The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-07-23 00:00:00

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HOME- FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL.

FOREIGN SUGAR Born-min.—At a meeting of work-
men's delegates, convened by the council of the
workmen's National Association for the abolition of
foreign sugar bounties, held at the Victoria Docks,
London, on Saturday night, the secretary reported that
upwards of MOO workmen had lost employment within
the past few months, in the East-end of London and
West Ham, through the closing of various sugar houses,
owing, it was alleged, to the foreign bounty system.
An urgent appeal was made and a resolution carried,
requesting employers of labour to keep the men and
their families from starvation by giving them work. A
proposition to hold a monster demonstration of unems
ploy ed on the subject of foreign bounties was ad.
journed until after the forthcoming deputation to Lord
Salisbury on the subject.
EARTHQUAKE SHOCKS.—A severe shock Of earth-
quake was felt at Malta at a quarter to nine on Sunday
morning, lasting about twelve seconds. On Sunday
morning at eight o'clock a strong earthquake shock was
felt all over Sicily, but no damage was done. The
eruption of Mount Etna continues. Slight shocks
have also been felt at Ischia, Leghorn, and Parma.
Two slight shocks of earthquake and a subsequent
tremor for a minute and a half were felt at Cairo at
seven minutes past ten o'clock on Sunday morning. A
Reuter's telegram says that several houses and mosques
were damaged in the Arab quarter, and one person
was killed and three were injured.
ACCIDENT TO PRESIDENT OLEVELAND.—A New York
correspondent reports: The special train in which
President Cleveland and Mrs. Cleveland were returning
on Saturday from a country trip, met with an accident.
The connecting rod of the engine broke and killed the
engine driver and wounded the stoker. The stoker
crawled forward through the blinding steam and
reversed the lever, and so stopped the train.
SCHOLARSHIPS IN GERMANY.-110 scholarship system
is in a state of high development in Germany. From
recent statistics it appears that more thau 25 per cent.
of the German students are in receipt of more or less
support from public funds.
Civic LIVERIES.—The liveries of the Lord Mayor's
and sheriffs' of London's State footmen and servants
are thsir perquisites, and generally find their way on
the stage for America, but this year an Indian Prince
was so struck with them on the Jubilee Day that be
has secured the reversion to them at the end of the
civic sear.
Fixer-eaten, LONDON. —A. correspondent writing to
"Notes and Queries" respecting Fleet-laue says:
This thoroughfare is to the north of the site of the old
Fleet Prison, and extends from Farringdon-street
(formerly known as Fleet Market) to the Old Bailey.
' The construction of the railway from Ludgate-hill to
Snow-hill about 1866 affected great changes in this
quarter' and many houses in Fleet lane were swept
away. Fifty years ago it was an obscure thoroughfare,
with houses on both sides tenanted by small shop-
keepers, and showed but little animation, except upon
occasions when there hapnened to be an execution at
Newgate. As the result of an application to Parlia-
ment, Fleet Market was built over the old Fleet Ditch,
and was opened about 1737. The position of Far-
ringdonsstreet, in the sery heart of London, and its
unusual breadth, suggest the idea of a row of trees on
rfech side, after the manner of a boulevard. Were this
suggestion adopted the effect from Holborn Viaduct
would be very striking.
NOUNS OP MULTITUDE.—A little girl was near the
picture of a number of ships, when she exclaimed,
'' See what a flock of ships." She PM corrected by
being told that a flock of ships was cal led a fleet, arid
a fleet of sheep was called a flock. For the benefit of
the foreigner who is mastering the intricacies of the
English language in respect of nouns of multitude, it
may be added that a flock of wolves is called a pack.
and a pack of thieves is called a gang, and a gang of
angels is called a host, and a host of porpoises is called
a elat.al, and a shoal of buffaloes is called a troop, lied
a troop of partridges is called a covey, and a covey of
baeredtieas
and a heap of oxen is called a rove, arid drove of
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engineers is called a corps,
and a corps of robbers is
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called a band, and a baud of locusts lied a swarm,
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folk of
is called the elite, and a m
people is called a crowd, andisaaecirlaonwedouosf
crowd of city folk is called the community or the
public.
INTERNATIONAL SHORTHAND 001<anEsS• The
arrangements for the International Congress of
Shorthand Writers of all systems, to be held Li
London during the week beginning on September 26,
are pearly compleed, The Lords of the Council on
Education have granted the use of the theatre of the
Geological BIII88111:13, Jermyn-street, for the Congress
meeting. There will be a conference on each day,
occupied mainly with discussion of topics of professional
interest,and the evenings will probably be devoted to
gatherives of a more or less social character. Lord
Itocebery will deliver the inaugural address ors the
Monday, arid on Wednesday the phonographic section
will celebrate the jubilee of Mr. Pitman's system, and
present its author's family with a marble bust of
himself, together with other testimonials, to be for-
warded from America and the Colonies. . The Lord
Mayor has invited a number of gentlemen connected
with the Ooratese to a luncheon at the Igansion
Sousa,