The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-11-15 00:00:00

tsttliantetts
HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL

Tin DEMAND FOR PANORAMAS. —A writer in
the Daily Telegraph, in describing the scenes in the
streets of Loodon on Lord Mayor's day, remarks

Never was there such a demand for panorama of the pro-
cession. l'ae constant cry was destepieg, " Who'll buy a
• rammer ?' Who'll have a pennerammer, thy colt ured, and
three yards long, with a correct portrait of Lord Mayor
Lusk I" The great demand for this article tempted at lead
one hawker to attempt a 'swindle of the most barefaced
character on a credulous public. There was one fellow
who I ad brought out his unsold stock of the City proem.'
of the Shah of Penis. " Why, that's the Shah," said a
woman to hins, as she es, on the point of parting with her
penny : " that's We portrait, 11l swear " "Course It is," re-
turned the an :ac'ous vendor with the utmost gravity, ' he'.
Lord lifeyor this ear"s "Gored gracious roe I" said the good
creature ; "hoe worked hie way ap to that, has he?,'' Chat
was his ohjlck in combo' over here, nine.," whispered back
the artful one with the most confident/LI of winks ; ' keep it
dark, cos there's not many podple knows 0111 as yet." And
she paid her penny end went a delighted whit her prise.

_
lionsnommos or DEATH.—John O'Keeffe, in
his Recollections, tells a queer story of his sitting at
home, at nine year*. of age, drawing a tombstone, upon
which he bad written, " Here het the boor of--,"
and was cudgelling his brains for a name, when there
stepped into the rooms a robust shoemaker, of County
Wexford, with a pair of new ehoe, for the toy's father;
" • very honest fellow—in health and person remark-
ably well-looking, strong, tall, and athletic." His
name being Paddy Furlong, Master John took ilia
liberty of forthwith inecrlbing on the tombstone,
" Patrick Furlong." Patrick had been looking over
his shoulder, and admiring the drawing, but was
visibly taken aback a little when he saw the deliberate
addition of his own name. "With the thoughtlessnees
of childhood," so O'Keeffe goes on to ear, "I went on
writing, 'who died on the : ' here I was at another
stand; when the Wexford shoemaker said to me, •on
the 2nd of September—put down that.' I did so.
'One thousand seven hundred and fifty aix—put down
that.' I complied and away he went. About • week
after, we beard he was ill, and dangerously so; and in
• few weeks more we were told that be had died OD
the 2nd of September, the very day he himself had de-
sired me to write on the tombstone."—Belgravia.
_ _ _

" CONSCIENCE MARES COWARDS ! "—Mr. P :
" Ah, then, I auppoee we shall all be going by the
1145 !"—Railway Director: "Eh' Wha-at ! I—you
don't suppose, I hope, that I, and the wife, and the
yotoig 'tine, are going by Rail ?" (Shudders.) "Nut
if I know it, my dear friend i—not whilst four posters
and an omnibus can be had for money I'm afraid
you don't read your 'Accidents ' ?"—PuNcn.

NATIONAL CIELBACTSKINITICS !—The Viennese
have expressed their opinion of the leading nations of
Christendom in a series of caricatures by no means
calculated to minister to the vanity of any. It says :
" Prussia, • haughty dame resting upon • sword, re-
presents Pride. England is • scrawny female seated
on a cotton bale, and ia called Avarice. Roads, goes
skating and scowling by, under the name of Envy.
Turkey lolls on • sofa, • fat odalisque as Luxury.
France with • man's hat in one hand and a glass of
champagne In the other, dances • dexatlete cancan, and
I. called Immodesty. Spain is a wild petroleuse, and
represents Anger. Sootland is a bonnie lassie dropping
to sleep on the mountain-side as Laz7nesa But
America has an eighth capital sin invented to
characterise her. She sits on a pile of pub. does.,
scribbling furiously; the iniquity she represents bears
the uncanny name Zeitungsehreibcrei (newspaper scrib-
bling). The Austrians have left themselves out. It
may therefore be said that they have in every sense
forgotten themselves.

S-OLDIKRS' GLOTHING.—An annual allowance
of £8 154. 3d. per man is granted to the Life Guard*
for clothing, and of £8 4.a. to the Horse Guard.; but
out of this allowanoe the Colonel is obliged to provide
also accoutrements and saddlery, arms and cuirasses
being supplied by the public. The estimated annual
coat of the clothing of soldiers, renk and file, is given
as follows to the House of Commons' Committee
which inquired recently into the system of purchase of
materials by our public depart ciente :—Royal Horse
and Foot Artillery, and Cavalry of the Line' £3 ss. to
£3 6• ; Royal Engineers, £3 18s; Foot Guards, £3 10s. ;
Infantry of the Line, £2 lts. 61 It is not quite clear
whether theee stuns include the great coats. They do
not include under clothing ; • soldier in supplied with
ehirte sod socke at the public expense on first enlisting,
but afterwards he must keep them up himself. He is
allowed a great scat every fourth year. He receives a
tunic every alternate year, and • pair of summer
trousers also every other year; • kersey frock every
year, and a pair of thick trousers, and two pairs of
boots. All the old regimental clothing in the property
of the soldier after it has been worn the regulated
period, and he can then dispose of It; but the general
clothing is the property of the public. Accordingly,
the great costa, after being worn the regulated period
and condemned, are sold by auction ;• • great coat,
which originally coat 215., is sold (by the department)
fee about 4m, 6d., after being worn four yearn.
GOOD BEMRITT.—WO think we have at last
found a public company to whose keeping we shall en-
trust our little savings, when the baker, and the
butcher, and the cheesemonger, and the coal merchant,
and the dairyman, and the greengrocer, and the
poulterer will permit us to put by something for the
rainy day—" The National Safe Deposit Company."—
Pundit.

PATINTB FOR IN VERTIONB.—The report of
the Commissioners of Patentz for inventions for last
giaker
awes lastc7eeatpiiiimeidon
islif oar Parliamentaryletters
hin
the year 1872 was 3,970; the number of patents pained
tbereon we. 2,771 ; the number of specifications filed
In pursuance thereof was 2,734; the number of appli-
cadons lapsed or forfeited, the applicants having
neglected to proceed for their patents within the six
months of protection, we. 1,199; the number of patent.'
void, the patentees having neglected to file specifica-
tions in put manse thereof, we. 37. The kit 16 Vic.,
cap. 5, enacts that all letters patent for inventions to
be granted under the provisions of the Patent Law
Amendment Act 1852 shall be made subject to the
condition that the same shall be void at the expiration
of three years and seven years respectively from the
date thereof, unless there be paid before the expiration
of three year. and Seven years respectively the stamp
duties in the schedule annexed—viz,, £5O at the expira-
tion of the third year, and Eli:Pat the expiration of the
seventh year. The patent is granted for 14 years. It
appears that 27,683 patents bear date between the Let
of October, 1852, and the 3let of December, 1865. The
additional progressive duty of £5O was paid at the end
of the third yeas on 7,798 and 19,885 became void.
The additional duty of £l6O was paid at the end of the
seventh year on 2,664 of the 7,798 remaining in force
at the end of the third year, and 5,234 became void, so
that about 72 per cent, of the 27,683 patent. became
void, at the and of the third year, acid 91 per mat, at
the sad at the 'math year.

A GOOD TIM 001=0. —lt is understood
that the most advanced section of the Ultra Liberal!,
con-dating of the advocate, of social progress to the
utmost extent, and in particular to the extent of
eblishing the community of property, contemplate
holding • torchlight demonstration in Trafalgar-equare,
to demand the Abolition of Purchase in its universal
erase, so as to be made applicable to commodities, in
order that all persons in want of any may be enabled
to help themselves.—Purich.

EFFORTS OF Glllll7B.—At a school examinee
tion recently, • class of 40 boys, having been set to
write out the second commandment, ixoltrived to spell
the word "jealous" in twesty-tight different ways.
The same bright youths melsolorphoeed Pontius Pilate
hap `` pin& spiht," "bunch of spied," and " punc es
pilot." A more advanced pupil explained the Estates
a the Realm as those which belonged to the Ctown.
'These choice tdts, gleanedlrotu the field of elementary
educati,n are, however, piror In comkarnon to thoee
to be found in academical pictures. The last muddle
made by a university man in the agonies of examination
Is, we bear on the beet amherity, the followiug9ooo.
Roc. The question asked was —"Who was .Icalir
The Instantaneous reply was—"Joab ie my wash pot."
"OUT 01 THE FIYIIIIIO Paw," &o.—A Mel.
bourne paper gives the following as the latest hush-
ranging gossip : —Recently a certain person was travel-
ling along the read when he heard • great noise and
an outcry. Thinking bushrangere were at work, he
fired off • pistol to Intimidate them, and presently the
noise reamed and • 'compering was heard. On coming
! to the open the traveller discovered a man tied to a
tree. "Oh ! sir," cried the victim, "I am no glad you
have come. I've been attacked by ruffians and they
were robbing me when they heard your pieta" "And
couldn't you get loose, my friend r asked the traveller.
" No; they tied me so very tightly." "And did they
rob you of everything ?" "No ; only of my watch.
They had not time to search for my money, which I
placed in my left boot." "How fortunate," observed
the traveller, "was the sum considerabley " Over a
thousand, thank Heaven," said the poor man. "Are
you sure they are gone ?" asked the other. "Oh! cer-
tain." The new-comer looked round and round, and
seeing the cost clear, said coolly, "Well, as they're
gone, I think I'll finish the job myself," and he pro-
ceeded to ifsb the nnfortudato victim.

UNITZD STASIS' WAR PINSIONII.—The
pension account for the fisdal year 1872-73 shows the
following number of pensioners on the roll :—Revolu-
tlonary half-pay. 1,353; invalid, 99804; widows sad
others, not includinz children, 112,088; war of 1812,
23,319—t0tal 236,763. One thousand four hundred and
'seven pensioners have received artificial limbs, and
9,497 have received odmmutation in lieu thereof. The
amount paid to army pensioners during the year was
28,958,852 dols.

A BAZAD AND OHIZSZ BANQUIT.—A Free-
ms.son writes to us (Pall Mall Gazette) :—A Masonic
banquet took place on Saturday evening at the Cannon-
street Hotel, London, which deserves notice. After
the usual lodge work was done, the members of the
"Great City" Lodge of Freemasons adjourned to their
banquet-room, where, instead of the accustomed
sumptuous dinner, there was spread a frugal meal of
bread and cheese and ale. The Worshipful Master
presided, and all the officers and visitors partook of the
repast; and, when the cloth had been removed, the
president explained to the visitors that the lodge had
determined to give up one banquet (which nowt
between £5O and £6O), and to give the amount thus
saved to the charity fund of the lodge. Most of the
visitors spoke, and expressed themselves as highly de-
lighted with the nr,vel banquet, and the members were
so gratified at the unexpected atoms of the experiment
that it was proposed to give up four out of the six
monthly banquets, and so Increase the charitable fund
to the extent of about 2200. The proposal wax well
received, and after the usual toasts had been duly
honoured the list went round for individual subscrip-
tions to the Masonic Benevolent Institution, when
about £3O was subscribed and more promised.

Sroarawnis JACZBON.—When the war broke
out, Jackson was a professor in • military college; his
appearance to the last had more about it of the scholar
than the soldier; he used te ride at the head of his
troops with head bent down, in a shabby uniform, on
an ill-groomed horse, and with stirrups abwardly short.
His death appears to as to have been the real turning.
point of the war. The subsequent Confederate ad-
vance into Pennsylvania was only due to the tine:-
haunted impetus which their army still derived from
hia victory at Chanoellorsville ; and the irremediable
character of his loss was seen at Gettysburg, where
Lee shattered and demoralised his army by direct
attacks upon the Federal lines, which Jackson, had
he been alive, would probably never have consented to.
I or that he did assume the responsibility of disobeying
an order of Lee's whichfhe thought ill-judged, is a tact
which stands on record; at Antietam, for instance,
he refused compliance with Lee's order to attack the
Federal right, alter he had ascertained by a reconnais-
sance that the enemy were too numerous and strongly
posted o permit of the attack being made with a rea-
sonable hope of succees. —Cassell's Illustrated History
of England.
hiIIeDOTZ <AP SYDNEY SYITH.— Lord Hough-
ton, in his "Monographs Personal and Social," just
published, gives an amusing anecdote of the Itev.
Sydney Smith, for the authenticity of which, he says,
he will not conch, bet which seems to him good enough
to be true. Oa being nettled in • small living in York-
shire, Sydney willingly assisted his neighbours in
their clerical duties. On an occadon of this kind,
he dined with the incumbent on the preceding Satur-
day, and the evening passed in great hilarity, the
squire, by name Kershaw, being conspicuous for his
enjoyment of the stranger's joke.. "I am very
glad that I have amused you," Reid Mr. Sydney Smith,
at parting, "but you must not laugh at my sermon
tomorrow." "I slicked hope I know the difference be-
tween here and at church, remarked the gentleman
with sharpness. "I am not so sure of that," replied the
visitor. • I'll bet you • guinea on it," Raid the squire.
"Take you," replied the divine. Next day, the
preacher ascended the eteps of the pulpit apparently
suffei Mg from • asvere cold, with hie handkerchief to
his face, and at anon sneezed out the name Ker-shaw
several timee, In various intonations. This ingenious
assumption of the readiness with which a man would
recognise his Own name in sounds imperceptible to the
ears of others proved accurate. The poor gentleman
burst into • guffaw, to the scandal of the congrega-
tion; and the minister, after looking at him with
stem reproach, proceeded with his discourse, and won
the bet.

RAMISBOTHAMIANA. The Dowager RAMS.
botham says her Grandson is now at the University
studying medicine. His course is to draw draughts,
and read Cicero's Epidemics in three volumes.—Punch
New ARMY BOOT.—(From the,Army and Nary
Gazette )—The reports upon the Palliser boots, which
have been tried in various regiments for the last twelve
months, having proved quite satisfactory, we under-
stand that about fifty thousand pairs will be ordered
next April. A further improvement lately introduced
by Sir William Palliser consists in placing two thin
slabs of cork, reaching from toe to heel, underneath the
Inner mole of the boot, which renders the sole quite
Impervious to wet. The object of employing two slabs
is in order that the cork in one slab may cover any
flaw which may exist in the other. It is expected that
these waterproof soles will confer a great boon upon
all branches of the service; for there is no doubt that
the cavalry soldier, having wetted his feet on dis-
mounted duty, often suffers severely from cold when
mounted. The advantages to soldiers generally, and
the improvement in their sanitary condition, which
would arise from dry feet need not be enlarged upon.
The present infantry ankle boot costs about 12s. 6d.,
whereas the Palliser ankle boot costs only 10s. ;
and, as about 400,000 pairs of boots are purchased every
year for the army and militia, the saving to the
country by the use of the Palliser boot would be about
£40,000 a year.

A Naw RAT-TRAP.—A new manner of catch.
log rata is, according to the New York Tribune, excit-
lag great Interest among householders. A barrel is
filled half full of water. A layer of powdered cork is
laid on its surface and over this a layer of corn meal
I. sifted. A chid; and a box or two are placed unob-
trusively in the neighbourhLod, whereby the rat gains
the edge of the barrel. He ssee nothing bat the meal.
He has no innate ideas which teach him to beware of
the treacherous foundation on which that tempting
surface rests. He sniff., he leaps, and goes gently
down throneh meal and cork to his watery grave. If
any of his friends see him disappear from the edge of
the barrel, they hoiden after him to get their eh we of
the probable pluud-r, and are in turn taken in by
hospitable death.
Ma. ARCH.—The Philadelphia Public Ledger
says, "Mr. Joseph Arch, the English working man's
representative, remains in Canada, where he is said to
be making arrangements to divert, if possible, in
favour of Canada the tide of emigration from Eng-
land to America. Several working men's organisa-
tions in the United States have sent invitations to
Mr. Arch to visit them, but to all theme he seems
to have returned the uniform reply, that while he is
obliged for the courtesy, and Intends at some time
to visit this country, he is unable to say at what
particular time he will do so. Mr. Arch's undertaking
is zealously seconded by the Dominion authorities,
and the Parliament will probably increase the bounties
given to arriving immigrants. At present the immi-
grants pay but five dollars passage money, the remain.
der being furnished by the emigration societies. The
Government gives an advance of six dollars to each
Immigrant, and it is proposed not only to increase tab,
but also to pay all the passage money. These induce-
ments are much better than those given in the United
States, where the little that le done conies entirely from
private sources' an and it would not be strange if they
should result in swelling the volume of Canadian
gration. There Is, however, so strung a tendency on the
part of the immigrsota who arrive in Canada to settle
ultimitely in the United States that Mr. Arch's aline-
ment may probsb'y in the end enure to the benefit of
this country.
PRESIDENT GBAIST ON BANKING. —lii an In-
terview with a newspaper correspendent at Washing.
toe, on the 12th of October, President Grant stated
that if he were now writing his annual Message to
Congress, he should favour an absolute prohibition of
the payment of interest on deposits. Them was, he
said, no question but that minti demoralizing and in-
jurious speculation and Rambling were caused by the
aoctimulation of capital in large centres during • par.
lion of the year when money is not required for tie
moving of
_products, by the payment of Interred en
deposits, 'I 'his leads country bakers, merchant., and
others to deposit in city banks, principally in New
York, t, make this money earn something during tie
period when they do not wish to use it. .atilea payiag
Interest on deposits caner afford to hold the money
idle. Hence gambliz.g ic fancy stocks, millions of
which aa so investment would not support a family,
even in the moat economical manner; the building of
railroads which are not wanto.i, and -which cannot for years pay running ext.enaes &c. Such gamahling and
speculation had, he trusted, received • Now &GUI which, he hoped, they never would ',mover. The
Presi.ent said that, unless hir mind shoal I undergo a
change, be would recommsnd • pont-office bank. This
would give an institution In which everybody Wonll
have great confidence, within the reach of every one
who can approach a money order poet office. lie
should recommend the payment of four par oent. to de.
positom, and the convernien of deposits, either Into
outstanding Unitod Stater bonds or into new four-and.
'bail per cent, bonds and the taking up of • mart"
"coding amount of thane ontsnindlair.

TH2 AHI2.HIAN CABMAN.—A new york
man recently received • wholesome leeeon.
lish gentleman arrived at Jersey city, and drove trit
his bergage to a fashionable hotel. '' What have /
pay!' he inquired of the John. "Just thine%
dollars," promptly replied that politician. Non"
custom prevails in London, pennant to an Act Of Pee,
Hainaut, that in case of any dispute with • fare
sabman must drive to the nearest police con_ The
Englishman, relesoning by analorprz, sad luckily fa Nib
ma% told the wan tie drive to a ponce office. Andehr
there, the gentlemen stated his 011ee, explaining %AL
wails etranger, and idaiply wished to pay what weemilit
according to thereooiiaedtarifl. Tbe justice to
this moderate-minded cabman, "You will dries thi
gentleman to hie hotel. Your fare will be altogua,„
three dollars, but before you go you will have to
one dollar and fifty cents for the expenses .0.41
this most proper application."
' DEATH 01, Al. De Met z. The iiirminglie,
Post reports that the venerable M. ,le Mete.
founder of ref, rmatory system, has Piet died in Perk
of choterine, in hi, e-venty-seventh year. It know
nearly forty years ago since M. de Metz begs, I*
I labours in the reformation of young criminals, ie
1836 he went to the United States to study the pemi.
Watery system, and in 1840, on returnbig to Prue.
he resigned several lucrative employments in Or thei
give himself entirely to the great wok of hie
Soon afterwards, iu conjuration with M. de Beii:
gtOre de Courtellke, be established the ref
tory school and agricultural colony of Mettray, iteee
rcurs—the model of all similar establishments on th,
Continent and in England. He began with ten b
og
at the end ef the first year he bad 3C03 and this au
soon increased to 600. Since then many throw
children have passed under his fatherly care at 114,
tray. In thew noble labotirs, so far as Reglad it
con oerned, M. de Metz was intimately vesociatei esti,
Mr. Matthew Daveuport Hill, and with others the
laid the foundations of the English reformatory
While the body of M. de Metz will be burled near
graves of Ids fasolly,at Dourdon, hie head Mine ds
possited in the chliperdf Ids beloved Mettray.
A HBROIC PISHERMAN.II the May of We
year, 1695, a spirited little nen ht took plane ea *„
port of Poole, in Dorsetabire. Wham Th
fitraivbdtpd place, jim a small smack, wi°7l°4:
on boarff, wee fired upon by a Paw,
idoop privateer, armed with two gam and sovereigns/.
arms, and manned by sixteen hands. Thompien
on booed but two small and, =Vaelly
three muskets; yet, notwithstrinClM
Idisparity in farce, he actually maintained • broken.
combat with the privateer, killed and wounded lend
of her men, edger which she struck and bum,
Thompeon's prize. He took her into Pools, gd
Schomberg records that "the Lade of the Adednag
presented him with a gold chain and a meialef
value of £so."—Brifirk Itaftles on Lend and des,
Linnalmen Astigem Animal•paintere
peszed—in other countries, if not in our own—bake
him Ruben. Snyder,,Deeportes, Morbuid, andothen„
painted animal,, but not as did Landseer—bh aft
essentially his own. Yet, however much ten eise
admire his deer, and even hones, it is the deg, nei
"friend of man," with which his art is mostelh=
identified, and on which he seemes 16 have
all the resources of his great genius. Marries I
Landaser's delineation of this favourite creature, ad
marvellous the character with which he endowed
His dogs are not mere portraits only, they are
almost rational, creatures, wanting only the"A
speech to hold converge with um. We believe the maim
race never had, as a teacher of humanity, one who t,
so well befriended them as the painter whose longs
are, unhappily, callpd upon to record; said never di
artist place on canvas a subject more patio sad nras
deeply pathetic than his "The 813.
..epherd's aid
Mourner." now in the Sheepshanks' uouecuon.—dri
Janata&

A SUPI.O6IIZD EARTHQVAKE.—The real ems
of the late disaster near Nancy, which was enema*
attributed to earthquake has now been discovered Ai
Sant...Nicholas, the Point where the principal diness
occurred, are some very extensive salt-mines, wade
Ma depth of nearly MO yards. Through them rooll
stream of water which becomes saturated with thr
snipe matter in its passage, and is pumped up tg tie
stirkes and there utilised. Some little Use. back In
volume of water increased to a comiderahn extent rad
then suddenly disappeared. That meet muted grog
uneashmes to the engineer', as fears ewe intension
that thissubterranean current had changed in come
and might do great damage. Those apmebeann
were unfortunately only too well feund4 foe ea es
day in question the galleries which had been wenn
suddenly gave way, and an immense man of in
superincumbent soil sank, and that with such Aden
that its effects reached Nancy, ten miles dietan, tad
there led to the belief that an earthquake had tine
place.
AUSTRALIAN GOLD. —A rich auriferous red
has been discovered at the Calliopes, the did pH
field of Queensland. A crushing machine ire kris
be n erected, and this locality will, no denkt, hewn
thoroughly tested. Mining bee been reesidtramid
on steadily in all the settled aurilerons cusidskal/le
torn, with, so far as can be ascertained, ihs
amount of success, but no discoveries of ratualiasse
quartz reefs have been reported. One of the lined
companies, the Magdela, has sunk the deepest did
which has yet been put down In Victoria. This Init
was at the last dates 1,2255. from the surfacs, sad
sinking was still being proceeded with. At the Thews
(New Zealand) gold fields between May 13 and Jos
15, 12 523 tone of stone were cinched, the yield of gold
being 1'6,509 z.