The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-02-07 00:00:00

,1.1 isallancons 4ntellgatct.

HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL.

DISASTERS AT SEA,—There were 24 British and
foreign wrecks reported during the past week,
making a total of 123 for the present year, or a
decrease of 105 as compared with the corresponding
period of last year. The approximate value of pro-
perty lost was £360,000, including British £290,000.
FROM PAGE TO SENATOR. —The Baltimore American
says :—"ln going to the United States Senate, the
Hon, Arthur P. Gorman will have the triumph of
returning to that august body as a member which he
once served as a page, a thing which never occurred
before in the history of the Senate. He is a Mary-
land man, and was born in 1839. At the early age of
13 the Senator•elect was appointed a page in the
Senate, through the influence of Judge Edward
Hammond, then a member of the House of Repre-
sentatives. The youth was bright, active, and
obliging, and attracted the notice of Stephen A,
Douglas, of Illinois, wlio eventually made him his
secretary and confidentiar friend. While he remained
in the service of the Senate young Gorman advanced
from one post to another, until he held the position of
Postmaster."

THE FACTORY AND WORKSHOP ACT.—The London
Gazette of Jan. 30 contains an order of the Home Secre-
tary to the effect that the 39th section of the above.
mentioned Act, setting forth that a child, young person,
or woman should not be allowed to take a meal, or to
remain during the times allowed for meals, in the parts
of the factories or workshops to which the section
applies shall be extended to every factory or workshop
in which white lead is manufactured, except any room
thereof used solely for meals, and every part of a
factory or workshop in which part dry powder or dust
Is used in the processes of lithographic printing, play-
ing card-making, fancy box-making, paper-staining,
almanac-making, artificial flower.making, paper.
colouring and enamelling and colour-making. The
order came into force on Monday, Feb. 2.
A CENTENARIAN.—Mr. Daniel Fildew, clerk and
superintendent-registrar of St. Pancras, London,
writes from the Vestry-hall, Feb. 2, to The Times
" Mary Silmore died to-day in the workhouse of this
parish, at the age of 102 years. She was admitted on
the 23rd of December, 1873, and has since been an
inmate of the imbecile wards. She has always in-
terested visitors to the workhouse. She was wonder-
fully energetic and cheerful, although bedridden, and
until the last two or three days has had a good appe-
tite, taking regularly her full 'meat dinner.' Her
cMef luxury was snuff, of which she took a large
quantity; and she invariably entreated her visitors to
replenish her snuff .box, to gratify her sole desire, Her
sight and hearing were keen to the last."
ACCIDENT TO ZEO AT THE AQUARIUM—WhiIe Zwo
was going through her usual performance at the
Westminster Aquarium on Saturday she met with an
accident which occasioned a considerable amount of ex-
citement amongst the spectators. A machine used at
the latter end of the performance shot her a few feet
further than usual, and she fell through the net on to
the floor beneath. She was taken up and conveyed to
her dressing-room, and medical assistance was at once
obtained. Subsequently a placard was posted in the
building certifying that she would not be able to appear
that evening, and the following certificate was issued
.from Dr. Bond :—" I certify that Zmo is under my care
for slight concussion. She is not seriously hurt, and
will be quite well in a few days."
THE WILD BIRD ACT AND THE FARHEIL—The
fishermen have had their complaint of the destruction
done to the fry by these wild birds, now the farmers
are beginning to find out there is another disease as
bad for them as the potato rot, and as difficult to get
quit of, unless their landlords step in and use their
influence in Parliament. Before the Act passed it
was a rare thing to see a flock of geese or ducks flying
through the air in their grotesque way ; now it is
nothing uncommon to see them in thousands flying
from one feeding ground to another. During fresh
weather in winter they frequent the high ground,
feeding on the fry. in the burns; but in frost they are
seen in clouds flying to the estuaries to have their
supper on the myriads of young smelts, herrings, and
whitings, which they are known to eat in thousands,
and breakfast early ere they leave for the farmer's
wheat crops to digest the fry. Several lately shot
had hundreds in their stomachs. In spring they again
feed on the salmon fry, and to give them an appetite
they go and feast themselves on the young grass,
corn, wheat, barley, or beans, whatever comes handiest
to them, and the loss to the farmer is beyond belief,
so much so that many have to keep several boys
puffing the powder away. One goose that was shot
last spring had 420 beans in its stomach, another had
320 wheat, so if this is the way they tne, pity the
poor farmer's crops! Last spring one goose had eaten
in one day 57 young salmon; one duck, 27. This
winter two geese had upwards of 350 salmon; one
duck, 130 in its stomach, I really think it is time
such gourmands were stopped in their rich feeding at
the expense of the poor fisherman and farmer.—John
Anderson ( Denham-green,
Edinburgh, in Land and
Water).

AMERICAN AND CANADIAN FOOD.—Daring last
11 week only two steamers arrived with live stock, and
' four with fresh meat from the United States and
Canada, though the arrivals of both are more than
those of the previous *eek, the totals being 405 head
of live cattle' 3,220 quarters of fresh beef, 512 car-
cases of mutton, and 305 pigs,
DISUSED BOOKB FOR SEAMEN.—Commander Daw-
son, secretary, writes :—" The 'Mission to Seamen'
has to thank the public for enabling it to put on
board British merchant ships during the year 1879 as
as many as 1,640 disused Bibles and Testaments,
1,100 prayer.books, 3,10 hymn-books, and 89,260
reading books, magazines, &c., besides the liberal
grants made by several religious societies, We are
much in need of old prayer books, for the crews
assembling for Divine worship on Stuedays, and of
magazines, &G. Oar small book notices placed on
church boards would soon replenish our stook. Sup.
plies should be sent in boxes, hampers, sacks, or
parcels, by rail, prepaid. to the 'Missions to Seamen,'
11, Buckingham-street, Strand, London, W.C."
ADVICE TO A DOUBTING LOVER.—The San Francisco
Post gives advice to a doubting lever which is so good
that all in the same boat as the inquiring young man
should regard it as addressed to themselves: "A rich
young man" writes to say that he is passionately in love
with a poor but beautiful girl, who accepted him the
other day on a steam boat picnic. Notwithstanding
this, he is not sure that she loves him "for himself
alone," and tails cif with the regular "Now, what
E hall I do?" peculiar to Bach innocence. The matter
is very simple. Take' this obvious level-headed young
lady on another expedition. Then jump over- board—
select ,a good, deep place. If she rescues you, all is
well. If she permits you to drown she is unworthy of
your priceless love and we will go for her ourselves..
FROZEN MEAT FROM AUSTRALIA.---The steamship
Strathleven arrived in London from Ausiralia on
6
Monday with the first shipment of frozen fresh meat
brought from the Antipodes to this country. It con-
slats of the carcasses of 562 sheeP. 0 bullocks, two
lambs, and two tons of butter. Both the meat and
butter were in perfectly sotiod condition.
.
THE DECENNIAL CENOClB*—The Council of the
profession Social Science Association having recommended the
executive pon
committee of of every inhabitant
Government to include
in the census to be taken next
year the "religions
of the kingdom
the Libe-
ration Society ha passed resolutions intimating that
atite suchptnwl meet with strenuous opposition.
an
nniCne wqu6iyth "would involve an
nue personal opinion;
would fall Theyany s such
affirm
at attempt etp:
arran
serve any good practical purpose;
,wouid prove seriously misleading in its results, and
the Government include such a provision in
would inevitably excite great bitterness of feeling."
4.1,11: forthcoming Bill it will, it is stated, meet with the
;pee resistance as that which led to its abandon-
remit in 1861.
SUNDAY LABOUR.—An address has been forwarded
to the Home Sec,retary, accompanied by 1.000 signa-
tures of men only, from all classes of society in Bris-
tol and Clifton, expressing great regret at the recent
encouragement eiven by him to the directors
of the Brighton Aquarium to keep their establish
ment open on Sunday for payment of money.
The address ends with these words :—" It appears to
us that your action in this matter presents to the
directors and managers of similar institutions through-
out this country a most powerful temptation to
employ men in Sunday labour, and to enter upon a
course of Sunday trading, in opposition to the law of
the realm, and to the great dishonour of Almighty
God, and to the seriowi injury of the whola nation."

THE MANUFACTURE OF DIAMONDS.—Addressing
Philosophical Society of Sheffield on Tuesday eve
on the subject of the manufacture of precious stor
Mr. A, H. Allen, borough analyst, said that Dr.
S. Marsden, a native of Sheffield, had recently lY
trying experiments in connexio2 with the product
of crystallized substances' and he had succeeded
obtaining the crystalline form of a body which)
Allen thought might possibly be diamond. This ref
was obtained by an entirely new process, and tbi
was every probability that the body thus pree
was crystallized carbon (a diamond).
HEAVY SALVAGE CLAIM.—The Swedish bar
Angantyr, from New York for Leith, with 930 t
of wheat, lately went ashore at Holy Island.
was Resisted off, by 50 fishermen, who took her
place of safety when in a sinking condition.
agreement was made as to the amount they well
receive, and a dispute having arisen about this,
fishermen have applied to the Admiralty Court to
writ to detain the vessel and cargo at Holy Ish
until their claim of £lO,OOO is satisfied.
THE FREE LIBRARY MOVEMENT IN LONDON.-'
influential local committee has been lately fore
under the auspices of Professor Henry Morley for'
establishment of a free library in the parish of
Pancras, somewhat on the model of that which
been for some time in successful operation at Di
cheater, which is supported by a rate limited
penny in the pound. The population of this psi
has now reached a quarter of a million. In a 'eel
at Haverstock-hill, Hampstead, last week, it I
stated by Professor Merley that a rate of a fartb
in St. Pancras would suffice to establish and millet
three such libraries as that which was in contea
tion.

SIGNS OF TR& SKATING SZASON.—More icicles
bicycler.—Punch.

A NEW ELECTRIC CANDLE.—The Electrician
that a French inventor, M. Perruche, hss present
new desviption of electric candle to the Paris Aced
of Science. The candle consists of three carbons',
being cylindrical and o'oo4 mb;re in diameter,
applied to each other, the third of square seal
0005 mbtre inside, and placed in the angle forme,
the first two. The cylinders are in pivoted 1
holders between brass plate 3 brought together I
spring. The holder of the square carbon is
capable of oscillation, and the carbon is held 1
spring in contact with the other while no cii
panes, but when the current bTins takes its sepi
position. It is regulated by an iron lever and ele
magnet in circuit.

FEMALE ART AND LITERARY WORKERS.
Gazette des Femmes has obtained some interes

statistics as to the number of women in France I
have entered the artistic and literary profess
The lady writers are given at 1,700, of whom 1,000,
know to be the authoresses of novels or tales for '
young, 200 poetesses, and 150 compilers of educatid
works. Two-thirds of these ladies were b irn in
provinces, and the majority in Brittany, Norma'
and the south of France. The female artists
more numerous than the writers, and embrace 2.
painters who have exhibited in the Salon. The,
mainder are thus grouped :—Moddlers in wax, 1;
painters in oil, 602; miniature painters, 193; sC
tors, 107; painters of fans and in chalks, 49t.

AN HISTORICAL PICTURE. A replica of ),
Weigall's portrait of Lord Beaconsfield announcing;
Treaty of Berlin in the House of Lords, which '
been painted for Burghley, is being made at the,
quest of Lord Lytton, for Government House,
cutta. The Premier is understood to have hiO3)
indicated his preference of Mr. Weigall's picture
this purpose.—The Times.

INTERESTING RELICS.—Three old" guns dug otil
the mud during the extension works at Chatlil
Dockyard, and believed to have formed part of,
armament of a Dutch frigate sunk in the 11
Medway many years since, have been received at'
Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, and examined. The!
pear to be of English manufacture, but they do
correspond with any guns at present in the BrP
service, and the general opinion is that the WI;
Idea as to their connexion with the old Dutch flee;
the correct one. Two of the guns are to be place°,
the Royal Artillery Institution Woolwich, and '
third has been sent to the Royal Naval Museulli
Greenwich College,
I
THE IRISH POTATO CROP. Dr. Hanoo.., ...,
eminent Irish statistician, estimates the average sv
value of the potato crop in Ireland at £9,250,000, P
the loss sustained by the failure of last year's croP
£4,626,000.

THE ARTIASS ONE I—" I have an infirmity of
eyes," remarked a dismal man to a well-to-do PI
tucket citizen. "Won't you just examine this,,i
see if I have been cheated?" The citizen v
accosted took the article in his hands and inspe
it. It was a book, brand new and with uncut lee!
"Would you give two dollars and a half for suo'
book as that ? ' continued the man with the MO
eyesight. " Certainly," replied the citizen.
full of plates and pictures?" "It is," replied ,
resident, unhesitatingly. "Is the binding substao,
as well as ornamental?" " Beautiful !" was
answer. "And you are quite sure that you IV
give two dollars and a half for such a noble bolrn
this!" continued the inquirer. "In a minute ',
replied. "Well, then, take it," said the book s:r,
" I have a hundred and fifty more just like it it):
express office. I can change a five. You will nol
robbing me." The Citizen took the book, carried P
the Falls, dropped it into the seething cauldros
whitening water, entered his house by the back ill
and went up softly to bed.

THE HEIGHT OF MAGNIFICENCE. Sir Got!
Midas: " Hullo ! where's all the rest of yer gonet4
—Head Footman: "If you please, Sir Gorgius,
was past two o'clock, and we didn't know for or!
whether you was coming back here, or going to
in the City, the hother foot‘men thought they to;
go to bed—" Sir Gorging: " ' Thought they so
go to bed,' did they? A pretty state of things,
deed! So that if I'd a' 'appened to brought WO,
friend, there 'd a' only been you four to let us
hay ! "—Punch. -

AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN.—The 10
log are the average prices of British corn for the'
ending Jan. 31, as received from the inspectors
officers of Excise :—Wheat 455. ; barley, 365.
oats, 21s. 11d, per imperial qr. Corresponding '
last year :—Wheat, 38e. ; barley, 365. ;
19s. sd.

Mn. SPURGEON'S HEALTEL—Notwithstanding
Spurgeon's health has continued to improve with
help of the genial climate of Mentone and a seael
rest extending over several months, Mr. Spurgeon
been per.uaded by the deacons of his church Dot
return to London this week as he had purposed di
On SundAy morning it was announced by one of 0
deacons that in consequence of the terrible
which had enveloped the metropolis of late
Spurgeon would not preach at the Tabernacle Ph
Sunday, although he hoped to do so the folloll
week. Their pastor had entirely recovered froo3'
attacks which had enforced his absence, and wag 1
awaiting the fine weather to enter once more upon
work at the Tabernacle.

THZ ELECTRIC LIGHT.—The Elcctrician BayS
there are now 165 Jablochkoff candles empl
nightly in this country, namely, fifty on the Thi
Embankment, including the ten en Waterloo Bri
fifty more scattered over four private establishn
In London; six at Hatfield, the seat of the Mal
of Salisbury; forty at Aston Lower Grounds,
,
mingham ; thirteen at Messrs. Samuel Brot,
Ludgate-hill, and six in a Dublin warehouse. It
be added that a Spanish vessel. the Cosmos, reed
fitted op here for plying on the River Plate, was
up with eight Jablochkoff candles.

DISENCUANTMENT. (All along of this awful weatb
—The Captain (who had taken charge of blooa
beginner). "Once more round ! "—Fair Novice
had been careering about, without a break for twe
minutes) "Oh, do stop now, Captain Bo wlridge,
let go my hands! I must blow my nose I"—Puna
SPEED Or RAILWAY TEAINIL—The Americano
kind euough to acknowledge that in one thing at Id
the British beat them, and that is in the speed of
trains (s,ys the Echo). The confession has b
brought out by the recent Galilean crow as to
speed ,)f the Paris-Marseilles express, which, it
pears, is beaten by several regular trains in Gems
hilt none of them come near the Flying Dutchnl
which is still the fastest train in the world, and rei
acomplished sixty miles in one hour. Higher 31
of speed are common enough for short distal
and on down gradients, but for any journey that,
eludes hundreds of miles, the actual speed is but II
over fifty miles an hour. With the long distances/
generally speaking, level roads which prevail in
States, there is every inducement for the Amerir
to take the lead; but they know, as some of
colonies are discovering, that their machine-re
engines will not stand the wear and tear of high spy

A Pout Amts.—Fisherman All 'umbug---,,P
hoin' able to find the North Pole. If they can't W
it, let me ax the question—who put it there ?"—rli
MR. 0. S READ, M.P., ON AMERICAN Gaya LAO
—lt must have been very annoying to the anti-g9l
law advocates to have read Mr. Read's speech alYa
the 'game laws of America (says Land and Wolfe
That gentleman said they had game laws, too, in A#
rica, for in tvery State he visited—even so far west
Mimics ,tri—there was a strict law for the protectioo
prairie hens and all sorts of wildfowl and game' • 01
there was also a strict law of trespass, the same fal
Engiabd. Game preservers have often enough be
taunted with perpetuating what it has pleased
opponents of the game laws to stigmatise the relico
a barbarous feudal system, and have often enoll
quoted the supposed happy example set by it
America. It must be rather annoying to find the'
selves without a single example with which to supPc
what at the best was nothing more than the unreaso
big clamour of a communistic clique. So strict
the laws regarding game in America, that at prese
some varieties of game may not be shot in some of
States at all for two or three year?. The only gibg
which it is legal to kill in America in January is har
wild duck, geese, brant, and "bay birds" general'
including various species of plover, sandpiper, sail
curlew, oyster•catcher' surf birds, phalaropes, avoco,
etc., coming under the group of shore birds;
Florida, deer, wild turkey, woodcock, quail, sail
ducks, and wildfowl.

EATING ALLIGATOIL—MindfuI that an unlooked-I
pleasure is thrice welcome, Frank Buckland did
advise his gue3ts on a certain occasion that they so
about to enlarge their gastronomic experiences;
when the soup had been disposed of, saked a faro(
gourmand Bitting near him how he liked it, "Ire
well, indeed," was the answer. "Turtle, is it not?
only ask because I did not find any green fa
Buckland shook his head. "I fancied it had a Bog
what musky taste—peculiar, but not at all unpleasagl
remarked his neighbour. "All alligators have," repll
the host, "the cayman especially—the fellow d
seated this morning, and which you have been d
cussing." Half•a•dozen of the suddenly enlighteg
diners started to their feet, two or three skulkfr
the room, and the rest of the meal was enjoyed
only a portion of the origiro,l co,npkr,v. "See wt
imagination is!" said Buckl4ad. !` 111. d I told till
it was turtle or terrapin, or bird's-neat soup, or
gluten of a fish from the maw of a sea•bird they woll
have pronounced it excellent, B.tful their digest'
wou'd have. bgeß none 111 A yvOree. ' X tell them it
alligator soiliV•and Thigionlieiritiilit as good a 41
M over a man seed have 1"

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