The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-06-06 00:00:00

Plisailancous (nttiligente.

HONE. FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL

AN AUCTIONEER'S WIT. A witty populax
auctioneer selling some valuable pictures, atuongst
which was a painting representing an old baromal
residence, a rather forward well-known buyer, worth
plenty of cash, pooh-poohed the picture, adding, "I
assure you it is not a bit like the place." The auctioneer,
with great presence of mind replied, "Au ! sir, your
opinion 18 of very little consequence. I don't think
you could see this view of it, as you would enter by the
back door very likely."

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A CHOLERA Vicnsi.—The usual accompani-
ment of the hot season, cholera, has visited Calcutta,
and among its first victims is Mr. Le Poer Wynne,
who was officiating for Mr. Aitcheson as Foreign Secre-
tary. He was one of the most promising members
the Indian C,vil Service, a man in the prime of life,
and greatly esteemed by all around him. He made
his mark as a settlement officer in the Saharanpore
district.; then he became Under Secretary in the
Foreign Department, afterwards was adpointed Resi-
dent in 'ashmere. He was recently at home on three
months' leave, and returned to India to act as Foreign
Secretary. Ile sank under a violent attack of cholera,
lasting about eighteen hours. At his funeral the
Viceroy, with his military and private secretaries and
entire personal staff, the Commander-in-Chief with his
staff, all the members of the Governor-General's
Council, and about seventy other çentlemen, sponta-
neously attended, being in itself abundant testimony
to the esteem in which be was held.—liwnesard Mail.

THE BLUE Guns TREE.—The San Francisco
Bulletin states that in California there have now been
planted, probably, not less than a million of these
trees, which have become so famous for draining damp
soils and destroying malaria. The eucalyptus glolndus
is an evergreen, a native of Tasmania, remarkable for
rapid growth, attaining a maximum height of about
300 ft., with a circumference of from 30 to 50ft. The
leaves are about ten inches long, an inch wide, thin
and oddly twisted, of a dark bluish colour, and cabal.
in 4 a strong eamphor-like odour, quite agreeable and
ples.sant. The tree bears a small white flower which
has no odour. The timber is hard, easily worked, and
very serviceable for keels of vessels, bridges, and other
uses where strength and durability are essential. The
tree supplies a medicinal preparation efficacious in
throat affections and intermittent fever. The Bulletin
says that near Haywards, in California, about 150,000
of these trees were planted by the Surveyor-General,
and though they are oply about five years old, many
ax, oft, or 50ft. high.

DICK ENS S EDEN 'DENT' FIED. —Dickens's
" Eden " is identified. It is Galena, Illinois. Re-
cently, on the first boat of the season touching at that
promising locality, quite a crowd of inhabitants were
waiting to depart —a fact which caused the superin-
tendent of the Sunday-school, who was passing at the
time, to heave a sigh at the thought that he was about
to lose his flock. But when the hour for service came
round, each well-known face was present. So, in his
joy, he told his flock what his fears had been. The
Eden paper shall describe what followed : 'ln the
twinkling of an eye there was a general stampede for
the door, and when that Sunday-school teacher arose
from the floor, where he had been violently thrown by
the retreating mass, and had collected his thoughts
sufficiently to determine in his own mind whether he
was himself or someone else, he east his eyes about the
room, and through the partially-settled dust made the
sad discovery that he was alone with several rows of
empty benchea." His scholars had remained in bliss-
ful ignorance of the news till he had given them the
oue.—Pictorial Wirtd.

DERBY DAMPERA.—Over-sleeping yourself OH
the day of the race, and waking up in Lbne only to
read the name of the winner in the evening papers.
Being discovered and thwarted by your wife after
having received her permission to kave her on the
plea of " business in the City," when in reality you
have proposed joining the club drag. Being thrown
over by a friend who, after making an alter-dinner
promise to drive you down in his own trap, forgets to
call for you. Being taken into custody on the road
down by a stupid and perjured policeman for looking
at a disturbance in which you have not taken part.
Being without friends, without leisure, and last, but
not least, without money. Pinch.
AMATEUR MINSTRELS. Tetiore Leggier° :
"Don't you perceive a great improvement in the way
I produce my pisnio notes?" "Well,
you produce them so preciousl 050, !tat 1 ean't hear
them ; but you don't make stub hideous faces as you
nsed—and that's au improvement l" Jail'.
THE CHICAGO AND NEW YORK DosT-orriers.
- -The rivalry that exists between New York and
Chicago has been carried so far as to lead to a con-
tention regarding the amount of work done in their
respective l'ost•oiliees. It appears that the New York
thee sends daily rks?, tow, ,if mail matter, of which 1,0
t , ins are letters and $t tOllB are newspapers, periodicals,
se-is, cuttings, bodis, &c. This is put up for distribu-
tion iv the postal clerks on railroads leading from
New York, or for large distributing offices at a dis-
tance. When a train leaves New York for Chicago
the postal clerks oierhaul the pouches on the train,
and by the time they get to Chicago it is in large part
distributed, but if the trains miss connection Chicago
re-distributes it by the time the next train goes to the
points of destination. Chicago's work of handling
single letters is always very heavy, but when accidents
or delays occur east of Chicago the quantity is in-
creased. Chicago, therefore, while far behind New
York in the work of handling bulk, does more detail
work.

ESCAPE AND RECAPTURE OF CONVICTS.—OR
Tuesday, as the convicts form Princetown Prison, an
Dart moor were at work in gangs among the surround-
ing hills cultivating land, a sudden fog came down
from the Tors, and the men were summoned to return.
While being mustered, three, probably by preconcerted
arrangement, made their escape, going in three dif-
ferent directions, hidden by the fog. Instantly the
convicts were all hurried home, and secured. The
alarm bells were rung, signal guns fired, and the whole
force of warders, some mounted and others on foot,
were hurried out in pursuit, telegrams being meantime
sent by private wires to Plymouth, Tavistock, and
Horrabridge ; the eseaped men had gained a good start
however, and the fog favoured them. After three or
fours hours one was sighted, and on refusing to halt
was fired at, wounded, and dropped. Another was
captured not long after among the fors, but had to be
isight down by a rifle ball before be would surrender.
The third was not come up with until late in the after-
noon, having displayed great endurance and agility in
Fetting away several miles over nicks and tors, eschew-
ing, 14 course, the high road. Ile attempted to resist
the Warder who first approached him, awl it was only
when quite disabled and dangerously hurt by bullets
that he was secured.

AN INDUSTRIOUS MATHEMATICIAN. - ThO
Astronomical Society has received from the executors
of the late Mr. Thompson, of Greenock, a present of
a notable work which must have engaged many years
of that gentleman's life, and which ought to be printed.
This is a table of twelve-figure logarithms extending
as far as 120,000. From internal evidence, it is
believed that they have been independently calculated,
and the Council of the Astronomical Society attach
great value to the manuscripts, which form several
volumes. No twelve-figure logarithms have as yet
been published, and it is estimated that £l,OOO will be
required to print Mr. Thompson's tables.

ACCIDENT IN AN ICE HOUSE.—The Pough-
ivepie Eagle says that a few days ago &lad at Fort
Montgomery, attempting to gain access to an ice-
house, climbed the elevator, and crept in through is
siding. He stepped on what he supposed to be a plat-
form, which gave way, and he was plYtipitatt`ll to the
layer of ice below, a distance of :31; feet, where he lay
unconscious for nsarly 48 hours. When his senses
came to him he found that both feet were frosen, but
no bones were broken. Nearly dead, he dragged him-
self along over the ice to the side of the house, where
with a piece of bo:wd he rapped against the siding till
assistance arrived and he was rescued. It feared
that one of his feet will have to be amputated.
COMPANION Pl*TURE.—"Rinying the Muftis,"
a pendant to "Calling the Rail." —Punch.
To THOSE WHO ARE THINE (Ni; OF MATRIMONY.

-—A female writer gives the following advice to her
sisters who contemplate matrimony :—Can you find a
resting-place for the sole of your poor little squeezed
Louis Quinze be-heeled foot? Marry, then, by all
means. I should be the first to throw the old slippers
after you. Marry, but listen! Let me whisper a
word in your ear, If you want to have a decent
chance, I won't my of a happy, but of an endurable
existence, look well to two things in the man you marry
—first, his great virtues; second, his small weaknesses.
One very pronounced and obnoxious virtue, or one
ridiculously trifling failing, in a man, may render your
home an unhappy one. But don't be alarmed; there
are hosts of men in the world, and if, as I once heard
it suggested, a law were passed compelling forthwith
every old bachelor over five-and-forty to marry a
spinster over five-and-thirty, depend upon it the
spinsters would prove the most refractory. There is
such a thing as Nemesis, and every man over forty is
just as anxious to marry as before forty he was anxious
not to marry.

FOOT _AND MOUTH DISEASE—.-" T. C." writes
to us (Ti., Times):—"One apparent result of the con-
stantly recurring epidemics of foot and mouth com-
plaint—the decreased fertility of cattle--has not, I
think, been alluded to by any of your correspondents.
I have spoken to many farmers in this district (North
Riding of Yorkshire); they all state that for some years
past the proportion of young cows and heifers sent to
the butcher owing to barrenness has been much on the
increase, and they are unanimous in attributing it to
the above-mentioned cause. This may, of course, be
difficult to prove, but it is nevertheless deserving of
• consideration."

THE ADVANTAGES OF PLAIN WRITING.—One
of the most practical suggestions of the late wise Lord
Palmerston wati that writers should cultivate a plain
legible hand. Fashion had then set in a contrary
direction (says the Pictorial IVorld). There was there-
upon a temporary amendment It is now quite fre-
quent a: criminal sessions for the judge to complain of
the illegibility of the depositions. The failing has now
extended to the attorneys, whose well-known "law
hand" was once the very model of readable writing.
It is now quite usual for these gentry to have their
names (SS well as addresses) lithographed at the top of
their letters to avoid confusion by the wretched.
" bletherum scratch" in the place of the signature.
WOMEN AS ATTORNEYS.-- The Court of Claims
at Washington has rendered a decision on the applica-
tion of Mrs. Belva Lockwood for admission to the Bar
of that tribunal, that common law and precedent are
all against the appointment of a woman to the office
of an attorney, but that the question how far the
statutes and recent practice has modified the subject is
beyond the jurisdiction the court, which intima-
ted that its action was not final but could be reviewed
by the Supreme Court on writ of error if Mrs. Lock-
wood desired it. Congress will probably be applied to
for a declaratory law or resolution removing the legal
obstacles to the admission of women.

THE ICE SHOVE AT QUEBEC—The Mutate4l,
Herald of May 16 says :

Our Quebec despatches this morning report what we fear
will he little short of a national calamity. For several days
past the steamers in winter quarters at Quebec have been
endeavouring to cut their way out, but without success. At
a I limiter past three yosterday the ice opposite the city began
to suave, and in a short time it piled up to an immense
height, carrying destruction to everything in the way. At
the present writing it appears that all the craft wintering at
Cape Blanc, stew miles ale we Quebec, were either sunk or
badly damaged. The Goveniment steamer, Napoleon M.,
is a total wreck, having been broken in two by the force of
the ice. The Druid, another Govermnent steamer, is re-
ported badly daumged. The line passenger steamer Georgia
is cut through and full of water. The three other steamers
of the some class, the Secret., the Hadji.. and the Miramicti,
are badly damaged. In addition to this larger craft, a num-
ber of small steam tugs have been sunk. This loss will
seriously interfere with the navigation of the river. The
damage to the shipping is estimated at one million dollars,
and this is considered by competent judges to be a law
Ornate.

IMPRISONMENT FOR DEPT.—A paper advo-
cating the abolition of imprisonment for debt was read
on Monday evening by Professor Leone Levi, at the
rooms of the Law Amendment Society, Adelphi, Lon-
don. The paper gave an account of the working of the
law, and drew attention to the injustice suffered by
the small debtors, who was made to pay to the last
farthing from future earnings. In the discussion which
followed Sir If. James argued that with the present
system of credit there must be imprisonment for debt.
On the other hand, NI r. I lanieff county cr aid j udge) main.
tabled that prudent tradesmen and honest !mot&
could not get on without a system of credit. Mr. Ram
said that although a committee of the House of Com-
mons was engaged for a period of five months in in-
vestigating the question, they were unable to determine
what the law on the subject really was. He was fully
persuaded, however, that the question was making
progress, and that imprisonment for debt would
eventually be abolished. The discussion continued
until a late hour.

A SHOPKEEPER'S TRIALS !—One midsummer
d iy, when Ai)lus slept, and the thermometer stood in
the nineties, a lady entered a shop and asked for
parasols. The obliging proprietor spread out before
her samples of a large and varied stock. "Have you
any of this shade a size larger ?" said the lady. The
size larger was produced. "I think on the whole I
prefer the size smaller." The size smaller was pre-
sented. "Have you any of this size a lighter shade of
blue ?" Tbe required shade was brought out. " Haven't
you any of this kind with a crooked handle ?" The
shade with the crooked handle appeared. " Have you
any with the crooked handle not FS) heavy ?" said the
laity, and so continued her inquiries for every conceiv-
able she, shade, and weight possible in the line of
parasols. After nearly an hour had been thus Con-
sumed the fair shopper gathered up her handkerchief
and gloves and moved for the door. "Cant I sell you
a parasol?" inquired the exhausted pmprietor. "0,
dear, no l" replied the lady; "1 wasmerely inquiring
the prices. lam going into mourning, and have one
for sale."

- ---
HARVARD LIBRARY.—The late Mr. Charles
Sumner's bequest to Harvard College of his books—
more than 2,000 in number—comprises many rare
works or editions. Among them, (says the Boston
Transcript), are Sir Walter Scott's own manuscript of
a work on the drama ; a fragment of the Bihlia Latina,
printed by Faust in 1462; Burn's "Scott's wha
in the author's handwriting; a Dutch manuscript,
bound with carved ivory sides and set with precious
stones; manuscript notes on " Sceneca," by Hugo
Grotius ; first book of Thomson's Seasons, with author's
autograph ; Ben Johnson's autograph on title-page ol
a little book, thus—" Sum Ben Johnson ;" Gellins,
with notes by Melancthon ; The Club, with autographs
of Pope and Swift on title-page ; John Duden's Greek
Exercise Book, with autobiography; and letters of
Napoleon to Josephine. There are books with the auto-
graphs of the poet Gray, Milton, Bunyan, and otherss
and many richly-illuminated volumes.

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