The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-05-28 00:00:00

Oltr Yrll6oll Corrtspoittnt

.C77e deem it right to state that we do not at all times
tdentify ourselves with our Correspondent's opinions.

The Conference on Thrift presided over by the Lord
Mayor at the Mansion House has once more brought
prominently into view a question of the deepest im-
portance to the middle and working classes of this
country. It is one superior to party and to creed.
Those who took part in the Conference are accustomed
to sit on opposite benches in the House of Commons,
'a" and to advocate political views as widely separated
icy-7X as are the Poles asunder. But all parties see that,
while the trade of the United Kingdom is not what
it was some years ago, the necessity of thrift and
frugality becomes more apparent if the nation is
to compete successfully with powerful and grow-
ing rivals. Men of such varying views as Cardinal
Manning and the Bishop of Manchester, Lord
Derby and the Earl of Portsmouth, Mr. Sclater-
Booth and Lord Lymington, Earl Nelson and Mr.
Thomas Hughes, Col. Harcourt and the Lord Mayor
himself, were all able to unite on this one common
basis. The example of other nations, su ch as France
and Belgium, was held up as one which Englaffd
might well follow—France, especially, as shown by
the marvellous way in which her people paid off the
enormous war indemnity imposed by Germany ten
years ago.
Her Majesty has gone to Balmoral, there to enjoy,
until the end of June, the purity of the moorland
air; b t the representatives of the Royal family who
are now in London do their best to fulfil the many
engagements which they are asked to discharge.
The opening of bazaars for charitable purposes
by the princesses, and presiding at public dinners
for the same objects by the Queen's sons, are amongst
the most frequent of the duties devolving upon them
just now. The thoughtful and eloquent speeches
of Prince Leopold, who is ever ready to lend his
assistance to a noble and benevolent cause, command
an increasing amount of attention which remind one
of the days of the Prince Consort. The Prince, who
has remained longer than any of Her Majesty's sons
without a title, for he is now in his 29th year, is to be
created Duke of Albany on the occasion of his Royal
mother's birthday. It will be noted that without a
territorial title even a Royal prince is unable to take
his seat in the House of Lords. The Prince of Wales
is also Duke of Cornwall; Prince Alfred sits as Duke
of Edinburgh, and Prince Arthur as Duke of Con-
naught. The Prince of Wales was enabled to take
his seat as a peer at 21; the Duke of Edinburgh at
22; and the Duke of Connaught at 24. Prince
Leopold, although a son of the reigning Sovereign,
has as yet had no seat in the peerage; but access to
that illustrious body will be secured by his creation
as Duke of Albany.
One of the modes by which the Queen's birthday is
celebrated in London is by a military spectacle in St.
James's Park, described as "trooping the colours."
. It is really a review of the Household troops by the
Commander-in-chief, and is witnessed by an enormous
number of people. In fact, a martial picture is always
attractive; and we need not go to Paris or Berlin,
Vienna or St. Petersburg, to be assured of this fact.
In point of numbers the soldiers who can be brought
together in London can in no degree compare with
those in either of the capitals of the great military
monarchies; but the physique of the Household
Troops is certainly equal to that of any nation in the
world; and it is doubtful whether the appearance,
discipline, and bearing of the men can be surpassed by
those who are more often engaged in the stern busi-
ness of war.