The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-08-06 00:00:00

SWALLOWING A THIMBLE.

A story sent to Paris from one of the departments
in the West shows that Nature will sometimes effect
i
a cure which the surgical art has n vain attempted
(saws the Globe). The patient was a boy who, when
he was quite a child, swallowed his mother's
thimble, with which he had been playing. The in-
digestible morsel stuck fast in his gullet, and would
not yield to any attempts of the doctors, either
forcibly or persuasive, to get it out. Fortunately
for the boy the thimble was an old one and had
a hole in it, through which he was able to breathe,
though with a good deal of difficulty ; and thus
he prolonged a very painful existence, during
which it was, of course, still more difficult for him to
eat than to breathe. He did eat, however, as it seems,
in oirie fashion ; and, indeed, it was to his attempt to
eat solid food that his cure was due. A perverse
crumb of bread as it passed down his throat caused a
violent irritation, and the cough which followed dis-
lodged at last the intruding thimble, after it had been
over ten years in its unwelcome place. The boy is now
quite well, and will perhaps resume his capacity for
growing, which has hitherto been strangely checked,
as although he is fourteen years old, he does not look
more than about eight.

The Italian ironclad Duilio ran aground on Monday.
eveninc while slowly steaming out of the port of Brindisi.
With assistance she was got off next morning, and, being
uninjured, proceeded on her voyage.
Under the head of "Conscience Money" the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer acknowledges in The Times the
receipt of the second half of a £lOO-note sent by "Mistake,"
and of £2O sent anonymously for Income-tax; also the
receipt of the second half of a £lO-note sent anonymously
for armorial bearings, tor which the sender is liable.

__ -

The aggregate value of the petroleum exported from
the United States in the eleven months ending May 31 this
year was 34,762,328 dols., as compated with 35,9924i12 do's.
in the corresponding period of 1880.
-

The Berlin papers report that last week, at the
village of Ahrensdorff, not far from the city, seven children
returning home from the fields took shelter from a thunder-
storm under a tree. The tree was struck by lightning, and
all the children were killed on the spot.

The Germitn military papers write that the army
feels it a great compliment that Sir Frederick Roberta will
represent England at the autumn manceuvres. The German
critics have always been most lavish of praise of General -
Roberts's great march to Candahar.

The Vienna Correspondent of the Standard says
that an Austrian officer while asleep in bed the other night
was attacked by one of the private soldiers of his regiment
and shot dead. The bullet passed straight through the
heart, and death was instantaneous. The case has created
the greater sensation, as instances of soldiers shooting their
superior officers are of rare occurrence in the Austrian
Army.

The Counsel of Owens College, Manchester, are
about to try an experiment which may lead to very im-
portant results. They propose to appoint five' researchers"
who, on showing that they are qualified to prosecute any
special study in nine named departments of knowledge,
will each hold a fellowship of £lOO per annum. Before the
close of the year the holders of these fellowships must show
to the satisfaction of the authorities that they have pro-
gressed in their work. They may be re-appointed under cer-
tain conditions, for a second, or even a third year.

The Jardin des Plantes in Paris has just received
two ourang-outangs from Java. These animals are about
three feet high, with hair of a reddish colour, very gentle,
but lively and active.
Newspapers and periodicals can be subscribed for in
Germany at any post-office—a system which which might
well be copied by other countries. Altogether some 7,631
publications may thus be obtained, of which 5,169 are in the
German language, and 4,398 of these are printed in the
Empire itself.
Mark Twain reports that he attended an exhibition
of the power of nitro-glycerine, and his first impression was
that his mother-in-law was arguing with him.

-
Village Improvement Societies were established a
short time ago in Massachusetts, U.S., anti the scheme is r.
spreading through the neighbouring Slates. Their objects Lib
are somewhat the same as that of our own Kyrie Society,
i.e., promoting concerts, lectures, and entertainments, en- 31
couraging art, (tc., but the chief aim is to beautify small
towns and villages by planting trees, regulating roadways,
removing unsightly objects, and rescuing picturesque spots ;
from the builder.
A new remedy for permanent baldness is proposed,
which consists in the removal of the unproductive skin bit
by bit, and the substitution of portions of healthy scalp tilceis
from younger subjects. The only objection to this ingenious "
process of skin-grafting would seem to lie in the difficulty of ,4t
obtaining younger subjects who wou,id consent to the
transfer.—" Scientific Notes" in Graphic.
A slight shock of earthquake was felt at Bangor
(Maine), on the night of the 31st ult.

The'following ladies occupied seats in the Peeresses'
Gallery during the debate in tho House of Lords on Monday
night on the Irish 4and Bill: The Marchioness of Salisbury,
the Duchess of 3ftrlborough, the Countess Spencer, the
Countess of Lytton, the Countess of Carnarvon, the
Marchioness of Londonderry, the Countess of Cork, dsc.

Prince Napoleon has issued a manifesto to the
friends of his family, in which, as the representative of the
Bonaparte traditions, he expresses his opinions upon the
Government of France and offers some advice in respect to
the Elections.

The Emperor and Empress of Russia arrived at
Nikni-Novgorod at ten o'clock on Monday morning. Large
numbers of people assembled at different places on the
route from Moscow and enthusiastically cheered their
Majesties. At Nijni-Novgorod the Emperor attended the
consecration of the newly erected cathedral, which is dedi-
cated to the memory of the late Emperor Alexander 11.
- -

A New York telegram says that a despatch from
Mexico reports a terrible explosion at a powder magazine at
Mazatlan, which caused the death of seventy persons.

The Americans are introducing the English paper
hunt, and call it, as it awakens ancient reminiscences,
"man hunting." .

It is stated that, in order to relieve the funds of the
Land League, the "suspects" imprisoned in Ireland have
determined in future to accept the prison fare at all meals
except dinner. _

The German Reichaanzeiger publishes an orde
necessitated by the renewed outbreak of rinderpest in
Russia and Austria. No living beasts, sheep, or goats are to
be brought into Germany from those countries, either for im-
portation or transit, and no fresh meat or manure received.
The importation of rags, unless packed in sacks, is likewise
prohibited.
- - - - - - - - - - -

There were 16 British and foreign wrecks, of which
eleven were British, reported daring the past week, making
a total of 1,000 for the present year, or an increase of 200 at
compared with the corresponding period of last year. The
approximate value of property lost WM £3,000,000, including
British, £2,500,000.
On Friday in last week the Bishop of Liverpoo
Invited the President of the Wesleyan Conference, together
with the ex-President, Dr. Rigg, and a few others, to meet a
number of his clerp, men. Luncheon was provided at the
Palace. The meeting was of a purely friendly character.
The Bishop, in a few hearty words, expressed the pleasure it
gave him to welcome the President of the Wesleyan Con-
ference and his brearen. He referred to his grandfather's
association with John Wesley, and the influence which his
teaching had exerted on his own life, and expressed his joy
at the great work w hich Wesleyan Methodism had accom-
plished. The Pres] lent of the Conference replied in a few
graceful words.

The agents for the Hughenden Manor Estate re-
turned 20 per cent ortheif rents to the tenants at the half-
yearly audit this cek. This, it is said, is in accordance
with the known i :ention of the late Lord Beaconsfield. It
Is the fifth come( :Live half-yearly remission.

Queen Emma the wife of William 111., King of the
Netherlands, con,i,!eted her 23rd year on Tuesday, having
been born on A 4ust 2, 1858. Her Majesty is the third
daughter of Gee! _ s Victor, Prince of Waldeck, her mother
being the Princes.- Helena, daughter of the Duke Wilhelm of
Nassau. Her nluiage with the King of the Netherlands, as
his second wife, , as solemnised on January, 1879, an infant
princess being th, issue of the union. Her Royal spouse,
King William 111., is in his 65th year.
Last month's deaths in the city of New York
amounted to four thottsadd two hundred and fifty. Some
anxiety is caused by the fact that the total exceeds that of
any July for ten ye.,is, except only in 1872.

At the sitting of the Bible Christian Conference at
Newport, Isle of Wight, the report showed a total member-
ship, including those on trial, of 16,447, with 187 itinerant
preachers, 843 local preachers, 531 chapels, and 146 training
chapels; Sunday school scholars, 27,130 ; with 4,121 teachers.

On Monday a large party of excursionists had an
escape from drowning at the Bathurst Pontoon, Bristol.
The Welsh Prince, from Newport (lion.), was advertised to
run a double excursion to Bristol and Westonsuper-Bare.
When she got alongside the pontoon for Newport the bridge
was crowded with Bristolians, and in the crush the structure
gave way on the off side. Fortunately the tide was low, and
the fractured framework fell on a stout pile. All the pas-
sengers were landed safely.

"Do you sell Bibles and Testaments here ? " inquired
an elderly lady of a bookseller. "Yes, ma'am." "I don't
want any of the old ones," said the old one herself. "I want
a reversed Testament—Court Journal.
The Postmaster-General, who had been absent from
the House of Commons for a fortnight on account of severe
indisposition; was able to take his seat on the Treasury
Bench again on Monday night.

The grouse reports from the Scotch moors promise
fair sport on the opening day, and better bags later on may
be expected. There are no indications of disease, but the
birds have suffered from the protracted winter and the late
spring. Barren birds appear to be more numerous than
usual. Deer, hares, and rabbits have also suffered much
from the severe weather.

A conference of members of the House of Commons
was held the other evening, under the presidency of Lord
E. Fitzmaurice, when it was resolved to memorialize the
Pricy Council to sanction the use of School Board schools
as night schools. The object, it was explained, was not to
attract scholars from the day schools, but to enable children
who have passed through the day schools to supplement
their education at night schools.

As an instance of the thoroughness with which
musketry practice is taught in the German Army may be
mentioned a device which has recently been introduced here
with good results. The better to accustom the men to the
opaqueness of a battlefield, clouds of smoke are produced by
burning furze and wet grass, or by other means, between the
marksman and his aim, and the advantages of this practice
are apparent.

In London, on Monday, under the auspices of the
Pharmaceutical Society, an International Congress was
opened in Bloomsbury-square. The two subjects to which
special attention was given were the desirability of establish-
ing an international Pharmacopcoia, and that a Commission,
meeting in a central European city, should take steps to
equalise the strength of pharmaceutical preparations con-
taining potent drugs.
Arrangements are in progress for holding an Inter-
national Fine Arts Exhibition, in the Htinstlerhaus, at
Vienna, next year, of the chief works of art which have
been produced since the great Vienna Exhibition of 1573.
Architecture, sculpture, painting, and drawing, nith other
kindred arts, will each be represented. The exhibition
will be opened in April and closed in September.

It appears that the Reports for 1880 of all the
public libraries in America, without a single exception,
show a falling off in the issue of books. The Nation ex-
plains this strange fact by the theory that business was so
brisk during the past year that peepte had uo time to read";
and, in addition, they were diverted from literature by the
political excitement of the Presidential election.—Academy.
Major Chester-Master, M.P., in presiding at the
West Glouoestershire Agricultural Society's dinner spoke of
the vast importance to Bath agriculturists and manufac-
turers of the results of the Commission on French Tariffs,
and expressed his conviction that all parties, on both sides
of the House, had bat one object, that the utmost pressure
should be put upon the representatives of the French
Government to materially reduce the tariff upon imports
into France.

At Avignon, at a bull-fight in the circus, the
torreador Marine Delorme has been gored to death.
Mr. Fender, MX., in moving the adoption of the
report at the half-yearly meeting of the Direct United States
Cable Company, said Die question of a'shilling rate had been
long under consideration by the directors of the respective
telegraph systems, and its earlier introduction had been pre-
vented because it was found that it would not give an
adequate return to the shareholders. It was only since the
irtroduction of the duplex system of working that the reduc-
tion had been possible, and they were now about to give the
shilling tariff a fair trial.
The arrivals of live stock and fresh meat At Liver-
pool bac week from the United States and Canada were of
live cattle a slight decrease, of fresh meat also a decrease,
and with regard to sheep, the arrival was exceedingly large
in comparison with previous weeks. The totals were-1,049
cattle, 9,828 sheep, 412 carcases of mutton, 4,927 quarters of
beef, and 50 hogs.
A cy
3 t on(Vcoanntcinouuevsetro be 'slrselmamardll
j
ably large, and beyond the capacity of packing warehouses.
ilelseagysratmhat
While riding in a-handicap pony hurdle race at a
ftrhoem take N-iocftsoarlima
meeting of the International (lun and Polo Club at Preston,
near Brighton, on Monday, Major J. Scott Chrisholme was
thrown soon after the start and received many severe in-
juries, his pony having rolled over him. It waR at first
thought he was killed, but, although he was removed in a
very precarious condition, hopes are entertained of his
recover)'. Major Scott Chisholme has only recently re-
turned from Afghanistan, where he received two bullet
wounds during an engagement with the enemy.
The Cunard Company are fitting their steamship
Servia with 98 electric lamps. The lamps are to be disposed
in the following manner :—Engine-room, 20; propeller-shaft
tunnels, 10; grand saloon, 50 ; music room, 8 ; ladies'
boudoir, 6: smoking-room, 4. The requisite current will be
obtained from a dynamo-electric machine, which will be
driven by a special engine.
At Balsall Heath, near Birmingham, George
Davey Bragge, wine merchant, has been summoned for sell-
ing intoxicating liquors without a licence at the garden
patty held recently at Moor-green Hall, the residence of
Mr. Chamberlain, President of the Board of Trade,
by the Birmingham Junior Liberal Association. •
police-superintendent stated that the defendant was
supplying large quantities of champagne cup, claret
cup, to the ladies and gentlemen who at-
tended, He purchased a couple of bottles of beer.
When served with the summons the defendant said that con-
sidering it was done at Mr. Chamberlain's he did not think
such a simple thing weuld.,be brought before the magistrates.
Xhe defence was that the defendant had a licence, but it was
erroneously granted, and upon the certificate of a borough
instead of a *minty magistrate. A tine of one shilling and
costs was imposet—The magistrates said they were sure a
Cabinet Minister would net wish the law to be broken upon
his own groands. The court was crowded with xonnibere of
mod.
both political parties. The proceedings caused great amuse