The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-08-03 00:00:00

Our renlion orrtspodeut.
We dam It light to state that we do not at all time
astir/ (ourselves with our Vorrespoudat's uplialutal

II

itik,

Wearily but still energetically Her Majeety's faith.
ful Commone iievote theunselv, during more or less
oppressive worming or evening sittings, to the remaii.
lag work of legislation, and the heat of debate is
frequently lessened, naturally enough, by the heat of
the weather. The Licensing Bill, however, has given
rise to many exciting debates, and ere long this
tcoublous subject it may be hoped will be set at
rest. But when this measure is passed we shall sadly
want a popular statement of what the Act really
Is and does, for he must be a very clever and
assiduous student of the debates who could now decide
exactly what has been done. But on the whole I gather
from these debates that the new system will un-
doubtedly be a great improvement upon the old, and
that one of our peculiar national evils will thus be
greatly mitigated. This matter sr ttled, the remaining
parliamentary labours will not be of a Nery heavy
character, and in all probability the lose of next
week will also be the close of the seesion, and our
legislators will rapidly leave the wet!, ipdis for the
sea-aide, for Alpine scenery, for yachting tours, for
fishing in Isba-svay, for Continental fashionable resorts,
or mayhap for the comparative quiet and steludon of
country residences ; and the public, like our leghlatairs.
will be glad that an exciting and eventful session will
be over.

The triumphant emcees of the French loan is in
many respions one of the pleaaanteet topics of the day.
There can be no mistake about the enthusiasm of ell
climes in endeavouring to have a share in the sub-
scription. Of course great capitalists have done a
good deal of financing, merely looking en the whole
affair as a very favourable opportunity for buying to
sell again; but it is equally certain that all classes in
France have entlartsheitically -may I not say patrioti-
cally ?—ceme forward with their spate each, and in
thousands oi crises with their carefully economised and
hoarded savings, to help to ley etf the German in-
derunity, and place France once again in a Found seal
progressive position. The encee-s the loan has
raised the hopes of France and pet her in goad spirits,
and Government and people are now far more in har-
mony with each other than before. But we in this
eountry, looking on this gigantic financial operation in
all it bearings—as far indeed as we can understand
them -cannot but see that thin pleasant topic is
not wholly unmingled with misgivings. If France has
now gained a financial triumph, it is a triumph con-
nested with a defeat, and consequent upon it. But
Germany has ales) gained a splendid triumph, and it is
victory upon victory. She is now both in land and
treasure richer than ever she was. May she put her
newlyeisquired power to noble uses!
The French always have been, are still, and it would
seem that they intended to remain a military nation ;
but perhaps it would be well for them to make as little
display as poadble for the present and to devote their
energies to the unieteetatious development of their
army. If this be so it need not be matter of regret
that the grand review, which was to have taken place
In Paris, and which was postponed on ac enlist of the
heat if the weather, has now buen postponed inde
finitely. After the long series of terrible military
&austere that the French suffered on the last occasion
when they put their soldiers to their normal purposes,
It seems cow to be somewhat of a mockery to have a
review in the capital that erewhile was surrounded by
the beleaguring German hosts France should now
devote herself rather to consolidating and strengthening
her resources than to mere holiday display.
There is no public topic among writers and talkers
which has more general interest than existing high
prices and probable higher prices in future. This
is at once a public and a private topic. It has
been said that the heart of an Englishman is
placed in his breeches-pocket. Some say it is
in his senmach. In either case the prevailing topic
comes home to the Englishman's heart, and hi every
household the prevailing topic must be an interesting
one. Let us discuss it by all means; let us econoznise;
let us scheme and plan for the reduction of our expen-
diture; but it is of no use to resort to violent
measures about it. I see that in some places there
have been indignation meetings with regard to the
price of provisions—meetings in which women have
taken a prominent part—cud that Lamm scarmia
resolutions have been passed that meat shall be
abstained from till the price is reduced to 71,
and even in one case (a positive fact) to 41 per lb. I
tear that if these resolie ions are acted upon, those who
have thus decided will have to abstain a very long time
from meet. It is very kind of these people to become
vegetarians, and perhaps it would be well if there were
',lry more of them, but so far as the movement
has yet gone it will exert a very little, if any
effect on the prise of meat. Nor is it of any use for
butchers to resolve to close their shops—as a few who
tried it soon discovered. But at some of these meetings
there have been statements made which suggest the
deeirability of thorough inquiry into the existing regu-
lations as to the import z if cattle. In one case the
chairman denounced 'the restrictions imposed by
Government, influenced by interested men, upon the
import of tortign cattle," and another speaker "denied
that it was the fear of the ritelsrpest that caused
Government not to relax the restrictions of importa-
tion, but they were influenced by the farmers, who
wished to make money out of the poor people." Now
I believe it to be an incontrovertible fact that what-
ever regulations Parliament has imposed with regard
to the importation of foreign cattle hey., been imposed
for the general good, and that they have undoubtedly
effected much good; but still it is quite possible that
they may require revision, and, if so, this ought
speedily to be undertaken in the interest of the public.
If I understand the matter rightly, the action of
Parliament is not necessary to this end. The Privy
Council can undertake the task. If anything can be
done to increase the supply of cattle from theCoutinent
It ought to be done, for the entire question of meat
supply becomes more and more urgent, and probably
during the approaching w liter will become very serious.
It is stated that the National Union for Improving
the Education of Women, feeling the want of more
and better schools for the education of girls and young
women, intend to try and establish such schools by the
aid of a limited liability company, and that to this end
• public day school will on this system be founded in
the sett!) west district of the metropolis. I heartily
wish success to the experiment. No one ran have
studied the educational machinery at present existing
In relation to the female sex with int feeling that there
tea treat want of good schools, or rather I would say
of good middle class schools. There are more facilities
for the education of the poor according to their station
than for the adoration of osiddile-elass cliii according
to theirs, while of Course the rich CAII t; command
good education. NA, hat we ward is good, mmiim
sense schools for the daughters of midille-cliams parents,
Instead of the ridiculously stuckup and fal-lal board-
ing schools that are so dear and so thoroughly in.
efficient for preparing our girls for the everyday work
of life.
I have just had to pay, in commen with e moss of
other Louden ratepayers, a rather heavy contribution
to the London School Boma. People are apt to take
• very selfish view of such matters, end iny own
opinion is that ol perhaps the majority id those who
have had to pay this rate. We grin-nide, inost of us,
because, while we have to pay for the education of our
own children, we are also thus compelled to ley fur the
education of children belonging to a lower class, as a
rule, than our own. I dare say it will all corue right
in the end, and that the general education of the lower
classes will be the cheapest in the result for the classes
above them; but at present the difficulty and danger
appear to be that the education of the working classes
is to he effected at the expense of the other cheats, and
that while the former gain all the advantages of the
new system, the education of middle-clase children
is as expensive al ever, and not one whit improved. I
have heard many people complain bitterly that
the working clans are compelled to educate their
children and the middle elites are compelled to pay for
It; that working class chilaren will now receive
preceically abetter education than the lists tics id many
nil- Idle class children can afford to give them ; and that
society is progressing towards a condition in which our
poorer slaeses will be so well edueated that they will
be too clever and too knowing for errand-boys, labour-
ers, and domestic servants. These may be exaggerated
fears, and in sty ease we shall be a long time coming
to that state sf things; but it must be admitted that
these mingle-legs are not wholly with ,ut foundation.
The new educational system is now beginning to be
put in full and a dive operation, and its gradual effects
may be watched with interest, if not with anxiety.
It is not a matter, in my opinion, on which the
public at large may be congratulated that the quiet
of an English Sabbath should be disturbed by
a noisy and uproarious meeting held in the open
air in front of the Bethnal-green MUstUrn, to
procure the opening of that institution on the Sunday.
Such meetings as these are far from spontaneous,
They are got up by three who seem to desire to make
the English Sunday like the Continental Sunday, as
to have nmseums, picture galleries, and theatres—for it
would conic to that—open on that day. The advocates
of this step, however, try to keep in the backgroun,i
an inoeirtant fact in reference to the Museum referree
to—that it is kept open on week clays till ten o'clock at
night. Ir theee days of diminished hours of labour
and of the Saturday half-holiday, surely there can be
no excuse therefore for opening it on the Sunday.
A new Shinew neargaper has been started. ci
Aasgbak $l4 tog She mead mosOtls as Assets darl

FIVE YEARS' PENAL SERVITUDE
• At tie Lancaster mates, Nathan Faulkner, a powerful
looking man, described as a master, aged fortylave, has
been Indicts, for the murder of his housekeeper. Jane
Mason, an o woman in her lted year, on the 3rd of April.
The facts detailed in evidence were, that on the
after," .1 April the holy of the deceased
woman ei- mod lying in a doorway leading from the
kit,hei. • : the priaoner's house into the scullery.
Her bead was autcorted by a large Pile of cloths
which wiire saturated with blood. Ihe front door
of the h into was locked inside, and the beck door
led from the scullery into the yard of the brewery
in which ths prisoner w.irked. The neighbours
had heard quarrelling for a few days prev:•.usly, and
allioatniene tine on the day the body was found. It
appeared frnin the post tourism examinetion that the
old woman's skull had been fractured, two pieces ex
tending hien tlei right temple to the ear being driven
completely in. The tuerlic.ai evidence proved that after
receiving such :iijuries unconsciousness would imme-
diately supervene, and that it would be impossible for
a person in such a state to place anything under her
own head. The prisoner was apprehended the same
afternoon, conc. sled amen the rafters of the brew.
house, a building four storis in height, and in a state-
ment wale to the police on be haywire; dey he said
that he had had a good deal to kink and lied civarrelled
with his (ill homekeeper, and ~ad F yen her a push
which knocked her down, and that in going through
the doorway be believed teat he had stepped upon her
bend. The three dot:krt.., wi cenduyteri the post MY I' -
tent agreed that such a step ekon the head couti net
a..e.ount for the cha•aiiter if the fracture of the
skull, and that kicks of a heavy c'og, such as the
primmer wore, or blows from borne blunt instrurn-mt,
twist have beer. inflicted.
For the defence Mr. Camnbell Foster, before ad-
dressing the jury, decided to call rebutting medical
evi.lence, tine hAvin::. examine: Mr. Watson, M.R.C.S.,
who wae.ii opinion that the injury might have been
inflicted in the manner suggested by the prisoner, an
the skull of • person of advanced years became more
brittle than in middle life.

'the Judge expressed his opinion that, after such
conflicting professional opinions, the indictment for
wilful murder could not be sustained, ho ntimated that.
without question, the prisoner must be convicted of
manslaughter.
The jury returned a verdict in accordance with his
lordship's ruling, and the prisoner was sentenced to
five years' penal servitude.