The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-05-17 00:00:00

11 isallantous

ROME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL.

it
i•nse
every

ROMAN TIC NoNsaaaz.—lt is pretty well
understood that there is a large and influential section
of the Community—unmarried ladies looking out for a
settlement, an establishment, a position—who do not
acre' with the author of a modern poem, that Lore is
Enough. Many other things, they say, are wanted
besides—such as a town and • country house, • car-
riage or two, saddle horse., gene creditable jewellery,
perhaps a box at the Opera, and, above all, plenty of
pin•money.—Punch.
_ _ _

. .
SroTs ON TUE Sow.—Mr. Edward Williams,
chief mate of the steamship Wanted, lately arrived,
writes:—

"Not having seen any mention In any of the periodicals
al olt spots on the sun, I forward this. We left Calcutta
the 15111 of March, and on the lint day out observed two
spots on the western verge of the sun, visible all day, and
which took two days to crose, and other spots appeared again
Is tun for over 30 days—in fact, the last I saw was on the
11th of April, when the tuna English weather prevented
further observation.-

Exertine Scutz IN A LONDON PARK—Au
exciting scene was witnessed on Monday night in St.
James's-park. A little boy, who had been taken there
by his aunt, fell into the ornamental water. The woman
put her baby on the path, dashed into the water, and
made for the spot where she was told the boy had dis-
appeared. The boy ruse to the surface about three
yards from the bank, when the young woman seized
hold of him and carried him to shore. Eager hands
were reached to help them up the bank, but the woman,
overcome with the effort, had to be dragged out of the
water. Another moment's delay would have been
fatal. The woman and the boy were taken to the
Westminster HospitaL
DECLINE OF CYPRUIL—Since the end of the
12th century, when the Island of Cyprus was sold by
Richard Cour de Lion to Lusignan, the inhabitants
have suffered many vicissitudes, but never, says a
letter from Smyrna, have they been so unfortunate as
at present. Agriculture, overburdened with heavy
taxes, is in a state of rapid decay, and the bad crops,
droog'ite, and earthquakes, have completed the ruin of
the island. The emigration from it, nothwithstandiog
all the efforts of the government to stay the exodus, is
fast increasing, and the fertile soil which formerly sup-
ported a population of a million can now scarcely feed
150,000.

THZ COAL QIINATION IN CHINA AND JAIIAN.
—M. Louis Strauss, Belgian consul in Japan, has pub-
lished an article on this question in the Independence
Belge of the 12th loot. At the outset he states that
mining industry in both countries is still in a perfectly
primitive state. The Japanese Government has en.
gaged some foreign engineers, but only a few small
enOuee have been introduced till now. M. Strauss
points out that Japan off ere a good opening for export-
leg Belgian machinery. After giving an account of
the known coal.fielde and mines whiith are worked in
Coins and Japan, M. S'irauss says :—" The example
of Japan, where some of the mines are worked under
the direction of foreigners, will probably carry China
into the way of progress, and confer upon her the
benefits of Weetern invention. The natural resourien
and the national wealth of the empire demand it, and
when Europeans shall be able to work the coal mines
of China, these will supply the extreme East, for no.
where is labour less dear. At Formwa especially, the
coal-fields are near the rivers, which will facilitate the
transport."
SCRIMS IN PLASTZR. A USZVOL HINT.— It
sometimes becomes desirable to insert screws in plaster
walls, without attaching them to any woodwork; but
when we turn them in, the plaster Rives way and our
effort is vain. The plan suggeeted is to enlarge the
hole to about twice the diameter of the screw, fill it
with plaster of Paris, such as is issued for fastening
he tops of lamps, aml h.cl the slrew in .oft plaster„
When the plaster has met, the screw will be held very
strongly.

-
A GIGANTIC RAFT IN AMISSICA.—The gre
raft on Red River, it is expected, before very long will
bee ime a thing of past. This raft is formed of
many years' accumulations of legs brought down ny
the current, and extende some 70 miler, the lower end
being heated about :10 miles above Shreveport,
Lonieisna. The United States' Government ban tali en
in (hare e the removal of the raft, and the meg b ,at Aid
ban been steadily at work fir a long time, cutting
channels through it and Petting the timber afloat, and
it is expected that before long the entire raft will be
removed. The river above Shreveport is frill of floating
timber, and a very profitable trade has eptung up in
that region in catching the logs.
A TItcYHY or COMPIEGNE. —The) Prince of
Wales has had meunted, in the form of an beketand,
the foot of a stag which was oiled down by the
Emperor Napoleon's hounds in the Eore-t of
Compfigne on the 19th of November, 1868. The
occasion was rendered ,he more memorable from the
cirennietance of his K.yal Highness having had a
rather narrow escape of injury by the charge of two
stage, his horse being overthrown and the Prince awe
taining a few bruises. The 'tag's foot, retained by him
as a souvenir, was but roughly nailed on a board by
the French taxidermist ' • and, just after returning from
Camden Howe, whither be had been to see the
Emperor lying Li state, the Prince thought ,f having
the trophy mounted in a worthier manner. Hie Royal
Highnese commismioned Mr. Edwin Ward, F.L.S., the
naturalist, to adopt the fait to the form and purpose of
an inkstand, wiithemblemwic ornamentation ;and this
work, baiting been executed With great tll4O and skill,
in now in view for a few days at Mr. Ward's museum
in Wignioreeetreet, London, previ,us to being Bent to
the Vienna Exbibitis n.

HOW TO ECONOMISE COAL. —A good illustra
tion of what miyht be rfftcted in the way of root n•
nni-ing furl in cur 'Jeanie. works and manufactories was
furni.h.,d lately to the Select committee on Publur
Contracts by Mr. M'Culloch, the coal buyer to the
Admiralty. The consumption in the dockyarda and
beAhe navy, umatkr syerages ab gat 200,0G0 tone per
anoniii—lestairraliii year Ain 1 t Catthaelt tiiirowlBl3,ooo
or 170 OM tons end with le. A saying of 1.0,000 tons
will be effected in Portsmouth Dockyard allme by
making SEprOV. WEIN in the Ptat;onary sOgitles—con.
yertinr ti' in into c myeeind eogineQ, and by alter,
the tire bare and t'ne furnaces. Mr. M'Culloch ex,
pressed a strong opinion that there will Boon be e one.
siderable reduction in the price of coed.

THE DUALS Or EDINBURGH'S WRDDIkO,-..
The following appears in a letter to The Amu f
Naples, dated the sth inst.
There can be no hesitation. after all that is freely rep fug
here, In now speaking of the entragenicht of the Delta of
Edinburgh to the Grand Duchess Merle, noun who $40,11
be well informed tell me that they met at Reese Dartnatsal
a year or two since, and that from that time an nuderstass.
big has existed between them. During Prinno Aif
residence in Sorrento, though nominally etaying
Two, he has been constantly at the Iniperla
from morning till night. Hie Royal nightie.' in no;
returning to London, but will leave it again shortly, and j nrj
the Express axd the Grand Duchess at Jugenhettn, hs,ro.
Dermstalt. The Emperor will also be there later, Lod '
cflioiai publicity will then, no doubt, be given to tio, row.
fleae that is to be. One difficulty existed which hae
surmounted It RA, proposed as a condition that the bun
of ltdinhurgh should reside. certain perked of time "ne.
year in Ittvala, but he refused to bind himself.
more than rumour say• that the Grand Duchess en) b"jutt
her husband £to,ooo a year, belittles £200,000 :000‘,..M
fortune will be the sweet, amiable dhpddtionol enki
one about the Court .peaks.

HOTEL-KREPERW REBPOMPIBILITIEB.--A Chi,
cago paper mentions that the Supreme Court of tlis
State is to be called upon to decide the question wh.t4i,
• "guest" and a " boarder " are the same, so far si
concerns the reeponsibility of the hotel propristor for
their bragrage. justice Boyden held that there wag,
distinction, and from that opinion an appeal I.
taken. rhe case before the Justice was that of
serve versus Muss. The defendant boarded at iae
Palmer House before the fire, was a resident of Chicro
and in business there. One day his room was costal
by a thief, who stole clothing valued at 105 dole. Whaa
his bill was presented, he claimed that 105 dols, sheald
be deducted; as the proprietor, Meeserve, was revs..
Bible for his (Mogi') property. Messerve tie
claim, refused to compromise, and finally brougst mut
to recover the full amount of the bill-166 dolt
The Justice said there was a broad distinction basest
a guest and a boarder; that while a proprietor of a
hotel was liable for the value of a guest's Nggsg., b.
could not be held responsible for that of a b.,srkier.
There had been r.o decision upon the "point,"
would accordingly give judgment in favour
complainant.

Tin Gams Laws. —Three witnesaes well
examined on Tuesday before the Select Committee oa
the Game Laws. They were Mr. Brock, a farni.r
Caithness, Mr. Wright, • farmer and valuer of 74.
neater, and Mr. Alfred Smith, • farmer occupyini 700
scree in East Saffollr, on the estate of Lead
Rendlesham. Mr. Wright spoke to having
farms for damage done by game, an 1 that in one earn,
he had estimated the injury at as much as £l,OOO. He
did not think hares did as much damage aa rablitx sad
in his opinion landlords and tenant, should have a con.
current right to shoot rabbits, which, he thought, audit
to be taken out of the category of game and classed
with rata and other vermin." He also gave it as by
opinion that covenants in leases to preserve rabbits
should be null andvoid. Mr. Smith said that his ex-
perience led him to the conclueion that damage to crops
wee chiefly done by ground game, and that wiaatd
game might fairly be protected. He went further the,
the last witness, in recommending that hares as well
as rabbits, should be destroyed by landlord and tenant
concurrently. All the witnesses inclined to the o*ba
that in the event of the game laws being repealed it
would become
.neceesery to make the law of traipses
more stringent.

A WISE CAPTAIN. —Very early in the morn.
Mg of the Bth of April the Sound steamer Elur
of the New Haven line, which had lift her pier on ths
East river (New York) in a fog, and wait running la
dependence on fog signals, went hard aground feces
end to end OD the Stepping Stones reef, about hal
way between the Long Island and Westchester county
shores. There were 100 passengers on board, most of
them ladies. The caw is worthy of notice on account
of the captain's conduct. As the passengers, hastily
wrapping a few clothes about them, rushed on deck, be
had presence of mind enough to seize • newvaper,
coolly put • cigar in his mouth, and walk leisurely kg-
ward, assuring the frightened passengers that there
was no danger. He walked very slowly, he said, pre.
tending to be smokieg his cigar, but he was "in cos.
siderable of a hurry," to use his ewa words. By kis
coolness he prevented a panic; and, having got tba
boats lowered and the life-rafts ready floated in eased
need, he persuaded the passengers to stay on board till
daylight, and they were then safely taken off. fhe
vessel settled down soon after striking with part of the
main deck under water.

DEATH OF CHIEF JUSTICE CHABE.—A tele-
gram by Atlantic cable announces the death from apo-
plexy of Chief Janice Chase. The deceased was bora
in New Hampshire in 1808. He studied at Cincinnati
College and afterwards at Dartmouth College. in New
Hampshire, where he graduated in 1826. For some
little time he keot a private school at Washington, but
meanwhile studied law; was called to the bar in
1830, and practiced at Cincinatti. In 1840 he begin
to take an active part in polities; in 1849 he ins
elected a senator for the State of Ohio, and in 1855 he
wit, elected Governor of the State. Upon being re-
, 'reed he let I the post until 1860. The next year he
• appolutec Secretary of the Treastuy by President
Lincoln, and discharged the arduous duties of that
office during the troubled time of the great civil war.
In June, 1864, be resigned, and shortly afterwards was
appointed. Chief Juatice of the Supreme Court of the
United States. In 1868 he pp-ended over the Court of
Impeachment for the trial of President Johnson.

UNITZD STATES' MIXT. —American papers
note that the New Coinage Act came into operation
on the let of April. The mint of the United State.),
established as a bureau of the Treasury Department,
embracing in its organization, and having under its
control, all mints for the manufacture of coin and all
assay offices for the stamping of bars The chief officer
of the bureau is denominated the Director of the Mint
and is under the general direction of the Secretary of
the Treasury. He is to have his office for a term of
five years, unless sooner removed by the President
upon reasons to be communicated by him to the Senate.
Dr. Linderman will be appointed to this office, basing
been connected with the Mint in responsible poeitioes
for the last twenty years, to the entire satisfaction of
the Government The term "Branch Mint"
abolished, and the mints at Philadelphia, San Francisco,
Carson, and Denver are to be known as separate esta-
blishments. Those who are now directors of the mints
will hereafter bear the name of superintendents.
There is no change in the gold coinage, but in the
silver coinage a "trade dollar," for commercial per•
poses, slightly shove the Spanish dollar in value, is to
be struck. The two-cent piece is no longer to be
coined and the "minor coins" are to be restricted.to
one, three, and five cent. pieces.

Too GOOD Yews To HZ TRUZ.—It is generally
believed now by meteorologists that we are to have a
cycle of very hot summers. An eminent sanitarian m
the Health Department, Dr. Stephen Smith, has
already issued • report euggesting measures during the
coming summer which shall prevent the fatal effects of
the expected heat. One late equalize the temperature
of the city and purify its atmosphere by causing a large
number and variety of shade trees to be set out in
various streets and squares. The effect of trees, as is
wed known, is to cool the temperature in summer and
soften the cold In winter. Some believe that bees
exert this power through their own inherent warmth,
as the wood of a living tree maintains through the year
• standard temperature of 54 deg. However this may
be, there can be DO doubt that shade trees would some-
what soften that powerful irradiation from sidewalks,
pavemente, and walls which makes New York such •
fiery furnace in summer. Trees, alio, are • constant
evaporating machine, pouriog forth an enormone
volume of moisture into the surrounding atmosphere.
This, of course, must have • constantly cooling effect.
Trees are well known to have a remarkeble effect in
absorbing poisonous exhalations and preventing the
spread of malaria. A small grove has been found to
preserve a cottage from the fever and ague generated
in the ne i:hbouring swamps. when other 'boll-. 0 unpro-
tected were attacked. We trust that Dr. Smith's re-
commendation will be coosidered, and that the De-
partment of Parka may be empowyred to phant trees in
our streeta and public places, so 'hat these great evils
from the exceesive heat may be somewhat mitigated.—
New York riflia.

TERRIBLZ RAILWAY One of those
terrible railway disasters for which this country is
notorious, and in which almost every poesible horror
unites, occurred about three o'clock on the morning of
the 19th of April on the railway leading from Stoning
-
too, Connecticut, through Providence, Rhode Island,
to Boston. This is one of the favourite lines of travel
from New York to Boston, the passengers being con-
veyed by steamer to Stonington, where they Land after
midnight, and are then taken by what is known as the
" steamboat train "to Boston, arriving there early in
the mornieg. Between Staningten and Providence
the line crosses a small milletre„.a m at a place known as
Richrnond Switch. The mill-tram is about 150 paces
above the railroad, and a recent freshet having filled
the dam, the millowner during the night had opened
his sluice-gate to let off the surplus water. This cur-
rent brought some lumber down the stream, which
lodged against the-bridge, a small structure but 20 ft
long, and this forming a temporary dam, the overflow
undermined the abutment.. The trai n came along shortly
after three a.m. ,• the weakened bridge gave way; the
locomotive leaped the chum, imbeddii g itself in the op-
posite abutment; the five cars in the tram were mashed,
the wreck, with the passengers, being thrown off the line,
and some of then into the stream. Some of the le, pie
were killed outright, others drowned, and, BA thrt e of
the care caught fire, some were burnt to death. The
train was going 35 miles an hoar, and the nature or tha
disaster may be imagined. The driver and stoker were
found dead at their posts, the di iver with his hand on
the throttle-valve. The conductor was jammed be-
tween portions of the wreck, yet had sufficient presence
of mind to send hack and have another train warned,
or otherwise it, too, might have been destroyed. There
were seven persons killed so far as is known and some
30 injured, many rd them very badly. A few are still
misainc, and is feared have also hinn killed.

Too BAD !—Au enamoured young gentlewan
recently bought a gold-mounted cut-glans bottle, tiled
it with rose-water, And tied a lovesick pink Hein
round it, to present to a young laiy ; but on re, ing
the house he felt a little einharramed, for fear then were
members of the family present, and e left the Inan-
tiful gift on the marble slab outside the drawing loom
door. The movement was perceived by a graceral
brother of the young lady, who appropriated the ,o-e.
water for his own use, and refilled the bottle - itk
strong mustard. In a little while the young enaa
slipped out, and, securing the splendid gift, sin,' rd
back again, when, with a few appropriate wi.r.'• • ha
pressed it upon the blushing girl. Like the goo • sod
faithful Ilanghter that she was, she at once hoi • ied
into the wtseLce .1 Let in ,;:2er,l.7ad the old lati was
charmed. She drew out the stopper, laid the bean .131
petals et her nostrils over the aperture, and fetcl.- i •
pull at the c•inteiita that fairly made them te
'then eh. laid the bottle dowe, and the only thin. iih•
cmhi may with tare ro ling down ter eye*
. Where is that iniserAb'e brat ?" He, all unconeeems
of what had happened, was in front of a mirror Ai-
towing his necktie sea smiling at hinweN„. Hen vs
found him, and amid to him; "? 011, ydukte,lientiirieg st
the trick on en old woman, are you." "Madam, I
hardly thought," iix,laimed the terrified y.uth, `.. lien
I mustered up—" " Mu-tarel up! this is
insolence." Fortunately, the tria.4c scene ended 11 an
explanation on the part of the young brother, who was
told he was • toiutZ spoiled boy, and patted on the
head. --Court .lou