The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-11-21 00:00:00

A POPULAR PRINCE.

The following letter is from a friend in Portugal on the
feelings of the people of that country respecting the alleged
offer of the Spanish Crown to Dorn Fernanno :
Ourique Alemtejo , Nov. S.
If ever there was a popular Prince it is certainly
Dorn Fernando, father of Dom Luiz 1., King of
Portugal. Every resident in Lisbon is well acquainted
with the tall, athletic stature, erect and commanding
mien and manly bearing of the King-Artist, as he
rapidly walks down the Chiado (the Lisbon Piccadilly),
almost invariably alone, his hat very much inclined on
one Fide, twisting his moustache with one band and
playfully whirling his walking-stick with the othcr.
He has a good-natured look, a familiar smile, a
isdite bow for everybody; and if spontaneous
lifting, of hats be a proof of love and respect,
i none s more loved and respected than Ferdinand,
for as soon as he appears all hats are off as if
put in motion by one spring,. He is often seen
entering different shops, making a few purchases
and chatting familiarly with the shopkeepers. His
love for arts of every branch, from the highest to the
very humblest, is well known. He in a remarkable
painter and sculptor, a skilful carpenter, and might
give lessons to many a locksmith. One of his gre.it
delights is to enter a si orkshop, instal himself on any
st(sil at hand, light his havannah, and watch the men
at their work. Generous to a fault, his money may
well be said to be not his own. His revenues often
come short, and he makes no secret of it. Many a
time, when a picture, an engraving, an antique

piece of jewelry, a collection of coins, or a rare
edition of some curious work is presented to him for
purchase, King Ferdinand has to exclaim with a sigh,
and a half-comic and half-melancholy air, " Alas
m !
I have no money!" and let the much-desired treasure
go imbought. Affairs and cares of State are to him
an intolerable bunlen, and although he was the very
guardian angel of the well-remembered anti lamented
Ring Dom Pedro V., and was wont to give him ad-
vice, the results of which fully proved his political
tact and high qualitications for ruling a nation, yet, as
much as he could help, and when he was not strictly
wanted, he kept aloof from public affairs, and led the
life he most delights in—that of a private gentleman,
' an enthusiastic cultivator of art, and a liberal patron.
The Portuguese, especially the Lisbon people, who
know him best, have a very great regard for Dom Fer-
nando ; they feel to a certain extent flattered that one
of their princes should be pointed out 9.4 a probable
candidate for a crown, but they certainly would be
sorry to lose lout, and jealous that any other nation
should possess him. They consider him theirs
—their own private property— and the affection-
ate %cords 0 non. Dont F• not a" are in
everybody's mouth when referring to him. He
is indispensable in the Chiado, in the Passitio
Publico, in San Carlos Theatre, in picture galleries, is
old curiosity shops, in carpenters' and smiths' ateliers,
and in the orange groves of Cintra. Besides, in the
ascent if Ferdinand to the throne if Spain the Portu-
guese would see a sign of future annexation, and this
the great majority of the nation have a decided ax-en
sion from. It is well to remember that Portugal en-
joys, and has enjoyed now for years, as much liberty aa
any tither country. The freedom of speech and of the
press is here practically carried out to an extent not sur-
passed anywhere. Trial by jury is now rooted in the
soil, and the humblest Duet:kin= citizen is well aware
of the soundness and utility of such an institution.
Passports are things of the past, and the young gene-
ration live in blessed ignorance of even the meaning of
that nuisance. Nobody can, I believe, reasonably
complain of being much tormented on the head of
religious opinions. Capital punishment has been
officially abolished, and had been in disuse for many
years. In fact, it is not hard to understand the
Portuguese people's objection to became any nation's
province, since they possess at home pretty nearly all
that is calculated to make them happy and indepen-
dent.

BUMPKINS ON BRIBERY.
(Br MR. 110MB:liEEN.)
The canvass at Aldershott Camp. I'll he bound,
'Ood cover a wad many arrest, ground.
Now canvass all over the country we ace;
Some fellers come down here a canvassun nie.
I went Cother day to the next market town.
There was handbills and squibs stuck all over the Crown
Likewise the White Bart they hail beautified too;
The one bills all yeller, the Cothers all blue.
At that that Bill Buckle, the saddler, come by, •
We both was athirst, and the Wheatsheaf well nigh;
About the Election our talk mostly run,
And! poked up friend Bill wi some o' my fun.
" Well, Willum," I sez to lilt, bisnus is—how ?"
"Oh, well," he replies, "pretty middlun, jest now."
"At lection times, hereabout, Walnut," sez I,
" Ti, ried as how prices do mostly run high
"two heerd leather gaiters was last time so rare,
Some on urn was sellun' at tell pounds }mfr. •
And how about sugar': Ilan% stare a balloon
Brought down to this burry the Man in the Moon?
Says Bill, " Sitch fine times as they once have a ben.
I'm feared we bain't gwiun' to zee here again ;
But, Bribery Acts let um pass as they 'eel,
The pus as is longest will have the best pulL
" Supposin' I do sell my birthright, why not,
To gun away right when no Judgment I've got?
I han't a got no other rason to vote,
And better than none I accounts a bank-note."
Sez I, Bill, that there's thought a sensible rule
By others 'sides you, that lie less le,ave than fool.
The end 'o which is that the couutry gits sold
To Railwaymen, Jobbers, and schemers, for gold.
"Anne better rason than money you own,
For votun', your best plan's to lave it alone.
'that there, Bill's the dooty 11' fellers like you,
Your country to serve 'tis the most you can do."
" My country be Mowed !" was Bill Buckle's reply;
"And as for nor dooty I don't know, not
No more nor the Church Catechism do declare,
And no word I knows on agin sugar there." —Punch.