The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-10-29 00:00:00

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' HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL

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ALL THERE. Mr. Fiddlestring (to Father of
Shop Boy, who has been engaged as being very mu-
sical).—l thought you told me your son was fend of
music, and he doesn't know even a note or a tune.—
Pater.—What I said was my boy had plenty of music
in him, and I should think he is crammed full,
HA I have never heard any come out of him yet.—
Judy. •
DOMESTIC SERVANTS IN CANADA.—The demand for
female domestic servants throughout Canada is much
greater than the supply (says the Daily News). It is
stated that any number would be able to secure em-
ployment at good wages, and the Canadian Govern-
ment oftios in London are authorised to offer assisted
passages. The want is so much felt that a meeting of
ladies was held in Montreal recently, and a committee
formed, to encourage servants to go, and to pro-
vide for their reception until places had been secured
for them.
A LINGUISTAL CHlEF.—Donald McKay, chief of
the Warm Spring Indians, is visiting in Columbus, 0.
(says the Detroit Free Press). He weighs 200 pounds,
and is 45 years of age. He bears upon his body
eighteen wounds, received in various Indian battles
while in the employ of the government. He speaks
English, German, French and Spanish and eight In-
dian tongues. Ye was a scout for Grant in 1855 and
he was a second lieutenant for George B. McClellan
when the latter was a captain' exploring Oregon and
Wa,hington Territories. He has acted as interpreter
in every Indian treaty made west of the Rocky. Mou-
ntains.

GOUTY VEGETABLE.—A Toe-martyr.—Punch.
A NEW YORK CENTENARIAN.—A well•authenti-
cated case of the death of a centenarian is reported
from Copenhagen, New York, where Mr. Lev?
Robbins, a highly respected public man, has died at
the age of 101 years. Mr. Robbins had been member
of the Assembly, in which he sat for Lewis County as
far back as the year 1819.

NARROW ESCAPE OF THE GERMAN CROWN PRINCE.—
The German Crown vrince (a Standard telegram says)
had a narrow escape from a dangerous accident on Tues-
day. At a level croseing on the Berlin and Potsdam Rail-
way a carriage had broken down owing to the horses
having taken fright and run away. This mishap
occurred just as the fast train in which his Imperial
Highness was travelling was approaching the spot.
At the last moment the engine driver's attention was
attracted by the signs made by persons near the
broken-flown carriage, and he was fortunately able to
shut offlsteam in time to prevent a serious disaster.

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EXTRAORDINARY LONG7trZir.—The obituary of The
Times of Monaay (ctt,.,, contained the names of six
ladles rind three gentlemen whose united ages amounted
to 784 years, eiving an average of 87 years nod mare
than one month to eexh. The oldest was a lady, who
had reached the great age a! 93 years; the youngest,
of the same sex, was 80. Of the gentlemen, the oldest
C`7 te 91 and the youngest 84 years of age. The same
obitualy tintio'unced the deaths of eight seplge:
narians, aveMemt! 72 years and upwards oi
fouf
months each. . .

GROWTH AND WEIGHT OF CiiliiblittN.—Sorne jute-
resting studies with reference to the het.4lth slid growth
of children haVe been made by Dr. Bouitot! vf the
Samaritan Hospit!4l London. Instead of taking the
average of a large numb'el. of children measured once,
he adopted the plan of measuring nUnTher of chil-
dren of normal growth, brought up under +erage
cli-
èuthztnces, many times, thus ascertaininethei; r±ite
of increase. ij this means the annual tale of growth
was found to vary betwetn tw9 and three inches for
each child per year. Dr. Boutton blieVes that when
a child varies more than a quarter of an incti s,nnually,
or when the increase of weight does not correspond
with the weight Within .a margin of safety—put at
seven pounds—then it ié safe to conclude the child's
diet is not good, or possibly some disease is lurking in
his system. The curious fact appears that loss of
weight always precedes the develop,Lent of consump-
tion.—The Sanitary Record.
AGRICULTURAL PROGRASS IN MANITOPA,—As evi-
dence of the rapidity with which the province of Mani-
toba is being settled, it is stated that at Winnipeg the
following agricultural implements have been sold !
Reapers, 942; mowers, 930; rakes, 90; ploughs,
8,598; harrows, 2,548; binders, 405; wagons, 2,054;
carriages, 730; seeders, 3,295; threshers, 112. At
Portage-la-Prairie the purchases this season have been
as follows :—Self-binding reapers, 116 ; ordinary
reapers, 151; mowers, 225; seeders, Ig3; sulky rakes,
165; ploughs, 1,154; harrows, 377; steam threshers,
Ii; farmers' wagons, 411. All the reports speak in
high terms of the favourable season experienced this
year, and anticipate a large increase in the area under
cultivation next year.
Farr YEARS AN EDITOR.—An interesting jubilee
has just been celebrated at Brussels. Fifty years
have gone by since the appearance of the first number
of the Itroniteur Beige, under the direction of M.
Philippe Bourson, who has continued at the head of
its staff, without interruption, down to the present
time, and who, notwithstanding his 80 years still
possesses sufficient energy and mental activity to
justify his remaining at his editorial post. The
various members of the Brussels Press, headed by M.
Berardi, of the Independance Beige, presented their
venerable colleague with an address of congratula-
tion.

"IN THE NAME OF THE PROPHET."—When Maho4
metans go on a pilgrimage, they " Mecca " month of
it at the very least. —Fun.

AVERAGE PRICES OP BRITISH CORN.—The follow-
ing are the average prices of British corn for the week
ending Oct. 22, as received fronq the inspectors and
officers of Excise :—Wheat, 475. rd. ; barley, 355. Bd. ;
oats, 20s. 6d. per imperial qr. Corresponding week
last year :—Wheat, 425. Bd.; barley, 355. 2d. ; oats,
21s.

DESTROYING FORESTS.—A striking instance of the
activity of man in destroying forests may be shown by
the following figures, which we find in M. Olshevsky's
paper in the last issue of the Izvestia of the Russian
Geographical Society. After having taken into con-
sideration the surveys which were made in the pro-
vince of Ufa before 1841, and the recent distribution
ot forests in that province, M. Olshevsky shows that
the area of forests, which formerly was about
17,577,000 acres, has now diminished by at least
3,500,000 acres; although the population is still very
sparse, that is, less than three souls per square mile,
and it was yet less some time ago.

_
AIRY SOMETHINGS.—WhistIing men are very dis•
agreeable companions, as a rule—they are so full of
airs I—Fun.

Mici icAL ATTENDANCE AT NIGHT.—An official docu-
ment has just been published showing the number of
cases in which medical attendance when urgently,
needed ot night has been rendered by the police autho-
rities in Paris during the three months ending on the
30th af September. During this period the public
doctors paid 1,687 visits, as agaihst 1,570 in the
corresponding quarter of last year. The cases treated
included not only those attributable to accident or
crime and requiring prompt attention, but many
others arising from natural ailments of various
kinds.

A DISAPPOINTING MAN.—He was a gentleman of
dignity and standing in the community, and when he
remarked to his next door neighbour in presence of a
number of people at a swell party : "Ala, Mrs.
Sharpe, not every boy is like your son ! " her cheeks
flushed with motherly pride and gratification, and she
replied :"I know it ! And then he added : "I'm
mighty glad they ain't 1" and the flush faded from
her cheeks and an ugly look came in her eyes and the
listeners had to turn away to conceal their smiles.
Some men are real brutes.

INTERESTING DISCOVERIES.—Dr. Carpenter, J.P.,
Croydon, has just made two interesting discoveries
which go to show that Croydon was the scene of a
battle or a series of battles some generations ago. He
has found two old cannon balls, one having been dug
up in the Old town during some. excavations, and the
other on his own premises in the High-street. The
ball found in the Old Town was small and very much
oxidised, the outer crust being eaten to the extent of a
sixth of an inch by rust. The other ball was in a fair
state of preservation. Various skeletons have lately
been dug up in Croydon.
WEDDING PRESENTS IN TYROL—Late in the even-
ing of the eventful day, when most of the guests have
left for the dancing-room, the chief table, where the
married couple had sat during supper, is cleared, and
a large brass or pewter dish, covered with a clean
napkin, is placed at the head in front of the bride's
godmother, at whose side is seated one of her uncles
or brothers, with a sheet of paper before him and a
pencil in his hand. Each guest then puts in the hand
of the godmother, at least one, two, or three florins
—a florin is two shillings—according as-he or she has
had or has not had a share in the eating or drinking of
the day, those who have not giving one florin, those
who have supped two florins, and those who have
dined and supped three florins. The godmother places
each gift in the bowl, and the uncle or brother notes
down its amount, the donor, when he marries, ex-
pFcting from the bridegroom the exact sum he had
given at the latter's wedding.

GUN LICENCES.—Last year the number of gun
licences at 10s. duty was 150,126.
REMARKABLE ESCAPE.—The great gale' which played
such havoc with the boughs and leaves the other day,
seems to have been nearly as mischievous within
doors as without; for we hear of its having got into a
gentleman's dressing-room and there blown down a
couple of trees, though, curiously enough, a pair of
boots which were on the trees did not sustain the
slightest injury.—Fun.

PLOT FOR A NOVEL—Here is a plot for a novel
which is supposed to possess the merit of truth (says
the Detroit Free Press). A man, a boy, and a dog are
overtaken somewhere in the boundless West by In-
dians, who kill the man, bind the boy to the corpse
with rawhide thongs and disappear, having neglected
to exteiminate the dog. Much inconvenienced by
hunger, the dog licks and knaws the rawhide, which
eventually becomes soft and slippery. Observing this
circumstance, the boy pulls his hands out of the bonds,
unties the knots and walks off with his dog to a dis-
tant ranche.

THE MEDICAL SCHOOLS.—The list of new entries at
the several medical schools in the metropolis having
now been completed, it will be found that the number
of freshmen now entering on their first year's course
of study have not in any way decreased; in fact, at
most of the schools there has been a decided increase.
St. Bartholomew's heads the list with 164 new
students, University College has 115, Guy's 84, the
London Hospital 74, St. Thomas's 64, St. George's
64, King's College 58, Middlesex 54, Charing-cross 44,
St. Mary's 21, and Westminster 20. The new entries
at the provincial schools also show a large increase.

THE POPULATION OF ROME.—According to the
returns just made by the Roman municipality, the
population of the city numbered on the 30th of
September 311,674 souls, showing an inc ease of 1,943
inhabitants since the 30th of June last. • The military
garrison of 5,791 men on the 30th of June, has been
decreased by 175. These returns show, therefore, an
increase of 66,844 souls in the population of Rome
since the Ist of January, 1872, in addition to the great
influx of Italians between the 20th of September,
1870, and that date.
CURIOUS CASE OF CHOKING.—In London, on Wed-
nesday, Dr. Danford Thomas held an inquest at
Upper Charlton-street, on the body of Lilian Swan,
aged 28 years. On Thursday in last week the deceased,
who was about to be married, took apartments in
Cleveland-street. Being busy on Saturday she went
without dinner, and in the evening called upon a
friend, whom she asked to cook her a steak. This
was done, and she ate hastily, leaving her friend's
house directly afterwards. She walked quickly back
to her lodgings, and about nine o'clock she was found
on the kitchen staircase head downwards. The post-
mortem examination showed that the gullet was com-
pletely choked up with large pieces of meat, that the
deceased must have walked home very fast, given a
heavy gasp which forced the meat into the gullet and
produced suffocation.—The jury returned a verdict in
accordance with the medical testimony.
THE ITALIAN PRESS.—A great development has
taken place in Italian journalism within the last few
years, in point of both the number of papers and
literary excellence. At the beginiting of this year 149
daily papers were published int Italy, and 1,305
journals and periodicals appearing once, twice, or
thrice a week. The oldest Italian newspaper was
founded in Genoa in 1797. In 1836 the total number
of Italian journals of all kinds was only 185. Of the
existing daily political papers, 18 are published in
Rome, 16 in Naples, 13 in Palermo, 12 in Milan, nine
in Florence, six in Turin, and five in Venice.
THE LABOUR MARKET.—The labour market all over
the country continues active, and in the miscellaneous
industries there is an average supply of work for all
classes of artisans. Builders in London are very busy.
The improvements and the numerous large buildings
now being erected employ nearly all the operatives
in every branch. Engineers are also busy; the
preparatory work required for the new bridges over
the Thames, and the enlargement of several others
give full employment, as is evidenced by the few work-
men on the books of the societies for out•of.work
pay. Printers are fairly active, and the work for the
Christmas and other annuals now in hand is very large.
Prices have been maintained throughout the week
in the iron and steel trades. Shipbuildiug iron is in
demand, shipyards in all parts of the north coasts
being very brisk. At Sheffieldrin the armour and
ship plates departments, work is plentiful, and the
manufacturers of steel rails are full of orders both for
home and foreign supply. There is also a large
demand for axles and tyres, and the wire mills are
busy. Travellers report a better condition of trade
everywhere. In all districts steam coal owners are
full of orders, and prices are rising. Lace manu-
facturers at Nottingham are full of orders, and in the
woollen business, especially at Lesde, Huddersfield,
and Bradford, employment is abundant, many of the
mills running overtime. The carpet trade is very much
improved at Kidderminster, and manufacturer, are
getting better prices than formerly.
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