biglam/hmd_newspapers huggingface dataset:
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-03-05

CUTTINGS FROM AMERICAN PAPERS,

"Do you pay for poetry " asks a young lady In
Ohio. "We do. If written on white paper, it is worth a
cent a pound. Most papers do not pay for poetry, but we
want to encourage genius in a substantial manuer."—San
Francisco News•tetter.

Mark Twain says there is something very
fascinating about science—it gives you such wholesome
returns of conjecture for such trifling investments of fact.
He came in yesterday, and, taking a seat at a desk,
asked, " Well, what shall I write about?' (says the Turner's
Fall Reporter.) rhe editor told him he had bettec right
about face. When he left a small scrap of manuscript was
found on the desk, and the fellow had apparently followed
directions, for he wrote: "The editor has lots of cheek."

A Cincinnati man found a rough-looking individual
in his cellar. "Who are you ? " be demanded. "The gas
man, come to take the metre," was the reply. "Great
heaven!" cried the householder. " I hoped you were only a
burglar?"

A Frenchman living in Louisiana, whose wife had
deserted him, amused his neighbours by telling how he got
her back without trouble. "Did I run after her to come
back ? " he dramatically asked. " I did not run after
her, I zhust publish in ze papiere zat I have drawn fifty
thousand dollars in the lottery, and she vas back much
quicker zan in no time."

"Write carefully," says De Quincey. You can
never tell how much good your work may accomplish" No
truer words were ever spoken (remarks an American paper).
A man brought around a perfectly loving poem about the
sun-kissed leaves of September just as the office boy had
built a tire in the grate and was looking for something to
light it with.

Among eccentric visitors to Parisian libraries, a
French paper mentions a monomaniac who frequented the
Arsenal library for 20 years for the sole purpose of reading
and re-reading "Paul and Virginia" He knew the tale by
heart, and recited it on summer evenings as he paced to and
fro in the Jardin des Plantes.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-03-05

CANON FARRAR ON THRIFT AND
TEMPER AKE.

t ipfd
ot.
t oe udTt ,
showedh we
On Sunday afternoon, at St, John's Church,
Bethnal-green, London, before a crowded congregation
of men, for the most part of the working class, the
Rev. Canon Farrar preached a sermon on the above
subject. Speaking of thrift, he observed that it was
a disgrace for any man to be dependent on the labour
of another if he were strong and in good health. In-
the greatest
was perhaps
and prison
that intemperance
was principally ri.f a now among the working class—
the very class 7hich could least afford the expense
it entailed. Sixty or seventy years ago drunken-
sbt statistics iPtst habitsca l-
ntemperance,e
which he
oefPhoeti hn-
rciu
ness was very common among the upper and
middle classes, but that was not the case now, and
there was a strong feeling hi those classes against
those among them who were guilty of this crime.
Such a feeling, however, he regretted did not exist
among the working classes. It had been conclusively
proved that any one who was in good health was cer-
tainly far better without than with alcoholic drink.
Alcohol could not be found anywhere in nature, and
in fact was a human invention, the product not of life
but of death, not of composition but of decomposi-
tion; and chemistry had proved that it was not a
food. The greatest feats of strength and endurance
had been accomplished by abstainers. Drunkenness
was the chief cause of crime in. London, and the
drunkard, unhappily, brought misery and disgrace,
not only on himself, but also on those dependent on and
connected pith him. He implored them At least to
do what they could to prevent the extension of the
existing dreadful state of things as to intemperance,
which was attributable absolutely to a preventable
cause.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-03-05

THE IRON TRADE.

WOLVERITAMPTON, Wednesday.

The market:was again flat, and but few sales
took place. Some ot the houses reported a fair
number of inquiries, but it is doubtful whether
they will lead to much business. The principal
inquiries made on 'Change weic for sheets, un-
marked bars, and hoops, though the prices offered
were no highsr than what makers have been '
s igofmlate, and buyers intimated that more
tb
ht be transacted if sellers would
tsiinnge
lower their quotations. Some of the sheet makers
have experienced an improvement with respect to
the Quotations for roofing and stamping purposes,
for which there is a better demand by the con-
sumers. who are anxious to increase their :st icks
belore their spring season commences. There was
but a dull demand for boiier plates, but more
business was done in angles and tees. Slackness
again characterised the pig trade, the only pe,.)ple
who recorded any business transactions being the
part-mine and cinder quality l makers. Derby-
hire foundry metal was in &Ater demand than
other outside brands. Hematites were regarded as
no dear to be bought. Best forge fuel fetched full
prices, though less is being paid than for two or
three weeks past. Household fuel was als ,in less
demaud.

BIRMINGHAM, Thursday.

There was a large attendance on 'Change this
afternoon, but there was no improvement in busi-
ntlis or in prices. Owing to the fall of 2s. a ton in
Scotch pig-iron, which was '..annotr.ced on the
market, there was a corre,pending weakness in
meal both of local and diet t jet production, In tins
district, as in the North of England, stocks of pig
iron are accumulating, and as the prices scarcely
repay the cost of production, it is probable there
. will be a curtailment of the output unless there is
an immediate movement in trade. Merchant iron
was fiat, conintoil bars only 1 1 ig -05 15s. at n'
which, although lOs a ton higher than the minimum
1879, is comparatively a lower figure, consider-
ing the increased wages find the enhanced cost. of
fuel. Medium class bars reali.-cd-a -maximum of
53.. being from fis to 7s. 6d. a ton loss thin three
weeks ago. Puddled bars met with a fair request
at £4 ss. to £4 10s. a ton, an increase of from ss. to
is. Cd. a ton upon quarter-day prices. Sheets for
gal van i
ising purposes were n moderato demand at
unaltered quotations. The co al market was brisk,
and prices were Lett) r waintnined. Manufacturers,
in fact, were unable to obtain concessions from
sellers. In respect of Caunock Chase coal there was
some under-selliug.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-03-05

A DELIGHTFUL FLAVOUR. CEACROFT's ARECA-NUT
TOOTH PAsTk.—By using this delicious Aromatic Denti-
frice, the enamel of the teeth becomes white, sound, and
polished like ivory. It is exceedingly fragrant, and
specially useful for removing incrustations of tartar on
neglected teeth. Sold by all Chemists. Pots, is and
28 6d each. (Get Cracroft's.)
" SULFRoLINE LoTrow."—An external Means of
CURING SKIN DISEASES. There is scarcely any
eiuption but will yield to " Sulpholine " in a few days,
and commence to fade away, even if it seems past cure.
Ordinary pimples, redness, blotches, scurf, roughness,
vanish as if by magic; whilst old, enduring skin dis-
orders, that have plagued the sufferers for years, how-
ever deeply rooted thay way be, " Sulpholine" will
successfully attack them. It destroys the animalculce
which cause these unsightly, irritable, painful affections
and always produces a clear, healthy, natural condition
of the skin. " Sulpholine " Lotion is sold by most
Chemists. Bottles, 2s 9d.

Holloway's Ointment and Pills.—A Cure for Abscesses,
Piles, Fistula, and Sores of every description.—The very
satisfactory results arising from the use of this invaluable
Ointment, when the patients have been buffering from
any of the above disorders, have induced the Medical
Profession to introduce it into the hospitals and their
private practice, and in many instances where the su.f-
fer,r was considered incurable, Holloway's Ointment, in
conjunction with his Pills, have relieved tbe mod
desperate cases. They are also unequallld for the cure
of scrofula. scurvy, and all diseases of the skin, and the
cures they affi.et are not merely partial and temporary,
for by their purifying powers they bring about a mar-
vellous and complete change in the whole system,
enabling it, with renovated powers, to resist the approach
of all future attacks of similar diseases,