The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-12-31 00:00:00

Pistdianants Lijntelfignia.

HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL

POLYGAMY IN UTAH.—Among the many measures
which have been introduced during the present ex-
ceptionally busy session of the United States Con-
gress, that of Mr. -Willits, of Michigan, with regard
to polygamy in Utah is not the least important. Mr.
Willits proposes to deprive the Mormon territory of
its present form of government, substituting a govern-
ment to consist of a governor and council to be ap-
pointed by the President. It is also proposed to dis-
franchise polygamists. In many parts of the United
States associations have been formed for the sup-
pression of the practice of " bigamy " among the
Mormons, and it is said that Mr. Willits has received
many proofs of sympathy with his object even from
Salt Lake City itself.
THE SCOURGE or EMIGRATION.—The Naples corres-
ponent of The Times writes :—" It does not appear to
be from want of work that the passion for emigration
has seized the people, but the desire and expectation
of enriching themselves quickly. Sad experience has,
however, shown that great disillusion and suffering
have been the lot of those who have left their country
on the exaggerated representations of the few who
have been fortunate. Southern Italy, with its beauti-
ful climate and productive soil, cannot be safely left
by its inhabitants for a caprice ; and on the coast,
where the conscription and the commercial marine
service carry off a large proportion of its able-bodied
men, emigration is felt to be what is called—a
scourge."
JOHNNY'S ESSAY ON DOGS.—Last summer our dog
Towser was a lyin' in the sun trine to sleep' but the
flies was that bad that he culdn't, cos he had to catch
'em, and bime by a bee lit on his head, and woe
woking about like the dog was hisn. Towser he held
.his head stilt, and when the bee was close to his
nose, Towser winked at him like he sed you see what
this buffer is doin' he thinks I'm a lily-of-the-valley
which isn't opened yet, but you just wait till I
blossom and you will see some fun, and sure enuf
Towser opened his mouth very slow so as not to
fritten the bee and the bee went into Towser's
mouth. Then Towser he shot his eyes, and his mouth
too, and had began to make a peaceful smile wen the
bee stung him, and you never see a lily-of-the-valley
ack so in your life.—Detroit Free Press Christmas

Number. -
AN UNPUBLISHED LETTER FROM CABLYLE.—The
following unpublished letter by Carlyle was read' the
other evening to the Glasgow Haddlngtonshire Asso-
ciation :—" 5, Cheyne-row, Chelsea, December 21,
1871.—Dear Sir, Your Glasgow Haddingtonshire
Association is a useful and laudable enterprise, and
rules and methods of management seem to be altogether
judicious, solid, and very distinctly expressed. It is
most certain I once had connection with Haddington-
shire—connection dearer to me than any other, and
now become very mournful, very beautiful, and ever
sacred to me, for the sake of which I give myself the
melancholy pleasure of sending you enclosed a life
subscription, and becoming a member among you.
Have the goodness to acknowledge the receipt of this
letter, and not pain me, unless necessary, by any
further notice of your proceedings, to which other-
wise, you may believe me, I heartily and ever affec-
tionately wish every success.—Yours sincerely, I

CARLYLi."
IN PARLIAMENTARY SHAPE. - Kansas Nebraska
Bill was married Monday evening last at Saybrook,
Conn. Mr. Bill was bum in the time of the Kansas-
Nebraska excitement, about 1853 or 1854, when the
Kansas Nebraska Bill was everywhere discussed,
and his father, James A. Bill, of Lyme, named him
Kansas Nebraska.
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INTERESTING RELICS.—The leaning tower of the
hurch of St. Lambert, at Munster, in Weetphalia, is
being pulled down, as several largexracks were dis-
covered at its Lase' ••73.11(1 the inhabitants ot the neigh-
bouring houses had been obliged to leave. The scaf-
folding used for the completion of the towers of
Cologne Cathedral has been erected, and the first part
taken down was the wooden cupola, beneath which
stood for upwards of three centuries the iron cages in
which were exposed the bodies of the three Anabaptist
leaders who had been put to death on the 22nd of
January, 1536. One of these was John of Leyden,
the fanatic who proclaimed himself king and prophet,
and who after having been taken prisoner by the
Bishop of Minster, whom he had dispossessed, was
carried about from town to town, and eventually put
to death with two of his associates at Minster. The
bodies were then placed in iron cages, and the cages
were hoisted up to the top of the tower of St.
Lambeth's' Church, where they remained until last
week. They will, together with many instruments of
torture, be exhibited in Miinster until the completion
of the new tower, which is to be built out of the
materials of the old one.

FEMALE EMIGRATION TO CANADA.—Miss Leprancer
(reading Lord Lorne's Sneech on the subject). " ' The
iurther West the young-woman went, toe more offers
she got ! ' Oh, mamma, let us go to Canada, as -far
West as possible! "—Punch.
BAR-ROOM GREETINGS.—Some savant of the saloons
has compiled the following catalogue of alcoholic pass-
words as used in bar-rooms in the United States (says
the Detroit Free Press) :—New Jersey—" Well, here
we go !"—and they generally do. New York—" My
regards." California—" How." Indianna--" Here's
to us." Washington—" Here we go." Mexico—" A
la eelud de U." (Your health). Illinois—" Another
nail in the coffin." Ohio—" I hope I see you well, sir."
Kentucky—" Time.". Maine—" Take it sly." Boston
—"To the club." Wisconsin—" Here's looking at you."
Virginia—" Here's hoping." Pennsylvania—" Here's
to the old grudge." North Carolina--" Here's all the
hair off your head." Nevada—" Here we jolt."
When playing for drinks—" Better luck next time."
Miscellaneous—" Boys, what'll you have?" "Let's
go and take a bowl." "Name yer pizen." "Gentle-
men, please to name your beverage." "Gentlemen.
will you join me?" "Well, how will you take it ?"
"Gimme some of the old stuff." "A gin fizz, if you
please." "Whisky (if you can spare it)." "Let us
go and shed a tear." " Here's another luck." "Beer
all the time—nothing but beer," "Give it to me
straight." "Good-bye."
POOR RATES AND PAIJPERIBM.—A return has been
issued relating to Paupers and Poor-rates, based on
tables furnished up to July 1. In a population of
25,966,000 there were on the day named 773,198
paupers, or one in 34 of the population. Of this total
142,668 were adult males, 299,923 adult females,
261,056 children under 16, 6,461 vagrants) and 63,523
insane. As compared with the same period last year
there is an increase of 1,665. The net total of per-
sons relieved in the metropolis was 95,822.
HABITS OF THE COCKROACH.—Dr. Buchanan White,
in a paper on cockroaches, remarks that, though esta-
blished all over this country, the cockroach is chiefly
found in houses, infesting kitcheners, sculleries,
bakeries, etc., where plenty of food can be obtained.
It is a most omnivorous creature, and will eat not only
any description of human food, but likewise woollen
garments, greasy rags, old boots and shoes, etc. In
its habits it is strictly nocturnal, hiding during the day
in the crevices in the floor, in wainscoting, and dark
places generally. It is fond of warmth, and for that
reason is found generally near fire-places or ovens.
They, or a similar species, were known to the ancients
as Lucifitgcs, because they fled from the light, though
it is quite possible they may have done so through
alaigin on hearing the sound of footsteps, They run
with great celerity, and though they are able to ascend
walls, etc., they seem to prefer kitchens. When seized
they discharge from their mouths a brownish fluid of a
most disgusting odour, the fluid itself sticking to any
objects they may have crept over. For this reason,
and also on account of their voracity, they must be
looked upon as most undesirable inmates of a house.
WAGSTAFFE AGAlN.—Wagstaffe is incorrigible.
Fifty summers have not sufficed to tame down his
0' N
aat
nhg
des t
alarm,
da ff
ooe r . ‘
am d a home
le
ns oicn
iexuberant spirits. Mrs. W., on the other hand, has a
proper sense of what is due to her, and has a rooted
have you heard any-
sa
naansgy b
antipathy
says
phet
night;hvvovy
ettephoot
aopbpfaeaei
face
egohfail
hoarse
full
lehh
of
adhhdsper, have
Vt
n r
o at
thing of a double murder and suicide next door ? "
"Gracious merciful powers, no ' cries Mrs. W.
jumping her spectacles into her tea, and knocking her
bad leg against the chair; "not a word." "No more
have I," says W. cheerfully. " Once more, and
got the money 1" That Is the reason of the coldness
in the Wagstaffe family circle—Judy.
A NEW BRAND.—A tall, lame negro has been in
the habit for a year past of calling at a Michigan
avenue grocery and begging a few potatoes, a bit of
codfish, or anything else likely to be given him. The
other day the grocer took a flour-sack and made up a
mixture of sand, meal, and flour, and when the negro
came around he was almost pulverized to hear the
grocer "Now, Sam, if you won't come
here again for three months you can shoulder
that sack and take it home."—" Am you in airnest,
boss?"—" Yes, I mean what I say."—" Wall,
I reckon I'd better cotch on to dat chance, an'
may de Lawd bress you fur a hun'red y'ars to
come ! "—He shouldered the sack and walked off,
and was not seen again for three days. Then he
entered the stoke with the remark ?—" Say, boss, I
didn't mean to come back, only I want to ax a
Tieshun."—" Go ahead."—" It's about dat flour you
gins me.
iDe °le woman an' me doan' take the same
view of t. I hold dat it am a new way of grindin'.up
wheat, an' she says it am a new process fur usin'
up gravel banks. Kin you frow any light on de sub-
jick ? "—" It's a new brand of my own," replied the
grocer. "The wheat was raised on sandy soil. Can
you recommend it?"—" N—not 'zactly, sah, but if
you could change wid me fur a peck of beans raised on
a side-hill, and put de ole trees an' stumps an' stones
in one bag an' de beans in anodsr, it would save a
heap (..f argyment in de family,"—Detroit Free Press.


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