The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-03-10 00:00:00

THE CHINESE MARRIAGE

BROKER.

The Chinese journals tell a good story of the hr
genuity of a native lady match-maker. A hump-
backed girl, otherwise good-looking, had found a
difficulty in procuring a husband. Oddly enough, the
go-between referred to discovered that there was a
hump-backed youth who had found a similar difficulty
in getting a wife. This clever lady accordingly
arranged a match; but, as each party was of a very
eligible quality in other respects, each of the respec-
tive parents insisted upon obtaining a surreptitious
view of the amorous one on either side. The go-
between accordingly arranged that the girl should be
interviewed as she sat at her spinning-wheel with
her hump deftly inserted in a hole in the mud wall,
while the man was introduced as he was conducting
home a water-buffalo, and leaning over its neck, with
his rain-coat negligently thrown over his back. The
marriage took place, and it then became too late for
tergiversation, as it had been endorsed by law.

THE Chinese Times, published at Tientsin, describes
the "Ghost Festival" as it was recently celebrated
there. Its primary and essential motive is to con-
ciliate the spirits of the dead, and all the demons of
the Chinese Inferno, especially neglected and wander-
ing spirits, which at this time are supposed to be
allowed a short season of freedom from their confine-
ment below, and return to this mundane sphere to
gorge themselves with food, and replenish their
stores of clothing and money. They do this to the
accompaniment of a Chinese orchestra, which dis-
courses music day and night to the pressing throngs
that assemble to hear them. This orchestra consists
of two drums (one large and one small), an immense
pair of cymbals, a gong, two pipes, and other kinds
of instruments only known to the Chinese. So that
the part of a Chinese ghost IS not ay beer and
skittles,

---- • -

IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE.
CHAINING HIMSELF TO A SEAT.

Robert Harding, aged 27, described as a clerk, and
giving an address in Goff-street, Poplar, was charged
at Bow-street, on Monday, with disorderly conduct,
and resisting the police in Trafalgar-square. Inspector
'Peters deposed that at ten minutes to one on Sunday
afternoon the defendant entered Trafalgar-square. He
was carrying a board in front of him. It was locked
round his neck and body by a chain and padlock. He
was followed by a crowd of about one hundred
people, lie proceeded to a seat, and was about
to secure himself to a railing by means of
another chain and padlock. He was prevented
and requested to leave. The crowd continued to
increase, and witness endeavoured to persuade
defendant to leave. He replied, "I shall not do so,"
and walked about the Square, evidently with the in-
tention of finding a seat to which he could secure
himself. A number of rough boys followed him, and
it became necessary to remove him from the Square.
He resisted violently, kicking out to the right and left,
and attempting to trip up the constable. Witness
narrowly escaped being kicked. He was taken beyond
the Square, and was again given an opportunity of
going away. He said he intended to return to the
Square. By this time the vehicular traffic at Charing-
cross was completely stopped, and the crowd had
increased to upwards of 200. Defendant was taken
into custody.

"A VIOLATION OF IHE MORAL LAW."

Mr. Vaughan: What was on the board, anything?
Inspector Peters : Yes (reading from the board)
—" This is a protest against the forcible exclusion of
the people from the Trafalgar-square," and on the
other side, "peaceful anarchy. Why do all Govern-
ments dread free speech and inquiry? Because they
are dimly conscious that the government of man by
man is an atrocity and a violation of the moral law.
What is the main business of a Government? To
steal from the people to feed vast number of pro-
fessional murderers." Inspector Peters said that
defendant:went to the Square on Sunday last and was
taken to King-street Police-station, where he was
examined by Dr. Bond. He declined to say that
defendant's mind was affected. Defendant had been
charged at this court with a similar offence. Mr.
Vaughan (to defendant): What have you to say?
Defendant (haughtily) : I scorn to say anything,
but I will just say that it is a most deliberate false-
hood to say that I attempted to kick anyone. What
I have done I have done in obedience to my own con-
viction as to what is right. Mr. Vaughan said, from
the prisoner's conduct, he was not surprised that the
police had believed him to be beside himself. What-
ever the prisoner's opinions might be he must conform
to the law; he could not set himself above it. If he
chose to attempt to do that and create disorder in
Trafalgar-square he must abide by the consequences.
It had been pointed out to him that his conduct had
caused a largo number of persons to assemble, but he
refused to go away, and after being removed, had at
last to be taken into custody to put a stop to the
nuisance caused by him. He ordered the prisoner to
find a surety in £2O to keep the peace for three
months. The surety was forthcoming.