The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-10-02 00:00:00

Our fonllon Corrapubtnt.
tWe deem It right to state that we do not at all times
klentify ourselves with our Correspondent's opinions.]

In the announcement of the next series of pre-
liminary examinations for admission to the
Royal Military College, Sandhurst, it is inti-
mated that, in consequence of a communication
from the War Office, it is intended to raise
gradually the standard of qualification in modern
languages. This is no surprise to those who
have been watching the tendency of military edu-
cation of late years, not only here, but on the
Continent; for it is regarded as necessary that
officers who may have to command armies in any
part of Europe should know, at least, the leading
languages. And it is not only in military edu-
cation that this tendenc-- parent;-) for in
civil life there is a growing demand for linguistic
proficiency. The average English clerk, for in-
stance, is at a discount compared with his
German competitor, in that the latter must of
necessity know two, and very frequently is ac-
quainted with three, languages; and as the corn-
petition with the Germans in London, at all

events, is growing in an ever-increasing ratio,
the necessity for improvement in this particular
is obvious. Even if a youth is not destined
for a commercial life, the time occupied in ac-
quiring modern languages is certainly not lost.
The comfort of a continental journey is largely
added to if one can address the natives in their
own tongue; and although the most noted spe-
cimens of foreign literature came to us in the
shape of translations, there is always an inde-
finable but very definite charm in being able to
real them in the original.
Although the dog days are over, the fear of
hydrophobia remains, and discussion in London
as to the necessity for muzzling all specimens of
the canine tribe is as keen as ever. Of late,
indeed, it has waxed more keen, and the diatribes
which a year ago dog-owners were launching
against Sir Edmund Henderson, then Chief Com-
missioner of the Metropolitan Police, are now
being poured forth upon Sir Charles Warren, his
successor in that onerous position, for Sir
Charles has renewed the orders as to
muzzling, and has refused to abate a single jot
of their severity; and controversy runs
high as to whether he is justified in
so doing. The safest thing to say about
such a discussion is that there is a great deal to
be urged on both sides; and it could be said
about the present discussion with even more '
truth than usual. For it is one into which per-
sonal feeling enters so largely that it is apt to
obscure argument, and those who detest dogs
and those who love them are never likely to
agree. One outcome of the controversy which
may'have some effect, is the formation of a society
for the prevention of hydrophobia and the reform
of the dog laws. The first object, which is
decidedly the more important, is as unmistake-
ably the more difficult. Prevention is better
than cure in all cases, and as there has no cure
yet been discovered for hydrophobia, prevention
in that matter is the more to be desired. But
when we have one set of disputants declaring
that unless muzzling is enforced without excep-
tion an alarming number of cases of hydrophobia
are sure to follow, and another set stating with
equal emphasis that nothing so much as muzzling
is likely to cause rabies, it is very difficult to
decide how one of the most dread disorders
known to man is to be prevented.
Among the nuisances which modern inven-
tions have brought upon us, as if to show that
civilisation has its disadvantages as well as its
blessings, is the railway whistle. Just now there
is a loud outcry from the residents of some of
our London suburbs against the manner in
which the whistle is used at certain junctions
in their neighbourhood. Sleepless nights and
tortured nerves are among the resulting evils
complained of, and the protest against the short,
sharp shrieks which the engines give forth at
rapidly recurring intervals is increasingly ener-
getic. It is easier, however, to state the griev-
ance than to indicate a remedy. No one can
believe that engine-drivers, being persons of
necessity, possessed of their full senses, take
delight in thus making .laight hideous, and it
must therefore be allowed that railway traffic as
at present carried on, especially at busy junc-
tions, needs frequent whistling for its safe con-
duct. The question, of course, arises whether
some method of signallingcannot be devised which
shall obviate the need for so much noise, and that
is one with which engineers and men of science
can better deal than the uninformed. But, great
as the nuisance undoubtedly is, our cousins in
the United States have to put up with an
additional railway noise to that which we have
to bear. The clang of the engine bell as it crosses
at the level busy streets even in crowded cities
is fortunately unknown to us; and although
this may be small consolation to those who are
worried with the whistle, it is something to know
that we are not the worst off in the world in
regard to railway noises.
Cricket is such a thoroughly English game
that any information bearing upon its history
and development is certain of a largo and
interested audience, and the reminiscences just
published of a veteran of the game, who played
in the Eton Eleven as far back as 181:3, have
received much attention. His statements as to
the little artificial protection which the cricketers
of his day provided for themselves are note-
worthy as affording a marked contrast with the
gloves and pads so freely worn to-lay. None
such were known to the players of his youth,
the most striking protection being a pocket-
handkerchief which was allowed round the
dropping knee of the long, stop, though
he mentions one rather strange notion
in the small iron guard attached to
the bat near the shoulders for the right-hand of
a player, who was noted as a "block." But it
would not be fair to argue from these statements
that, padded and gloved though they are, the
cricketers of to-day are less courageous than
those of the times of their grandfithers. Since
round-arm bowling practically superseded under-
hand, some sort of artificial protection was neces-
sary. Any who have seen Spofforth bowl for the
Australians will recognise that deliveries at the
pace almost of a cannon-ball would be likely to
maim a man for life if he happened to be out
Leg-before-wicket with one of them. And even
bowlers of less destructive powers would be cal-
culated to do a great amount of bodily injury
unless pads were worn. The conditions of the
game in this particular have, in fact, so greatly
altered within the past forty years that illustra-
tions drawn from its earlier history are of lictle
value. But they are of interest, nevertheless,
and will continue to be of interest as long as
cricket possesses the hold over the British public
it now has.
It appears almost a confession of weakness
that any boy of thirteen or fourteen years of
age should have to be labelled by his parents or
guardians as "incorrigible," but however much
theorists might object to apply the title, it is,
unfortunately, practically applicable in only too
many cases. A number of lads have lately
come before the metropolitan magistrates to
whom the name might be given; they have
been a source of trouble to their friends, and of
danger to their neighbours, and strong measures
had to be taken to prevent them continuing in a
career of mischief which could only have one end.
For such as these the reformatories and in-
dustrial schools scattered throughout the land
are institutions calculated to do great good; but
there is a class of youths who give trouble not
so much from depravity as from destitu-
tion, to whose cases the almost prison-like
discipline of these places is not so applicable.
It is pleasing to know that the latter, who
may become good citizens if they are only
afforded a fair chance for escaping from
the slough of despond into which circum-
stance have plunged them, are now being
provided with the opportunity so necessary to
them. The Gordon Boys' Home—a form of
memorial of which Gordon himself would have
heartily approved—is doing much for destitute
lads who have been cast on the streets by the
neglect or the loss of their parents; and the
training is designed to fit them for the army or
navy, if they wish to join either service, or for
civil life. The movement is a most praiseworthy
one, and it is pleasant to know that it is being
heartily encouraged.
The proposal for a permanent Indian and
Colonial Institute, which has been made by the
Prince of Wales as' a fitting memorial of the
Queen's jubilee year, is one which, under various
aspects, has been talked of for months. When
it takes shape, and the subscription list is opened,
the response of the public, both at home and in
our Colobies and dependencies, will doubtless be
liberal; but its extent will probably depend upon
certain conditions which have been much dis-
cussed in private by those interested in the scheme,
and which are likely to be much discussed in
public before the project goes much farther. The
question that is likely to give the most trouble ir
that of a site, and before that is settled a good
deal of controversy is certain to take place
There is no doubt that powerful influences are
on the side of the Institute being erected tz.t.
south Kensington, and there is just as little
doubt that strong, oppesi' ion to that location
will be rai.sed in not uninfluential quart#ra."'

will be generally conceded that, unless the pro-
ject has the hearty support of the Colonies, it
cannot succeed to the full, and Colonial opinion,
as far as it can be gauged at present, is not
favourable to the claims of South Kensington.
The scheme is so excellent in itself that it will be
a thousand pities if any difference as to locality
interferes with its complete fulfilment; but
those who know how strongly opinion runs on
the subject are convinced that the difficulty had
better be faced at the outset. If it be not
settled before the public are appealed to for sub-
scriptions, there will be danger that the project
may suffer because of the doubts which have
been raised.

Woolwich Arsenal is known by name to every
Englishman, and the informatioß that it is to be
extended is, therefore, of general interest. The
time for war to be no more has not yet arrived,
and preparation for the dread shock of arms has
to go on even in prolonged periods of peace. The
manufacture of torpedoes is an almost new branch
of Arsenal work, and provision of accommodation
for it is a considerable portion of the Woolwich
extension. And it is not only in England that
the invention and manufacture of fresh weapons
of destruction are being pursued. In France the
military authorities are just now devoting their
attention to a new projectile of a most destruc-
tive kind. It is tipped with a powerful steel
ram, and contains a strong explosive, which, after
the ram has pierced its way into a wall, blows up
the structure. Of the invention of such imple-
ments of warfare as these there is apparently
no end. Almost every week brings us intelligence
from one foreign country or another, or from
our own establishments, of a new gun, or a new
projectile, or a new explosive. No sooner do our
steel manufacturers provide an armour which
under existing conditions cannot be pierced than
a gun is made which can send a shot into it.
And so the struggle goes on without any present
prospect of concluding, and what fearsome instru-
ments of warfare it will be our lot to possess a,
score of years hence not even the most com-
petent artillerists can foretell. A. F. R.