The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-09-06 00:00:00

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HOME ,OHEIGN, AEI) COLONIAL.

THY Two Doevoae.—When the University
of St. Andrews sold her honours—a custom that hal
long been abandoned—a certain minister put £l5 in
his purse and went to St. Andrews "to purchase for
himself a good degree." His man. servant accompanied
him, and was present when his master was formally
admitted to the long.desired honour. On his return
home the "doctor "coot for his Fervent, and addressed
him as follows :—" Non, Saunders, yell aye be sure to
cc' me doctor, and gin onybody 'peers at ye about me,
yell aye be sure to ray the doctor's in hie study, or the
doct ir's or gaged, or the doctor will see you in • crack"
"That a' depends," was the reply, upon whether
ca' me doctor, too." The ltev. Doctor tamed.
"Aye, it's just so," continued Saunders; "for when I
hind out that it cost sae little, I e'en got a diploma
mysel ; sae ye'llj net be Rude enough to say—doctor,
put on some coals; or doctor, bring me some whielry
stud hot water; and gin onybody 'peer' at ye about
me, yell aye be sure to say the doctor's in the stable;
or, the doctor's in the pantry • or, the doctor's diggin
potatoes, as the awe may be.,

MILL LID WATZll..—Typhoid fever ill said to
have been produced by milk. •It ha also been ascribed
to impure water. May it not Imre &ripen f row a
combination of those causes? The Water Companies
replenish the "Cow with the Iron Tel"— Punch.

new MATRRLU. FOR PAPRIL—At the recent
General Amembly of French papermakees, MM.
Jourdeufl, Parizot, and Grease, the well-known French
firm of paper manufacturers, eubanitted some samples
of • new textile fabric, namely—the sheath of the hap-
stalk. By removing the outer skins, and subjecting it
to a certain cbymioal process, a textile substance pos.
easing the qualities which make rigs so valuable in
papermaking—naroely, length, suppleness, and deli-
cacy of texture—has been produced. The haventipn
' has been patented, and seems likely greatly to interest
Engin& hop-growers.
Won'T START. John Paul writes the follow-
Icg about horses not starting :—Why is there all this
nonsense about starting? why not bring eh the hones
r4F
time tevthemflag
rot o ep
alelitnelesemingeno,danoldhen
7teeylrar ?
won't go let him stay, and the race go on without him.
This would be fair for everyone, and no grumbling
could follow. There's always more trouble about
'unfair starts 'than over anything else in a race. It
may be urged that some horses wouldn't start. Then
keep the stubborn brutes off the racecourse; if • horse
won't go when he's wanted to, I see no particular need
of perpetuating the breed. That particular strain of
blood which prompts a horse to stand still when you
want him to go, and to co when you want him to stand
still, can he dispensed with."

THC LATI DMZ Or BILIIIIBWICICS WILL.—
The SlOll2 Mllu understands that an application was
made to the city authorities by • young gentleman who
claimed the right to attend the funeral ae chief mourner,
he being • grandson of the late Duke of Brunswick.
He worts that his grandmother, the daughter of an
English admiral, wee married to the duke, who sent
her and her daughter out of his house when the latter
was 18 years old. The daughter subsequently married
• French nobleman, and the claimant is her son. On
the other hand, the duke is said to have always denied
the truth of the story of his marriage. The authorities
refused the desired permission, as being entirely op•
posed to the provisions of the duke's will.

A Fos TO was EVIL Oss.—The following
story is from the "Book of Scottish Anecdote," by
Alexander Hislop :—One day, during a snow-storm,
the Rev. George More was riding from Aberdeen to a
village in the vicinity of the town. He wag enveloped
ma Spanish cloak, and had • shawl tied round his neck
and shoulders. These loose garments, covered with
snow, and waving in the blast, started the horse of a
"beg-man," who chanoed to ride past. The alarmed
steed plunged, and very nearly threw ita rider, who
exclaimed—, ' Why, sir, you would frighten the very
devil I" " I'm glad hear that," said Mr. More, "for
It'. just my trade."
Farrseuso Calcicswe.—At the Jardin d'Ac•
climatisation ha cottage with the words " Eograisse-
meet Mncanique des Volatiles " written over the door.
This is a new establishment, and intended to show how
poultry may be fattened for the table at the least pos-
able expense and delay. The birds, which consist of
common fowls, ducks, and turkeys, are confined in
small open stalls, which are just large enough to re-
ceive them, and in which they are no fastened that they
can hardly move. Here they sire fed with an emulsion
composed of milk and oatmeal, which is pumped into
their gizzards at stated hours. This is all the food
they get, and, with the exoeotion of the ducks, which
are allowed a little water, they have no other drink
This roashine is sufficient to fatten them in from
twelve to eighteen days. They are taken In from three
to six months old, and the cost of feeding is trilling
compared with the other modes.

Gi-azaT FIELZ AT QIIIBIC.-A dangerous and
extensive fire occurred at Quebec on the 19th ultimo,
by which a large amount of property was &strayed,
and • number of persons were thrown out of work.
The fire originated between seven in the morning, at •
large cabinet manufactory, employing 400 hands; and
there being no pressure of water, owing to leaky and
defective pipes, the names rapidly increased in intensity,
and spread to several buildings in the immediate
neighbourhood. About noon an explosion occurred,
which threw the burning &Chris amongst some vast
piles of timber and lumber adjoining, and at one time
the whole city was seriously threatened. Two schooners
at the wharfs were burned, and a district of about ten
acres was in flames. In the evening, after superhuman
exertions, the firemen, aided by • detachment of sailors,
from the French war vessel Destange, succeeded in
overcoming the fire. The lone is stated at about
400,000 dole., of which 60,000 dole, was covered by in.
surance. Some 200 men, however, are thrown out of
employment by the occurrence.
NJACT •Ye•it's IhDIJWIRII.L EXHIBITION.—
R eguations have been issued with reference to the
character of the exhibition of next year. The inane.
tries to be dealt with are manufactures, with the raw
produce, machinery and processes employed; and the
exhibits will be divided into three chimes :—Lace, both
hand and machine made ; civil engineering, agricultural
and building contrivances; heating by all method, and
kindv of fuel; leather, including harness and sadlery,
bo,khinding, foreign wines &^. The sale of articles
manufactured within the building will be permitted on
vayment of a small royalty.

PNZUMATIC DZSPATCH SYSTEM. —The pneu-
matic despatch system has been developed to &Icon-
siderable extent In Paris (remarks the Globe). M.
Bontenipts, the director of the department, ham 1111 in-
genious invention. The written messages, enclosed in
• little cylindrical case, are blown from pint to point
through leaden tubes. Now these carriers are some-
times tound to stick by the way, and hitherto it has
been very difficult to ascertain the priciest spot at
which the lodgment has taken place. M. Bsntempte
atretchts an elastic membrane over the open end of the
tube, and then, by firiur a pistol near it, creates an
atmospheric wave within it. This wave travels to the
obstructing "carrier" and back again at the rate of
I,COO feet per second, ard on returning to thn. mem-
brace distends it slightly. Two such movements of
the elastic are made to record themselves on a revolt,
log cylinder in such • manner as to indicate the ',noise
time occupied by the seriel wave in it, passage to and
fro. Half the Lumber of secands multiplied by 1,000
will of cause give in feet the distance at which the
carrier may be found.

A NAUROW ESCAPZ.—Country Mag‘strate :
" Prieoner, you're discharged this time with a caution;
but if we eee you here again, you'll get twice as
much! ! "—Punch.

A WEDDING IN THE PASS OF Bit LEDUC—The
traveller through the famous pass of Brandir might
have witnessed on the evening of Thursday lest • scene
of peculiar interest, and of rare occurrence, even in the
Highlands—a wedding in the open air (days the
Scotsman). A youthful couple, residing near the Bonaw
Quarries, wishing to be muted in " holy bonds," sought
the service* of the pariah minister of Glenorchy to per.
form the marriage ceremony. That gentleman, premed
for time, could not conveniently go the whole fourteen
miles to Bonaw, but loth to diseppoint the lovers, he
agreed to meet them half way. The two most con-
cerned were quite satisfied with this arrangement, and
called together a goodly number of their friends, and
the whole marched in Highland fashion to meet the
obliging clergyman. The meeting took plr.vo in the
middle of the Pass, and without loss of time the com-
pany formed a group upon The green sward, and under
thaw romantic circumstances thenaptial knot was duly
tied. The health of the bride and bridegroom was
then drunk in usquebae, and dancing to the music of
the bagpipes was indulged in, while the griw rocks of
Craiganuni rang again with the cheers of The party
as they set out on their return to Bonaw.

PHILOSOPHICAL REPLICTIJN. How different
Ii the bias of men's minds! What opposite tendencies
they exhibit in their investigation of the phenomena
of mental science ! For example, the Lawyer inclines
to the abstract, the Builder to the concrete.—Punch.
RE-BUILDING THE ALEXANDRA PALACE—The
Builder etatia that the plans for the reconstruction of
Alexandra Palace having been drawn up and agreed
upon, the ruins have now been handed over to the buil-
ders, and the re-building of the palace will be com-
menced as soon as the ruins can be cleared away. It is
said that, with the exception of the walls of the centre
transept, the building will be entirely reconatructed.
The new palace is to be larger than the old building,
being both longer and broader. It is to hays three
tranrepta, one forming a concert-hall, another a theatre,
and the third is, it is stated, to be devoted to bursar
purposes. These will be connected by corridors, in
which light goods will be exhibited for sale. In some
respects the new building will resemble the Crystal
Palace, it having been decided that iron and glass shall
be largely media the construction of the building, It
I. expected to be completed and ready for openlog in
June next,

THE PEER AND THV, FISHERMAN ! —Hyslop
says —Rob Kers& wan a favourite with angters of all
claim s— ssith peer and peasant alike; and preferved
his self respect, and asserted his independent and
original character under all circumstances. I is related
that the Earl of Home was on one °caution angling
from Rob.a boat on the upper part of the blakerstoun
Water, and, as the day was favourable, he hooked and
landed several fieh in succession. As each salmon wae
knocked on the head his lordship retreehid 131w,selt
from hi. flak with much ser-congratulat, aol re-
turned i t to his picket without offering rat to the venerable
fiehermao. Rob gloomily bothie unwonted treatment
for • time, but at lath, seeing no prospect of amendment,
he deliberately pulled the boat to the shore, put up the
oars, padlocked it, and walked off in the direction of
hirtut. The Earl, thawed, called him to mime back,
as hi. day's sport was not nearly over ; but R replied
no ; them that drink by themsel' can fish by
, themeer ; and he left the peer to digest his mortifies.
tion as beat he might.

Duo BI F uL. correkpondent, who signs
himself " ttichard," and insinuate. that hie tu.,d'eat
income is not equal to his deserts, asks whether we
think the ' Edinburgh Dick That "would be disposed
to waist him. We advi..e him t apply to the Trustees,
and to encicae a. envelope ready stamped sad ad-
dr ;Issed.—Piench.

TRE 11,01( TRADE.—Tho re•
turns for 1872 show that the export a printed books
from this country in that year reached 81,422 cwt., of
the declared value of £893,914, an increase of no less
than 19 212 cat, in quantity and £164,872 in value over
the preceding year. Oa the other hand, the import of
books into this country was only 14,172 cwt., of the
value of £149,189, showing a decrease of 335 cat. in
the quantity and of £2.240 in value. We sent out six
times as much as we received. We exported our books
to the United States in 1872 to the value of £307,685;
to British North America, £81,590; to the West
Indies, £l3 563; to Australia. £181,084; to British
i"i&
FevaiCons Ei"n South toA
f rEgypt.
,277'748. 229 T
b;e export. B
rti*
iofhboPot
to European nations not speaking our tongue were not
very large :—To France of the value of £32,853; Ger-
many, £27,573 ; Holland, £19424; Belgium, £16,071.
Our imports of books, however, are mainly from ouch
countries—from France in 1872 to the value of
£46,958; Germany, £38,565; Holland, £lB,5ãC; Bel-
gium, £11,085; Spain' £8,150; Italy, £4,215. From
the UnPed States, to the value a only £13,560; Irmo
British North honericit only £1,493; and the import
from other countries named in the list of book exports
is not enough to find any pinots in the nifteial HO
' book imports.'

AN OILTECTION RIMOVED. A countryman
having applied to the manager of • bnkin Glasgow
to discount • bill which had three months awl ievee-
teen days to run, the banker, after carefully loulang at
both sides of it, so woe his invariable cuttom, said that
"it was not usual to take bills of • longer Jae than
three months;" upon which the Applicant, scratching
hie bead, and looking slily at the manager, said. "That
may be your usual way, air, but ye ken the days are
unco short at this time of the year ! " _ _

Munro:lsm Gtrr. —A new and handsome
perk was formally presented to the people of Birming-
ham on Monday In the name of Miss Ryland, a
benerolent lady to whom the town is indebted for
many previous valuable and enlightened benefacticos.
The new park, which derives its name from the estate
of Cannon Hill, of which it formed part, is situated
about two miles from the centre of Birmingham, in
one of its most picturesque suburbs, and oonWns about
66 acres of undulating and well•wooded land, which
has been laid out and planted with great taste, at the
expense of the donor. It contains two pools, one re-
served for boating and the other for swimming, and
portions of the park are specially laid out for archery,
quoits, croquet, &a The estimated value of the et
is £30,000. It was an express stipulation of the donor
that there should be no public demonstration on the
occasion of the opening, and the ceremony on Monday
consisted only of the presentation of the key of the
gates to the May or by Mr. Alderman Ryland in the IMMO
of his sister, and the distribution of a short printed
message from the lady among the public present. In
the course of the day some 10.000 or 12.000 people
found their way into the perk and testified their admi-
ration of Miss Ryland's beautiful gift.
A Mtraoav Aux:taros. —The Montgomery
(Ma.) Advertiser says: -A rather singular but well.
authenticated story comes to us from Baker county con-
oerning the queer conduct of an alligator which inhabited
a large pond, called the Goose Pond, near Lomax , on the
line of therßouth and North Alabama Railroad. A
man was going to the sawmill, with one or more logs
drawn by oxen, when he was attacked en route by one
of the many alligators which seem to inhabit that
curious spot. The gentleman, who was a plucky fel-
low, showed fight, and as an earnest of his hostile pur-
pose threw a pole-axe at his alligstorship, which the
latter disposed of as a hungry man would dispose
of a choice sandwich. In plain English, he swal-
lowed it, and then, as an earnest of what he pro-
posed to do, went for his assailant, who, fearing
that he might follow the axe if he remained, fled for
dose life. The alligator then attacked the oxen, and
had succeeded in killing one when the gentleman,
having secured reinforcements, returned to the sa-
guilt. An immediate attack ensued, which resulted,
after much effort, in the death of the amphibious
brute. It measured seven feet in length, and wail
regarded as a fearful object even in death.

'A
Nsm Arrnacnole.. —The curiosity of the
Pariaians ix to be gratified in a short time with the sight
of an object which would present but little novelty to
an Englishman (says the Mote). A man-of.war is to
sail up the Seine, and cast its anchor opposite the
Louvre. It Is now 21 years since a warship last
anchored within the limits of the French capital, In
1852 the frigate of the Port Royal was brought from
Nantes to serve the pro-pose of a 'school of nautical in-
struction, but it wee not destined long to fulfil this
national design. The scheme was found impracticable,
The Paridan youths showed a greater aptitude for land
service than for naval training, and the frigate, yielding
toneeessity, became a restaurant and *bathing establish-
ment. The French Government are about to renew
theattempt. The newlioating school I. intended forth.
education of midshipmen and naval cadets. Immediate
admission is to be given to the orphan children of the
victim of the Finch war who suffered during the siege
of the capital. The inauguration of this naval school
will be co 'ducted with great ceremony. That, at lomat,
at learnt, is a thing the French understand, and with
which the Parisians sympathize. The veeeel is to be
" paved " with flags and decorated with wreaths and
garlands. The clergy and the municipal authorities
and other civic functionaries will be invited, and from
an altar a priest will pronounce • blessing upon the
ship and the purpose to which it is devoted.

EMPLOYMENT FOR WOMEN. Miss Emily
Faithfull writes to inform us (The Times) that an In-
dustrial Bureau for Women, on the model of me she
recently saw working well in New York, will be opened
this month London. Its aim will be to provide work
for women by means of technical instraction, a registry
of profeseional, industrial, and domestic employments
in connexion with correspondence with the clergy and
others, and offices in New York and Chicago. Infor-
mation will be obtained respecting emigration, and a
practical course of training provided for young women
in various families. Lec'tireis will be given to working
women on household economy, cooking, treatment of
young children, and the laws of health, and there will
be • reading room, school for plain mewing, and cutting
out department. Miss Faithfull thinks the institution,
if supported by the public, will help women to help.
themselves, the truest form of charity.

THE PLAGUE or SPARROWS AND RABRITn._
The story of the Scotihman who acclimatised the
thistle in Australia is familar to all. Bad it, the thistle
is, two plagues have been legally and deliberately in.
troduced by the fames of the Acclimatisation Society,
sparrows and rabbits (says a contemporary). Tim
sparrow," forsooth, was to eat up the inflect plagsaws
which destroy so many fruits. He came, be had • law
passed to protect him f rem poisoned wheat and shot,
and he has filled the land; and now that he nap laugh
at the law, he will take DO insect as long as he can get
a luscious grape, or peach, or pear. The havoc Ile
makes in the vineyard or orchard LI something awful
to behold. The impudence of the sparrow is only pup.
passed by that of the rabbit. To relate what havoe he
has committed in these colonies in the few years he hsa
been here, and the rapility with which be has multi-
plied, is useless, for unless one hal lees it he c( not
believe it. It was in soino instances so bad that on
one station alone £5,000 wire spent in one y ear in an
attempt to clear the run.