The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-11-27 00:00:00

Our foam gornspoullent.

I
• /(We deem it right to state that we do not at all times
Identity ourselves with our Correspondent's opinions.]
The recent abundance—one might almost say
superabundance—of Sensational civil trials has
gathered large attendances at the Law Courts,
and the small halls in which our judges sit have
been crowded to their utmost capacity. Even
then many persons anxious to be within sight
or sound of the Bench have thronged the cor-
ridors, and have occasionally brought down upon
themselves threats of judicial vengeance for the
noise which they could scarcely help making, but
which had always best be avoided when within
earshot of her Majesty's judges. It is at such
times that complaint is frequent that the courts
are not large enough; but those who complain
appear to forget that the halls of justice were
not designed as if they were to be theatres,
capable of holding as many of the idle or the
curious as chance and a good case may bring
together. There are many in this London of ours
who act as if they thought that the Law
Courts were built for their especial delight;
and they crowd every available inch during the
progress of a sensational trial, grumbling audibly
if they cannot find all the accommodation they
desire. Those who really have business in
the courts, and who, therefore, have a right to
make their voice heard on occasion, do not utter
as many complaints as they did when these were
first opened just four years ago. In any such
vast pile of buildings defects are certain to be
found at the commencement of their use,
especially when that use is made by such critical
folks as lawyers; but with experience has come
amendment, and there is now not much genuine
reason to complain.
Hampton Court Palace is a national posses-
sion so highly prized by the public, and especially
by the metropolitan public, that the intelligence
that it was threatened a few days since with.
destrattion by fire, caused a widespread sensa-
tion. It was the second occasion within a very
few years that such a danger had arisen; but
fortunately on each the aid of the fire brigades
of the district was at once so prompt and so
efficient that, although much damage was done
to adjacent and more modern buildings, the
ancient palace was saved from destruction. It
is no exaggeration to say that, had the flames
spread on either occasion, the loss would have
been irreparable. Few among us are insensible
to the charm of old buildings, crowded with his-
torical associations, and linked at almost every
point to some great event or notable character
in our national chronicle. And Hampton Court
is filled with this charm' in addition to contain-
ing many an artistic treasure which England
would not willingly let die. It is a favourite
holiday resort with tens of thousands of Lon-.
doners in the summer months, and the trip is
one which in fine weather is always heartily
enjoyed. The recent fire has revived the ques-
tion whether it is not possible to effect such a
change in the arrangements of the palace as
shall lessen the chance of disaster from an over-
turned oil lamp, or any similar danger that may
come from a portion of it being occupied as resi-
dences. Perhaps the closeness in point of time
of the two fires, and the narrow escape of the
main building at each, will have great weight
with the responsible authorities.
Some figures have been given to the world
within the past few days regarding the amount
of railway travelling in London and the suburbs
which, at the first reading, would create the im-
pression that Londoners are using the lines less
than they did. But any one who knows the
metropolis thoroughly will recognise it the more
readily when they see that,in the figures referred
to, three important lines carrying suburban pas-
sengers into London are not included in the cal-
culation. One of these lines in particular, which
carries tens of thousands of such passengers
every day, shows a growth of this traffic which
would more than counterbalance any decrease
elsewhere; and no one will be surprised at this
who watches the constant expansion of certain
of our suburbs. The reason for this expansion is
not only the continual increase •of population
within the metropolitan area, but that tradesfolk
in the more central and more expensive regions
are more and more letting the upper portions of
their business establishments as offices, and
transferring their household belongings to the
outer circle. Considerations of expense as well
as of health impel them to this course: and as
every such change means that there are more
persons to be carried from the suburbs to town
and back again, there seems little reason to
believe that i,here will be a diminution in
the amount of railway traffic within London
itself.
Newspapers just now have some of their adver-
tisement columns illed with Parliamentary
notices of private bills to be introduced next ses-
sion. From a cursory glance one would say that
the number is larger this November than last,
but it is nothing like so great as it was a few
years ago when trade was at its best. Old Par-
liamentary hands, however, will go further back
than this, and will compare the number with that
which was seen about forty years ago, when the
railway mania was at its height. The rush
then made was so extraordinary that it will
never be forgotten in the history of the
Parliamentary bar, just as the crash which
followed will always be remembered in the
annals of commerce. In these days more
moderation is displayed in dealing with specula-
tive ventures, but as this to a large extent
arises from the prolonged depression in trade,
there is reason to fear that any long-lasting re-
vival would bring some of the old evils in its
train. As long as these private bills are
practically confined to those of municipal cor-
porations wishing to effect improvements, or of
railway companies desirous of making extensions,
there is not much to fear. In each case, a bill is
seldom promoted without its having been well
discussed by those concerned, and without its
monetary and other effects having been carefully
calculated. The consequence is that, richly re-
warded as the Parliamentary bar always is, the
emoluments to be derived from it are nothing
like as large as in what may be called its palmy
days; and probably no one will be found keenly
to regret this fact except the barristers who are
themselves immediately concerned.
Plans are being prepared apace in Paris for the
Exhibition of 1889, and, despite the many diffi-
culties which from several quarters and in
various fashions have been thrown in its way,
there is now little doubt of the project coming to
maturity. At one time, and that not so very
long ago, it scarcely seemed as if this were likely
to be said, so varied and so strong were the in-
fluences brought against it. For there are many
Parisians who are by no means enamoured of
these vast international shows. They remember
that, with the occurrence of each, the prices at
the cafés have been specially raised, and have
never been lowered, even when the excuse for
the special raising had almost passed into
forgetfulness. But the majority of the Paris
tradesmen do not view things in the same light.
They recognise that with increase of visitors
comes increase of custom, and the shopkeep-
ing industry has been so depressed of
recent years, that they will welcome any
thing which promises a revival. English
visitors, of whom there are certain to be a very
large number, will see many changes in the city,
if they have not stayed in it since the last exhi-
bition, that of 1878. It is hoped that by 1889
a portion at least of the new metropolitan railway
of Paris will be opened; and those who have had
occasion to travel much about the Parisian
capital will rejoice accordingly.
While Paris is thus preparing for another ex-
hibition, London is being assured that the series
which has gathered such enormous crowds at
South Kensington during the past four summers
must now be considered at an end. Fisheries,
Health, Inventions, and Colonial must, there-
fore, remain to us as pleasant remembrances;
and the exhibition ground will be allowed to
remain fallow for a time until it is ready
again to bear so successful a crop. But while
these have passed away, a project, which
in some sense may be regarded as an out-
come from them, will be bearing fruit.
It has now been decided that the Queen
will lay next June the foundation stone of the
Imperial Institute, which will mark her jubilee;
and though this will scarcely be an exhibition in
the sense attached to those at South Kensington,
it will be designed to display much that is in-
teresting, and is certain to attract a constant
stream of visitors accordingly. From the time
of laying the foundation stone to that of opening
the building three years are calculated to elapse,
so that it will at least be 1890 before we see
what the Imperial Institute is really like. But
those who have had experience of such matters
will consider this estimate sanguine, and will be
surprised if any date before 1892 can be fixed for
the opening. But the business of collecting the
money is to be put in hand at once, and as the
estimated cost—which is likely to prove as san-
guine as the estimated date of opening—is
C 300,000, there is evidently much yet to be done
before the Imperial Institute can be regarded as
in 'accomplished fact.
The Jubilee year will be marked by many in-
teresting events, in addition to the commence-
mentof the Imperial Institute. and one of these
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