The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-09-26 00:00:00

Miscellaneous ntelligente.

HOME FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL.

Docxons' JOKES.—The funny gentleman who
knocked up a physician at the West-End in the middle
of the night, and, when he put his head out of the
window, anxiously said, "Be quick, I want a half-
penny worth of pills," tried a joke on another doctor
whom he met at a dinner table : "Doctor," said he,
"what shall I do to keep from hurting my nose when
asleep ?" Having a long nose he intended to be
facetious, and he didn't like it when the doctor
said, gravely, "You should have a few hinges made
in it, so as to fold it up like a two-foot rule when you
go to bed."

REMARKABLE ARTESIAN WELL—One of the
most remarkable artesian wells of our own time is that
of Grenelle, in the Paris basin. It was undertaken in
ISM, up to which time no successful artesian sinking
had reached a greater depth than about 1,000 feet. It
was calculated that the water-bearing stratum sought
would be reached at a depth of 1,100 feet; but that
was not deep enough. The boring continued, with
intervals, until 1841, when, on the 26th February, the
boring-rod was observed to descend suddenly several
yards. In a few hours the water reached the surface,
eventually rushing up with immense violence, mixed
with sand and mud. But the sand and mud soon
ceased, leaving a magnificent How of pure water, which
has continued ever since. A high tower is erected,
and the water rises through pipes with sustained force
and volume to the reservoir at the top, at the rate of
fully half a million gallons per day.

A SEA MONSTER.—The G/algoto News says
that the other day a large black-looking object was
seen floundering off Kirkcaldy harbour, apparently
ashore on the sandbank at the entrance of the channeL
A boat was manned by men and boys, who proceeded
to grapple with the briny monster. After struggling
for some time with the fish, they managed to get it on
board their small craft. The monster was landed
close to the shore, when it was found to measure about
seven feet; to have a ferocious-looking mouth, filled
with sharp and close-set teeth; and to have two horns
jutting out from its head; which was about half the
size of its body. One of the numerous on-lookers
pierced the large fish with a graip, when several
flounders leapt from it on to the beach. Unfortunately
the wonderful fish was allowed to escape before public
curiosity had been fully satisfied regarding it.
RAILWAYS IN INDIA AND NATIVE ARTISANS.
—People have long debated the question whether the
natives of India are capable of becoming skilled
artisans in the English sense of the name. Perhaps
the only way of satisfactorily solving the problem is to
put the natives on trial. This (says the Pioneer Mails),
the Government is now resolved upon doing, selecting
the railway line as the school where the first race of
native engineers and skilled workmen is to be trained.
The Government, in fact, had made up its mind on
the point a long time ago; and now two letters from
the Engineer-in-Chief of the Holkar State Railway
have stirred the Government to declare that "it is
impossible that the extension of railways can be carried
out so that they may become completely an institution
of the country, unless the working in all departments
can be conducted with native agency, with a moderate
amount of European supervision."

A DISTRESSING SUICIDE.—On Saturday an
inquiry was held at the London Hospital relative to
the death of Anne Miller, aged 38 years. It appeared
that the deceased was admitted into the hospital,
suffering from cancer in the breast, on the 24th August.
She underwent an operation, which did not apparently
affect her spirits. On Thursday ever lug last she was
observed to cut her thr rat with a penknie. Dr.
Reaford, one of the surgeons, was immediately called,
and found that she had inflicted a jagged wound in her
throat. At ten o'clock the same evening she expired
from exhaustion, consequent upon the loss of blood.
The jury returned a verdict that the deceased des-
troyed herself whilst in a statc of unsound mind.
THE EDUCATIONAL MOVEMENT.—An anxious
parent, whose son has already mastered French, Ger-
man, and Italian, has determined on sending the
youth to Finland, in order to give his boy's education
just the little Finnish it required.—Pusch.

DEATH IN A CHAPEL.—In London, on Tues-
day, an inquest was held by Dr. Hardwicke, deputy
coroner, at the "Prince Alfred" Tavern, Camden.
town, touching the death of Ada Winiford Bridge,
aged 17 years, who expired in the Prince of Wales-road
Wesleyan Chapel, Kentish-town, on Sunday evening.
The evidence showed that on Sunday evening, about
seven o'clock, the deceased, who was sitting in a pew
at the above chapel, was seen to faint. A medical
man was sent for, but the deceased soon afterwards
expired. A post tnortem examination made by Dr.
Smith showed that the cause of death WES from a fit of
apoplexy, which was brought on by. old heart disease.
The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the
medical evidence.

GREEN TEA.—The Grocer correspondent at
Shanghai writes :—" Owing to the reports which reach
here of indiscriminate prosecutions, under the provi
sions of the Adulteration Act, of retailers of this kind
of produce at home, business here is much interfered
with, and though the quality of Ping Sueys is superior
to that of last year, there is hardly any trade doing for
English account. Prices have declined about 6tle.,
but even at this rate are high.".

THE PATH OF DUTY. —Through the Custom
House.—Preneh.

FLOATING ISLAND.—The wonder at Winchen-
don, Massachusetts, just now is a floating island of
about five acres, which is voyaging around Lake
Monomonauk, a sheet of water of about 2,500 acres
in extent, lying partly in Winchendon and partly in
Rindge, New Hampshire (says Land and Water). It
formerly claimed a residence at Winchendon, but
towards the latter part of May the little island was
one morning discovered to have changed its place and
moved about two miles up the lake beyond the State
line ; then it floated back nearly to its old place, only
a day or two after to sail north again. Its soil is
firm, and many people have approached it by boats
and travelled over it; the entire surface is covered by
a thrifty growth of vegetation; there are more than
400 trees by count, varying from sft. to 25ft. in
height, scattered over its surface. Floating islands are
not very uncommon in the lakes of this region, but
one so large as this given to so long voyages is re-
markable.

"By THE SAD SEA WAVES."— Landlady
(who has just presented her Weekly Bill). "I 'ope,
Ma'am, as you find the braving Hair agree with you,
Ma'am, and your good Gentleman, Ma'am !"- Lady.
"0, yes, our Appetites are wonderfully Improved !
For instance, at Home we only eat two Loaves a Day,
and I find, from your account, that we can manage
Eight !" [Landlada feels uncomfortable. --Etrarh.

SANITARY Pazerrarrorrs.—There are, we may
say, four general laws concerning the drainage of
houses, &c., which are never transgressed without a
corresponding inffiction of evil, and as they are so
few in number it will be as well to enumerate them
previous to enlarging upon each. They are as fol-
lows :-1. Whatever pattern of drain-pipes be chosen,
they should be properly laid, and in such a manner as
to remove the waste with all possible speed to the
sewer or cesspooL The drain-pipes too, should, as
much as possible, run outside the house, and should
not extend their ramifications inside, as is often the
case. 2. Proper means should be taken to disconnect
the house drain from the sewer or cesspool, and when
necessary deodorization or disinfection—which should
be convertible terms—should be resorted to. 3. Only
the most suitable kinds of drains should be used, and
pipe drains in preference to built-up drains. 4. Trap-
ping should, as much as possible, be rendered un-
necessary.—Sanitary Record

POTATOES IN 1874.—The Gardener's Magazine
says :—" Reports from friends in various parts have
been of the same complexion up to the present time
—crop rather thin, but no disease. In a few instances
heavy crops are reported; in moat cases the bulk is
light ; the majority, however, are well satisfied, for the
tubers are hard and heavy, and everyone will keep its
proper time. The season has illustrated in an inter.
resting manner the importance of planting early, for
the produce, generally speaking, is heavy in proportion
to the length of time it has been in the ground, and
this is strikingly the case where the plant was not
seriously damaged by the late frosts. From the
present time we may reckon on receiving less and less
favourable reports. Those who have not yet lifted are
waiting for the growth to finish, and the reason of their
late lifting is late planting. The probability is that
potatoes that are now in the ground will be damaged
by murrain in great part, and the remaining part—
whatever it may amount to—that retains its health
unimpaired will eupertuberate, and thus become
comparatively worthless. In fact, judging by what
we have seen and heard, there appears abundant
reason to concludethat the potato harvest is practically
over. Those who planted early have done well ; those
who planted late have as yet done nothing, and are
likely enough to be completely disappointed in the
end. Between the two extremes there will be a variety
of results, and they will undoubtedly bear direct
relation, srvtcris paritta, to the order, as to time, of
the plc nting."

-
STATUE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN.—The New I GALLANTRY.—Maiden Anfit (remonstrating
York Times states that a statue of Abraham , with Dublin Street Arab). "Don't you know, Sir, it 's
Lincoln, which is to be placed in Lincoln-square, very Dangerous to throw Stoner'? That one very
about one mile east of the eastern portico of the nearly Hit me, Sir ! And supposing it had put my
Capitol at Washington, is in process of execution at Eye ,sit, and Blinded me, what would you have Done
Rome by the sculptor Ball. The subscription for this . then? !"- Street Bug. "Shure, I'd have Married yer,
statue was started by a contribution sent for that pur- av coarse ! ! "--Punch.
pose by an old slave woman to the United States' TEA AND SUGAR GROWN IN EUROPE.--Natilre
Sanitary Commission immediately after the sikeing observes : The growth of tea and sugar on European
of the emancipation proclamation. Congress at the aeil are branchea of culture that we can scarcely hope
last Manion approuriated 3,000 dots. for a pedestal for
the statue. to see pros remunerative in a commercial petit of
p4ii: TIES OW F011t: PORTRAIT extent, in the
_ avniedw..4T,titienliitifi,kilayured, the
to
neisnow grown,
r en, in illi ad to the One
_tii„. TIIIi gh ho u*,dof ala, in Spain. Tea has been
ti.
says ? It . known t effin eta, and plic- intrudiwe44nto the therm districts of Sicily, and
able by thkuphysiolo-gist, that the • portragt"artist although the first atteuipt made-last year to raise the
cannot perfentily succeed with the face of a race ditto- l.iauts on 'a large scale were not successful, owing, it
rent from hie own race. In the most finished and 1 wts said, ddo the injury caused to the plants and seeds
costly illustrations of voyagesPand travels by Euro- ' by ' salt water, during-their transit from Japan, it is
pain expecte, with aid from-Governments, the per ~
„filly leaped by the promoters of the scheme that
traits of aborigines proclaim almost as well as thd other attempt with healthy seeds and plants will
title-page the nation of the artist. A Papuan, ew., ye iceessfuL Meanwhile tea is grown in the
will have a French, German, or English east of idly- 'nehona plantations in Jamaica, and a sample was
oiognorny, wording as he4nia,satrto a.limilier 0 semi -decently receiaedsvhichavas grown and manufactured
kr fit* ceutry."
._ _ t. _,‘,.... , 41,. ere from.Assagi tea-plants ref:dyed through Kew, in
MR. JAINI BRIGHT ON EDUVATISN. Mr. 1868. So far in the appearance of the sample in con-
cerned, it is roughly manipulated, not being sufficiently
Jacob Bright delivered an address od.education to the
Rochdale prize winners in the Government science twisted or curled, and apparently, not sufficiently
and art examinations-en ineneirtiar •He reeeVweel'taer • Nevertheless,..its manufacture is little pi,
efforts that have been made since the beginning of the ferior to. the earliest samples of Assent tea offered in
present century to establish a national system of educe- the Enflish market. Its quality, however, is another
tion, and showed how by a gradual but irresistible thing; or it produces a very watery infusion of very
process the whole cause of public opinion had. been ,lpieST flaeatir, -devote' id the aroma for which tea is
changed. After the Reform Act of 1832 the education note Care, however, in the cultivation of the plants
vote amounted to £20,000, whereas in 1878 it had risen and in the selection and manipulation of the leaves,
to £1,:356,000. Mr. Bright urged the claims of Owens may in time produce a more marketable artiale.
College to the assistance from the national exchequer,
and hinted that a time was approaching when the
enormous revenues of Oxford and Cambridge would be
made more productive to the country.
TELEGRAPH OFFICES AT SEA.—" Can it be
done ? " asks the Philadelphia Ledger—that is, can
measures be devised to enable steamships at sea to
keep rip telegraphic communication with the shore ?
The rest of the civilized and commercial world is with-
in easy telegraphic communication of each port, but
the large community which urea on our passengers
steamships is totally cut off from the rest of the world
the moment land disappears ; and the question is,
"Can anything be done for them?" Two plans are
suggested—one to pay out a small and comparatively
inexpensive cable by the departing steamer, thus keep-
ing up communication with the sailing port; but this
plan meets with so many objections, in the shape of ex-
penses, the leas of a cable on each trip, and the un-
certainty of keeping up such communication, that
another is suggested, having more of system and
business principles as its basis--namely, the establish-
ment of cable stations on the high seas, built upon
buoys at which a steamer may stop and communicate
if in distress, give her time, and enable her passengers
to communicate with their friends on either shore. The
object would without question be extremely desirable,
while the plan, to say the least, appears no more im-
practicable than did the laying of the cable between
the United states and Europe before the hitherto in
credible task had been accomplished.
UNDER THE FALLS OF NIAGARA. The
Niagara Falls Gazette of the 2nd of August says
"We have before referred to explorations which
have been made behind the American Fall,
entering from below Prospect Park. All descrip-
tions represent the trip behind the great fall to
be unrivalled for weirdness of scene and novelty of
experience. Since the organization of the Prospect
Park Company it has been contemplated to fit up
approaches to this new cave, and build such mechanical
helps as may be found practical to facilitate pleasure
trips behind the sheet. Last season Conroy and
Mumford Made a thorough examination of the entrance
extending their trip around the first bend in the
precipice. The floor was found perfectly smooth,
with a sheet of comparatively still water some three
feet deep overlying it. Since the trip last season the
cave has not been entered until on Monday of this
week, wken Conroy and Mumford volunteered to guide
a stranger through tbe explored portions of the place.
The stranger, Mr. George B. Johnson, of New Orleans
thus has won the distinction of being the first visitor
to Niagara who has ever been behind the American
Fall. The party pressed their investigation over 200
feet behind the sheet. Conroy expresses his conviction
that a passage way extends through the Goat Island
—a path which can be tr xlden with safety, and which
he intends at some future day to explore. Mr. Johnson
was lavish in his expressions of delight with the trip,
which be pronounced unequalled for strangeness 6n
the face of the earth."
TEMPERATURE AT GREAT HEIGHTS.— Professor
\Valli, who accompanied Professor Wise in a recent
balloon ascent, gives the following account of the
temperature experienced :—The maxianumtemperature
observed was 97 deg. at starting, and this continued
1,300 ft. At 2,000 ft. it was 96 deg. ;at 3,800 ft., £5
deg. The fall went on until, at the greatest altitude
attained —viz.,
,—viz. 8,713 ft, the temperature was but 68
deg. It fell gradually as we descended, but was lower
than in the ascent, owing, doubtless, to approaching
twilight and the attendant lessening of the sun's
power." Observations were also made with a view to
estimate the quantity and quality of any mechanical or
other impurities of the atmosphere, but it will require
some little time and careful work before any infor-
mation on this point can be made public.
A SERIOUS " LOOK-OUT."—Two A.M. COllliag
home from a party; no latch-key; no knocker. Bell
only rings down-stairs, and Servant a heavy sleeper in
the attic.--Pasch.

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