The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-01-18 00:00:00

Our fgeion Corrtspettmi,
.ight to st=e that we do net ell MOW
''.ls with our Correspondent's oidnaou.si

• Vt.

. ig• ,
eftereaq

The news of the death of the Emperor Napoleon
appears to have been everywhere received with sorrow-
ful interest. Death, which levels all social distinc-
tions, ought to banish all party feeling, and the
Emperor's decease has certainly lessened the bitterness
of political opponents and strengthened the friendly
feeling of his supporters. No man during the present
century has probably been more misrepresented and
mieunderstood than was Louie Charier Napoleon
Bonaparte, in many respects the moat remarkable man
of our time. What a marvellous carver was his I N.
man made more history. His. life-drama was a con-
tinuous auccesaion of startling and sensational scenes.
AS a student, a soldier, a revolutionist, an exile, a
member of the National Assembly, the President of
the Republic, Emperor of the French, a General, an
Imperial prisoner—twice was he kept prisoner for
political offences, and once Was the Imperial eagle kept
in a gilded cage—and again an exile, he attracted the
attention of the world and influenced the history of his
time. 11,-hal his failings and his faults, his virtues and
ha noble qualities. In one respect we must all
arras—that he always was, throughout his varied
career, a true and firm friend to this country. Eng-
land and France were once "natural enemies," but to
• great extent owing to the policy of Napoleon the
hinl they became feet (deride. During the residence
of the Imperial family at Chiselhurst theycominanded
general respect and esteem; during the last illness of
. the Emperor sorrowful interest in the suffering of the
.iliaperial patient WAS expressed ; and meatagee gym-
Whining with the bereaved family have come from
all the sovereigns of Europe, and from numerous
persoia "f exalted station in our own and foreign
count- es. Estimates of his character widely differ,
but the preponderatsce of opinion undoubtedly is that
for nearly twenty years he governed France wisely and
well, arid that he loved his Country none will dispute.
The syuuttalhy of our own Royal family with the
bereaved Imperial family has been manifested not
only by the visit of several members of the former to
the darks ted chamber at Chiseihnrst, but by the official
order as t Court mourning ; while the mournful in-
tense% felt by numerous distinguished persons in France
and England has been shown by the long list of visi-
tors to Ca ielen- house. The sympathy of the general
public has been manifested in many ways. At most of
the places of worship on Sunday reference was
made to the lamentable event, and the solemn
strains of the "Dead March" in Saul pealed from
many an org in. The circumstances attending the
death of the Emperor, the bereavement of the illus-
trious wit ay and fatherless Prince, the visits of family
and friends, the arrangements for the funeral, and the
probable destination of the deceased, are topics that, as
I write, well nigh exclude all others, Speculations as
to the influence of this event on the future of France
are, of course, indulged in, The future is hieden from
us by an impenetrable veil, and human eyes cannot
pierce through it; but there is, at least, good reason to
hope that the death of the Emperor will contribute to
the consolidation of the present form of Government.
Not only the Emperor, but the Empire is dead; its
glorious tradittous may be cherished in the memory of
Imperialists, but its resuscitation, erewhile very doubt-
ful now appears utterly improbable.
The Government does not appear to take at al
kitty to the proposal to send out another Arctic ex-
ploring expedition at the expense of the country, and
as far as I can learn the country does not desire any
such expedition. The history of Atctic exploration,
which extends over a couple of centuries at least, is a
history of determined and noble enterprise if you will,
hut still at the same time • history of hardship,
terrible suffering, serious loss of life, and enormous
expense, and this for no adequate return. Our
eminent geographers are now all at sixes and
sevens as t the best course to be adopted in
connection with another Polar expedition, should it be
undertaken, and while they are arguing about their
favourite cent,. bets, the nation at large manifests no
interest whatever in the project. I venture to opine that
it would be better ferns to colonise and cultivate the dis-
tant lands that we already peewees rather than to seek
out barren rooks, icebergs, and dreary tracts of unin-
habited land that would be of no use to us if we could
take nominal possession of them.
It is rubconred that the Army Estimated will this
year show a considerable reduction. There is no
reason whatever why this should not be the case ; but
In what direction will the economy be effected, sup-
posing tin rumour to he true ? The tumid mode is to
reduce the number of men—their pay individually will
certainly not admit of reduction—and to leave the
officers aide. A considerable reduction in the
rank and tile would not be ropular, and is not likely
to be attempts 1; but when we reflect that our army, in
proportion to its size, is the most costly in Eurame it
is high time that economy should be effected some-
where. And I wonder whether we shall have retrench.
meat in another matter in which the public would
take evep more interest—l refer to the Income-tax.
Mr. Lowe is likely to have a surplus of nearly fiveand
a half millions, and, even if we deduct from this the
three millions payable to America, he will still rejoice
In • 'lupin What will he do with it? No retrench-
ment would please the great made of the middle elms—
and really I think it is their turn now—so much as •
reduction in the Income-tax, unless it be its entire
abolition, which is too much to expect.
A passage from the recent speech of the Home
Secretary is worthy of deep consideration, especially
bearing in mind that Mr. Brace is the author of the
Mints Regulation Act. Speaking of the Miners'
strike, Is said he believes the miners are letting slip
by them golden opportunities which May not readily
return, and that instead of availing themselves of them
golden showers to provide for sickness and old age,
gaining an independent position and maintaining their
children at school, they are letting these opportunities
daps and that increase of wages will be a curse instead
of 'a hlesairig. This is strong language, but dcubtlesa
efficere. I refrain from comment on it, but simply
suggest that those immediately concerned should ask
themselves whether this deliberate utterance is not
worthy of earne.t thought.
Not only foreigners, but visitors to London end Loa.
donors themselves, must have often smiled contemp,
tuonely on looking at that miserable desert, Leicester-
square—once Leicester Fields, and the scene of many
a duel—the most unhappy.looking bit of ground in
London. The wretched place is to be enclosed by •
hoarding, it seems, which will be a small mercy in
some respects; but what an agreeable lounge, with
trees and shrubbery, might this place be wade!
It is to be feared that we must now abandon the
hope that the Great Coram-street murderer will be die-
covered. Every day that panes lessens the chances
of his discovery. At the time of writing two men
Who bore some similarity to the assassin have
been apprehended and discharged, and perhaps
several more wrong ran, will be similarly treated.
It is hard to say how far the police are
wrong in making these arrests, There is doubtless
some reason for them, but it is a very serious matter to
be taken up on suspicion of a murder, and there ought
to be more reason than the police had in these two cases.
But then we judge after the examination, which is
easy enough ; the officers of justice have to judge
from mere appearances and suspicions circumstances,
and I fear so little is definitely known about the
actual criminal that we must not be sanguine of his
sweet.

Hospital Sunday in Loudon is all but an accom-
plished fact. Numerous influential m n have taken
up the subject, and arrangements ha, ebeen made to
carry out the project, the only difficulty being one of
dated— as to what institutions shall participate in the
collections, and who shall be the authorities to divide
the money. It has been calculated that when the
scheme is first put into actual working, the first
Hospital Sunday will produce £20,000. I believe it
will produce much more; but if this num only be col-
lected, what a boon this will be to struggling institu-
tions that are 'supported by voluntary contribu-
tions I"

There are complaints, not loud but deep, of the did.
new of trade in London as elsewhere, and two chief
teases are assigned for it—the weather and the etrikes.
That the long continuance of wet weather has had a
depressing effect on trade is reasonable enough to sup
pose ; indeed we can wanly trace the dulness of retail
trade to this souroe, and dull retail makes dull whole.
sale, as • matter of course, and it is said that a recent
large failure, to which I need not more particularly
allude, was in a greet measure owing to this cause.
The unsettled condition of the iron and coal trades is
also having • deadening effect on many other branches
of industry. But it is to be hoped that trade will soon
revive, while we certainly have not much occasion to
grumble if we look back on the whole of the year that
has just passed. People, however, feel more inclined
.to dwell on the facts of the present, with an eye t) the
future, than foretell the memories of the past.
The appeal of Mr. Edwin James, Q.C., to the judges,
to reinstate him as a member of the Inner Temple and
to allow him to practise his profession, must have been
read with consider:ll4e interest both by lswyers and tho..e
outside the legal circle. He puts his own case very
• 4roagly, sad at any rate offers good reasons why it
should be inqrdrea into. I venture to hope that the
common law judges will institnte an inquiry into the
whole affair. Mr. James has never had a fair trial in
4141•11birt MOM sense 6t the phrase.

A Howit Quatatox.—Are young men who
have sisters generally found to marry ?—One would
fancy they must know too mach.—Punch.