The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-02-05 00:00:00

Misteitzmeaus 4ntelliztutt.

HOME FOREIGN. AND COLONIAL.

A TRWMPH or DENTISTRY.-At the last meeting of
the Medical Society of Strasburg, reported in the
Medical Gazette of Strasburg, Dr. Jules Bceckel pre-
sented, in the name of M. Sauval, dentist, a lady for
whom the latter had extracted a small molar tooth for
dental caries, with violent pain ' • and, having found it
slightly carious to the bottom of its root, he sawed off
the points of the root, filled it with gold carefully
throughout the carious channel, and then reimplanted
the tooth. The lady was free from all her pain; the
tooth re-established itself solidly in the mouth; and
at the date at which she appeared at the society
(three weeks after the operation) the tooth served for
mastication as well as her other teeth. This is cer-
tainly a remarkable example of what is technically
described as dental autoprothesis with aurification.—
British Medical Journal.

THE HUMAN BRAIN.--Feminine advocates for
equality will not be pleased with the verdict of the
Munich anatomist, Prof. Bischoff, that a woman's
brain is some 143 grammes, or 10'50 per cent. lighter
than that of a man. The average weight of the
human brain the 'Professor finds to be 1,362 grammes
for man, and 1,219 grammes for woman, his opinion
being founded on the examination of 906 specimens.
The brain•weight of‘man exceeds that of all animals,
except the elephant and the larger CetaceEe, while the
brain of the largest ape is hardly a third of that of
man.

AMERICAN RAILWAY Ticluas.—American railway
tickets are valid until used. The Hartford Times
says that a passenger from Springfield lately gave the
conductor a ticket purchased in October, 1860. He
bought it at South Framingham, Mass. for Hartford
at that time, but stopping over in Springfield had it
stamped, and then went to Hartford by another
route. It was taken up ,by the conductor, who said
that the oldest one knoiin to have been taken pre-
viously was eighteen years old.

PATRONAGE IN THE CHIIRCH.—The following are
the terms of the resolution which Mr. Edward
Leatham (Huddersfield) intends to move on the
earliest possible opportunity with reference to the
patronage of benefices in the Church of England :
"That, in the opinion of this House, the simoniacal
evasion of the law and other scandals connected with
the exercise and disposal of patronage in the Church
of England are such as to call for remedial measures
of the most stringent and radical character." Mr.
Leatham will also move, as an amendment to going
into Committee on the Augmentation of Benefices
Act Amendment Bill (which has already passed the
Lords) :—" That, in the general state of the law, it
is inexpedient to give further legislative sanction to
the traffic in Church livings."
-

THE IMPORTATION OF WHEAT.—The net imports of
wheat into the United Kingdom during the 21 weeks
which have elapsed since the harvest are computed at
28,563,040 cwt., as compared with 32,156,124 cwt. in the
corresponding period of 1879-80, and 22,668,937 cwt. in
the corresponding period of 1878-9. The visible supply
of wheat in the chief American centres of consump-
tion is returned at 28,600,000 bushels, as compared
with 31,000,000 bushels at the corresponding date of
1880, and 20,319,000 bushels at the corresponding date
of 1879.

THE IRON TRADE.-At the annual meeting of the
Board of Arbitration for the manufactered iron trade
of the North of England, at Darlington, reference was
made in the report to the satisfactory method of
settling wages by the sliding scale system now in
operation, and the president, Mr. Whitwell con-
gratulated the Board on having been of such service
to the iron trade during the eleven years of its exist-
ence. Statistics presented showed great progress in
trade during the year. Six additional works had
joined the Board and 3,432 operatives, making
altogether more than 9,000 men.

CASE OF CATALEPSY.—An inmate of the Ports-
mouth Lunatic Asylum, who for the last 15 months
has been in a perfect state of coma, partially recovered
I consciousness on Tuesday, and for a short time was
able to walk with assistance. His permanent
recovery, however, is considered improbable. The
case excites great interest, and a medical association
in London sent last week for photographs of the man.
He was formerly a sailor.
LABEL FOR PLANTS.—The Council of the Society
of Arts offer a society's silver medal together with
a prize of £5, which has been placed at their dis-
posal for the purpose by Mr. G. F. Wilson, F.R.S.,
for the best label' for plants. The object of the offer
iato obtain a label which may be cheap and durable,
and may show legible whatever is written or printed
thereon ; the label must be suitable for plants in
open border. The award will be made on the re-
commendation of a committee, which will be appointed
for the purpose by the Council. Specimen labels,
bearing a number or motto, and accompanied by a
sealed envelope containing the name of the sender,
must be sent in to the secretary of the society not
later than the Ist of May, 1881.
RARE BOORS.—At the sale of a select portion of
the Earl of Clare's books on Monday, at Messrs.
Sotheby, Wilkinson, and Hodges, 13, Wellington.
street, London, the 155 lots produced £1,580. Lot 93.
Shakespeare's Poems, first editibn, T. Cotes, 1640,
16m0., fine copy, brought £52. Lot 143. Walpole's
(Horace) Anedotes of Painting, first edition, five
volumes, brilliant impression of the numerous por-
traits, Walpole's own copy, with many of his manu-
script additions, and 11 of his autograph letters, 4t0.,
" Strawberry-hill," 1762-73-2175. Lot 152. Scott's
"Guy Mannering," 3 vols., 4t0.., the original auto-
graph manuscript, perfect, and in fine condition, sold
for £390. These three lots were 'ought by Mr. Henry
Stevens for America.

LAST WEEX'S WREOKS.—There were 34 British and
foreign wrecks, of which 20 were British, reported
during the past week, making a total of 260 for the
present year, or an increase of 137 as compared with
the corresponding period of last year. The approxi-
mate value of property lost was £5,200,000, including
British 23,200,000. Twelve vessels Were lost off the
coasts of the United Kingdom.

THE BAGPIPE.-Mr. Robert Glen, in a communi-
cation to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, says:
—The bagpipe, although it is now regarded as the
national instrumeht of Scotland, or the Highland
portion of it, was at one time popular in all parts of
Europe. Figures—angelic, human, diabolical and
bestial—playing on the bagpipes are to be seen sculp-
tured on ancient churches in England as well as in
Scotland. A bagpiper is also represented cut in
marble in the cathedral of -Upsal, in Sweden. In a
woodcut of the "Nativity, by Albrecht Durer, one of
the shepherds is playing on a bagpipe; and in a
grotesque cut by that great artist the devil is repre-
sented as performing on the same instrument, which
is made to resemble the head of Luther. There is,
moreover, another engraving by Durer, of date 1514'
of a bagpiper, whose instrument is similar to the Scottish
bagpipe of the present day.
A LARGE FOOT STORY !-Mr. Florence, the actor,
contributes the following as his experience of the
much-joked-of big foot of the Western man and
woman :—" We hadn't gone more than five miles be-
fore our fellow male traveller wentioff soundly to sleep,
and snored like a trumpet. A little girl (the daughter
of a lady traveller), being short, couldn't reach the
floor, and fidgeted about in a restless manner. Ob-
serving this, I said to her mother that the child would
be more comfortable if she had some support for her
feet, and told her that under her seat was a valise that
she could draw out, which would be just the thing.
The lady reached under the seat and commenced tug-
ging away. 'Can't you get it out ?' I asked. 'No,'
said the lady, 'it don't seem to come, though I might
get it out if could find the handles.' Here the huge
male traveller awoke and grumbled out, 'Who's that
a-messin' with my foot? Can't you let a fellar sleep
in.peace ?' And it was a positive fact. The lady had
mistaken the fellow's foot for a leather valise, and,
without exaggeration, it was about the size of one. If
it had possessed handles it would have passed very
nicelyfor baggage."

Nom BENE !—A country cornfactor, who was a
wag in his way, haying recently sold out all his stock
of horse beans, stuck up the letters " N. 8." in his
window, and referred all inquiries for the lackiag
commodity to those mysterious capitals. Pressed at
last to explain his meaning, he exclaimed, "
you can't be classic scholars, you can't, not to know
that N. B. is French for 'Not-a-Bean in the shop.'"
—Fun. •

SUNDAY CLOSING.—Tha hours during which public.
houses are at present open on Sundays are from one
p.m. to three p.m., and from six p.m. to eleven p.m. in
the Metropolitan district ; elsewhere from 12.30 p.m.
to 2.30 p.m., and from six p.m. to ten p.m. It is
proposed by a Bill introduced by Mr. Pease to reduce
the evening hours of opening in the Metropolitan
district, so that houses may remain open from seven
to ten; and in places outside the Metropolitan dis-
trict, but within the Metropolitan police district or a
town or populous place, as defined by the Licensing
Act of 1874, so that houses may remain open from
seveicto nine. In the latter districts it is proposed to
prohibit any sale of intoxicating liquor during the
hours of opening except beer, ale, porter, cider, or
perry for consumvtion off the premises. In the
country the publichouses are, according to this
scheme, not to be opened at all on Sunday. But
neither in town nor in country is it proposed to alter
the present law as regards bond fide travellers or rail-
way refreshment-rooms.
SPORTING RIGHTS UNDER CROWN LEASES.—In the
House of Commons, on Monday evening, Mr. Duck-
ham asked the First Commissioner of Works whether
he was aware that the sporting rights were reserved
from tenants occupying farms under the Crown, and
that those sporting rights were let with the sporting
rights of the woods and covers adjoining the farms;
and, if so, whether it was intended te continue the
system.—Mr. Shaw Lefevre, in reply, said : There is
no reservation of the rights of sporting in ordinary
Crown leases. There are about 300 farm tenants of
the Crown in England, and, with 21 exceptions, the
whole of these tenants have the right of sporting over
the land they hold. Of these 21 exceptions, in 16
cases the farms adjoin Windsor or other Royal parks,
and the sporting is not let, but is retained in hand for
the protection of the parks. The same system is ob-
served in Scotland and Wales, with similarly slight
exceptions.
VALUABLE IDOLS.—The jewels of an Indian idol
must be worth stealing if many of those remarkably
hideous images possess such valuable head ornaments
as one now being made for the idol Parthasathy in the
Triplicane Temple at Madras. The ornament. is worth
some 50,000 rupees, and is made of sovereign gold,
studded with diamonds, emeralds, and rubies, the
largest emerald being valued at 1,000 rupees, and the
biggest ruby and diamond at 300 rupees apiece.

ALARMING ACCIDENT TO A BRIDGE.—The iron
viaduct across the Solway, on the Solway Junction
Railway, near Annan, was seriously damaged on Sun-
day by large masses of ice coming down from the Esk
and the Eden. Many of the pillars were broken. As
the line was closed for traffic on Sunday, there were no
accidents. The bridge is a mile and a quarter in
length, is constructed of pillars and girders, and was
completed in 1367. All the girders remain in positi*n,
but some time must elapse before the traffic can be
resumed.

THE LATE SriowsToEm.—Party who has hired cab.
"But how am I to get to it through all this snow ?"
Indignant cabby. "'Ow are you to get to it? 'Ow do
you s'pose you're to get to it? Would you like me to
get off my box and carry you into the wehicle ?"
Jude.
AN EFFECT OF THE COLT). The recent cold
weather has caused an entire change in the usual greet-
ings interchanged between friends and neighbours. No
one meeting you asked the usual question, "How are
you?" but instead of that the salutation has been
"How's your roof? "or "Have you any water? Are
your, pipes frozen?" Again, "How are you off for
gas? " Did you get any milk this morning ?" For
these have been the vital topics of the day, and there
has been very little else of really all-pervading
interest, excepting, of course, the prevailing Irish
question.—" Argus " in Land and Water,

A LADY'S RESOLVE.—A Boston paper says that a
lady who has just returned from Europe after the
grand tour, was on board one of the steamers which
met such heavy • weather last month. During the
entire voyage she was dreadfully sick, and when at
last the steamer entered the smooth waters of the Bay
she appeared on deck, and looking eagerly towards
the land she exclaimed: "You can be sure of one
thing, now I tell you. If I once get my foot on terra
cotta again, you wont catch me going to sea again in
a hurry."

OUR GAME BILL—An elaborate estimate of the
game consumed in Great Britain shows that the con-
sumption has increased nearly two-thirds during the
last thirty years. The numbers estimated for 1880 are
510,000 grouse and black-game at 4s. per bird,
£102,000; 376,000 partridges at 25., £37,600; 335,000
pheasants, at 4s. £67,00J; 500,000 hares, at 3s. 6d.,
£87,500; 9,000,000 rabbits, at is. 6d., £67,500; total
head, 0,731,000; total value, £361,600; to which is
added £30,000 for woodcock, snipe, wild-duck, &c.
APPLAUSE.—Writing of applause, the New York
Rochester Democrat observes :--` Applause, as part of
public performances, is as old as history itself. Seneca
speaks of clapping the hands and waving the robes.
The Romans had three kinds of applause; one was
the bombus, which resembled the loud buzzing of bees,
and was made by the mouth and hands; the next was
the impyices, caused by beating on the sounding vessels
placed in the theatres for that purpose; and the third
was the testa, whichlwas merely an increase of the last-
mentioned. It was common for a [fine passagelin a
sermon to be greeted with applause."
INTENSE COLD.—The greatest amount of cold ever
known to be endured by white men overtook Lieu-
tenant Schwatka's party in search of information
about Sir John Franklin's party. They were over
eleven months in sleds, and journeyed about 3,000
miles. On January 3, 1880, the thermometer sunk
103 degrees below freezing point. The highest tem-
perature that day was sixty-nine degrees below freez-
ing point. For twenty-seven days the average tem-
perature was ninety-two degrees below the freezing
point.
OLD FRIENDS.—Mare's-nest and GObemouche are
remarkably active at the present moment. Mare's.
nest knows a man who knows another man who says
he saw, with his own eyes, a placard posted outside
the Munching House, advising the public to lay in a
fortnight's provisions, as seven days of perpetual frost are
expected, and the snow will be fifteen feet deep.
Golsemouche immediately spreads this report, and
Mare's-nest helps him. Sometimes they predict
fifteen days of frost and seven feet of snow, and some-
times seven days of frost and fifteen feet of snow,
When the weather fails them, they have the Fenian
scare to fall back upon. The Bank of England,
the British Museum, the Marlborough Club,
the Punch Office, according to G6bemouche, are all
guarded by detachments of soldiers. Mare's-nest
knows that the Insurance Companies have not booked
a policy for several weeks, and he is very great on
the subject of Mother Shipton. It is a pity that so
much inventive talent cannot find harmless occupation
in legitimate works of fiction.—Punch.

AGRICULTURAL IMPORTS.—The value of agricultural
produce introduced into this country in 1880 was
£409,990,000, against £302,127,000 in 1879, and
£368,609,000 id 1878. Amongst the items for last year
were £10,242,903 for animals Alive; £8,750,503 for
bacon; butter, £12,122,172; cheese, £5,083.017; grain
of different sorts, £92,362,865; eggs, £2,211,310; po-
tatoes, £2,761,086.

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE POPE.—A Roman cor
respondent of the Chicago Times, a lady and a Pro-
testant to boot, lately attended at the Vatican to
receive the Holy Father's benediction, and seems to
Inve been much impressed with the feebleness of the
Pope's health, and the kindness of his manner (says
the Daily Telegraph). "I kissed the large amethyst of
his ring," she says, "and looked up into his kindly eyes.
His robe was of white cashmere, agold chain hung round
his neck, and on his head was a white skull-cap fringed
by his silver hair." An aristocratic dame of the Im-
perial city acted as chaperone to the fair American in
her visit to his Holiness, and as the Pope laid his hand
on the head of the visitor he turned to her introducer
and said, "An American; and how, then, did you
come to know her ? " "Holy Father, she lives in my
house," was the reply. " She is good," added
his Holiness, with a merry smile in his eyes ;
"and I," remarked the lady correspondent of the
Chicago Journal, "not wishing to rest under
false pretences, said, -- Most blessed Father I
am a, Protestant,' whereupon he made a little
wry face, laughed, shook his head at me and laid his
hand in blessmg on my head a second time." The
Protestant proclivities of the fair interviewer do not
seem to be very pronounced, and certainly the suc-
cessor of St. Peter appears to have behaved like a
courteous Italian gentleman, as he is. -It is less
satisfactory to hear that Pope Leo's voice trembles
from weaknm that his bands are unsteady, and that
altogether his extreme feebleness is apparent to every
one.

ASTRONOMICAL DiscorEat —Colonel A. W. Drayson
writes to the Daily Telegraph from Halifax, Nova
Scotia, to announce that he has made an astronomical
discovery, the result of ten years' investigation. It
is: "That the earth rotates annually once round a
second axis' which second axis is not coincident with
the axis of daily rotation. This movement is due to
the fact that, owing to the preponderance of land
above the water in the northern hemisphere, and owing
to the mass of land in Asia, Europe, and Africa on one
Bide of the earth, the centre of gravity of the earth is
not coincident with the centre of the earth, and, con-
sequently, is net located in the plane of the Equator.
The results of the discovery are most important, as the
changing positions of stars from month to month can,
by aid of this discovery, be calculated, so that the
endless observations of scores of computers at various
observatories become no longer necessary."
A NEW ROYAL CADET.—Prince Christian Victor
of Schleswig-Holstein, the Queen's grandson, who has
just entered the Royal Military College at Sandhurst
as a cadet, is in his 14th year, having been born at
Windsor Castle on April 14, 1867. He is the eldest
pon of Prince and Princess Christian, who were united
in marriage on July 5, 1866, when it was decreed that
the sons and daughters of the marriage should bear
the title of "Highness,"

Gr.OOD SHOOTING !—" Any good shooting on your
farm?" asked the hunter of a farmer. "Splendid,"
replied the agriculturist. " There's a drive-well man
down in the clover meadow, a cloth peddler at the
house, a candidate out in the barn, and two tramps
down in the stock-yard. Climb right over the fence,
young man, load both barrels, and sail in."

FOOD FOR PLANTS.—PIants and animals—living
beings, in fact—have been, hitherto, too much con-
sidered in the light of mere chemical substances acted
on in various manners by other chemical substances.
We want, for practical purposes, as also for the better
understanding of the physiology of plants, to know
what is actually in the living plant, not the result as
apparent after the manipulations of the chemist. We
want to know in what condition or state these ingre-
dients are, how they act and react on one another at
various stages of the plant's growth, what differences
there are in the chemical history of the plant as it un-
folds its leaf, hardens into wood, matures its fruit, or
ripens its seed. Not until all these matters are clearly
made out shall we arrive at any completely acceptable
theory of manures. Chemical investigation and prac-
tical experience have shown that nitrogenous manures
used alone favour rapid growth of cellular tissue,
filled with watery contents, but that the assimilation
of carbon from the atmosphere is by no means propor-
tionate, and the consequent consolidation of tissue, in
gardening phrase "ripening the wood," does not take
place commensurately with the increased luxuriance;
" sappy " style of growth being produced in place
of that firm, well developed,wood which the gardener
likes to see. To ensure this, salts of potash and phos-
phoric acid in combination with lime are requisite in
association with more or less nitrogenous matter,
according to the kind of plant cultivated, and other
circumstances.—Gardeners' Chronicle.

NEWS FRONI THE ARCTIC REGIONS.---The last offi-
cial information received at Copenhagen from the
colonies in Greenland states that the weather in 1880
has been unusually unfavourable,-cold and unsettled,
causing general distress, which greatly taxed the re-
sources of the Government stores. The registered
number of native inhabitants was 5,127 women, and
7,506 men, showing an increase during the year of 102
persons. Twenty-eight persons perished from the
capsizing of kayacks. Unusual quantities of eider-
down were collected.

AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN.—The follow-
ing are the average prices of British corn for the week
ending Jan. 29, as received from the inspectors and
officers of Excise :—Wheat, 425. 6d. ; barley, 325. sd. ;
oats, 20s. 2d. per imperial qr. Corresponding week
last year :—Wheat, 455. 3d.; barley, 36% 4d.; oats,
21s. lid.

ENCOURAGING MOTTO FOR THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.
—Better legis-" late " than never.—Fun.

REVISION •OF THE AUTHORIZED VERSION.—The
company appointed for the revision of the Authorized
Version of the OH Testament finished their nth
session on Friday afternoon in last week at the
Jerusalem Chamber. The following members
attended :—The Deans of Canterbury and Peter-
borough, Mr. Bensley, Dr. Chance, Mr. Cheyne, Mr.
Elliot, Dr. Ginsburg, Archdeacon Idarrison, Dr. Kay,
Professor Leathes, Professor Lumby, Professor
Wright, and Mr. Aldis Wright (secretary). Com-
munications were received from Dr. Alexander,
Professor Birrell, Dr. Douglas, Dr. Field, Mr. Geden,
and Dr. GAO, who were unable to be present. The
second revision of the historical books was com-
pleted, and the revision of Proverbs was continued
as far as xxiv. 14,

MR. BRIGHT AND THE AGRICULTURAL QUESTION.
—Replying to a communication from Welsh farmers
Mr. Bright writes that all the terms of agriculture in
this country are unfavourable to the tenant. Public
troubles may change them, for they will compel
farmers to say and do something themselves. He had
been preaching to farmers for the last forty years but
with very little effect. American competition can
speak to them and their masters more effectively,
Mr. Bright hopes that better days are coming for the
best class of farmers, when these days of adversity
have passed.

UNAPPRECIATED COMPLIMENT, (Paid to Miss Smith,
the vigorous pianiste, who has just accompanied Young
Brown, the amateur t ?more robust°, in his new song.)
—American: Waal, now, that's real smart, that is
Miss Smith. I'd have backed either for loudest--
yew or the singist—but yew've licked I—Funny Folks.

LONGEVITY.—The obituary of The Times of Feb. 1,
contained a record of the deaths of 13 persons—viz., ten
ladies and three gentlemen, whose united ages amounted
to 1,105 years, giving an average of exactly 85 years to
each. The oldest was a lady who had reached tho
great age of 92; the youngest lady was 81. Of tho
gentlemen, the oldest was 90, and the youngest 81
years of age. The deaths of 12 septuagenarians were
also recorded, who averaged 74 years and two months,
and ranged from 70 to 78 years of age.

FOREIGN PARCELS POST.—The East Anglian Daily
7imes says that the English Post Office and the rain
way companies have at length come to an agreement
with regard to the carriage of parcels. There is,
therefore, no further obstacle in the way of the Inter-
national Parcels Post that was arranged at the Paris
Conference. The result will be, for instance, that a
parcel not exceeding six pounds in weight can be
handed in at any English post-office and carried to any
town in Germany for is. Bd.
TFIE LATE MR, SOTHERN.—A correspondent writes to
the Daily News : The statement that the late lamented
E. F. Sothern [the popular actor] was intended for the
Church had no other foundation than that when he
was at schbol in Cheshire his father would have liked
him to have studied to that end ; Mr. Sothern de-
cided, however, to become a medical man, and I have
more than once heard him relate how, when called
upon to assist at an operation in the Middlesex Hos-
pital he fell into a swoon at the sight of the blood that
spurted forth beneath the knife as he was holding a
bondage in readiness. His sudden collapse might
have been fatal to the patient's interests, had not the
head surgeon taken the precaution to place a
" double behind the young student, and this substi-
tute caught and manipulated the'linen as Sothern re-
linquished it. Years after the creator of Lord Dun-
dreary met the physician and asked him if he remem-
bered the incident. "Perfectly," was the reply, "is it
possible that you are the young student whose sudden
swoon I shall never forget?" Mr. Sothern used to
laugh heartily as he recalled this experience.
AN ICE SORT OF RIDDLE.—What English river is
most like the Thames when it is in an entirely frozen
condition?—Why, the "Ice-is," of course ! (The
"Isis," don't you see ?)—Fun.

ORIGIN OF AN OLD PROVERB.—Respecting the old
saying, "The grey mare is the better horse," Mr.
Platt writes to Notes and Queries :—This proverbial
saying, instead of being Flemish, is more likely of
British origin, and may have taken its rise from the
following circumstance. A gentleman having married
a lady of considerable beauty and fortune, but whose
domineering temper and disregard of marital authority,
on all occasions made his home wretched, entreated
her father to take back his daughter, and her,
dowry into the bargain. "Pooh, pooh 1" said the
old gentleman; "you know not the world. All
women govern their husbands, and it is easily
proved. Harness the five horses in my stable to a
cart, in which I will place a basket containing 100
eggs; leave a horse in every house where the husband
is master, and an egg only where the wife governs, If
you should find your eggs gone before the horses, you
will think your case is not so uncommon; but if your
horses are disposed of first, I will take my daughter
home again, and you may keep her fortune,"
At the first house the son-in-law came to he
heard the .wife, in a shrill and angry voice, bid
her husband answer the door; here ho left an egg
without any inquiry. He visited a second and a
third house with the same result. The eggs were
nearly all gone, when he arrived at the seat of a gentle.
man of position in the county. Having asked for the
master, who happened not to be yet stirring, he was
ushered into the presence of the lady. Humbly apolo.
gising for the intrusion, he put the questionolobethenoe
and on the lady replying she was proxid to obey her
husband in all things, the husband entered the room,
and confirmed his wife's words; upon which he was
requested to choose which horse he liked. A black
gelding struck his fanoy, but the lady desired he would
choose the grey mare, as more fit for a side saddle.
Notwithstanding the substantial reasons given why
the ,black horse would be more useful, the wife per-
sisted in her claim for the grey mare. " What!" said
she; "and will you not take her, then? But I say you
shall; for I am sure the grey mare is much the better
horse." "Well, well, my dear," replied the husband,
"just as you please, if it must be so." "Oh," quotb
the gentleman-carter, "you must !cow take an egg, and
I must take all my horses back again, and endeavour
to live happily with my wife."
AN ANNUAL STORM.--A strange electric storm rage
annually in Nebraska, U.S., where, with but one exs
ception in twelve years, the disturbance occurs on
January 5,6, or 7. It is thought that the entire
Rocky Mountain region is thus visited. The storm
lasts for twenty-four hours throughout a region of goo
Miles, and during this period the telegraph is totall/
useless, a steady electric light burning at the connect,
ing points when the telegraph key at Omaha villa
opened.

AUSTRALIAN ANTIQUITIES.—The Sydney Morning
Herald says: On November 24th Mr. Eager, the con-
tractor for lowering the roadway from George-street
to the Circular Quay, adt the south of the Mariners'
Church, unearthed an interesting monument of the i
early days of the colony, n the shape of a headstone,
Borne 2 f bet high by 1 foot 8i inches broad, raised to
the memory of a seaman of the first fleet which visited
these shores. It bore the following inscription :—" In
memory of George Gravoa, late boatswain's yeoman
of his Majesty's ship Sirius, who departed this life
10th July, 178—, aged 46 years." The last figure in
the date had been partly chipped off, bit appears to
have been Bor 9. The inscription, which is in the
old style of lettering, with the " s " like the "f," is in
an excellent state of preservation, due doubtless tothe
burial of the stone, for on many tombstones of much
more recent date exposed to the weather the inscrip-
tions have become illegible. The atone was found
from one to two feet beneath the level of the original
surface of the ground, and is undoubtedly one of tho
first tombstones ever ereeted in Australia.

I

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
•
In the ROITSE °FLORES, Jan. 31, Lord Kimberley replying
to Lord Cadogan, said he had no intelligence from the
Transvaal in addition to that which had appeared in the
newspapers.
Lord Spencer, in moving the second reading of the Rivers
Conservancy and Floods Prevention Bill, observed that the
subject was one in which their Lordships had taken a
very great interest. In 1877 it was considered by a Select
Committee of their Lordships' House, and in 1879 a Bill
dealing with it was introduced by the late Lord Presi-
dent of the Council. Our forefathers were alive to the im-
portance of the conservancy of rivers and the prevention of
floods, and in addition to public statutes there were now On
the Statute-book between 2,000 and 3,000 private Acts regu-
lating the managements of rivers. But great evil arose from
the confusion and, in many cases, the conflict of authorities
arising out of the powers given by those numerous enact-
ments. The noble earl then read from the evidence given
before the Select Committee of 1877 to show the wide areas
and the vast populations affected by the floods and the
enormous pecuniary loss caused by those casualties. He
added to such testimony representations made by competent
authorities who had supplemented by their subsequent
statements the evidence so given and had shown that the
floods had been increasing during the last few years. The
happy addition to the number of railroads had been one of
the causes of this, as their extension had mach reduced the
induaements for the keeping open of navigable rivers.
The improvements in agriculture formed another cause.
Nearly all the experts agreed that subsoil draining had
Increased the floods. The evidence in the case showed that
to a great extent floods were preventible; but to prevent
them a considerable expenditure would be necessary. He
thought, however, that the amount required in the manner
in Which it would be raised under this Bill it would not be
felt to press very severely on any class or locality. Explain-
ing the provisions of the Bill, he pointed out that on appli-
cation to the Local Government Board for a provisional
order to constitute a Board of Conservancy, the former
would send down an inspector, who would report on
the proportion of expenditure to be borne by the low-
lands, the midlands, and the uplands respectively. The
cost of construction would be borne by the owners, and
that of maintenance and the establishment charges by the
occupiers. The constitution of the Conservancy Board
would be settled in each district under the provisional
order. The Bill was founded on the recommendations of the
Select Committee. The two important points of difference
between this Bill and that of the late Government were in
the constitution of the Conservancy Boards and the incidence
of rating, and he thought that on those heads the present
Bill was free from the objections raised against that intro-
duced by the Duke of Richmond.

The Duke of Somerset urged that the Bill shsuld be re-
ferred to a Select Committee, and objected that, by taxing
uplands, midlands, and lowlands, there.was not a farm in
the country that would escape.
Lord Sandwich described the necessity for legislation as
one of urgency, in consequence of the injury annually done
by floods to flocks and crops.
Lord Camperdown took exception to the taxing powers
created by the Bill as unnecessary and excessive.
Lord Huntley, hoped the Government would not defer
legislation by again referring the question to a Select Com-
mittee.
- - •

After some remarks from Lord Stanhope, Lord Fertescue,
Lord Norton, and Lord Redesdale,
Lord Spencer said he was not at present much disposed to
refer the Bill to a Select Committee but would consider the
suggestion on that point, which hd met with support from
several of their Lordships.
The Bill was read a second time, and their Lordships
adjourned at twenty minutes past seven o'clock.
In the limn OF COMMONS, Mr. Childers, in answer to
various questions, gave details of the reinforcements des-
patched to the Cape, the net result of which is that three
regiments of infantry, one of cavalry, and a battery of artil-
lery have already arrived, numbering 2,554 officers and men,
and that in ten days from this 4,500 men will have landed.
He added that Sir G. Colley had declined two regi-
ments of cavalgy offered him since the check at Laing's
Neck. With regard to the treatment of the Boers,
he said he was surprised that any doubt should
have been expressed as to the Boers being dealt
with acccrding to the laws of war, but to avoid all misappre-
hension he had telegraphed to Sir G. Colley that though the
occasion had not arrived for determining any question of
belligerent rights, the Boers must be treated according to the
recognised rules of civilized warfare, including exchange of
prisoners. To this he had within sixteen hours received from
Sir G. Colley the reply that as General he had maintained
relations of courtesy with the Boer commanders, and as they
had released most of the prisoners taken from us, he proposed
to do the same with any he took.
Mr. Baxter having asked whether the Government, in
consequence of the strong and angry feeling created in the
large constituencies by the " obstruction " to British and
Imperial legislation, would make arrangements for the
transaction of English and Scotch business, Mr.
Gladstone said he was aware of the existence of this
feeling and was afraid it would grow. But all he
could say at present was that the subject was under
consideration, and the G-oveinment would be prepared
to take whatever steps might seem best on the whale. In
answer to a question from Mr. Paripll, he said the second
reading of the Coercion Bill would' be taken the day after
Its introduction, and he added, amid much cheering, that
he hoped that would occur in the course of the present sit-
ting. Mr. Onslow having subsequently asked whether there
'would be an "all night sitting," Mr. Gladstone declined
to go into further particulars.
In answer to Mr. Bourke, Sir C. Dilke said there was now
no question of a Conference at Constantinople in reference
to the Turko-Greek frontier, but it was proposed that nego-
tiations should be carried on between the Porte and the
representatives of the Powers there. The Government were
not engaged in any isolated action, but they trusted that the
negotiations already going on would lead to such united
action being taken by the Powers as would bring about a
Peaceful settlement of the question.
Questions were put to Mr. Forster and the Speaker with
regard to the premature publication of the Protection to
Persons and Property Bill, and the explanation given by
both these authorities fixed the blame on the Queen's
Printers, who had circulated the Bill without instructions,
on the mistaken assumption that leave had been given to
Introduce it.
Mr. A. M. Sullivan asked the Solicitor-General for Ireland
ft it was true that the Irish Executive, having un-official
knowledge of the fact that in the recent State trials ten
3Urors were agreed on a verdict of "Not guilty," intended
not to afford the accused the opportunity of a new trial;
and whether it was the fact that the Government, instead of
taking the necessary steps for a new trial, had decided to
PUnish those gentlemen, or some of them for the same
alleged offences under the powers of a Coercion Act.
The Solicitor-General for Ireland said : With reference to
the first branch of this question, the Irish Executive has no
knowledge, unofficial or official, that in the recent trial ten
or any other number of jurors were agreed on a verdict of
"Not guilty." The hon. and learned member who asks this
question is, of course, aware that no notice can possibly be
taken of such a statement, which could only be made by a
furor, and in direct violation of a juror's duty. At foot of
Page 72 of the official report of Judge Fitzgerald's charge,
Which I have had placed in the library of the House, as I
understood in complance with the request of the hon. mem-
ber for Carrickfergus, will be found what occurred. In rela-
tion to that portion of the question which has reference to
What itrtermed "anew trial," "a new trial," Sir, is a well-
understood expression, involving the assumption that a
trial resulting in a verdict has taken place. That has not
Occurred in this instance, and, therefore, no question as to
"a new trial" has arisen. The last branch of the question
I Ammer in the negative.
Mr. ,st. M. Sullivan said that he had not desired a technical
answer. What he wished to know, in general terms, was
Whether there would be another trial.
The Solicitor-General for Ireland requested the hon. and
learned member to put down his question.
Mr. Findlater inquired whether there was any truth in an
'extraordinary and exciting rumour" reported to be in
circulation to the effect that an Irish regiment quartered at
Aldershot had been disarmed.
Mr. Childers : I cannot say whether there was an excit-
ing rumour of the kind circulated, but if there was it had
no foundation. (A. laugh.)
II?. T. P. O'Connor gave notice of his intention to
ask the Prime Minister whether he was aware that the
Policy
of the Chief Secretary for Ireland had been con-
enmed by large and influential public meetiugs at Bit.-
Newcastle-on• Tyne, and elsewhere, also by the
ower Hamlets Radical Club —(laughter) the Social
eroocratic Club,
in
the Manhood Suffrage Club, the "Cen-
...rUr " Club W
, the estmster Democratic Club. the King's-
"r°,B Radical Club—(cries of "Oh !" and much laughter)-
12-11 d other local clubs in London, and whether, in view of
nt Widespread condemnation of the policy of the Chief
ii7.,,atary for Ireland, he would suspend the discussion upon
tafoKeace Preservation Bill at its various stages in order to
ati.,w of an expression of public opinion upon the question,
ne" also upon the returns of outrages, &c., which had re-
utlY been presented to the House.
The Speaker pointed out to the hon. member that his
zi• edttion was not in order. The Minister to whom it was
bod eased was not responsible for the opinions of the various
lea referred to.
thltr• T. P. O'Connor then intimated that he would ask
lia
,Chief Secretary for Ireland whether his attention
ei".4,ocen called to a serious occurrence at Leigh, in Lan-
z, ,„,,suire, involving 20,000 cases of aggravated assault,
20,—.! cages of unlawful assembling, 20,000 cases of rioting,
2,,,„..vvu cases of resisting legal authority (cries of "Oh.'),
friv,,vou cases of intimidation, 20,000 cases of malicious
teY to property(" Oh.''), and 20,000 cases of injury to
Intiedenson )" Oh! ")—in all 140,000 outrages (" Ohl" and
ter) in the course of a single day, and whether in these
;cnMstances he would introduce a Peace Preservation Bill
;ring the liberties of the people of Lancashire at the ab-
. ute discretion of the right hon. gentleman the Chancellor
for the Duchy of Lancaster. ("Oh !")
I‘ll., • W. F. Forster: I may say at once that I should not
it my duty to answer that question. (Cheers.) If it is a
Inestic,n to be asked at all it should be addressed to the
fbeeretary.
The adjourned debate was resumed by Mr. C. Lewis. and
followed by Mr. C. Russell, Mr. Metge, Mr. Hopwood,
`"I• r. T. Sullivan, Mr. Newdegate, Mr. Broadhurst, Mr. A.
'lllllvan, Sir J. M.'Kenna, and Mr. Dawson.
• Gabbett, shortly before one o'clock, moved the ad-
▪ Ment of the debate, to which Mr. Gladstone replied,
-"i'd much cheering, that it was impossible for him to
accede to any such motion.
„.:Major Nolan and Mr. Dillon, in supporting the motion
ge that the question had been completely altered by the
'_o,Ucation of the Coercion Bill, and the latter declared
'At it contradicted the whole of Mr. Forster's speech.
Mr. Parnell also pointed out that to prolong the debate
0" would not save time, and would discredit both the
„Oernment and the 'House. Among other reasons for
he urged that he desired to show that Mr. Gladstone
iad n attributed to him on Friday night a speech which
been made by somebody else. Amid frequent
~,t,,50 order, he went on to reply to Mr. Gladstone's speech,
-tae
declared that it was the duty. of the Irish members to
ev
ete— Y torus of the House to resist this stage until suffi- '
uer rm se s the had been given for discussion.
CONTINUANCE OF THE DEBATE,
palik.e_ debate Was continued until the time the morning
b,s`-`ll' went to press. It still went on, and the "relays on
th Sid
e 3 settled down steadily to their "all night" work.
rose a t 4.20, amid feud cries of "
!" but the 1 member went on speaking until 4.50.
At thi hon.
the 'Pa e chair, and the
Point the Speaker left the , Clerk at
the e, in the prescribed formula, informed the House of
-,„`",ni'oidable absence of the Speaker.
L
the I'l air, as Deputy Speaker, thereupon ascended
ileven'• The <lobate was continued until a quarter to
min wheu the HOW divided, when the members for the
lorellment were 27, against an adjournment 148. Ma
.‘.Y 121.
rtu,
acid th,„ LS' next addressed the House on the main question,
edit
„ oon. member had been speaking for about an hour,
n Mr. Dill
tile g_ on and Mr. T. P. O'Connor took their seats on
tij ito
y...""„e Rule benches, apparently having come on "relief
Ile nari L my broke while Mr. Healy was still speaking--8.15.
•At been speaking for one hour rul:: twenty minutes.
from ?i,30, Mr. Forster entered the Mao, Fimid cheers
t e goodly array on the front Liberal bencili;z.
nem witcain Yat once said: I am glad now that my sweet-
proceeded ot be lost on the desert air. (A laugh.) He then
tidies. With his argument against Mr. Forster's sta-
uAtt tohissboti
,Ine, the occupants of the Treasury Bench were
Chllder, gPe Morgan, Mr. Hibbert, Mr, Forster, Mr.
and mr. W. Harcourt, Mr. Dodson, the Lord Advocate,
eOlonet ks-'",elYan. On the front Opposition bench were
latter asietZeY, Lord Crichton, and Blr. Stavely Hill (the
Mr. Real
nine sir B).' continued his speech, and at ten minutes to
bencbes a—dNortheote took his seat on the Opposition
d flu loud cheers.
wan..d..nlr o rswas almost immediately called to order for
dwelling the subject. He insisted that he was only
At this tima Sir.
lustration which he was entitled to use.
saying,
Ile continued Healy had been speaking for two hours.
a. vituraakint g, for some time and concluded by
knit will subsid - - -ry the patience of the House any longer,
bymoving „ e aaugliter and cheers). I beg to conclude
‘ee ter and
the House."
The 011
onimil Mahon seconded the motion. Observing

the House had now been sitting for seventeen home, he
thought they might now be permitted to retire to rest. He
was followed Mr. Daly, who went on to argue that the
adjournment of the 402 ate was necessary, if only to consider
the weighty wordstof-the hon. member for Dundalk.

At this time (9.30) the House presented the appearance it
generally wears when in committee of supply. On the
Treasury Bench were the Home Secretary, Mr. Dodson. Mr.
Shaw-Lefevre, Mr. trevelyan, and Mr. Hibbert, while on
the front Opposition Bench were Sir Stafford Northcote,
Lord J. Manners, and Mr. Stanhope. The rank and file of
her Majesty's Opposition were represented by Mr. Wharton.
Ever and anon a member of the Government would come into
the House from behind the Speaker's chair, and, taking a
rapid survey of the position, depart as silently as he
came. The Home-rule members, supported by Mr. Biggar,
Mr. Lalor, and Mr. Daly, remained firm at their posts, and
when one hon. member ceased speaking, another rose and
reiterated the same arguments to which the House ,had
listened within the last few weeks. At twenty minutes to
ten the Deputy Speaker took an interval of a few minutes,
and this was the first break in the talk which had continued
without intermission from between eight and nine o'clock
on the previous night.
- • -

Just before eleven o'clock, when the members began to
appear in greater numbers, Mr. Gladstone entered the House
from behind th a Speaker's chair, and taking his seat on the
Treasury Bench, held a long whispered consultation with
Mr. Childers, who had occupied the front bench for some
hours past.. Mr. Wartou was now joined by Sir Henry Tyler,
who, with a volume of Hansard in hand, sat acute and
vigilant to call the attention of the Speaker to the slightest
breach of order. There were some dozen persons in the
Strangers' and Speaker's Galleries, but the Peers' and Die-
tipguished Strangers Galleries were empty.
The debate was continued until half-past one o'clock,
when the Deputy Speaker left the chair, and the Speaker
took his place, amidst loud cheers.
Mr. Parnell : Mr. Speaker, I wish most respectfully
to call your attention to a question of privilege with regard
to one of the Standing Orders of this House, which I shall
read to you, and which, I think, will substantiate the
position I have taken up. I find that the Standing
Order of the 20th of July, 1855, provides that "when-
ever the House shall be informed br the Clerk at the
table of the unavoidable absence of Mr. Speaker,
the Chairman of Committees of Ways and Means shall per-
form the duties and exercise the authority of the Speaker in
relation to the proceedings of this House as Deputy Speaker
until the next meeting of the House, and so on from day to
day, on a like information being given to the House, until
the House shall otherwise order, provided that if the House
shall adjourn for more than 24 hours the Deputy Speaker
shall continue to perform the duties and exercise the
authority of the Speaker for 24 hours only after such
adjournment." In pursuance of this standing order
the House, I believe, was informed last night that you,
sir, were unavoidably absent, and the Chairman of Com-
mittees (Dr. Lyon Mayfair), under these standing orders,
took the Chair in your absence; but I find a distinct state-
ment in the standing order that, "Having taken the chair
the Chairman of Committees of Ways and Means do per-
form the duties and exercise the authority of the Speaker in
relation to all proceedings of this House as Deputy
Speaker until the next meeting of the House." (Home-rule
cheers). My point is, Sir, that the Deputy Speaker,
in retiring from the chair, has infringed this Standing
Order; the standing Order makes provision for the taking of
the chair by the Chairman of Committees of Ways and
Means, and directs that he shall perform your duties and
exercise your authority iii relation to all the proceedings of
this House as Deputy Speaker until the next meeting of this
House. Now I think this declaration is most explicit, and
that it is impossible to get over it.—After some further ob-
servations Mr. Parnell moved, as a matter of privilege,
"That the retirement of the Chairman of Committes of
Ways and Means from the chair is a breach of the Standing
Orders of the 20th July, 1855." (Cheers.
The Speaker, in reply, said: The hon, member is quite
entitled to make the motion he proposes to make as a ques-
tion of privilege. I am quite aware of the existence of
this Standing Order to which the hon. member has called
the attention of the House. The Standing Order is enabling
—(hear, hear)—and provides for the appointment and
duties of the Deputy Speaker during the unavoidable
absence of the Speaker. If the absence be continued
until the sitting of the House is closed it provides for
the execution of his duties until its next sitting; but
It does not assume to restrain the inherent authority of the
Speaker himself in the event of his resuming the chair while
the House is still sitting. (Hear, hear). In that case his
unavoidable absence is at an end; he is in the chair again,
and exercises the authority of his office. (Cheers.) In the
present circumstances, I do not consider that the Standing
Order has any application. (Cheers.)
The subject then dropped. .

• - -
Mr. Leahy then resumed the debate on the motion for ad-
journment, and was followed by Mr. A. O'Conor, who said
the most obvious reason for adjournment was that they
were all in a state of exhaustion. (No, no.)
Mr. Bradlaugh said the essence of Parliamentary Govern-
ment was that the majority should decide. Disagreeing,
as he did most completely, with the Government on the
main question, he was bound to say that every latitude had
been accorded to the Irish gentlemen in this debate. (Hear,
hear.) After some further observations, he said that he
could bear testimony that many people outside were against
the measures of the Government, but they were still more
against what they believed to be the destruction of Parlia-
mentary dignity and true liberty of speech. (Cheers.)
Other speakers followed, including Mr. Parnell, and the
House divided at three o'clock on Mr. Healy's motion, when
there appeared :
For the Adjournment .. 21
Against .. 225
. Majority for Government —204

The result was received with a faint cheer of defiance from
the Home Rulers, who exclusively composed the minority.
As the numbers indicate, there was at this time a good
attendance of hon. members. Both the Treasury and front
Opposition benches were filled, and most of the leading
members of parties were present ; but Mr. Gladstone
happened to be absent. The strangers' galleries had become
full, and there were half a dozen occupants of the peers'
gallery.
When the division had been announced, the Speaker read
the original motion and Dr. Lyon's amendment, and during
the pause which followed the hope was entertained that a
decisive division might now be taken. This hope, however,
was quickly dispelled by Mr. Daly, who rising, said that he
proposed to continue the debate upon the main question.
At the same time he complained of the conduct of the
Government in asking the House, after twenty-three hours'
debate, to prolong the discussion upon the Motion. Mr.
Daly concluded by moving the adjournment of the debate.
Mr. Lalor briefly seconded the Motion.
Mr. A. M. Sullivan, Sir P. O'Brien, and Mr. O'C. Power
followed. During the latter hon. member's speech, the
Earl of Beaconsfield entered the Peers' gallery for a few
minutes on his way to the House of Lords. He was accom-
panied by Baron Rowton, and immediately afterwards was
joined by Sir S. Northcote, with whom he remained in con-
versation during his stay.

•
Mr. M'Coan' Sir G. Campbell, Mr. Finigan, and other lion,
members next addressed the House. At half-past seven the
motion, after being discussed for five. hours and a half, was
carried to a division and negatived by 163 to 23.
A fourth motion to adjourn was made by Mr. J. Finigan,
who spoke in support of it an hour and thirty-five minutes.
Mr. Gill, Mr. O'Shaughnessy, Mr. Commins, Mr. A.
O'Connor, and other members, again repeated the arguments
for delay at much length, and Mr. Fay, speaking from the
Liberal side, while declining to support coercion, warned
his colleagues that every day of these proceedings knocked
a nail in the coffin of a good Land Bill.
- - - •

Mr. Healy also attempted to address the House, but was
unable to make himself heard in the impatient cries with
which he was received, and Mr. T. D. Sullivan, at 11'20, was
following in a similar strain, when
Sir R. Cross rose amid loud cheers from the benches on
both sides, which by this time had become very full, and,
recalling what had happened since 1 a.m.,—the repeated
motions for adjournment, the refusal to discuss the main
question, and the constant repetitions of the same speeches.
—appealed to the Speaker whether all these things did not
constitute a oombination "wilfully and persistently to ob-
struct business" within the meaning of the Standing Order
which the Chair possessed an inherent authority to deal
with.
The Speaker replied that undoubtedly if members entered
Into a combination for the purpose of obstructing business it
would bring them within the operation of the Standing
Order, and evidence certainly had been brought before him
In the course of the debate of 4such a combination as would
bring members within the operation of the rule.
Mr. T. D. Sullivan was then allowed to proceed with his
address, amid much noise and interruption, but presently
Mr. Alderman Fowler appealed to the Chair whether his
repetitions did not amount to wilful obstruction; and to
this the Speaker replied that there was no standing order
against repetitions—he wished there was.
Mr. Brown shortly afterwards asked the direct question—
was not Mr. Sullivan guilty of wilful and persistent
obstruction? but the Speaker declined to hold that he was.