The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-03-28 00:00:00

TIIE EASTER MONDAY REVIEW.—It is said
that the lodging-house keepers of Portsmouth are ask-
ing such unreasonable sums for accommodation daring
the week of the forthcoming review that there is every
probability that the number of volunteers who attend
the review will be much smaller than on previous
Easter Mondays. From ss. to as much as 20s. per
night is asked for single beds in private houses. The
Mayor and the Review Committee, aided by the local
prey., are doing what they can to show the folly f
such conduct, but at present with little success ; the
people seem bent uimu "killing the goose that lays the
golden eggs," and their success in fleecing vii.itors on
the occasion of the naval review last year has en-
couraged a repetition of their greediness. It is credit-
able to the hotel keepers to state that, with few excep-
tions, they have let their beds to the volunteers at the
usual prices, varying from Is. Gd. to its. per night.—
The local preparations for the review appear to be pro.
greasing very favourably. Upwards of £l,OOO has been
already subhpribed to the general fund for meeting the
usual incidental expenses.

CURIOUS SCENE AT A FIRE.—OR Thursday
night, in last week, towards twelve o'clock' the reflec-
tion of a great fire was seen in the quarter of Mont-
martre, in Paris. The streets were at the time filled
with persons leaving the theatres, and others in fancy
dresses proceeding to the various ball-rooms. These
pleasure.seekers, following the track of the firemen,
found themselves in the Place St. Pierre Montmartre,
where a large saw manufactory situated in which was
in flames. Every one at once pressed forward to
assist in extinguishing the fire; clowns, d6bardeurs,
mousquetaires, laid down part of their trappings, false
noses and plumed hats, and gave energetic help. The
scene was most singular, the glare of the flames bringing
out in striking relief the various colours of the dresses.
The fire was got under without accident, tut some
small buildings adjoining the factory were destroyed.
A MARRIAGE BY SURPRISE.—The Volksfreund
gives the following account of the marriage of the
Archduke Henri with an actress. On the day of the
marriage the senior clergyman of Botzen was invited
to the archducal chateau. r-lo little did he know what
was in preparation that he thought he was invited to
dinner. On arriving at the palace he was conducted
to a room where were the Archduke with Mdlle. Hoff-
man the bride, and two gentlemen. Without any
preamble, the Archduke said unexpectedly
declare at this moment, in presence of the cut-it and two
witnesses, that I take the young lady here present for
my wife." Mdlle. Hoffman made a similar statement,
and so the marriage was duly celebrated in conformity
with the canonical laws.

THE TODMORDEN MURDERER.—The English
Independent, in an article on the Todmorden murders,
without any wish, as it says, to extenuate the mur-
derer's guilt, tells the following story :--

When Miles Vieatherhill was an infant in his cradle, his
father happened to corned n one day during his mother's
temporary absence, and was seized with some cruel Impulse
to take the child out of his cradle and put him in a drawer.
When his mother returned and Inquired for her child the
father professed Ignorance, and aggravated her distress by
telling her that he had seen a woman pass by some time be-
fore, who had doubtless stolen him. For two hours he
allowed her agony to continue, until by accident she found
the child in the drawer where he had placed it. Such story
any one may hear in Tod morden to-day. It vices run in the
blood as well as other things, surely here was a germ of
murder, or any cruelty that might develop itself in genera-
. _