The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-07-31 00:00:00

ebt cstotuivittge Oitserber.

SATURDAY, JULY 31, 1875.

GREAT BRITAIN AS A MILITARY
NATION.

The mmpetition of the National Rifle Associa-
tion at Wimbledon and the summer mancertvres
at Aldershot came to a clnse on the same Jay;
awl but for the wretched •-:at'aer qh:cti has
an irked the greater part of July, both these mili-
tary spectacles would have been attended by a
much larger number of the general public.
Each was favoured with the presence of Royalty
the Princess Louise distribu jug the prizes to
the successfal riflemen, and tHe Dukes of Cam-
bridge and Connaught taking that prominent
part at Aldershot to which, more especially in
the case of aLe Commander-in-chief, their posi-
tion entitles them. The Wimbledon meeting
had lasteu a forthightf; the Al iershot drills had
been in progress for a month or more; and the
concurrence of their simultaneous close may well
suggest a few thoughts on the steady advance
which we seem to be making as a military peo-
ple.
There can be no question that this advance
has not only been apparent, but substantial.
Less than
_twenty years ago we seemed to be
satisfied with the annual calling out of the Mili-
tia for there twenty-eight days' training, in
some places the more picturesque costumes of
the Yeomanry. Cavalry diversifying for a short
time the monotony of a country town. In 1859
same the first indications of that change which
has since passed over us. Twelve months be-
fore that date; the attempted assassinations of
the Emperor Napoleon, and the strong language
used in France towards our own people, created
1111 uneasy feeling which was riot allayed by the
increase of armaments upon the Continent, and
more especially in France. Therefore, when in
the summer of 1859, Mr. Tennyson called upon
Riflemen to form, and referring to the possibi-
lity of an invasion by Napoleon, warned us that
" only the devil knew what he meant," the
alarm spread through the land with the rapidity
of an epidemic. In a few months, 100,000 Vol-
unteers were armed and equipped, the National
Rifle Association wos established, and held its
first prize meeting in 1860. From that time to
the present this useful organization has done its
best to encourage and popularise the Volunteer
movement. Many prizes of great value, and
highly-coveted distinctions, have been offered
competition, and our citizen soldiers are rapidly
becoming as skilful marksmen as any in the
world. Whether there was any real occasion
for the epprehensione of sixteen years ago, can
only he conjectured, and will never he relry
known. The powerful monarch of that
against whom we made snob preple preparations,
now sleeps his long Sabbs.tu c• re on rna-r the
si‘adows of a little unpreten2itigch-:r:::
dying an exile in the laud which it was said he
inten4ed to invade. At one time the ambassa-
dors of mighty empires waited npou his nod,
and a few words front him were sufficient to de-
side the question of peace or war in Europe. In
the end he saw France dismembered, her soil
invaded, two of her fairest provinces torn from
her, Paris besieged, himself a fugitive and fol.
lowing in the train of defeated armies, then a
prisoner in the hands of his enemies, ultimately
seeking refuge amongst the people who had
taken up arms in anticipation of his hostile
attack.

The other institution—the Summer Maaceu-
vres—is far more modern than even the Volnn-
teer mosement. When, in the slimmer of 1870,
the Oerman armies poured down upon France
like an irresistible torrent, the graphic descrip-
tions'of newspaper correspondents supplied us
with 'Borne idea of what an invasion was really
like- Even with all the accessories of civiliza-
tion it is impossible to conduct modern warfare
upon humanitarian principles; and so we were
compelled to read of ruined villages and devas-
fated plains, of bombarded towns, and of tetAles
which converted the smiling hill-side into an ap-
proach to the Valley of the Shadow of Death.
When we saw all this happening in the tern-
Series of our nearest neighbour, whose military
Mory was her pride, and whose armies had long
been a terror in the imaginations of wore than
one European country, we could not but retb.ct
upon incideets which might he our own experieece
What if, in our own time of need, our first aria
of defence were to fail us, as that of France had
done? France had depended quite as inuelr
upon her army as we should upon oar navy ; and,
in this case, had leaned upon a broken ree.l.
Supposing our navy to be defeated at sea—what
reliance could we place upon our military force
to stein the tide of invasion ? The War ()Mee
at once instituted these manwuvres which have
since been continued annually. These tend to
exercise our generals, and call forth their tacq-
cal skill in a way which was never displayed be-
fore. 31arehes.and countermarches, snafu fights
nut dealing with masked batteries, in which
each general of division has sought to maintain
Lie reputation as a clever tactician, have been
recorded and criticised ins way which haaplaetd
all upon their mettle. 1;', yen in mimic warfare
e
s man does not care to he . and as a con-
sequence privates as wel; a. iciGer3 have done
their best. These summer drills, r.O leoe thin
the Volunteer movemement, encourage a martial
spirit amongst the people, and tend to qualify
the description of the British aa a nation of
shopkeepers.

Goad ealuefor ;money eesired by all, with articleg
t
at cannot be judged of 1y appearance. careful pur-
elutsers rely ou the high standing of those with who
they deal. Ike 30 years, Horninalin's Pure Teas in
packets have given general satisfaction, being exceedingv
strong, of uniform good quality, and truly cheap Agents:
Stoarbridge—Clarke,l6l, High-street ; Baker, 124, Hikh
itreet ; Hewit. Market Piece; Morris, 136, High-street
Brierley Ilill—Bawlings chemist ; Kidderminster, Rai
Lug; Halesowen, Adam, chemist; Lye, Jones, chemist
liferdaley, Tamer. chemist ; Kingswinford, Pearson
Pratte' Lana, Collings. chemist; Birmingham, Basks
WellXissen.
THE HAIR.—For 40 years Mrs. S. A. ALLEN'S
Woatri's HAM itle,-roitza has received the commendation'
and favour of the public. It has acquired the highest
place that can be obtained for eny moderate enterprise.
sad cuttr.buted to the adornment of tens of thousands of
,persons, who hsve the proof of its servicable character.
*lt will potitirely renew and restore the original and natu-
ral colour of grey, white, and faded flair. It will
Mreeethen and invigorate the Hair, stop its falling, an i
induce a healthy arid luxuriant growth. No other pre-
parati,n can produce the same benificial result. Sold by
all Chemists aid Perfumers, in large bottles, 64. DeVit,
114 az 116, ionthampton Row. London.
TAN PRIVATIUS ir mild Use ON ONSS'S LIMBS while the
*Ow fonctious of Nature are intect is ts serious mortifica-
tion to the actively dieposed. Seh.however. is the con-
eitton of the victims of rheumatism or gout. To walk
wi*.hout enduring sgovy is impossible, to use the arms.
free from excnaciating pain, is equally impracticable. A
cling of gs atituce thrrefote pervades the frame wher
lii. tIIVAIiO are stiord•d of using all the nuernben without
judicious and frequent application of PoWP.I.L'e hit Ett•
NA
tic k.mnitec VITON It is past all doubt the grandest
speeitic fir the .vil.s we have Lamed. suit others of a
sisuilsr e.hardcter. May be ohhined of. all Chemists.
Price 1 I 1. hud 9,1. Laboratory : 114 and 116 •outh-
sup:oror.,w. L ne..n
A BALD hem ti may not inaptly be compared to a house
without a that; h.lig I to the cold, and is alto-
gether unsiguily :11 rapect. iterort rosy he hail to a wig,
a scalp, or an a semblrge of foreign hairs interininglod
with the seanti rn terial of original f.growth vouch.
Sated to the hire taint; or hut tie effect is p,ior sbi the
disguise :or) epparei.t. Let those whose inirror assure,,
ti.... of the apkrua,•ll of baluit• or time Hie titity march
et
grey hairs bsail the enemy in ttui. Itthem
suip,ity the intal iLle restorative kilown as Hrs. S. A
stiLLEti'dt%og,,s Alit liKsTottict. aud laugh I.) aeon.
the unl"'"3,l ~;ertrs iifll th-it at eutt.'. to rub and
"gnre • To he übtaiiied of di; C t irta an.l.
P. rIo. iv lirsghou the wor;tl. Pii,e 6s. ICf t! :II
•IF Tit LW.: AXS ANT LADIlie %rho not yet
ale • tl'e.l6le
GLENNIELD ti Sr.tite tli • • ••• to
• .
it A t.. 1141, and carefully follow out ;.I.ic 'hirectous
printed in every package, and it this is done, they will
say. like the Queen's Laundrese, it is the thirst Starch
they ever used. When you ask for GLIOISISLD Szaae-r,
sea that you get It, as inferior kinds ale often substituted
•s• the sal, id eAltd 14.0'14 beware therefore of spur
-
US imitation..