The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-08-31 00:00:00

Nistellancons

HONE, FOREIGN, AND CCLONIAL.

ere

COLLIERS' WEems.—Reeentlf the miners of
South-west Lancashire sent in an application for an
advance of 30 per cent, in wages. The masters of-
fered, as a compromise, 15 per cent. and this has been
accepted by the men at a meeting held in Wigan, at
which the following resolution was passed
"That this meeting accepts the proposed advance of lb
per rest hi wages but at the same 6ime Ills with a full
knowledge that we have a Just and perfect right to more :
and we further hope that this advance will not be used as a
means of railing the present preposterous prices of coal any
higher than they now are in the markets."
In supporting this resolution, Mr. Pickard, the miners'
agent, stated that the Wigan Coal and Iron Company
and several other of the largest firms in the district had
informed the Miners' Committee that it took nearly all
their get of coal to meet contracts made when prices
were much lower, and that they only received a small
percentage of the increased prices.
GREAT FIRE AT KENTISH TOWN RAILWAY
STATION—On Monday night, about ten o'clock, a fire
happened at the Kentish Town Railway Station in the
Prince of Wales's-road, London, which occasioned an
enormous destruction of property. Fourteen engines
of the Metropolitan Brigade, several belonging to the
Volunteers, with the salvage corps, were soon upon
the spot, and were set to work from an abundant
supply of water, but in spite of the exertions of all
present the conflagration continued to make fearful
havoc, and the brigade had the greatest difficulty in
preventing the total d4struction of the adjoining pro-
perty. 'l'he premises in which the fire commenced
were almost destroyed.

THE CAREIR OF CRIMS.—On Monday, some
habitual criminals were included among the prisoners
tried by the Liverpool Recorder. A man named Fin-
negan, who appears to be an incorrible vagabond, has
had a check put upon his career. Though only 21 years
of age, he has been in gaol on 15 occasions for violence
and robberies. Ilia offence on this occasion was of a
similar character. After assaulting a man be obtained
a spoil of Is. 50. and a few trifling articles. The Re-
corder, thinking it time the town was rid of such a
a character, sent lum to penal servitude for seven
years. A female thief, who had been 29 times in
gaol, being sentenced to ten years' penal servitude,
exclaimed, "Thank you, my lord; I'm much obliged.
I'll do it on my head. I'll do it again."

MISS FAITHFULL'S VISIT TO AMERICA.—MiIIs
Faithfull will leave Liverpool for New York by the
Oceanic (White Star Line,) September 20th, accom-
panied by her Secretary, Miss Pattison. One of her
objects in her approaching tour through the United
States is to make inquires into the regulations con-
cerning the employment of women in factories. A
farewell soiree will be given to Miss Faithful) in Lon-
don before her departure, by the numerous friends who
are anxious to bid her 'God speed." In consequence
of the tour, the Victoria Discussion Society's meetings
will not be resumed until the return of their energetic
d rector, which will not be before the lapse of a year.
RUMOURS OF DIAMOND DISCOVERIES.—" It
is reported" from San Emit that the agent
despatched by Harpending and o , of San Francisco,
to the country bordering on Arizona and New Mexico
in search of the deposits of diamonds and rubies
reported years ago by Kit Carson's party has found
the deposits, and brought back with him 100,000 dols.
worth. A tradition has long existed that before the
Spanish invasion the Aztecs derived large supplies of
precious stones from that source.
CREMONA INSTRUMENTS AT THE VIENNA Ex-
HIBITION OF 1873.—F0r some months in the summer of
1873 there will be, in connection with the Vienna Uni-
versal Exhibition, a special exhibition of as many of
the ancient Italians violins and allied instruments, as
I tenors, violoncellos, and double basses, even single
parts undoubtedly genuine, such as scrolls, base-bars,
bridges, sound poets, &n, as can be brought together.
These will be submitted to the examination of a
I skilled jury, not for the purpose of assigning a rank to
the instruments, but in order that a resnaa may be
issued, showing what, in the opinion of the jury, are
the qualities required for the production of good new
instruments. The principle will be, that all works
which are not genuine, that is to say, not of Italian or
Tyrolese origin, and all those which, even if genuine
in some of their parts, have lout their original cha-
racter by repairs, are to be altogether excluded. De-
tailed regulations will be published hereafter.
TURNING THE COMET TO ACCOUNT!—A letter

from Batman, Bavaria, in the Tagcspost of Linz,
says :

The fear of the comet, and of the end of the woold, an-
nounced for the 12th of this month, has enabled the clergy of
Lower Bavaria to levy a rather heavy tithe on the stupidity
of our countrymeiy, Such, at least, is the inforinatiou con-
veyed hi various letters from Allotting (the famous place of
the pilgrimage of the Black Virgin), %ilsbiburg. Velden, it°.
Thus, hi these two last places, some vicars distributed, on
the day in question, 'Anted tickets, promising to the for-
tunate holders the pardon of all his sine, If he founded, on
the eve of the terrible catastrophe, a mass for himself and
his descendants. Certain countrymen are mentioned who
have given 100 ferias, and even 1500 for n prayer of forty
hours, with the view of averting the approach of the comet.
BEER ?OR THE Brtevs, !—There is one person
out on an excursion, who ought to be able to get a
glass of beer on a Sunday during Excursion Hours at
any time, but at present is not, from another cause
than the tyranny of the Licensing Act. He is in the
truis4 sense of the word a boned fide traveller, being, at
present, considerably more than five miles from home.
The bond
,fide traveller of travellers is Dr. Living-
stone.—Punrh.
MR. BRUCE AND HIS CONSTITUENTS. —MT.
Bruce, Home Secretary, has written to the ex-Provost
of Greenock, denying the rumour which was circulated
in Itenfrewshire that the right hon, gentleman intended
to retire from the representation of the county. In his
letter, Mr. Bruce adds :
" I stated repeatedly during my visit to Renfrewshire last
year, in answer to editors who naturally felt anxious on the
subject, that If I had reason to believe that the Liberal
electors retained the generous confidence they reposed in
me when they elected me in 1869,1 desired no grinder honour
than to be again chosen their representative, and that I was
quite prepared to stand a contest in the event of opposition,
flaring every reason to be satisfied with my reception during
last autumn, and having no cause for supposing that any
change has arisen in the minds of the electors since that
time, my intentions remain unchanged. I will stand by the
Liberal party in Renfrewshlre so long as they choose to
stand by me."

A Russian' LADY IN AMERICA.—The Phila-
delphia Ledger states that the Oneida community has
recently been visited by a young Russian lady named
Catherine Dikhova, who has come to this countrl to
study the woman question. Mills Dikhova is the
daughter of a princess, and her father is General of
Artillery at St. Petersburg. This young Russian lady,
though not yet twenty-one, is very talented and
highly educated. It is but four months since she
began speaking English, and she now converses quite
fluently, comprehending readily everything said to
her. She is mistress of seven languages—Russian,
Polish, French, German, Greek, Brain, and English.
She graduated with high honours at Kasan when
sixteen; she received at that time the badge of Her
Majesty, which gives her power to appeal to the Emperor
for any favour, and also the privilege of attending ,
Court balls. She in one among only four women who
have been honoured by Her Majesty's badge during
the last 40 years, as it is only awarded to those who
display extraordinary talent and proficiency. Not
satisfied with the amount of education she had received,
and there being no schools in Russia where she could
pursue the higher branches, she employed private
tutors, devoting the following four years to the study
of mathematics and physics, and was examined by the
Faculty at Moscow. She came to this country for the
purptee of studying the woman movement here, ex-
amining the medical colleges for women, dtc., with a
view of assisting her own countrywomen. She was the
first to appeal to the Emperor to open colleges to
women. She intents starting a woman's journal when
she returns to St. Petersburg.
EXTRAORDINARY ATTEMPT AT ASBASAINATION.
—A strange occurrence has just taken place at
Antwerp. As the chaplain of the prison, M. Van Arsen,
I was leaving the Church of St. Carlo Borromeo, a man
came up and asked him if he would buy a poniard which
he he'd out. The priest, greatly surprised, replied
that he could not find any use for the weapon, on
which the other said :—"Then I will give it to you for
nothing," and in the calmera manner imaginable, and
without any excitement, plunged the blade deep into
the clergyman's breast. He next drew out the imple-
ment and took to theist into the church. But on the
wounded man uttering a lied cry, some passers-by
pursued the fugitive and took him into custody. He
turned out to be a man of dissolute chases :ter, named
Kuuns, aged 42, aud could not assign any motive for
this extraordinary aggression. Hopes are entertained
M. Van Arsen's recovery.
MEET TO Know—Why is 'Warwickshire not
affected Sy the high price of meat 2—Because there is
Nuneaton there.—Punch,

BROUGHT ROI:Mlo AT LAST.—Not long ago a
cobbler belonging to the town of Ayr fell into the
river, and was with considerable difficulty rescued.
The usual restorative measures were adopted, includ-
ing of C 111171313 a decent quantity of brandy, which in his
insensible state the knight of St. Criapin absorbed in a
remarkable manner. After a fourth glass of cognac
had been poured down the cobbler's throat, a bye-
stander, observing that tne poor fellow wore a pair of
long Wellington boots, which to some extent impeded
the operations of the good Samaritans who had taken
the case in hand, produced a knife, and was about to
cut the boots from the legs of the "drowned man."
But this movement had an electric effect. Jumping
to hie feet, the cobbler roared, "No, I'm sure yell an
cut the book; they're no mine; they belong to a
softiesr."

ToCatif TltriVentilte.—The Source of the....
appears, after all, to have been not as yet actually
covered, hilt conjectured only by Dr. Livingstone.
Other travellers are still at loggerheads about the ques-
tion, verbal or real, of the origin if that historical
river. Travellers appear to be a elositive class of
mortals. Their letters to the newspepers entitle ne to
speak of them, generically, as Oman irritabite Via-
forum. Temper, rather than logic, is manifest in
their squabbles, and, perhaps, from tbeir wandering
pouiit
:act
ithpzenneeiprepo.ty,Thitran3dvmaticeellerey
beareoatapeco,,tztonoctedidtriaivorel.
pfaiihrmokfirodus
tirthe
other
perceptive organs over there of reffection, which con-
tributes to make men roam, regardless of cone.
quences, among cannibals.—Punch
AMERICAN COAL AND Inox.—According to
the best authorities' the anthracite coal sent to market
in tin year 1871 from Waited States' mines ansonsted
to 14,965,501 tons. In the Northern Allegheny coal-
fields alone, which inclade Pennsylvania and Ohio,
there are in the former 12000 and in the latter 19,000
square miles of this valuable deposit, 'and this is ex-
clusive of the other three coal.producing regions of the
United States. The total amount of coal in the strata
of the area of the Pennsylvania regions is stated to be
estimated at 316,400,000,000 tons. The total product
of pie iron in the United States in 1871 is estimated
at 2,000,000 tons of 2,0001 b. each • the production be.
fore the Civil War was below 1,000:000. One-fifth of the
amount is made in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania,
within 25 miles of the Delaware River, in 28 iron
furnaces. The foreign importations into the United
States amounted to 200,000 ton,; the duty was
lowered from 36e. to 28e. per ton in 1871. The produc-
tion of railroad iron in the United States in 1871 was
775,773 tone of 2,0001 b.; in 1851 it was but 50,603
tons, and in 1861 189,818 tons. The consumption of
railroad iron in the United States in 1871 is estimated
at 1,230,000 tons, 411130,000 imported and 600,000 made
in the United States. In 1851 the total consumption
was 357,228 tons, and in 1861 279.206 tone. The pro-
duction of rolling mills in the United States in 1871
advanced to 1,485,733 tons—viz., 775,733 toner-ails and
710,000 tons other than rails.
THE LATE PRISON CONORESS.—The Howard
Association of London has just issued for distribution
at home and abroad a succinct description of the prin.
cipal features of that important gathering. The Con-
gress met, it will be remembered, in the Middle Temple
Hall, and the pamphlet in question states that the
members of the Congress were mainly indebted for the
use of the hall to the good offices of Sir Thomas Chem-
berg, M.P. It mentions that in this hall. 300 yearn ago,
Shakespeare read his Midsummer Night's Dream, in
the presence of Queen Elizabeth and her courtiers;
and in it also Sir Francis Drake was feasted by the
benched's, on his return from his distant voyages in re-
gions until then unknown. The opinion of the ILiward
Aisoeiation is that probably no assembly ever gathered
there of more real importance than the International
Prison Congress, which was attended by delegates from
the Governments, or authorities, of twenty-three
nations, including representatives from India, Japan,
Singapore, and Hong Kong in the farthest East; from
Chili and Brazil in the utmost West, and also from
Australia. More than sixty delegates from the various
States of the great American Union were present, and
a large number from the European Continent.
AID TO ASSISTANTS.—" What is the next
article?" Is there any neceirsity that this to most in-
telligent people irritating question should be inevitable?
The purpose of it, in so far as it has any, would be
fully answered if the question were posted in large letters
on the wall Behind the counter, in a sufficient number
of places at convenient distances apart. Then the
shopman would be enabled to save his breath, whilst
the customer would be moved to consider whelber indeed
among the various articles on sale in the stop there
might or not be one which he might find that he
wanted when, by an effort of mind, he came to think
a little.—Punch.
" THE BLaus PRINCE or Demmumat."—On
one occasion, when the Queen and Prince Albert were
taking a tour through Strathspey, they called at
" Drumulli " Inn to water their horses. Mr. Mac-
gregor, ignorant of the rank of his visitors, but judging
them to be of quality, took outablack bottle and asked
the lady to "tak' a taste o' real mountain dew." The
Queen, net understanding the meaning of " mountain
dew,':' hesitated a little, which Mr. Macgregor mistook
for No, thank you." lie then asked her if that gentle-
man, pointing to the Prince, would take a dram, which
he did to the great delight of mine host." It was not
until they were gone some time that the innkeeper
knew who he had. From that day he has a bottle
called "The Prince," out of which to get a glass is
considered a very great honour. Indeed, "The Black
Prince of Drumulli," meaning the black bottle, is well
known over all Strathspey. We have no doubt
he will have another to match called "The Empress."
A MODERN RICHMOND.—A very remarkable
old man has lately died at the age of ninety-one. He
bore an extraordinary resemblance to the first Napo-
leon, and boasted to the hour of his death of having
won the battle of Jena. The following was his story,
which, however true or false, was univer.ally accepted:
During a critical moment of the battle, Alholino
(that was the old man's name), seeing the soldiers
begin to waver, monnned a horse, and galloping in
front of the troops, cried out, " I am your Emperor I
Forward ! " His corporal's uniform and his resem-
blance to the Emperor created such enthusiasm in the
ranks that they pressed forward, and the battle was
won; u d, however, before the Prussians had noticed
the cheat, and Albolino was seriously wounded. He
lived upon a penvion in Paris until quite an old man,
and then went to end his days in London.
A NEW MODE OF CANTASSINO.—Sir Francis
Hincka, observes the Toronto Globe, is pursuing a very
singular method of canvassing the electors of South
Brant. He holds no meeting; be has even abandoned
his hones-to-house pilgrimage. He site in a hotel in
Brantford, and the liege& are brought up to him one
by one and presented to him. We are not informed
what mysteries are gone through duriag these visits,
but it is clear that a canvas thus pursued must be a
slow one.

other

pig. iron i
rit 2,000.000

THREE HUNDRED YEARB AGO !—Apropos Of
the present outcry about the prices of food and the
decreased value of money, the following 300-years old
quotations of prices may be found interesting :—" A
breast of veal, lid. ; a shoulder of mutton, titi. ; a leg
of mutton, 10d. ; a calf 7s. 41._; a c)w, 603. ; swine 86.
each ; a fat goose, le. ; a turkey, bid. ; best butter,
31. a pound; and eggs, five a penny. A labourer
in the garden, 3.1. a day with diet ; and a maid-
servant, 306. a year." 13at most interesting fact
of all, the price of ladies themselves was quite
different then to now. for it is mentioned by Latoner
that a farmer astonished every one by his liberality if
he gave his daughters five pounds each for their
portions; and at the latter end of Elizabeth's reign
seven hundred pounds were such a temptation to
courtship as made all other motives suspected. How.
disagreeable it would be nowadays for every girl who
has 1:700 to be thus coveted for her cash alone! They
who have but that modest sum will feel at least the
advantage of increased prices and decreased value of
money.

THE FUTURE OF POLAND.—The Vienna Cor-
resp !ndent of the Neuremberg Journal states that the
Russian Government has recently been sounding the
AUstrian Cabinet "as to the opportunity of agreeing
upon a common policy to be followed towards the
Polish provinces of the three Empires." The Russian
Government is naturally anxious that limits should be
laid down to the minces/dons which might be made,
particularly by Austria, to the demands of the national
Polish party (remark. the Pall Mall Gazette). Accord-
ing to the same correspondent, the German Govern-
ment had not yet replied to these overtures; but the
Austrian Government at once indicated its reluctance
to tie its hands in dealing with the Poles of Galicia.
There can, however, be little question that the coming
meeting of the Emperors has caused not a little alarm
In Polish patriotic circles. The great demonstration
designed in favour of the preservation of peace is
fitted to check the demonstrations that had been pro-
jected for the centenary of the first partition of Poland.
Some of the Polish organs comment bitterly on the
meeting regarded in this Light. For the hopes of
Poland continue to rest upon possible disturbances of
the peace of Europe, and especially upon differences !
between the three great Empires whose rulers are !
about ostentatiously to proclaim their reciprocal feel-
ings of friendship.
AUDI ALTERAM PARTEN.—The "Intoxicating
Liquors" Act would do some good in the City if it
could prevent money from getting tight. —Pun&
INCOME Tax or Towns.— In the financial
year ending the sth of April, 1871, the income as-
sessed to Income-tax under Schedule D (profits of
trades, professions, Lc.) amounted to £28,077,865 in
London—i.e. in" the city ;" £10,283,742 in the borough
of Marylebdie, £7,187,635 in Westminster; Finsbury,
£4,468,360 ; Southwark, £2,706,443 ; Hackney,
£2,264,722; Tower Hamlets, £°2,219,191; Lambeth,
£1,904,200 ; Chelsea, £1,057,672; Greenwich, £831,262,
making a total of above 60 millions sterling for the
metropolitan district, or nearly three-sevenths of
the whole 145 millions assessed to Income-tax
under Schedule Din the Parliamentary boroughs of the
United Kingdom. There are fifteen other towns in
which the income assessed under that schedule exceeded
a million sterling. In Liverpool it amounted to
£8,513,363; in Manchester it was £8,231,266 ,• in
Glasgow, £6,628,434 ; Birmingham, £3,017,06; Edins
, burgh, £2,989,623 ; Dublin, £2,749,329 • York,
£2,628,424; Leeds, £2,318,561; Derby, £2:300,940 ;
Bristol, £2,036,272; Sheffield, £1,593.324 Bradford,
£1,556,839 ; Newcastle-upon-Tyne, £1,394,387; Belfast,
£1,338,144 • Hull, £1,240,623. It must be borne in
mind that railwags, mines, canals, &a, which are, in
fact, trading concerns, are claimed in -Schedule 23.
Probably their profits very greatly swell the return for
the town in which the head office is situated.
MB. STANLEY'S AN TEC/MEETS. —A s our con-
temporaries of the English press are wondering who
Mr Stanley, the dauntless adventm er who discovered
Dr. Livingstone in such a clever manner mia be (says.
the Times of India), they will find if they turn to our
" Overland :Summary" for October 1,1870, four letters
from Mr. Stonier, signed " Stanley," it, the first of
which he Rays, "I have but lately arrived in Bombay,
ofter an overland trip sit Constantinople, Tiflis,
&ikon, Teheran, Ispahan, Shims, and Bushire." the
letters referred to are headed "Persia, the Famine in
Ispahan ; " "The Russians in Westsrn Turkistan,"
"Persia, the 9hati in the Telegraph Offloe." "General
Steletoff upon the Central Asian Question."
CURE FOR SEE-STINGS. --A writer in the
Gardener's Magazine says :
"There are a number of well-known antidotes to the sting
of the honey-bee, and, were it not for the fact that they are
seldom available when required, it would be unnecessary to
direct attention to an additional one. But the antidote I 11111
about to recommend is everywhere available, for it is
nothing more nor less than an application of common soil to
the wound. Towards the end of the spring of this year
, I bad the misfortune to be stung by a bee when in the
! garden, and as none of the usual antidotes were just then
! available I drew the sting from the wound and applied a little
common soil, after wetting it safficientli, toadmit of its being
, worked into the consistency of thick cream. The pain
previous to the application of the soil was most intense;
but in a few seconds afterwards it was reduced to a dull
ache, and nothing snore beyond a slight stiff nem in the
joints of the thumb waa felt afterwards. I have had an
Opportunity (testing the same remedy since, and with the
same degree of SIMON. As the stings of bees and wasp.
affect some persons more than Others, it is proper to remark
that hitherto I have suffered moat severely, losing la one
or two Metal:ices the use of my hand for several MM.
throup Itws swelling to mutt a Yr. Ann and being In in.e
Nist wo pain.-

SPORTING EXAM.—ltuestion.—Trace th• dee.
scent of the Day of Dane bury from the Dey of Algiers
or any other Day that's convenient. —Punch.
THUNDERSTORM AND FLOV IN SOOTEEND.
At an early hour on Monday modiing a severe thunder-
' --. paned over the midland and eastern districts of
land. The storm wm moompanied by torrents
rain, catudng the rieetsln the southern of
terthabire and Fifeshirs to overflow their banks, and
doing considerable damage to the crops in Dumfries-
shire, and • number of houses in the lower part of the
town. A portion of the North British Railway In the
centre of Fifeabire was to some extent damaged. Rain
fell in torrents on the east coast of Scotland, injuring
very materially the grain crops. A serious accident
happened on the North British Railway. The drains
and burns by which surplus water is usually carried
away became cheated, and the flood caused by the
extraordinary rains swept over the line, throwing a
good deal of sand and stones on the railway. A
pordon of the embankment near the Falkland was car-
ried away, and trains had to cross over that part of the
line slowly.

CLOSING OF PUBLICHOIMER ON SIINDAIII.—III
the new Licensing Act these is a provision which can
be enforced at once, that on the occasion of an applica-
tion for a new licence or transfer or renewal, where
the applicant applies to the licensing justices to insert
in his licence a condition that he shall keep the pre-
mises in respect of which such licence is or is to be
granted closed during the whole of Sunday, the
justices shall insert the condition in the licence; the
duty is to be decreased, and the person licensed on a
" six-day licence," as it 19 to be called, is to keen
painted or fixed on his premises words indicating that
such licence is for six dap only.
ANOTHER SITBEITITIITi roR WOOD ENGRAVING.
—A new process of wood engraving is called the
" planotype." The design to be engraved is transferred
to a block of lime-tree wood, which is then placed in a
machine having somewhat the appearance of a carving-
machine (the shape of which varies considerably, ac-
cording to the nature of the work), the graver being
kept red-hot by a gas-jet. By means of this ap-
pliance, the design is gradually burnt into the wood.
Figures or letters of reference are impressed by means
of punches. The whole design has been burnt into the
wood, a cast in type metal is taken direct from the
block; without any further preparation, the cast may
be used for printing from, like an ordinary stereotype
plate. It is stated that the wood does not suffer in
the slightest degree trom the heat of the molten metal,
and that the finest details are faithfully reproduced.
The process is carried out on a large scale, and is found
to give Most satisfactory results.