, was
o erance movement li in fact, reoeiv two neve imprisonment. There were no appeals to Quarter
IA abou young man recovered his senses, Mid seelng that his sadly marred by lack of means for keeping the ground The
e gul 1 cheaks Within the past eek. In Boston twill be has ever been seen at D imbledon. —The nulitary iumhontres
made tremendous efforts to get free from his Lunde. I
. ' Sessions hi the period. The longest term of imprison. tether was dead, but that his mother still 'breathed, he . weather was M.- and the crt'wda of al'eet.l4." tante, r t.l'a
Inetubeted.that.early in February there a sudden ment for the employed was three months, and the
ma at Dover did their best to afford a pleasant holiday to the
spasm iif virtue in the enforcement of the Massachusetts shortest seven days. and ultimately managed to attract the attention of , thousands of excursionists who poured into the town by a
Sr prohibitory law, and Equers were seized at several In Scotland of the employed there were three con- some neighbours, who hastened to open the door, and quick succession id trains. About five thousand men,
leading establishments, the chief capture brim; at violins in 1968, five in 1849, two in 1870, four in 1871, ni:nebrelih, orrified at the eight pres.ented by the corpse of . Regulars and Volunteem, comprised the force at the dis-
' Young's Hotel, a famous resort, where 10,000 dols. and 11 in 1879. There w no convictions of em- Geoffrey, with the face black and swollen. Medical petal of 51ajor-General Sir A. liorsford for a sham fight laid
worth of liquors was taken. The stock, which was, tat ,yers s.nd no appeals. aid was at once procured, and the next day the woman review. the "menul idea" of which was carried out wiiii
chiefly champagne and other imported wines, Was In Ireland, of the employed there were 64 convic- and her son were out of danger. great spirit and success by all engaged. Unfortunately there
was A heavy fall of rain during the mimic battle, but the sun
confiscated, Mr. Young being sentenced to the House thins in 1868, 49 in 1869, 48 in 1870, 70 in Is 7. and 69 RABIES AND HYDROPHOBIA.— The Times has conic out afresh for the march past, which proved a brilliant
of Correutien for three months and fined 75 do!'-, He spoctacle.
in 1872. In the period there were four convictions of 1 hed the folk . ktter .
did not yield, however, but appealed to the Boston employers, and the sentence one and two months' im- St,-s-The death of 50 of Earl Fitzwilimm s lmunds, nem- '
Superior Court, on the ground that the Customs laws prisonment. There were no appeals.oll the 19th of March, James Sylvester. a trapeze
performer at Berry's Opera-house, New York, failed in an act
- C nod decision of the S.- Court of In f the zed the I bur 'Hated by an outbreak of cabbies the kennels, may perhaps
dire, "---""” to the of this called "The Leap for Life." and in Ins fall struck hie head

A reitution of le in the price of oinl r. take
place a meat of the collieries In lambi,, lieeeasitated by
the scarcity of orders.

rata of

Unitea States Senate tuts paasca a resolution
reonestino the President to intercede th kligho.,l for the
release at the Fenian prisoner condole
The New York Commieeioners of Emigration have
discharged, on the grounds of economy, thirty employes
*hose aggregate salaries amounted to about 20,000 dols. per
annum.

of is .. is sus.
_ J.heartily welcome the
~. —.. thteahinet Ministern, or at
_ —eore,dhilist of them whose duty it is to receive
deputations, for as many an a dozen of these bor in
one day have lately besieged the doors of the dary ..in
e
merit officee in Downing-street. The Chancellor of he.
Exchequer has been asked to dispose of his surplus
vs es and over again ; and both the advocates and the
Opponents of the United Kingdom Alliance have
besought the Home Secretary to explain in what spirit
he i,aterglii to amend the Licensing Art. As to the
inazses of the people, who look forward to the enjoy-
ment of Goa Friday ass holiday, the weather han been
anything hue propitious. On the night preceding Good
Friday a fierce storm swept over London, scattering
Ni. and chininey-pota in all directions, and filling the
afr with those weird-like noises which seem to in-
variably accompany the passage of a high wind over
the homes of a large population. When the
weatherls fine, Brighton receives a good deal of holi-
day patronage, and a favourite trip with many is •
inn over to Paris. But this year Good Friday was
damp andbleak—a circumstance which might to some
extent have accounted for the fact that while the places
~f worsl)ip 4 all denominations were well attended,
there wera'colishierably fewer at the customary resorts
of those who seek recreation and amusement. Not-
withstanding the attractions of the sacred concert at
tlassfilrystaldPslace, barely 13,000 persons journeyed to
tiyglakam kg that day--a 'falling olf of more than
20,000 as compared with Good Friday 1869. The rain
and the cold wind doubtless contributed to this result;
stilt:such a diminution at one of the many spots of
popular swomialy is somewhat remarkable.

place . °then districts show how difficult it
_is for large numbers of colliers to submit to
' that change of fortune from which few classes of
society, at some period in life, are.etemvt. It may be,
thliltt hi/phi •fs of 041 lias
cut spwitrems. ince Ugistieosesity
su an ekorbitant ure, thp ingenuity of
man has been taxed to find, if not a substitute, at least
some means wherehynoal.may be economised, and its
consumption materially lessened. With this view
mechanical appliances have been adopted with greater
or leas success, and it is not unreasonable to suppose
that their use in manufactories, and in private houses
as well, has had some effect in bringing about those
lowered rates so welcome to the householders of the
United Kingdom
The schsme of establishing a museum in South
London is very near its acoimplishment. A valuable
collecti ~,, of art works has already been promised, and
a site for the intended building has been provided. It
is well that the different districts of the metropolis
thus show a readiness to promote the CAW* of art-cul-
ture. Undoubtedly these local museums serve a special
educational purpose, so neeessible are they to students,
As to the Bethnal Green museum, which was designed
to meet the wants of the eastern districts of the capital,
while its contents are well worth seeing, its surround-
ings are not so satisfactory as they might be made. A
strip of land by the side of the building, which wa.s to
have been laid out as a public garden, in made a re-
ceptacle for aged hats, cast away shoes, dead cats, and
a large quantity of unclean rags. It was also under-
stood that a reading-room and a library should be
added to the museum, but thus far no,steps have been
taken to secure this result.

A Kinsale correspondent states that should the ex
pectations formed with regard to the local fishery this season
be fulfilled, little short of *2300,000 will be realised.

than

It is officially stated that there are now upwarda of
auo.otm people in Noith-Eaatern Tiaboot dependent upon
Government relief. _ _

All the officers who have served in the Ashanteewar
will receive tow months' leave of absence. and all the
privates one !month The prize money to be distributed
among the soldie viii amount to the handsome sum of
To bd per man.

A young schoolmistress %V ail astonished lately at
seeing all the little hands raised in the air and violently
agitated " What do you want " said slia Choras—" I'er
hair is falling off !"

The stun required in the ensuing year to meet the
CiaiM9 of °Mem arising out of the Abolition of pur,hase
is 4657.000.

of Congress, —der a ... _Mpreme _
the United States, protected imported liquors from
seizure under State laws. The Judge of the Superior
Court so charged the jury, and Young was acquitted
on all points, the captured liquors being returned to
him. His establishment now is in more animated
operation than ever, and the prohibitory law has re-
ceived a severe blow.
The other check was administered on March 21 to
the women's praying bands in Cleveland. They had
been going about for a week, when the Mayor of
Chicago took the decided stand in favour of liquor
selling which I have already reported, and which
broke up the street-praying system in Chicago. The
Mayor of l'leveland determined to 1 lo something
similar. The crusade in certain quarters had been so
violently opposed that street brawls were imminent,
and the Mayor issued a proclamation against unlawful
assemblages in the streets of all characters, and com-
manding the police to disperse them. This put a stop
to the praying bands, but the women found vent in
very earnest Temperance mee'ings in the churches,
and may break out into processions again. One tele-
gram from that city states that the Mayor has the
" fire department in readiness' in case the women
resume their street meetings.
Worcester, Massachusetts, and Williamsport, Penn-
sylvania, are now the chief cities in which the women's
praying crusade is kept up. In the former town the
State constables are also going about to make seizures;
but neither they nor the ladies have much success. In
Williamsport a partial diminution of the liquor traffic
is reported. At Columbus, Ohio, the ladies hold their
prayer meetings in the rotunda of the State Capitol
building, this form of "moral suasion" being resorted
to for the purpose of impressing the Ohio Legislature,
which is very backward in legal enactments, on
behalf if the cause. In Columbus, a person
who had previously been "prayed out" of London,
Ohio, has had the audacity to open a saloon, so that
he is now the object of special prayerful attention.
In Fort Scott, Kansas, the women have been taking
along with them a troop of ragged and hungry
children, who eat up all the "lunches" set out by
the saloon-keepers. In Kan Francisco, snuffing the
danger from afar, the liquor men are holding secret
meetings to perfect an organization against the crusade
should it begin in that locality. New York and
Brooklyn bubble over with Temperance meetings, and
the prayer meetings by the women at "Harry Hill's
Concert Saloon " while liquor-selling goes on with great
earnestness, the sales apjarently being rather stimu-
lated than otherwise. 'The proprietor has been sum-
moned to surrender, the following letter containing the
terms of capitulation :
No. 41, West Twenty-sixth-street, New York, March 19.
"Dear Sir, -Cooper established the Institute, Astor his
library. Vassar his College, Stephen Girard his University
for boys, but you can do more than all. You can be the first
man to benefit all mankind. Those donations were local----
yours can be national and cosmopolitan.
"I. Close your bar.
"2. Let the crusaders smash in the heads of your whiskey
barrels in the presence of 100.000 people In Union-square.
" 3. Donate from the wealth you have acquired 100,000
dola to establish a College for the children of drunkards
ship-wrecked by the rumsellera
••Sueerers At our holy cause say you are making tun of
the crusaders -that you only (pen your saloon to as as an
advertisement for your bar Prove, dear Mr Hill, by acts
that r ur nature is nobler than those who can laugh over a
drunkard's grave.—ln behalf of the crusaders, Has. P. It,
LAWRENCE AND MANY LADIES.
To Mr. Harry Hill, 27, East Houston-street."
The gentleman is not yet ready to surrender, how-
ever, and, after three days' cogitation of the summons, i
he s said to have returned the following verbal

----
- Scotland, ot emplo. longest imprison
ment wee GO days, and the shortest five days, while in
Ireland the longest wee two months, and the ehortest
three day..

mildic attention to the rapid increase __ danger.
cite and Insidious disease. It is due entirely to contagion,
awl is as preveii tilde as cattle plague in this country by proper
regulations Unfortunately, it is not included in the Con-
tagious DISPAMI (Animals) Act, but is insufficiently provided
against in the Dog Act. Aivording to Ls of and Water, which
journal has devoted especial attention to the disease since the
Al brighton and Durham Kennels were emptied by it, outbreaks
have occurred in lincobashire, Yorkshire, Derbyshire. Stafford-
shire, Cheshire. and Durham. I myself know of ten cases
seen in the Metropolis. Repressive measures have been
adopted In most of the counties, but in London no notice is
taken of the disease. I feel certain that indhing less than
general and uniform regulations applicable to the whole
country will check the plague. This seems unattainable, and
therefore it behoves eretyone to be prepared to protect
themselves. They may succeed in this If they are con-
venient with the premonitory symptoms in the dog, and if
they submit to have any and every bite they receive home-
diately and thoroughly cauterized.—Your obedient servant,
Win. HUNTING, M. BC. VA 6, Derby-street, arra 2.
CITY LETTER-CARRIERS.—In the City of New
York there is a daily delivery of nearly 200,000
letters and papers. The work is said to be severe on
the health of those employed, owing to the constant
climbing up and down stairs. In some districts, in
the lower part of the city, the carriers travel more
miles under the roofs than they do on the highways.
'lle Nets York Times states that in summer the letter-
carriers often make the tour of an entire block on the
roofs, visiting a house by way of the scuttle. Up one
house full of offices and down the next would greatly
shorten a postman's beat.
A WoODEN RAILROAD.—The South Carolina
Central Railroad had been allowed to drop through
the hands of the original projectors, and a considerable
amount of cutting out and grading had been accom-
plished, when Messrs. Land and Pritchett, large tur-
pentine distillers, purchased the right of way and set
about to construct a road that would take their pro-
ducts to market, says the Clarendon (South Carolina)
Press. The road from Manning to Lane's Turnout is
fifteen and a half miles long. The bed is constructed
precisely as all other railroads are, but in place of iron
this road has wooden stringers, which are five inches
upon their face. The friction in running being dis-
tributed over wide surfaces, the injury to the rails will
be much less. The flanges to the wheels are two and a
half inches deep, thereby preventing any probability
of running off A portion of the road has been in
operation five months, over which trains have been
running daily, and most of the stringers are smooth.
The rolling stock on the road is conunon, but quite
effectual. The engine is worth only 1,800 dohs., but is
sufficient to carry seven .or eight cars, loaded, at the rate
of 15 miles per hour. 'the road is regarded a success,
and answers all the purposes of a first-class iron road.
The road has cost about 1,200 dole, per mile. By this
road 50,0001 b. can be sent twice a day.
A YOUNG PHENOMENON.—Kentucky boasts
possession of an infant of two years and a half of such
aldermanic proportions that he bids fair to eclipse the
already famous Kentucky giant. He is the child of
slim parents, whose weights are respectively 144 and
127 pounds; but the boy's dimensions are given as fol-
lows by a local paper :—" He stands in perpendicular
measurement 37 inches. The measurement around the
wrist is 10i inches, and above the elbow 16i inches.
The leg around the calf gives a circumference of Pi
inches, and the thigh the enormous length around of
24 inches, while the hips take full 48 inches of tape to
circuit their hugeness. Around the waist he shows a
girth of 42 inches. His avoirdupois pulls down the
scales easily at 118 i pounds. The child is quite intelli-
gent, can walk with much easier locomotion than his
ponder, us unshapely form would indicate, and enjoys
vs'- good health."

ha hat
tret earned. h
scientific
ittti efi
hospital.
The dAmericansie:l7rnr,aixtte.r
visit-
lug the southern hemisphere to report on the transit id Venus
in December next will have the new man-of-war Swatora, now
being completed and fitted up for the expedition at the
Brooklyn Navy Yard, placed at their disposal The vowel
I will, in all probability, be absent from America over twelve
I months.
A curious incident in the " Women's Whiskey War "
in reported in the Philadelphia Ledge,. of March .20 :- About
fitly Indies, accompanied by the officers of the Maryland
Temperance Alliance, and a number of clergymen if the city
of Baltimore, made it raid upon the House of Dele,rates at
Annapolis, and protested against the repeal of the local option
law. Their appearance created considerable confusion, and
the legislatorn soon adjourned, leaving the chamber in
possession of their visitors After singing one or two hymns
in the hall, the party proceeded to the First Methodist
Church, where they held a prayer-meeting and linteued to
whir-eines before returning to Baltimore
It is stated in some of the papers that Dr. Living;
stone's body will lie it. state for four days on the ph:arises 0.
the Royal Geographical society.
There is a prospect (the 2lfailehillei• Urrarifiaa states)
of the early termination of the strike in South Staffordshire.
which has thrown colliers out of work Little in
definitely known, but some of the unionist agents conclude
from the information they have received that the masters are
prepared to negotiate a compromise.
What is the opposite to "hive in a cottage " War
in A-" ahantee "
We learn from the Pall Mall Gazette that a number
of French ladies, under the conduct of the Marquise de
Gallifet. will present their homage to the Empress Eugenie
on the sth of next mouth, which is her Majesty's birthday.
The Sheffield razor forgers went on strike on Monday
to enforce a demand for an advance of wages. Should a set-
tlement not be speedily arrived at, MYIIy worlmien in other
departments of the razor trade will be thrown idle.
The legendary promenade- of Longchanips, says
Rifignoni,has been an much neglected this year as during
the two or three preceding In fact, the custom may be
consideredaa having entirely died out.
On Monday night a porter named Butcher, em
played upon the platform at the Slough station of the Great
Western Itailb,;:, was accidentally killed. Butcher was
coupling stone carriages, and, fearing that they were coming
back to sharply, tried to get from between them, when the
buffers crushed him to death.
A furnace for cremation is now in process of construc-
tion by Herr Friedrich Siemens, a civil engineer, of Leipzig.
Its cost is estimated at 5,00 u marks, or £250, and it is eaten-
eated that the complete combustion of a human corpse will
take about an hour.
" Zero.—Why do you not write! I think you
might. I have been etpecting to have a line froin you so
long —Yours, Grandpapa.' -" —Received letter. So
thankful to get it. As happy as ever can be. When absent,
thoughts are always on the none object. Last work slightly
successful"- Advertisements in The Tones.
In the large towns of America the Irish Benevolent,
Tempe, an e, and other societies made their usual demon-
stration:. on Si, Patrick's Day. In New York they had one of
the most imposing parades ever made there, and the demon-
stration in Philadelphia was on a scale of great magnificence.
'the day was gl.miny and threatening, interfering somewhat
with the effect, though not diminishing the numbers engaged
in the display.
The Ruesian Government will according, to The
rinses telegram, shortly begin to work the coalfields of Saghaliu
by convicts.
The other evening, while Day's menagerie IVILI being
exhibited at Crewkerne, one of the men belonging to the
establishment entered a den containing three young lions,
for the purpose of cleaning it out. While so engaged the
lions pounced upon him and flung him down, tine of the
animals seized him by the neck and another by the leg. Mr.
Day, the proprietor, who is a trainer of the animals, entered
the den, beat the lions off, and pulled the man out. 'the
flesh of hiS legs was frightfully lacerated and his clothes were
torn bi vice.. A doctor dressed the wounds, which are not
serio

A professor of one of our universities, dwelling, the
other day, im that portion of history devoted to Columbus
and the egg, concluded by saying that a fool could put as
many questions in an hour as would puzzle a arise luau for a
day - fly Jove !" exclaimed one of the under-graduates,
-now I understand how I was plucked last time in coluititu•
tonal history."

Complaints are mule in the lenuan Parliament of
the great bas f tune caused by the present mode of voting.
taunt Frankenberg has proposed the eatabltahment of an
electric apparatus by means of which the vote of the whole
house could he taken In half a minute.

It is stated that the Houle Secretary has caused an
Intimation to be conveyed to the family of the late Dr.
Livingstone to the effect that all suitable arrangements will
be made at the public charge for the conveyance of the
remains of the traveller from Southampton to London. and
for their subsequent interment in the Abbey Church at West-
minster.

The Pall. Mall Gazette says that there •ha 4 beta a
remarkable decrease, to the extent of two-thirds, in the
number of railway disasters In the month of Mardi
. . .

In nearly every church in London where the offer-
tory is adopted in lieu of seat rents the collections on Sun-
day last were given to the incumbents.
A vote of thanks to the Bishop of Manchester was
passed on Monday at a meeting of the Executive Committee
of the Agricultural Labourers Union at Leamington.
A meeting of the Scotch miners' delegates, numbering
over 150 and representing fully 21,000 men, was held in
Glasgow on Monday to consider whether they should not
follow the example of the Maryhill district, which agreed on
Saturday to accept the reduction of 20 per cent. Mr. Mac-
donald. M. P., was present, and told the delegates there was
nothim; for it but for the colliers whom they represented to
accept the rednction of 20 per cent, where that had been
off ered. It was, however, explained that in some districts a
reduction of 40 per cent, had been threatened. The meeting
lasted between four and the hours, and much difference of
,minion was expressed. Eventually the conference, by a
large majority, resolved that wherever the reduction did not
exceed 20 per cent, the men should offer to resume work

The pathetic details of the death of Livingstone
have formed the subject of conversation in many a
(amity circle during the season through which we have
just pasted. It is nearly ten years ago that he was
the hero of the meeting of the British Association at
Bath. This took place in September, 1864, and
the vast majority of those who then heard him
listened to his words for the last time. He left
England on his final journey soon afterwards, and
postponed his return until it was too late,
and when the attack of dyaentery was upon him which
took away his life. There was something intensely
touching in the brief description of his last hours which
has reached this country, and it was universally felt
that Westminster Abbey was the fitting resting place
for his remains, which are expected to reach
Southampton about the 13th of this month.
The
.Corpoqtion of the Royal College of London
PhysiciairahSs ofhcially brought under the notice of
the Hovenunent the defective condition of the dwel-
lings inhabited by the poor. It is pointed out in this
memorial that overcrowding leads to disease, drunken-
ness, and immorality, and is likely to produce dire-
content amongst the poorer portion of the people. The
wholesale demolition of the homes of poverty, which
has been carried on of late years under various Rail-
way and Improvement Acts, while it has been service-
able in removing many very bad streets and dwellings,
has incidentally caused much distress to the persons
displaced, and has driven them to herd into neighbour-
ing quarters which were already more full than was
consistent with the health of the occupants. The
Royal College of Physicians maintain that if such
a rich and powerful body as the Peabody Trustees are
unable to keep pace with the requirements of the
times, Government assistance is imperatively de-
manded. The east end of London is that part which
most urgently cries out for reform. There it is a
common experience to find a house consist of two
rooms—one on the ground, and the other on the upper
floor. The )stairs are decrepit, the roofs leaky, the
floors decai4d and broken, and the buildings generally
in bad repair. The water cistern is a dirty little
broken tub, capable of holding from two to four
gallons. The basements are often saturated with wet,
and ko one can doubt that such places are totally unfit
for human habitation. I am glad to see that public
attentien is being more and more directed to the state
of the district lying eastward of the City boundaries at
Aldgate pump. There is just now on foot a well-
organised attempt to provide Whiteehapel with baths
and wash-houses ; and as the committee includes the
names of several members of the House of Commons,
without distinction of party, there is a hope that the
effort may be auccesaful.
The directors of the Midland Railway werethe first to
Issue third-class tickets by all trains, and the Lancashire
and Yorkshire Company have now followed suit in a moat
important reform, which will prove an immense con-
vienee to the travelling public. We all 'mow the
hurry and excitement inseparable from procuring rail-
way tickets under the aystem which has hitherto pre-
vailed, when the booking offices are opened about five
minutes before the time for the departure of is train.
In the tqurist season the struggling, pushing, loss of
temper; and disputes over the correct change, are
daily and almost hourly experiences. The coolness
with which the clerks deal out the tickets is in striking
contrast with the anxiety and irritation depicted
upon the countenances of the unhappy throng
crowded outside the barrier, and moving along at a
slow pace in single file. "Any more for the 11.45
express ';" shouts a atentorian-voiced official, and a
chorus of affirmative replies is called out in a
score of different keys, the owners whereof find
it impossible to obtain their tickets. " Time's
up—can't keep the express waiting—you can take
the twelve o'clock slow train." Such is the con-
solation too often given to intending passenger.. Well,
the Lancashire and Yorkshire Company will in future
keep open the booking offices at their principal stations
continuously throughout the day, so that tickets may
be had at any time for any train. This is a step in
the right direction, and it will doubtless be followed by
others. Why, for instance, should we not come to the
plan of "distance" tickets, which has been so long in
force in the United States? Theme are purchased as
easily 11.1 postage stamps, at so much for lice, ten,
fifteen, or twenty miles and upwards. If a traveller
buys a coupon of this kind, it does not signify to the
Company whether he travels north or south, and as
each is stamped with the name of the issuing office,
the starting point le thus clearly indicated. There is
no necessity even for going' to a railway station to get
these tickets, for they might be sold at any of the
numerous railway receiving houses. We might with
advantage Americanise our institutions so far as im-
provements in travelling are ooncerned, for although
Pullman's sleeping cars have been in use upon the lines
of the I'nited States for years, they have only just
been introduced into this country, and for this in-
novation we are indebted to the Midland Company.
Lord John Manners, the new Postmaster-General,
lately received a memorial from an important com-
mercial association, which suggested that prepaid
replies to telegrams might be sent for sixpence. His
lordship, however, does not see hill way clear to accede
to this request. He doubts whether the increased
number of prepaid replies would compensate for the
loan of revenue thereby occasioned. He thinks that
the question. from a fiscal point of view, is not
whether the price .4 inland telegrams should be reduced
from a shilling to sixpence, but whether senders of
telegrams would be induced by the proposed reduction
of tariff to augment the number of those telegrams to
any appreciable extent..
.The opinion of the Post-office
authorities is that the lowering of price of transmission
of one-half would not lead to double the amount of the
present business, and in this respect many of the
public will beinclined to agree with them.
The decision of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, as
klast:r of the Mint, to continue the coinage of both
florins and half-crowns, has been variously criticised,
but there ran be no doubting the fact that it is in ac-
cordance with the expressed opinion of the banking in-
terest. Of the 302 bankers whose answers were re-
quested, 441 were in favour .4 coining florins only, 63
wished the two-shilling piece aladislled, and 193 voted
for a mixed issue. The enemies of the half-crown
declare that it possesses almost every fault possible in
a coin. They say that to reduce hallerowam to
shillings needs one division ; their conversion into
pounds requires another; while in calculation/1
cf addition and enbetraction they require two
columns instead of one. At the same time there
can be little doubt that the half-crown has
more friends than had been anticipated, for although
the florin has been amongst us for a quarter of a cen-
tury, the coin has never become popular. You never
see its name in a ahop-window as the marked price of
an article, and even now a considerable proportion of
the population would fail to recognize its value in its
official description. Admirable as the decimal system
of sdinsge may be in theory, and much as the half-
crown hasdieen abused as standing in the way of con-
summating that longslesire.l reform, the force of habit
has proved too strong for the extinction of a sturdy
old acquaintanee, which esidently hohla a higher
place in the public estlmadou than had been imagined.
The result of the dispute between the miners and
the coal and iron masters in different parts of the
kingdom is awaited with much interest in London. It is
nearly two years ago that, in the height of summer,
and with no apparent cause or excuse, the price of
coal suddenly ran up to an extraordinary figure.
There was a brisk trade then, and rising prices for
both coal and iron, and combinations amongst work-
men were succeasful in temporarily forcing up the rate
of wages. Now, however, with a glut in the market,
a receding scale in the value of both coal and iron, and
a tendency to a still greeter reduction, the masters

The weather on Easter Monday was in every way an
improvement upon that of Good Friday. The sun
shone out brightly, and the fact of its being a Bank
holiday brought out immense numbers for recreation
and amusement. There were 48,000 visitors at the
Crystal Palace, and nearly 40,000 at the Zoological
Gardens, with proportionate returns for the host of
other places of enjoyment in London and within an
easy reach of it. It was the opening day of the Inter-
national Exhibition, and more than 14,000 persons
passed the turnstiles. At Wimbledon also, and in the
adjacent villages, where the Volunteers were put
through a series of manceuvres, under the command
of Prince Edward of :jaxe-Weimar, there was such a
multitude as to interfere considerably with the success
of the spectacle. Altogether, the closing hours of the
Easter holidays were by far the best and the most
agreeable.

At the Lewis Quarter Sessionn, a report was pre-
sented showing the results if the system of remunerative
prison labour recently introduced into the Sussex County
Prison. In this document it was stated that during the nine
months it had been in operation the net profit on prisoners'
work was £3OO, and still more favourable results were an-
ticipated.
-

-
In the course of a sermon last Sunday on behalf of
the National Soeiety for Promoting the Education of the Poor
in the Principles of the Church of Eughind. the Bishop of
Manchester stated that while his diocese had received a
larger share of pecuniary support from church societies than
any other diocese, the amount returned by wealthy Lan-
cashire. he was ashamed to say. fell short of shut it had re-
ceived. The society whose dahlia he advocated had distri-
buted altogether close upon • million of mosey.

Those who knot the state of the Thames at Blackfriars
and London Bridge will be disposed to smile at the idea
of any trout beingcaught in the waters of that river. Yet
the month of April is the time in which the Thames angler
enjoys his recreation, not in the turbid stream which
flows past our wharves and our docks, but in the clear
waters higher up towards its source, where the banks
are dotted at but short intervals with snug hotels and
attractive inn accommodation. It has been estimated
that every trout caught in the Thames has cost the
votaries ,d the art more than its weight in gold, so
scarce has this description of fish become; and if we
depended upon our supply of trout in London on the
quantity bagged in our own river, we should very
seldom taste it. The speckled beauties now covering
the marble slabs of the fishmongers' shops come, how-
ever from brooks and rivulets in other directions, but
all within profitable railway transmission to town.

M. D. GuinOneuf has observed in the market gardens
In the neighbourhood of Brussels a vegetable which he had
never previously seen in cultivation. Ile describes it as a sort
of chicory, which forms a nest little bead about five inches
long and three inches across, very much like a dwarf Co.
Lettuce. It is very extensively used by the people of Brussels
during the winter and spring months, the blanched leaves
resembling the Bailie de Capiwin in flavour, while it is as
easily grown as the dandelion. It is recommended to the
notice of the London market gardeners.

It is an admitted fact in Japan and China that the
older the tree the better the tea. The shrubs whieh supply
the nobles or Japan with the favourite beverage are said to
be, in many instances, 500 years

When the laat mail left the Cape of Good Hope it
had been determined to colearate the marriage of the Duke
of Edinbliegh and the Grand Darhem Marie Alexandrovna
by a public holiday on the Gib of Marcia

•
It is stated by the Nati.mal Onset, of Berlin that
Prince Bismarck is increasing is streagth, though he b till
spends most of the day in hmL

The women's whisky war has a curious analogy to
the practice well known In India of sitting, an it is caßed,
(Meow,. The nature of the process is that if a man thinks
he has cause to complain of another's conduct, he will seat
himself in front of his enemy's door and starve himself to
death, by way of causing the Vellf,Tallee of the gotta to fall
upon him. This curious practice is forbidden and punished
by the 500th Section of the Indian Penal Code, awl is now
comparatively rare.
In answer to a letter from the students of Glasgow
University to Mr. Ralph Waldo Emerson, asking him to offer
himself as a candidate for the Lord Rectorship of the Uni-
versity, Mr. Emerson writes from America stating that they
are at liberty to propose his name, and if elected, he would
endeuvour to meet their views and wishes, and those of the
University, as to the time and the duties which the office
would require. Mr. Emerson has heen asked to comelor-
ward as an independent candidate by • section of the
am bleats who consider that the interest of the University
would be furthered were it to ware a rester free from poli-
tical bias.

wry
GOOD TEMPLARISM.—The annual statistics of
the Independent Onler of Good Templars for the juris-
diction of England are now in readiness, to be sub
mitted officially to the Right Worthy Grand Lodge,
the supreme authority of the organisation, which holds
this year's session next month at Boston, in the l'nited
States. At the close of the official year 1872-3, there
were in England 1,843 lodges; the number at the pre-
sent time is 3,719, and the total membership, as has
been rweertainifd from the census of last term, is not
less than 250,000, an increase in two years of upwards
of 190,000 members. On an average 600 lodges are
held every night in the week, and 200 public meetings
weekly are conducted under the direct auspices of the
order for the advocacy of total abstinence.
INSTANCES OF LONtiEVITY. - The obituary of
The Times of the 7th inst., contained the deaths of
seven persons—viz., four ladies and three gentlemen,
whose united ages amounted to 595 years, giving an
average of exactly 85 years to each ; the oldest was a
gentleman who had reached the age of 93, the t-oungest
of the game sex being 85. Of the ladies the oldest was
84, and the youngest 80 years of age. The following
were the ages-80, 81, 83, two at 84, 85, 88, and 93.
Of septuagenarians there were also seven, ranging
from 71 to 79 years of age. The average of the united
ages of both would give to these 14 persons just 80
years.
THE Sistrucrrr OF TRUTII.—" 0, what do
you think, Mr. Lillybrow ? The other day I was taken
for twenty-five, and I am only eighteeen "—" Raw!
Wonder what you 'll be taken for when you're twenty-
five ?" - "For Better for Worse, I hope!
Lillybrow looks pessier.]--Plineh.
THE ASHANTEE WAR AND THE "GOLD DUsT. "
—J. N. B. writes to The Times I see that in Par-
liament a proposal has been made to give our gallant
soldiers the money realized by the sale of the gold dust
brought home from the Ashantee war. Will you
allow me to state how the price of this gold (lust may
be enhanced? Let it be sold by auction, or privately
to respectable goldsmiths, who will make trinkets
from it for those who will not object to pay a fair
price for an article male trota a commodity whose
supply cannot be increased. I think the price of this
gold dust has been stated to be £4 per ounce. Now it
must be remembered that this particular gold dust—
like a pictuve of a deceased artist -is limited in supply;
therefore, worth far more than they ask, say at least
£6 or £7, and I have no hesitation in saying that
Artie]. made from the genuine metal will fetch that
extra price, which will more than compensate those
who may purchase the matesial at its proper price."
THE LIMOURS NIURDERS.—The Paris corre-
spondent of the Pall Mali Ga:ette writes under date
April 6 :
"You no doubt remember the series of murders committed
at Limours a few months ago, and how the rural postman
lasire Legrand hanged himself, after first writing down the
names of the assassins for the benefit of the authorities and
society. One man, a butcher named Lehmuf, was able to
prove an alibi, and so after six weeks' solitary confinement,
he was released, and now, after two months mid a half of
close itnprisonment, the other parties arrested on the dying
declaration of Desir6 Legrand have been released. Two of
these unfortunate men appear to have been above all sus
Mean. and to have met with a perfect ovation on returning
to their native village. It would be difficult to imagine any-
thing more diabolical than a man on the brink of the grave
writing a deliberate falsehood calculated to imperil the lives
of half a dozen penionn One of the victims of the postman
hail constantly treated him with great kindness. The I.lmours
mystery is far from being cleared up."
PIGEON SHOOTING IN PORTUGAL—A corres-
pondent at Lisbon writes :
"lii the Royal gardens, near the Aguchi Palace, Lisbon,
pigeon-shooting after the English model Was recently in-
augurated in Portugal Dom Louis 1., the Queen, Dom
Fernando, the Infante, Dom Augusto, and many members of
the diplomatic body and of the elite of YortiiiitieSe society
were present. The King and the Infante Dom August, tusk
part in the shooting. The Queen did not, although lath her
Majesty and the Duchess Palmella are excellent shots, and
have had considerable experience. The weather was every-
thing that could be ile,ired, and the birds, supplied by Offer,
of London, wore firat-rate, quick and strong on the wing.
The honours of the day were divided betweela the King and
M. Osborne Sawpayo, who shot ties, each killing his three
birds. Much interest was shown in the sport, which is quite
new hi Portugal, filid it is now probable that pigeon-shooting
will become an heititutinn in this country."
BREACHES OF PROMISE IN FRANCE.—Breach
of promise actions are rare in France. The law does
not admit compensation for injured feelings, and to
sustain a suit of this kind it is always necessary to
prove special damage (writes the Paris correspondent
of the Daily News). An attempt to its this has just
been made before the civil tribunal of the Seine by a
lady calling herself Madlle. Deceisne. She sued a
gentleman with the curious name of Manage, and laid
her damages at 10,000 franca, because on the faith of
the engagement she had given up a place of companion
to a peraon of rank, and had bought a trousseau. The
defence was that M. Mariage (aged 45) had not sought
either fortune or Oeauty, but he desired youth, and the
plaintiff had deceived him about her age. She at first
represented herself to be Zi, but afterwards owned to
26. Though disappointed, he had made up his mind to
put up with this difference; but he had found out by
the register that she was in reality 32, and that was a
figttre he could not accept. Amid shouts of laughter,
caused by a humorous speech of M. Gatineau for the
recalcitrant Mariage, the court pronounced a venlict
for the defendant.
SANDING SPONGES. —The Acting British Vice.
Consul at Rhodes states, in a recent report to the
Foreign Office, that the sponge fishery is the principal
industry of the Islands of the Sporades, and that the
yearly average crop of slanged may be estimated at
£120,000, and nearly half the crop is sent to England.
This occupation causes loss of life every season, owing
to the divers exceeding the prescribed depth with the
view of securing a more abundant haul. The Vice-
Consul gays that the sponges cent to England contain
81b. or 101 b. of sand to 11b. of sponge; and that Eng.
lish merchants, being accustomed to buy this article
with as much sand as may be introduced in the sponge,
will not pay a proportionally higher price for sponges
whichmaycontainlemsand. Accordingly, theirspongee
are charged with expenses on sending them before
exportation, the extra freight, and the expense of ex-
tracting in England the sand introduced. The same
system also formerly prevailed in supplying sponge to
French and other European markets; but experience
having shown that it is better to purchase the sponges
just as they are fished, agents are sent to Rhodes
which is the centre of this commerce, to purchase
direct from the divers, or the owners of diving ap-
paratus, and the sponges are thus obtained at first
hand, and not weighted with sand. The Vice-Consul
is informed that an English firm at Rhodes is trying
the experiment of sending unsanded sponges to the
English market, but that it is supposed the attempt
will at first meet with with serious diffieultiaki

very serious.
On Saturday a deputation from the French residents
In Japan presented M. Thiers with a set of eldinney orna-
ments, manufactured in Yokohama. In reply to the address
which accompanied the gift, M. niers said that he had
found France in an abyss, and he had called upon all good
citizens to assist him in extricating her from it. The country
more anti more displayed its preference for the Republican
form of government, and until it obtained what it desired
would be uneasy and disunited.
On Saturday the annual return respecting military
savings banks, presented to Parliament, was printed, show-
ing that the total amount of the fund for the banks up to
the 20th ult. was £300,609 thi. sid. The interest allowed
daring the year 1673 to depositors in military savings banks
was £6,853 12s. 7441., and the interest allowed on army chari-
table funds £1,965 Ithi. 71d. The withdrawals from She banks
in the period were £131,254 Its. Oil. The number of ac-
counts open on the 31st of March last year was 14.560.
Easter Sunday in London was marked by an un-
usual number of "high celebrations." The ritualist churches
were profusely decorated, and early communion commenced
in some eases at half-past five o'clock. At St. Paul's,
Lorrimore-square, Walwinth, the principal service opened
with a procession in which four trumpeters and eighty robed
choristers proceeded the cross-bearer lie was followed by
Incense bearers, candle bearers, and magnificently em-
broidered creates Throughout the day the church wail
numerously. attended.
"It has been remarked by the Rotten-ilowites that
the equipages and horses seen ill Hyde Park this season
are more splendid than ever known before. Fashion has
taken an expensive yet a satisfactory turn." Court
JOlll-11111.
" Lord Byron gives this account of a party with
Sheridan It was first silent, then talky, then argumentative,
then disputatious, then unintelligible, then allogethery, then
inarticulate, then drunk. '—Free Lowe.
The following is a list of the ships and number of
emigrants sent out to New Zealand by the agent general for
that colony during the month ending March 31, 1074 .—The
Buekinghanishire, for Otago, with 496 souls James Wished,
Auckland, 283 ; Queen of Nati ~,, s, Auckland, 347 ; Wakaito,
Wellington, 369 'Northampton, Canterbury, 393 ; flalcione,
liawkes Bay. 337 Dunedin (froni Glasgow), Canterbury,
495; Hindustan, Otago, 344; Caroline (from Queenstown),
Otago, 37,9, Peeress (Timaru), ('anterbury). 200 ; Stonehouse,
Canterbury, 430 ; Cardsburn (from Glasgow), Otago, 310
total. 4,41:1 souls.
It is officially stated that the Hayman Defence Com-
mittee have collected about £1,200, nearly all of which has
been laid out in legal and other expenses, while there
are heavy outstanding liabilities. In deference, they say,
to suggestions received from various quarters, the com-
mittee think it right 441 offer all who feel for Dr. Hayman
an opportunity of substantially evincing their sympathy
by subscribing to a fund towards compensating him in
some measure for the great pecuniary loss he has sus-
tained.
Her Majesty the Queen, with Princess Beatrice and
Prince Leopold. attended Divine service at Whippingham
Church on Sunday morning. The Rev. George Prothero sad
the Rev. William Gray officiated. The Rev. George Prothero
preached —The Prince and Princess of Wales attended
Divine sertice in the parish church of Sandringham on Sun-
day morning. The church was decorated for the Easter
festival with flowers from the Royal conservatories. The
Rev. W. Lake Onslow, M.A., Vicar of gandringllani, officiated
and preached.
Mr. Justice Honyman is progressing favourably
towanle recovery, and hopes to be able shortly to resume Isis
judicial duties.
The twenty-first birthday of his Royal Highness
Prince Leopold was celebrated on Tuesday (the 7t15), at
Windsor with all the usual rejoiciugs. At noon a Royal
salute was tired from the battery in the Long Walk.
On March 26 five of the principal theatres in New
York were opened for the benefit of the poor in that city.
Over 25,000 tickets were sold.
The miners in Clackmannan and Kinross districts
are working at a reduction of ten per cent, per ton. Coals
have been reduced, and another decrease is anticipated.
The murder of a family is reported from Centre-
ville, St. (lair, In the state of Illinois, the victims being an
old man, his son, daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren.
The assassin lust present at large, and is supposed to be a
nian who begged a night's lodging, and in the middle of the
night committed the deed to possess himself of some of the
money which the family, whose name was Stetzereids, had in
the house at the time.
One of those fearful accidents is reported which from
time to time occur on the Mississippi. It appears that the
tow-boat Crescent City, front New Orleans, while oil her
passage to St. Timis on March 24, having several freight
barges in tow, exploded, off an island named Monteraria,
few miles below Memphis. The steamer is said to be
•• blown all to atoms," and the barges entirely destroyed by
fire. Eight persons were killed and many severely injured.
Mr. Baxter addressed his constituents at Arbroath
on Sionday night Referring to the dissension among liberals,
he said that if it continued the Conservatives would rsnmin
in power for ever ; and, speaking of the General Election, ac-
cepted its result as teaching the lesson that the people of this
country are not in favour of extreme measures or extreme
men. Ile was glad that the Conservatives hail seceded to
office, for the Liberals had enjoyed its sweets during thirty-
two years, and turn and turn about was fair play.
The Indian Hide News states that the Maharajah
of CasliMere, who is much concemed at the present depres-
sion in the state of the shawl trade with Europe, and espe-
cially in France, has invited to Jummoo the trailing native
merchants and shawl manufacturers of Cashmere, to confer
with them as to the best means to be adopted to resuscitate
the trade, and to take steps to prevent for the totem the
present depreciation of Cashmere wares in France.
That eniinent Frenchman, M. Jules Favre, having
been advertised to deliver a lecture at Brussels, with re-
ference to " Social Cs mlition of Women in Demouratical
Societies," there was an enormous crowd of females who
were anxious to Inc present and hear the advocatf of their
rights, but about one-third only of the applicants could be
accommodated. As 34. Jules Favre contended that as far as
intellect was concerned the women were quite equal to the
men, it is almost unnecessary to say that he met with a most
enthusiastic reception from the female auditory. Some of
the gentlemen present did not, however, appear to take quite
wwureat an interest in the lecture, and left before its cons-
pletion.
A witness has appeared before the Epping Forest
Commissioners who remembers having seen a herd of deer in
the forest fifty years ago. lie had himself shot all kinds of
game in it tom the trifle when he was twenty years of am.
The making 14 the new road lie considered had destroyed the
place for sport.
The Glasgow Herald publishes the details of the
various bequests granted under the will of the late Mr.
Robert Freeland, of Gryffe Castle. The total aneeint is
£27,500, and of this sum £18,509 goes to Various fundi con-
nected with the Free Church. Of the remainder the Western
Infirmary gets £4,000.
In thanking the Ring of Bavaria for congratulations
on his sixtirth hirthrlay, Prince Bismarck hoped that by
God's grate Ile would soon be restored to his task, for the ac-
complishment of which he liesprke his Majesty's continued
good-will and ConthICOCC.
The new game " Badminton" liromises to be the
rage this season. Croquet has heed going out of farrow for
some time People complain that just in proportion sir the
game is regarded ea one of the severer sciences it has become
" slow." It takes people out of doors into the froth air, it is
true, hut when they are there, it gives them the minimum
of exercise Now, Badminton, an called because it was
brought out at the Duke of Beaufort's seat, calls into
play She muscles of Die arms, chest, dec. and pro-
duces ten times more exhilaration and excitement than
croquet. It is, in fact, battledore and shuttlecock reduced
Di mile, elevated into a game of skill, and played between
oPPosite sides. The opposite sides are separated by a trans-
verse net, which answers the useful purpose of preventing
the players from rushing at each other, battledore In hand,
and striking each other undeact of the shuttlecock.

" Lieutenant Wood, who brought home the despatches
announcing the fall of Coonomie, obtained the lore little
sum of £5OO, which is the regulation gift to the official bearer
of good tidings on such occsaions."—evort Journal

A bill was recently introduced into the Assembly in
Sacramento, and seven minutes after it had been introduced
it had passed the House, and was on its way to the Senate,
which body it passed the name day. The bill was bigned by
the Governor at his dinner.

A Liverpool ship of large tonnage, the Victoria
Nyanza, mak a valuable cargo of tea. linseed, indigo, and
jute, went asliore on Saturday at It Touquet, twenty-three
miles south of Boulogne. The second officer and two men
'were drowned.

Conditions of the treaty of Ashantee are being dis-
cussed at cape (*bast Castle. There is an objection to giving
up human sacrifices ; and the King, who Is reported to be
ill. assorts by his messengers that the quantity of gold de.
mandled by Sir Garnet Wolseley was not 50,000 but 5,000
ounces.

The joiners and plumbe-s in Fifeshire are agitating
for the adoption of a nine hours' movement, and payment at
the rate of 6d. per hour. At Leslie and Markin the Journey-
men tailors have asked for an advance of 121 per cent on
their present wages.

At a recent meeting of the Pennsylvania Society for
the Prevention of Cr&lty to Animals (one of the most
prominent charities) the Baroness Burdett-Coutts was elected
:kti honorary member. The Viee-President, Colonel M.
Richards MucklE, who presented her name, prefaced the
motion by some very complimentary remarks relative to the
many lienevolent acts of the Baroness.
The evening of Wednesday, the 29th of April, has
been appointed for the ball to be given by the Lord Mayor
and th Lady Mayoress of London to their Royal Highnesses
the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh at the Mansiomhouse.
It is needless to state that a distinguished company will be
invited to meet their Royal Highnesses, and that the oceaaiou
will be in all respects worthy the Illustrious guests and the
traditions of the mayoralty of the City of London.

The Mexicon Axolotl; which have for Home time
been exhibited in one .d the handsome vases in the entrance.
hall of the Brighton Aquarium, spawned about a month ago.
As the parents showed some disposition to de% our their eggs,
the latter were removed to one of the troughs of the salmon-
hatching apparatus, where the young asulotls may now be
seen, having just been hatched alter a period of 29 days in
the egg.

The whole of the general labourers employed at
Westonauper-Mare struck work en Monday morning, in con-
sequence of the employers refusing to accede to the request
for an advance of 2s. per week which had been asked for by
the men.

The annual conference of the Miners' Amalgamated
Associations began its sittings on Tuesday at Manchester,
under the presidency of Mr. Thomas Halliday ; and the
desirability of extending the operations of the union to Corn-
wall and Devonshire was the subject of a resolution which
was passed unanimously.
- -

The Assembly of lowa has appropriated £2OO for the
best new apple that will keep in good condition until after
April Ist, and for a superior plumb improved from native
stock, the same to be a variety not now in existence, and
superior to any in hardness, productiveness, and quality of
fruit. The seedlingsmust be exhibited front year to year be-
fore the State Horticultural Society, and the premium Is to
be awarded ItrlsS6 by a competent committee appointed by
that association.
A young man named Losseur, who the other day
swallowed a good-sized fork for a lark, is now In the hospital
of La title, Paris and crowda of doctors Bock to see him.
Curiosity is the profession is as great that no less than
fourteen came In tlo, course of a single hour. The reckless
patient does not suffer notch, awl is its good spirits The
fork, a composition one, la supposed to be crosswise in the
stomach, with the prongs • little below the liver. It appears
that the lad has been in the habit of swallowing hard sub-
stances, but he never before put down his throat anything
of such considerable balk. Groat doubts are entertained
whether his life can he saved.

Last autumn a deputation of labourers on the estate
of Earl Spenesr, in Northamptonshire, waited upon his
lordship at Althorn House, and requested him to allow them
acre allotments for their own cultivation Earl Spencer pro-
mised to give the application due consideration, and has
since informed them that lie has determined to try the ex-
periment—to commence with halfa-cloaen acres next spring,
to be divided among as many men, bat will not limit the
number should the experiment prove anccessful. Ilia lord-
ship also fixed the mode of selection. At present the men
have potato-ground on th• estate, for which they pay •
nominal rental ; and an inspector of these is to go ovor
then, in the ensuing sumnier and autumn, and the wen-
piers of the best-cultivatsil patches will receite the ant
batch of acre allotineuts.

"The latcut fashion for afternoon teas is to nerve it
lo Noun.; which has no affinity whatsoever to dinner d la
Russo. It only means to substitute slices of lemon for the
ereani, which genie people eonsider as iinportant as the tea
itself. On the tea tray Is served a small glass dish contain-
trig sliced lemon, tut with the rind on it. Into the cup is
disq.ped, first, a diminutive Lit of sugar. Moderation in
this is essential, or the flavour of the lemon is destroyed. On
the sugar Is then deposited a slice of lemon, on which the
tea is purred ; and it would be a courageous spirit indeed Who would venture to say that the beverage is not then all
that the son of woman need desire. Asa concession to the pre
judices of those who are unable to climb Rue tan heights,
rank is still set up also."—Court Journal.
The German periodicals (says the British Medical Journal), retant several cases of trichinosis. In Hasselbusch,
early in March, a lady, her servant and eivhC other persons
were infected by eating a small quantity of raw pork.
Several children also irr Rapendorf are said to have peel,
attacked with trichinosis in consequence of the am- f aoffle
sausages given them by their comps:de., iu iinaselbusch
In Lissa, live persons in a nosrehant's house ha,. beei, at-
tacked with trichinosis. They had partaken of a ham, What
according to all accounts, waa well pickled and smoked, and
boiled for two hours. Front further inquiriew if has Iten
ascertained that the remainder of the hani was full of tn.
chime. Its vendor is 111 from the saine caose,
During the week ending last S:;rdrtlay, h,009
birth
and 3,442 deaths were rs-,..;5;...e4 in London and tit sty
Other lot go cities aost towns of the United Kingdom. The
natural ihcrease of population waa 1.667. The mortality
from all causes In these toe 1115 was at the rats of 24 dealls
annually to every 1,000 persons living lii the metropolis
2,086 births and 1,949 deaths were registered, the former
having been 422, and the latter 400, below the average num-
bers. Fifty-one peraons tiled from measles, 11 from scarlet
fever, C from diphtheria, 54 from whooping-cough, 30 from
different forms .1 fever, 11 from diarridca. and not Our from
small-pox ; thus to the seven mineipal diseases of the
aymohe elass 163 deaths Were referred, against 182 and 170
In the two preceding weeka The mean temperature at the
Royal Olden.atory, Greenwich, showed a considerable excess
on each of the first six days t 1 the week, while .41 Saturday
it was lwlow the average. More than half an inch of rain
fell on Friday and saturday The rainfall of the first three
months of this year was, however, but 2 4 inches, and in. re
than 3 Inches below the average for the oorresponding
perifall od of 58 years , in the last three months of 1573 the
Was also deficient to the estent of an Inch and a
ball.

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