The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-02-12 00:00:00

Mistellantous

HOME FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL.

PAELIAMENTARY LEGACY.—We have heard a great
deal lately of "The Will of the House." Is Parliament
moribund? If it calls in its legal advisors and makes
its will, it will, of course leave everything to the
Speaker. The " Will " eethe House, however, just
now seems to be William Gladstone.—Punch.
FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE.—The Council of the
Shorthorn Society have passed the following resolu-
tion :—"That in consequence of the serious losses
which have been incurred by the recent introduction
from France of the foot and mouth disease among the
cattle of this country the Council of the Shorthorn
Society beg to urge upon the Privy Council the pro-
priety of making representations to the French
authorities with the view of securing increased vigi-
lance and more careful inspection at the ports ef em-
barkation. This council would also urge the propriety
of taking steps for having the markets at Deptford
and Islington held on different days, with the view of
lessening the risk of carrying foot and mouth and
other diseases from the cattle of one market to
another."

TWO REASONS.—Poor little Mr. Simpkingon did not
send her a valentine because he "really hadn't the
heart to." But poor Mr. Jenkinson did not because he
"hadn't the money."—Judy.
EARTH CURRENTS.—A remarkable discovery has
been made by Mr. Alexander Adams, one of the
technical officers of the Post Office Telegraph Depart-
ment. It is the existence of electric tides in tele-
graph cireuits. By long-continued and careful
observati )ng he has determined distinct variations of
strength in these earth currents, which are invariably
present on all telegraphic wires, following the
different diurnal nesitions of the moon with respect
to the earth

THE LICENSING ACTS.-Mr. Pugh has introduced
a Bill for amending the Licensing Act of 1872 with
regard to the disqualification of justices of the peace.
The measure provides that a justice who is a retailer
of intoxicating liquor, or who has an interest in a
partnership or company carrying on such a business,
shall be debarred from acting as a justice for any pur-
pose whatever in the licensing district where the
business is carried on, or in the adjoining districts.

A NEW FORAGE PLANT.— A plant called the Des-
churgara, which is cultivated in Turkestan and other
parts of Russia, has proved excellent forage. It is
nearly allied to the Dhurra grass of India; it has a
tall, thick stem, and is readily devoured by cattle,
either in its peen state as straw. The grain, which
resembles oats or barley, is ground into flour for
human censumption, or given whole to animals. One
variety ripens'in three months after being sown, and
yields very abundantly; 1001 b. of seed produces
3,0001 b. of garnered grain.
A Bur WORD.—Ca,sh.—Punch.

A WHITE RAVEN.—The Berlin Aquarium, one of
the most complete and beat conducted of its kind
extant, has lately added a "rara avis " to its numerous
attractions in the shape of a "white raven." He was
found near G-eorgenthal (Thuringia) in a nest, shared
by his six coal-black brothers and sisters, the parents
of which brood must have been rather astonished at
this extraordinary interloper. On being put into the
aviary at Berlin, his appearance spread such terror
among the inmates, that he had finally to be removed
to a separate cage. His companions seem to *have
looked upon him as a monster. While " messing "
with them, some of his companions actually abstained
from food and drink out -of sheer fright, while all of
them tried to get away from him as far as the limits
of the cage would allow. Except in colour, he has all
the characteristics of the raven—his appetite more
especially is perfectly "ravenous." Owing to his red
legs and pink eyes he may fairly be classed among the
albino species.

THE IMPORTS OF AMERICAN AND CANADIAN FOOD.
—The arrivals of live stack and fresh meat at Liver-
pool from the United States and Canada last week,
notwithstanding the heavy weather prevailing ha tke
Atlantic, showed a very large increase on those of
the preceding week, the totals being 972 cattle, 240
sheep, 13,607 quarters of beef, 2,093 carcases of mut-
ton, and 1,240 carcases of pigs.

A POLITICAL WAY OF PUTTING IT.—Nellie. "So
I hear you are to marry an M.P. shortly, May?
May. "Yes. I have always been mad on polities,
you know; and the other day .Henry having suggested
my immediate annexation (allowing me home rule, of
course), we found we could both acres on a treaty,
which I'm happy to say the governor has ratified."—
Fun.

AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN.—The fdllow-
ing are the average prices of British corn for the week
ending Feb. 5, as received from the inspectors and
officers of Excise :—Wheat, 425. 7d. ; barley, 325. 2d.;
oats, 20s. 3d. per imperial qr. Corresponding week
last year :—Wheat, 425. 2d.; barley, 365. 10d. ; oats
21s. 3d.

A NARROW ESCAPE FROM DISSECTION.—The Geneva
Correspondent of The Times says that a man named
Klein had a strange experience in the recent frost.
He was found apparently frozen to death in the neigh-
bourhood of Golothern, and there being nothing about
him to give a clue to his identity he was handed over
to the Cantonal hospital for dissection. When the
supposed corpse had been laid on the dissecting table
ae mistake was discovered, and means were taken to
infuse new life into him, which succeeded so 'well that
he is now in his usual health.
PUNCH'S PROVERBIAL PHILOSOPHT.—The wind is
tempered to the shorn lamb.—Those who live in glass-
houses should not take repairing leases.—A gift-horse
in the hand is worth several in the bush.—You cannot
make a silk purse out of a sou'wester.—You should
not look a bird in the hand in the mouth.—There is
reason in sucking egg, if the eggs are fresh, —Punch.
ST. CA.THERINE LIGUTHOUSE.—This lighthouse'
which stands on the summit of St. Catherine's Down'
about 800 ft. above the level !pf the sea, on the southern
coast of the Isle of Wight, is reported to be in danger
of destruction, owing to the disturbed state of the
cliffs and the repeated slipping of the land. For some
miles on either hand landslips have occurred at short
intervals during the past few days, and a short
tance below the. lighthouse a mass pf land has just
given way, slipping in the direction of the sea. It is
asserted on good authority that unless some measures
are takm for the prevention of the catastrophe the
lighthouse will be down in less than a couple of
months. Not far from the spot the cliff has fallen to
such an extent as to break open the turnpike road and
cut pff direct communication between Chale aid
Ventnpr, compelling vehicles to travel five miles out
of their way, and deStrOYing a drive which has ii the
past been one of the most popular routes for coaching,
running as it did along the summit of the cliff.

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