The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-10-15 00:00:00

Vi'stzlianeots

HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL.

PHEASANT SHOOTING.—it is seldom such largo bags
of pheasants have been made on the Ist of October as
are chronicled this year (says Land and Water). It
has undoubtedly been a good breeding season for all
kinds of game throughout the country generally, and
those who have hand-reargd the usual number of birds
have found that the supplement of wild Kies being so
large, has enabled them thlis early to draw more
extensively than usual. Shooting pheasants in
turnips and the outlying spinneys is capital fun, but
it should not be overdone, if the sportsman wishes to
get good wintor shootinc, in the coverts by-and-by,
when November 'frosts shooting in
thipped the foliage.
There has been, and is still, capital feed in the
stubbles for the long-tails. Large numbers of them
have got out this season from the big coverts into the
standing corn, where the latter has remained uncut,
and have not since returned to the woods but taken
shelter in the contiguous root. crops nd hedgerows,
and hence, particularly in the districts where harvest
has been backward, the large bags already . made.
A RISING MUCH DREADED IN ENGLAND AT THE
PRESENT TIME.—The threatened "rising,' in the
prico of the loaf of breati—Fun.

SCOTCH LAND Ron.—A meeting of farmers was
held at Insch, Aberdeenshire,' On Saturd4y, for the
purpose of hearing the replies from the landlords in
the district in response to an invitation for an expres-
sion of their views on the question of land reform and
the reduction of rents. Out of twenty-three proprietors
written to, twelve yeplied, and eleven did not. None
of the proprietors proposed' in any way to meet the
views of the farmers on the question of agricultural
depression. The replies being considered unsatisfac-
tory, the committee repeated it as their opinion that
the land question could not be settled except by a
thorough Land Bill fq S2otland, dealing with this
matter, and the meeting unanimously adopted this
view.
THE DRESS OF HIGHLAND REGIMENTS.—As it is
desirable that the ornaments for officers of Highland
regiments should be as nearly as possible of uniform
size, and "that i,11,-; cc6t of them should not be greater
than is really necessary," new regulations in regard to
them are promulgated in orders, Subject to which there
is no objection to each regiment having its own dis-
tinctive pattern. Commanding officers of the line
battalion of each territorial regiment are to determine
the regimental Patterns and appoint one tradesman,
"who shall be bound to Supply all ornaments at a
fixedpricep not to exceed £25 in kilted regiment a
i wl
£lB n the Higialand Light infantry."

DEPTHS OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN.—Captain Belknap,
commanding the United States steamer Alaska,
reports from Callao the details of soundings in a run
of 112 miles off shore. At a distance of 102 miles he
found a depth of 3,368 fathoms, or nearly four statute
miles, the deepest water yet found in the South Pacific
or in the eastern margins of both the North and
South Pacific. He stood ten miles further to the east-
ward, but only found 3,168 fathoms. In both casts
the cylinder brought up clay and greenish sand, and
the bottom temperature of the deepest was 342 deg.
Fahrenheit.
A CALIFORNIA LION TRAPPED.—W.• C. Smith and
G. W. Strickland were hunting and trapping in the
vicinity of Oristimba Creek, Stanislaus County, when
they caught a specimen of game which they had not
hc ped to find in that region. They had along a No. 2
fox trap, which they set near the creek. Before this
they had killed a deer and dragged the entrails for a,
half mile or so to start the foxes out. When they re-
turned to the trap in the morning they found a large
Californian lion caught in it. Mr. Smith saw the
animal crouched at the trap, but was not certain
whether it was caught or not. In fact, the idea of a
small fox trap holding a lion never entered his head
So he raised his rifle and shot it through the head.
The animal measured six feet and six inches from its
nose to the end of its tail, and had claws an inch and
a half long. It had three of its toes between the jaws
of the trap. The latter was much bent and strained.
These lions frequently kill young cattle and colts.
One recently killed a yearling male colt in that
vicinity. They never attack a man unless they are
cornered.

DIFFERENT CAUSE—SAME RESULT.—Snippe : (struck
by the jubilant expression of Snappe's habitually
stern countenance). "What the dickens are you read-
ing in that Review? Something sweet about yourself,
I suppose ? "—Snappe : (suddenly trying to look grave).
" Well, no—on the contrary—it's something about
you, Snippe !—and I'm sorry to say it's quite the re-
verse of Sweet I I "--Punch.
THE HIGHEST LAKE IN THE WORM—The lake
that has the highest elevation of any in the world is
Grimm .Lake in Colorado. Its surface is 10,252 above
the level of the sea. Pine forests surround it, and
eternal snows deck the neighbouring mountain tops.
One of these, Gray's Peak, has an altitude of 14,341
feet. The water of Green Lake is as clear as crystal,
and large rock masses and a petrified forest are dis-
tinctly visible at the bottom. The branches of the
trees are of dazzling whiteness, as though cut in marble.
Salmon trout swim among them. The lake is 200 feet
deep.

DEATH OF LADY FLORENCE CHAPLIN.—The some-
what unexpected death of Lady Florence Chaplin,
which occurred at noon on Monday, will place a
large circle in mourning. Mr. Chaplin, with his
wife and family, returned from Scotland to Blankney
Hall, Lincoln, on Thursday in last week. On that
day and on Friday Lady Florence appeared in
tolerably good health ; but early on Saturday
morning she became seriously ill. Mr. Brook (Lin-
coln), Dr. Brodie, and Sir William Jenner, of
London, were telegraphed for, and arrived about
noon. She was then unconscious, and remained so
until Monday at noon, when death took place. Lady
Florence gave birth to a daughter on Saturday after-
noon.—The deceased lady was the eldest daughter of
the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland, and was in her
twenty-sixth year, having been born in 1855. She was
married at the Chapel Royal, St. James's, in 1876, to
Mr. Henry Chaplin, M.P., by whom she leaves issue
two children, a son and a daughter. A Dunrobin
correspondent says : "The announcement of the
death of Lady Florence, received at Gospie on Monday
afternoon, cast a profound gloom over the town.
Her amiability was the admiration of all who came
into contact With her, and her death at the age of
twenty-six, is deeply deplored."
FLORAL TASTE.—A correspondent of the Baltimore
Sun writes :—England has been called a flower
garden in summer. If the whole country is like the
part through which we have passed it well deserves
the name. Everywhere about the homes we passed,
in town or country, there were flowers in abundance,
and variety and richness of colour and sweetness
of fragrance beyond anything we have seen or
known. A most admirable taste, evidencing
no little cultivation, is displayed in the ar-
rangement of the flower beds that beautify
the homes of Old England. Even at the little
country railroad station, on either side, and often
across the track on the facing slope, therdare diamond
and oval and square and star beds of flowers, the beds as
clean as though newly made, and the flowers delight-
ing and refreshing travellers with their beauty and
odour. This profusion of flowers was observed in tra-
versing England from Liverpool to London, vid the
Great Western Railway, including a run from War-
wick to Stratford-on-Avon, and from London to
Dover via the South-Eastern Railway.
OUR FOOD IMPORTS.—According to the latest re-
turns there were imported into this country up to
Aug. 31, 169,684 oxen, 19,986 cows, 28,107 calves,
618,106 sheep and lambs, and 16,301 pigs; the decrease
as against last year being 100,000 head. Salt beef has I
increased, and so has cheese, from 1,132,806 cwt. to
1,223,875 cwt.; butter, however, is close on 150,000
cwt. less than last year, while eggs show an increase
over the corresponding period of 1880 of almost
220,000 great hundreds.
THE OLD TESTAMENT REVISION.—The Company
appointed to revise the authorised version of the Old
Testament have finished their seventy-first session.
The following members attended:—The Bishop of
Bath and Wells the Deans of Canterbury and Peter-
borough, Mr. lensly, Professor Birrell, Dr. Chance,
Mr. cheyne, Dr. Davidson, Dr. Douglas, Mr. Driver,
Dr. Gotch, Archdeacon Harrison, Dr. Kay, Professor
Leathes, Professor Lumby, Mr. Sayce, Mr. Robertson
Smith, Professor Wright, and Mr. Aldis Wright
(Secretary). The second revision of Isaiah was con-
tinued as far as chapter xlv., 13.
A VERY OLD YOLICEMAN.—ProbabIy the oldest
policeman in the kingdom has just died at Liverpool.
This was John M'Comb, who joined the old watch as
far back as January, 1818, and remained a member of
the Police Force up to the time of liis death-63
years. He was in his 90th year, and was latterly
utilised as a court usher. He was twice married, and
the eldest of his surviving children is a woman nearly
70 years of age, while his youngest daughter is 33
years of age. The old man was on full pay up to the
last. The stipendiary magistrate describes him as a
thoroughly faithful, efficient, and trustworthy officer.
FICTION AND FACT.—A notion which has long pre-
vailed in Lincoln's-inn has been rudely dispelled in the
course of the demolitions now in progress (says the
Solicitor's Journal). In a secluded corner of the
chambers which are being removed to enlarge the
chapel there was a table recording the merits of an
ancient member of the inn, whose mortal remains, ac-
cording to tradition, were built into the thick brick-
work. So strong was the belief in this story, that
before the building was pulled down a hole was driven
into the wall in order to extricate whatever remained
of the venerable conveyancer. All that was found was
a sooty chimney flue.
Br OUR SUNDAY SCHOOL BORED BOY.—Where did
Noah keep his bees? In the Archives of the family.
—Punch.
DEATH Or A LADY JOURNALIST.—The Paris corres-
pondent of the Daily News says :—A woman of great
talent, Madame Emma Bailly, has just died after a
short illness. Her nom de plume was Claire de Chan-
deneux, and nobody ever wrote more agreeably about
military life in France. She was the correspondent of
several great provincial papers, and supplied some lead-
ing Paris journals with descriptive letters about camps
and grand mancouvres. A fine vein of humour ran
through some of her sketches. Although often sinking
under the fatigue of her arduous literary undertakings
her style was always fresh and animated, She was
thinking of going to Algeria as military eorrespon-
dent for some Paris journals when her last illness
seized her.
THE BALTIMORE WATER TUNNEL.—Baltimore was
crowded on Monday with visitors attending the cere-
monies connected with the introduction of water from
the new works at Gunpowder River. The formal
ceremony took place on Monday afternoon at the
Battle monument, where, in the presence of the city
officials, the water was turned on by the mayor, imme.
diately gushing from 1,200 jets in the pipes surround-
ing the monument. An immense crowd witnessed the
ceremony. There was a fine parade of military, fire-
men, and police, with the Grand Arnff of the Re-
public, composed of veterans of the late war, The
streets were illuminated in the evening. The new
Baltimore water tunnel is seven miles long. It has
been six years constructing, and has cost four million
dollars. It has 170 million gallons daily capacity.
The celebration lasted three days.
A PARADOX.—Strange though it may seem, it is not
less true that a man may be on very good terms with
himself, and yet not know himself.—judy,
LAST WORDS !—The last words of a dying photo-
grapher "Now keep very still."—Detroit Free Press.
Those of a dying. ferryman: "I'm going over the
river."—Steubenviile _Herald. Those of a dying barber:
"I'm going to make a dye."—Richmond Baton. The
printers; "This is my last take."--- Yanksrs Gazette.
The editor's i "All out."—New Haven Register. The
telegraph operator's : " Good night."—Boston Star.
Last words of a dying lawyer: "I Want a jury trial."
—Rochester Express. Last words of a dying bus con-
ductor: "Room for one more."—Rome Sentinel. Laat
words of a reporter "Any new to-day"
BOARD Ote TRADE RETURNS.--The Board of Trade
returns for the past month, if not of quite so satisfac-
tory a character as those for Augpst, nevertheless give
evidence of an improvement in trade as compared with
last year. There is a falling-off of rather rives three
per cent. in our imperte, the value being £33,191,225
against 234,2'4,5,327 in September last year; but the
exports reverse the order of things, they exhibiting an
increase of £873,216, or of 436 per cent„ the totals
being £20,900,563 this year, ad 13210,027,347 last year.
For the nine months the imports are £296,843,993,
and the exports £171,819,622, as against £309,907,762
and £167,045,977 respectively last years,
SHEFFIELD TRADE WYell AMERI;JA.—The returns of
exports from Sheffield to America have just been COM.
pleted. The total exports for the quarter ending
Sept. 30 was £340,509, of which £77,520 was for steel
and 81,822 for cutlery. In the corresponding quarter
of last year the total was 4,309,779 z of which 2101,428
was steel and £74,104 cutlery. The total extorts for
the year ending S( pt. 30 wasitl,opor7 previous ,730714y5e.a7rd,.0,1.aas
against £1,066,411 15s. 4d. in t
decrease of £58,674 Os. 9,
PREZTATURE OCi,D WEATHER.—Prom various parts
of the European Continent, as well as from North
- America, ominous tidings of premature cold weather
reach us daily, provoking shudders of anticinatinn at
the prospect of an unusually early and severe winter
(says the Daily Teleg7,7la). 'the cold " wave " that
has recently passed over these isles was in itself a
sufficiently disagreeable warning of olimatic asperities
to come; but Germany, Austria, and, in particular,
the United States have received even sterner premoni-
tions than those vouchsafed to ourselves. Mountain-
eering in Switzerland was put a stop to mora than
usually early in September premature falls of snow.
Last Wednesday now fell heavily upon Berlin, an
event Which has not occurred in that city during the
first week of October within the memory of man. The
Austrian Kaiser's shooting excursion in the Tyrol has
been rendered unusually arduous and fatiguing by un-
seasonable snowstorms of surprising eeverity. Within
four-and-twenty how's the cold " wave " above alluded
to sent tha thermometer down from ninety degrees to
freezing point all along the Atlantic seaboard.