The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-10-23 00:00:00

had earnestly enquired Into the food question,
and were aware of the enormous imports now being
brought here had anything like an adequate idea
of the fabulous imported food amounts. Was
it wise always to reckon on a quiescent state of
things? Was it dignified to be at the mery of any
continental complication? Was it right to shat
our eyes to this fact? To neglect sewage and small
farming, to cultivate poultry only at shows and dairy
produce as an aacessory ? To grow large-sized r egeta-
bles instead of multiplying and improving them and to
expect the greater portions of our meat and grain sup-
ply to come from abroad? Let us bestir ourselves and
see if we could not became more self-dependent in this
matter. Not only had we not enough to eat at hame,
but what we had we wasted. There was not a more
wasteful nation in Europe than the English in baud
preparation. If our homes could
•be improved, if
food and fuel could be supplied at lest cost and made
more efficient, happiness, sobriety, health, and
morality would increase largely. Our life was not
meant for sorrow, but for joy and thankfulness, and
she held this to be a first question with the clergy
of the land, in whose province it - lay, if they
meant to become practical supporters of good. Fol-
lowing up this idea, that food should be prepared
efficiently and econmicsally, she had invented the best
appliance her brain could devise for saving fuel and food.
Food had to be prepared by heat; heat should be
created economically, as done in those stoves, which
did for a few pence the work of shillings. Then heat
ought not to scorch and dry up food, but gently act upon
it as did the sun's ray in its ripening process. Eyen while
acting gently with heat, nature protected all things
with rinds, skins, peels &c. ; we denuded them of such
protection and then threw the delicate organism into
Wiling cauldrons, or place them before scorching fires.
We had now to eat more than was necessary, because
we got but a portion of the nourishment from the food.
A. well-sustained, equally-nourished human organism
became harmonious sympathetic, healthy, and capable
to do its appointed work. That being the case,
"national character," besides national existence, de-
pended on the food question, and surely it was worth
while to pay some attention to -so important an agent
in human welfare. Lastly, the scientific bearings of
the requirements of food had to be considered. It
appeared to her extraordinary that millions of money
and means had been spent on extraneous purposes and
objects, and that so little had been done for it. True,
science had only for the last century invaded this
domain, but even now our ignorauce was excessive. It
was such an ignorance as must have bad consequences.
Were natural science better taught in schools, to both
boys and girls, a public feeling would be aroused. It
was a pity that the light of day had not yet penetrated
into scholastic regions, and that we sought learning
rather in the abstruse than in the practical. The voice
of suffering mankind asked more, the voice of suffering
humanity asked to be heard in a practical sense, to alle-
viate disease, hunger, starvation—genteel starvation
above all—and to give happiness to as many as we could
give it to. The Deity had placed certain conditions into
creation. The knowledge of these conditions was
"Science." If, then, our human construction was built on
conditions, it was the duty of all teachers to become ac-
quainted with them, and further communicate them to
those they taught. Our body required a continual re-
plenishing process in the continual process of oxida-
tion that took place. So much waste, so much food,
was the universal axiom of the world. It was only the
continued active process of change and rechange that
was taking place every instant of our existence that
made the scientific bearings of our food consumption
of such immense importance. The first science to be
taught to every one was, "How to keep your body in
health and efficiency." And now this was about the
last ever considered. In her view, science should first
of all teach us the means to maintain in perfect effi-
ciency the highest extreme of terrestial creation—the
human body.

.'tsf

A telegram received at Lloyd's reports that the
French schooner ,Sophie et Julie has been wrecked near the
Cape of Arachou. Twenty-one lives wtre lost.
A poultry and pigeon show was opened at the
Alexandra Palace on Tuesday, which is described as the best
that has yet been held. There are 148 classes, comprising
2, beG birds.
The weekly return of animals affect with foot and
mouth disease in East Sussex shows a decrease of 415 cattle,
and an increase of 12 sheep and two swine, the toads being
1,087 cattle, 2,702 sheep, and 18 swine.
As the ironclad Iron Duke was being taken out of
Devenport Deck on Saturday she ran foul of the Black
Prince. The latter lost her davits in the collision, but little
other damage was done.
Mr. Gladstone has sent to a Glasgow paper an em-
phatic refuration of the statements which have recently been
made concerning his acceptance of a proposal from Itukey
to superintend its financial interests.
A monument to Bishop Thomas Kingo, of Odense,
tie: first Danish hymn-writer, has been unveiled at Odense.
Bishop Ringo, who died in 1703, was of Scottish descent.
The Crown Prince of Germany will it is stated, visit
the Centenary Exhibition at Philadelphia next year and will
b e ,corted across the Atlantic by a squadron of German war
vessels.
An earthquake which lasted several seconds, says
the Paris correspondent of the Times, is reported as having
been felt at Moutlers-et-Brides les-Bains, near Caambery.
This phenomenon coincided with great barometrical depres.
sion. Snow ha 3 fallen on the mountains of the Puy de Dome.
A part of a huge quarter-board, bearing the letters
" anguard," has be. n found at Freshwater West, near rem-
broke. —Scarcely any progress has been made on the Vali-
quard, on account of the rough weather, and it appears as
if very little call.or will be done until spring.
The custom of ladies interchanging kisses whenever
they meet has been so much ridiculed that it is going out of
fashion among refined American people, and is only kept
alive is the rural districts where railroad, telegraph, and
newspaper facilities are unl;nown.
Sunday and Monday were observed in London and
the country, as well as on the continent and the United
States, as days of prayer and special service on behalf of
Sunday Schools. The committees of the Sunday School
Union and the Church of England Institute arranged the
manner in which it was desirable that each school should
carry on.the services.
Divine service was performed at Balmoral Castle on
Suaday morning, in the presence of the Queen and the Royal
Household, by the Rev. John Barclay, Iron Church, Edin-
burgh.
The Birmingham, Post says the movement begun by
the Higher Education Association nearly two years ago has
resulted in the formation of a number of classes In higher
education subjects, which are now in full work, with a fair
and steadily increasing number of students hi almost every
class_

Michael O'Donnell and his wife, an aged couple,
living by themselves at Nuttall, near Bury, Lancashire, have
been suffocated by an escape of gas. The meter had some
time ago been cut off, and the plug coming out, allowed the
gas to escape.

The German Council of Agriculture have adopted a
resolution praying the Imperial Government to carry out its
Intention of abolishing the duties on iron from the let of
January next, and to rt-ject all proposals for a modification
of the Customs' tariff in a Protectionist sense.

A Bill has been introduced into the German Federal
Council, the object of which is to check abuses in the trans-
port and employment of Polyneiian labourers by German
subject.

A letter was received in Dundee on Tuesday, inti-
mating that the younger sou of Mr. Yeaman, M. P., had been
shot dead at the Straits while whale flailing. Mr. Yeoman
was a young man of high promise, and served as engineer on
the Jan Mayen, whaler. He had been out duck hunting,
and while loading one of the barrels of his gun tbe other
discharged itself into his head, killing him instantaneously.
. The small town of 'Widze, in Russia, which is prin-
cipaby Lhabited by Jews, has, says the Jewish World, just
been the scene of a fearful conflagration. Upwards of 200
dwelling houses have been burnt to the ground, and more
than 3,000 persons have been rendered destitute. A large
synagogue and five schools have also been destroyed, and
several persons have lost their lives.

At the Worcestershire Quarter Sessions, the Earl
of Dudley presiding, a discussion took place upon the in-
creased number of convictions for drunkenness, in the course
of which it was contended by several magistrates that more
stringency ought to be exercised in proceeding against
offenaing publicans.

Sergeant Davidson, a Waterloo veteran, has just
died at Thurso, at the age of 82 years. He entered the
army at eighteen, and was present at the battle of Quatre
Bras, whwre he was wounded six times. When going to tke
rear a bullet pierced both his thighs, and a shell burst near
him and grazd his head, making the skull as smooth as
gl•iss. Since his retirement the deceased has been married
three times.

During the nine months of the present year, which
have already elapsed, the total number of emigrants from
Ireland was 44,128, viz., 22,254 males and 21,874 females,
being a decrease of 19,311 upon the figures for toe corres-
ponding period of 1871 Frem the Ist May, 1851, to the
30th September last, there were 2,370,057 emigrants from
Ireland.

A scheme for tunnelling the Mersey, propounded
by Mr. William Williams, is, says the Liverpool Post, to be
submitted to a meetiog in November next, at which Mr.
Gladstone will probably be present. Mr. Williams proposes
to sink an iron sub-way in a trough or groove to be cut in the
bed of the river; and his scheme would require a much
smaller expenditure than that involved in the construction
of an ordinary tunnel.

Among the passengers to India by the last mail is
the distinguished Oriental be holar, Professor Monier
Witlivms. The Boden Professor of Sanskrit at Oxford, says
the Homeward Mail. goes to India to promote amongst the
scholar,: of that country the establishment of an India insti-
tute at Oxford, some what on the model of Dr. Forbes Wat-
son's proposed institute in London, the plans for the estab-
lishment of which are in an advanced state.

A fine young porpoise was caught off the North
Foreland last Saturday morning by two 13roadstairs fisher-
men. The porpoise and his mate were after a shoal of her-
rings when he was encircled in a net, and after hauling him
to the side of the boat, one of the fishermen caught him in
his arms and lifted his into the boat. On landing, a tele-
gram was immediately sent to the Aquarium, and men were
at once despatched to convey him to Brighton, where he is
now to be seen disporting in 110,000 gallons of water—No. 6
tank. An angler, or devil-fish, from Cornwall has also
been added to the collection.

The Boadicea, an iron corvette, cased with wood, of
over four thousand tons, with engines of seven hundred
nominal horse power, was launched from Portsmopth Dock-
yard on Saturday morning. The ceremony was preceded for
the first time at Portsmouth by the form of prayer issued
last year by the Archbishop of Canterbury The ship was
then named, the bottle of wine being broken against her bow
by Miss Elliott, daughter to the Commander-in-Chief, the
cord attached to the weights was severed, the dogshores
were knocked away, and the vessel thus released glided into
the harbour.

At the annual meeting of the Association for closing
Public-houses on Sundays in Ireland, held on Monday in.
Dublin, it was stated that 20 petitions, presented to parlia-
ment last session, were signed by 1,413 magistrates, 2,484
clergymen, 744 medical men, 1,991 poor law guardians, 596
town commissioners, and 453 merchants and employers.
The petitions from Ireland altogether numbered 1,500, and
225,000 signatures were appended.
The "Statement exhibiting the loral and Material
Progress and Condition of India during the year 1878-74"
has been issued as a parliamentary paper. It is divided
into fifteen sections, dealing respectively with administra-
tion and legislation, finance, land revenue, agriculture, irri-
gation, communication, forests, minerals, trade and manu-
factures, condition of the people, police and Justice, educe,
tion, political and military matters, and surveys and statis-
tics. There Is also a memorandum by Mr. El. Waterfteld on
recent fiscal legislation in India, and an appendix of statis-
Veal tables.

Major Ewan Smith, the Acting Consul General at
Zanzibar, distributed on the 26th of August to the native fol-
lowers of Livingstone, who had beau with their leader at the
time of his death, the silver medals, 60 in number, bestowed
upon them by the Royal Geographical Society. These medals
bear a portrait of Livingstone in high relief, and on the re-
verse the words "Presented by the Royal Geographical
Society, 1874." On the rim of each is the name of the
native to whom it is given, and the legend "Faithful to the
End."

A return made to the Executive Committee for
Cambridgeshire shows that during the past quarter 3,331
cattle have been attacked with foot and mouth disease, and
that 1,3140 remain di.,eased; 4,700 sheep have been attacked,
and that 1,826 remain diseased; 848 pigs have been attacked,
and 413 rentain so. Sixty-six animals in all have died. Pleuro-
pneumonia has also been declared at several places.

Saturday (16th) was the 82nd anniversary of the
execution of Marie Antoinette. Mass was said at the
Expiatory Chapel on the Boulevard Haussmann, in Paris.
The service was attended by the Marquis de Dreux-Breze, re-
presenting the Comte de Chambord, Queen Isabella, and her
three daughters, the Minister of Marine, and many leading
members of the Legitimist Party. None of the Orleans
Pi inces were present.

Tce Grocer 'states that cheese-manufacture in
Cheshire is undergoing great alteration. Model farms are
being intoduced into the country; and the Duke of West-
minster, who takes great interest in the subject, has intro-
duced the factory system of cheese-making, there now being
three cheese factories in the neighbourhood of Chester.
They are managed, on the co-operative principle, by a com-
mittee of the Duke's tenants, and so far are said to have been
successful.

The Morning Post (in a leader) strongly urges the
British Government to join with other European Powers in
pressing the clai ms of Turkish bondholders upon the Porte.
The loans negotiated in this country were, the Post says,
far diff.;rent from the reckless expedients to which the
Porte has too frequently had recourse. They do not stand
on the footing of large risks and usurious returns. They
were contracted at moderate rates. The English lender ad-
vanced solid gold and received but a reasonable interest,
and the transaction was based entirely upon the positive,
valuable, and realizable mortgage which was made over ts
the lender.

The Prince of Wales arrived at Athens on Monday.
His Royal Highness reached the Pincus at ten o'clock in the
morning, and the King of Greece immediately went on board
the Scrapis to receive him. While anchoring, the Serapis
damaged two ships, owing to her chains not being properly
made fast. Shortly after twelve the Prince landed. He was
saluted by the ships of war in the harbour, and loudly cheered.
by thousands of spectators. His Royal Highness afterwards
proceeded in a Royal carriage to the railway station, accom-
panied by the King. Much enthusiasm was displayed, and
the town was decorated with flags. Upon reaching Athens
the Prince was received by M. Trikoupis. He proceeded to
the Palace in one of the Royal carriages, the same enthu-
siasm being displayed by the people as at the Pi, rens. In the
evening the ancient buildings there were illuminated, the
Acropolis being lighted up with Bengal fires. The Prince of
Wales and the King and Queen of Greece'were among the
spectators. On Uthsday the Prince went with his suite to
the Royal country seat to spend the day.

•
There were great rejoicings at Hawarden on Tues-
day, on the occasion of the coming home of Mr. and Mrs.
W. IL Gladstone, who had been spending the latter part of
their honeymoon at Capel Corig. Triumphal arches were
erected, the tenantry and members of friendly societies
assembled and went with brass haLds to meet the carriage
containing Mr. Gladstone end his wife, the church bells were
rung, and on the arrival of the carriage at the village the
horses were taken out and the carriage was drawn though
the village amid loud cheering. At the Castle air. and Mrs.
W. E Gladstone received their Son and his wife, and an ad-
dress was presented by the tenantry, to which Mr. W.
Gladstone replied. Cheers having been given for Mrs. Glad-
stone, Mx. W. E. Gladstone acknowledged them. fie said
that he and his wife on that occasion played a secondary
part, and he referred to thirty-six years ago when they
played a more important part in somewhat similar pit,-
ceedings. lie was afraid tnat years had left their mark in
some respects upon him ; but he rejoiced to see that the
hearts of the people of llawarden had undergone no change
in the whole of that period. Re ventured to assure them
that the hearts and feelings of himself and Mrs. Gladstone
had undergone no change either.

The Emperor William reached Milan at half-past
four o'clock on Monday afternoon. He was met at the
station b) King Victor Frrinnumel, the Princes, the Ministers
and the various civil and military authorities. The Emperor
embraced the King. and then proceeded to the Palace with
him, in one of the R 351 carriages, amidst the enthusiastic
cheers of the crowds that occupied the line of route. The
city throughout was decorated with the German and Italian
colours. At the Palace the Em;,eror 'aim received by the
Princess Marglicrita and the Duchess of Genoa. His
Majesty and the King trequently showed themselves on the
balcony, and were loudly cheered by the crowd. lt is stated
that 100,000 visitors have arrived at Milan. On Tuesday a
grand review took place in Milan, in honour of the visit. of
the Emperor Williatn. The ground was crowded with
c to b
spectators, some of wham pressed against the cavalry In a
somewhat
ro
Empdangerouseror was
iln
excellent manner, h
health, thn
delighted with the reception he has met with. He is said to
have expressed the hope that the friendship between the
two nations might be as enduring and cordial as that between
himself and King Victor Emmanuel, aon da accident
dent
appeared orr ci e .
T

t

This curious statement is made in a Paris paper : " The
first herring has appeared on the table at Rouen. He is in
rrears sixteen days."

A new Parisian bonnet has the back brim Willed
up, and the front shades he forehead. They can be worn
either way.

The Correctional Court of Strasburg has just con-
demned eighteen yonng men to liars of to marks each for
trying to evade Gennan military service.

Betting men say that half-a-million of money was
laid upon the winner of the Csesarewitch, and that that sum
was actually won and lost by this one horse.

Dean Stanley's many admirers will be pleased to
know that a third series of his "Lectures on the History of
the Jewish Church" is in preparation. Mr. Murray is the
publisher.
It is estimated that the total cost of the Centennial
Exhantion at Philadelphia next }ear, including preparation
Gf the grounds, buildings, running Expenses, , will be
about 8,500,000 dols
Her Majesty has ac:epted the services of another
metropolitan rifle corps, which is composed of porters of the
Bank of England. It is to be numbered She 50th in the
county of Middlesex, and is to be attached to the 2let, Lord
Bury's battalion.

The Midland Railway, are about to adopt the block
system on every mile of their railway carrying passengers.
Already, out of 975 miles, the company have the block syttem
In perfect operation over 627 miles, and in the course of
adoption over the additionall76 miles.

An agricultural and horticultnral Allow wa% recently
held at Munich, at which her Majesty's Charge d'Aff tires,
Mr. Monier, was the only exhibitor from the ranks of diplo-
macy, and was so successful as to take a first prize for some
Bramah fowls exhibited.
-

--
A thoughtful and affectionate interest in the happi-
ness of the family circle is evinced by the conduct of the
Prince of Wales in leaving behind him at Marlborough
House presents in the form of heart-shaped lockets, each
bearing the motto, "Sans adieu," as farewell surprises for
his sistera.—Court Journal.

Newman Hall, Cambridge, was opened on Monday
under the superintendence of Miss Clough. Thzre are twenty-
seven lady students, and one lady lecturer. The ace,)mmu-
dation aff,rdod by the new building is quite occupied, and
further admissions have been refused.

Baroness Burdett Coutts, who has presented prizes
to the school teachers of Exeter, for essays on the treatment
of animals, has sent at etter, which was read at the distribu-
tion, in which she expressed her belief that school teachers
formed a good medium for the spread of humanitarian prin-
ciples, and that offering prizes was the best mode of exciting
Interest on the subject.
The American journals report the death by drown
log, through the capsizing of a boat, of the Rev. G. B.
Porteous, who was at one time curate of St. George's, Han-
over-square, and latterly the incumbent of Bedford Chapel,
Bloomsbury, London. Inhibited by the Bishop of New York
from officiating in any of the pulpits of the diocese, he had
started a church of his own, but the scheme did not succeed,
and he announced his determination to betake himself to
literary work.

A statement has been published respecting the losses
occasioned by the goods in the South of France. It appears
that 1,645 Communes, situated in 12 Departments, suffered
more or less. In the Haut Garonne the losses exceed
42,000,000 f. ; in Lot-et-Garonne they are 14,846,800 f. ; in Tarn-
et Garonne, 12,437,803 f. ; hi the Ariege, 5,210,000 f. ; in the
flautes Pyrenees, 9,2000001.' in the Gironde, 4,974,006 f. ; in
tile Gers, 3,310,000 f. The total loss is 100,003,7141., of which
43,0J0,000f. are capital and 57,000,000 f. for crops and property,
divided among 127,817 persons.
The Univers states that the Pope's household con-
sists of 537 persons, the chief of whom are Cardinal Antonelli,
the major-domo, the master of the chamber, the grand
almoner, the secretary, the steward, the governor, General
Kanzler, and five chamberlains. There are 20 persons
employed in the secretary's office, 15 in the administration
of the palace, and Bln the secret printing house. The -rope
has one groom of the chamber and 6 holy servants. The
apostol.c chamber Is composed of a president, 23 couriers, 3
servants, and 3 orderlies. Cardinal Antonelli and General
Kanzler have a suite of 43 persons, while the Swiss Guard
and the Pontifical gendarmerie number 200
Statistics relative to the use made of the Post-office
in the principal countries of the world, show that Switzer-
land occupies the first place with 31 letters annually per In-
habitant ; England comes next with 20i, then the United
States with 19. France only ranks ninth. With respect to
telegraphic communications Switzerland eso takes the lead
with 81 messages per 100 inhabitants ; next follow England,
54; Holland 61, Belgium 47, the United States 32, Germany
31. France has the tenth place in the thirteen chief States;
Russia the last, with one telegram only per 100 inhabitants
A society of rat-eaters has been formed at Gembloux
In Belgium. The members meet once a week, and the pro-
ceedings are wound up by a grand (I) banquet, in which pre-
parations of that delicious animal hold a prominent position.
This society, following the example of the Hippophagic
Society, wishes to destroy the prejudice attached to the flesh
of these little animals. In the furtherance of this object, a
learned Belgian has been at the pains to discover that the
ancientßornans formerly ate grey mice, seasoned with aurna
and chestnuts. Buffon relates that the inhabitants of Mar-
tinique eat mice, and are especially I,nd of musk-rat."" A
species of rat Galled the climbing rat likewise [omit a large
item of food at Cuba.

During last week 5,323 births and 3,489 deaths were
registered in London and twenty other large towns of the
United Kingdom. The natural increase of population was
1,834. The mortality from all causes was at the average rate
of 24 deaths annually in every 1,000 persons living. The
annual death-rate was 21 per 1,000 in Edinburgh, 21 in
Glasgow, and 27 in Dublin. In Lmdon 2,325 births and
1,442 deaths were registered. Allowing for increase of
population, the births exceeded by 24, and the deaths lay 41,
the average numbers in the corresponding week of the last
ten years. Tile annual dea' h rate from all causes rose to 21
per 1,000. After distributing the deLths in institutions, in
proportion to population, the rats was 18 per 1,000 in the
west, 21 in the north, 24 in the central, 23 in the east, and 23
in the south groups of distrizts.

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