The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-08-30 00:00:00

Our youhn arrtsponbtut.

[We deem It right to state that we do not at all times
!dentin/ oureelvee with our Correspondent's opinions J

Many congratulations have been tendered to her
Majesty on the narrow escape of Prince Arthur from
drowning, and there is little doubt that the incident at
Trouville was within an ace of being fatal. Prince
Arthur is the third of her Majesty's sone who has been
as near to death as it is possible for the human life to
be, and to rejoice in rescue. We all remember the
sensation which was created by the attempt to shoot
the Puke of Edinburgh in Australia during the month
of Niarch, ISO, when the merest accident protected
the spine from the bullet of the assassin, and saved
the young prince's life. Next came the dangerous
Illness of the Prince of Wales, in December 1571, and
bow serious it who must have been known only from
the fact that all the members of the Royal family were
gathered at Sandringham, hoping almost against hope
that they might not be called upon to take a last fare.
well. Now Prince Arthur, a promising young man of
22, and • general favourite wherever he is known, has
almost by a miracle, been preserved from death at a
French watering place. This, indeed, is the season for
bathing accidente, and a week does not now pass
without one or two melancholy casualties of this kind
are reported. Although we are an insular people,
with the sea continually washing the shores of our
kingdom, and with broad tidal rivers inteisectiog most
of our principal towns, how comparatively few amongst
no know anything of the art of swimming Take Lon-
don, for instance, trace the line of the Thames from
Kew to Woolwmh, and try to estimate how many of
the vast population along its banks understand how to
save life when it is in peril in the water. To say
nothing of the Importance of posit-seing such a know.
ledge, the very exercise of swimming expands the
cheat to such a degree as to have • very consider-
able effect upon the development of the constitution.
It must be a matter of surprise to many that more
attention has not been paid to this in our seats of
!owning. Not that athletics are neglected at either Ox-
ford or Cambridge, but there is belief that both upon
the Isis and the Cam more might be done to establish an
acquaintance with en art which, above all others, should
be familiar to a nation which "rule, the waves," and
whose waterside population, in the beautiful words
of Tennyson, never wearies, night or day, summer or
winter, of listening to the low moaning. of the leaden
seas."

Great interest is now being taken by the city
guilds in the work of technical education. Their
operations sre, however, not confined to making
efforts for the diffusion of instruction amongst the
working classee. The functions which many of
the companies perform have a most important
bearing upon the preservation of the public health.
Take for instance the Fishmongers, whose historic
ha overlooks the Thames at the north-west cor-
ner of London Bridge. This company exercises a
rigid watch over the quality of the fish brought into
London for sale, and more especially daring the
summer months the duty is no light one. In one
of the most recent months the quantity of diseased
fish seized and destroyed was no less than eighty
and a half tons. It by no means follows that
this represented the whole of the fish unfit for human
food which was actually sold, and thus escaped the
vigilance of the inspectors, and with this fact in view
we can scarcely wonder at the high rate of mortality
caused by the pr-valence of choleraic disorders. It
ought to be borne in mind that of all food in an tin.
healthy condition, fish is the most dangerous to touch,
for its poisonous influence is more powerful and rapid.
Too much weight cannot, therefore, be attached to the
exertions of a city guild, whose endeavours are directed
to the prevention of disease by the seizure of unwhole-
some food.

When the Shah of Persia .et tradition at defiance
and started on a European tour, it was looked upon as
• signal breaking through of that Eastern exclusive-
ness which had so long enclosed Oriental monarchs.
There has lately been some speculation whether, at
no distant day, we may not expect to see an even
more mysterious Imperial visitor—none other than the
Emperor of Chins. This monarch, who styles himself
"the brother of the Sun," is supposed to be raised quire
as much over all other So sereigns on the face of the earth
as he is alio, e his own subjects. The theory di that all
kings are the vassals of the Chinese Emperor, and up
to within the past few weeks the representatives of
European Powers have been compelled to approach his
Chinese majesty only in such a manner a. would imply
a confeesi, of that in ,narch's supremacy. Experience
has proved that the Emperor's fleets and armies are not
Invincible, and that the attempt to lock up the trade of
China within itself has been a signal failure; still, the
right to compel foreign envoys, on obtaining an inter-
view, to enter the Imperial presence in a humiliating
way has been insisted upon until now. According,
however, to a recent telegram from Pekin, the
Emperor of China has at length received in formal
audience the ministers of several European Powers,
and of the United States on the same foot-
ing of equality as would be allowed in a European
Court. This is a concession which had long been de.
mantled. The Ruler of Coins begins his reign with a
proof of his conviction that there are other great
nations in the world outside that wall of vast extent,
whith was built thousands of years a;o to protect the
Chinese from the depredations of the Tartars; and it
may be that he will soon give other signs of having
entered into the community of nationa. Who knows
but what the story of the Shah's travels may penetrate
Into the Imperial Palace at Pekin, and that the
'Brother of the Sun" may also set out upon a journey
for the busy western world?

Building operations are carried on with such activity
In London that the preservation of the open spaces of
the capital becomes more important every year.
Efforts of various kinds are constantly being made in
this direction, and in these the Corporation take a
prominent part. By a local act which received the
Royal assent a short time ago, the compulsory metage
on grain imported into London was abolished, and the
metage dues received by the City Corporation were
commuted into a fixed charge. The city authorities
claim to be entitled to the office of measurer of grain
of every kind landed, conveyed, or brought int , the
port of London. From the exercise of this office a
large revenue was derived, and it was found expedient
to commute the metage into a fixed duty on imported
grain. This, subject to certain provisions, is to be
employed by the corporation in preserving the open
spaces in the neighbourhood of London. There can be
no doubt of the beneficial tendency of this Act, or of
Its efficiency, by a timely assistance; in securing to the
public that whlch, after the lapse of a few years,
money could not obtain for them. Such places as the
newly-created ornamental grounds upon the Thames
Embankment are highly appreciated by the people of
the metropolis, and long may they remain free from
the attentions of the speculative builder
Autumn is the time for the operati me of the
archa.ologists, and very interesting gatherings they
are. It is refreshing to witness the enthusiasm with
which the practice of buying up sites of historical
interest is advocated. One of the most extensive plans
of this kind which has lately been suggested is that
affecting the excavation of ancient Rome. I have seen
a recommendation that the " Lupercal, or Wolf's
Cave," now a mill dam, should be bought and pulled
down, and that the whole line of the Aqua Argentina
should be laid open for the study of future gener-
ations of archa.ologiets. Then there is the Tarptian
Rock, the place of public execution, the base of
which is concealed by cellars and warehouses. These,
It is contended, ought to be purchased and destroyed,
and the whole original height left opened. We are also
told that a desirable acquisition would be a cave
reservoir, 'where probably the cattle were concealed
In the time of Romulus." The purchase of such places
would, of course, require a considerable sum of money.
and If such difficulty is experienced in retaining a
house like the Old Tabard in Southwark, it is perhaps
doubtful whether subscriptions to any large extent will
be forthcoming to buy up sites in ancient Rome, how-
ever full of historical interest they may be.
A singular study during the months of August and
September is one of the great railway. termini of Lou-
don. Take your stand at Paddington, at King's Cross,
at St. Pancras, at Euston Spare, or at London Bridge,
and note the mar vellouely cosmopolitan character of
the myriad population hastening away from town:
There is the Asiatic, costumed in a semi. European
fashion ; the American, with his spare form, and his
whole appearance indicative of a shrewd and penetra-
ting intellect ; the Japanese student, many specimens
of which have lately taken high honours at our Univer-
sities ; tie German musician, setting out for his
annual harvest at the seaside ; the Italian organ-grinder
bound for the same destination; the Greek whose fore.
head islpncealen under a fez as red as crimson; the
Jew, With his strongly-marked countenance, and his
sharp eye, and, in short, representatives of all the
nationalities in Europe, some shoutin st end gesticulating,
and others quietly contemptuone—all apparently eager
to get away from London. Then there is the crowd
of friends of the English tourists who have come to see
them leave town, and who stand at the carriage
windows until a courteous official reminds them that
the train is off, and away it goes amid • perfect chorus
of goodbyes, a waving of hats, and a flutter of hand.
kerchiefs.

Of all the recreations of an innocent and • healthful
character which are so popular during the month of
August, perhaps the palm must be awarded to the pas.
time of Archery. There are now archery clube all over
England, and the rapidity with which the exercise ha
Frown in favour during the past few yean Is somewhat