The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-02-01 00:00:00

TrIE STOTTEMIDGE OBSFRVER.

class, stood towards the Venetian state. We
cannot think Dr. Bodington parthnlarly fortu-
nate in his selection of pieces. If the first had
the disadvantage of being already too familiar
to the auditory the second the "Last Confession,"
by Rosettr, laboured under a disadvantage of
quite the contrary kind. This poem is not des.
titnte of good points. It is full of rich though
somewhat confused colouring, like the dreamy
paintings of the author's gifted brother, Mr.
Dante Rosetti. It tarns upon an Italian love-
affair which must be termed extra-matrimo-
nial, though not beyond the sympathies of such
beings as we are in such a world as this. If the
I reader's introductory remarks had not been
rather wanting in perspicuity, the listeners would
have still better caught the drift of the compo-
sition. As it was, they were little less than en-
raptured by the atmosphere of Italy that was
poured around the thrilling tale, and may have
realised something of the definition of tragic
poetry as delivered to us by Aristotle (De Ade
Poetisa, cap. 6), as "through pity and fear
effecting the puritivation of such emotions."
Bonvning's vigorous and heart-stirring ballad of
the gallop from Ghent to Aix was perhaps a
more felicitous selection, and it was rendered
by Dr. Borlington, as it seemed to us, with •
very near approach to perfectness. On the
whole, we thought his selection of pieces want-
ing in variety, and perhaps a little too sensa-
tional, turning, as they all did, upon stories of
murder or violent death. English poetry has
many arrows in its quiver, and an eye which sees
" through all the Muses' walk " will be at no loss
to intermix the graceful, the pleasing, the fan-
tastic, nay, even the grotesque and humorous, in
their fit proismtions, in an entertainment such
as this. The tone, on Monday last, was, to our
thinking, somewhat too prosaic and too pervad•
ingly serious. The sengs of Mr. Owen Davis
were applauded in a way which might suggest
the cynical remark, that many persims thought
them the more important portion of the pro-
gramme. Yet such an imputation on a Stour.
bridge audience would, we are sure, be little
other than a calumny.

Inspection of the viaduct bad been made, and if
so, asking the Board to favour the Com-
missioners with a copy of the report.
On the motion of Mr. Bißingham seconded by
Mr. Kelly, the report was adopted.
The Chairman called the attention of the
Board to the desirability of calling a public meet-
ing in response to the proposed new line of
railway. It was necessary to proceed in a proper
way so as to give them a Incas standi, to give
evidence in Parliament if necessary artainst the
Bill of the Great Western Railway Company.
After some discussion, it was proposed to ad-
vertise it according to the Act, and it was decided
to hold a special meeting on Saturday the Bth
day of February.

to prove the case. Mr. Clulow, for the defence, said that
defendant married complainant, and b ,th had children
from former marriages. The woman, it was true, up-
braided with the defendant for coming home drunk, and
no doubt very properly an, but the son, James, steppad
in. Complainant first struck the defendant, and • genet al
row took place. And in that row defendant was severely
punished by complainant's son, and struck with a poker,
and injured. He should offer no evidence, but defendant
would throw himself on the mercy of the Bench, and
hoped they would take into consideration that he had
already been looked up for two days. Defendant was
fined 30r and costs, £2 Be; in default one month.
WOMEN QUARRlLll.—Elizabeth Hutt in. was charged
with assaditing Elizabeth Cook, on the 29th alt. Defer-
dent pleaded guilty, and the case being proved ;
dent was fined Is and costa.