The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-10-24 00:00:00

_ „
Metropolitan 6osstp.
M OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.

[The remarks under this head are to be regarded as the ex-
Mash. of independent ophdon, from the all of a gentleman
In whom we hove the greatest coeflalowe, but for which we
teverthele,s do net hold ourselvea reeponsiblai

The work of canvasseing for rival candidates, for the
honour of a seat on the House of Commons benches, is
going on actively here, as elsewhere, and we may
expect nearly another month of it. About the middle
sif the darkest, dullest, and dreariest month of the
year—that month during which Englishmen commit
suicide, as the French profess to believe—we shall be
all engaged, boroughs and counties, in the actual work
of election. A general election is a bonne bouche for
some people, but take it altogether, it is commercially
rather a bail thing for the couutey. It is true that an
immense amount of money changes bands through
electioneering movementesfnen first to last. It would
he width knowing how much henry is thus spent.
Shall we say two millions sterling ? But on the other
hand, trade and commiree are deadened by all this
poliNcal excitement ; iso that on the whole, it will be
a good thing when the general election that is now
looked forward ti with on much interest, passes into
the domain of history. It is worth remark, however,
that the forthcoming electoral contests will not, as a
whole, be nearly so expensive as general elections have
hitherto been. Two very impirtant changes will come
into eperatii es Paid agents are not allowed. "From
henceforth to employ an elector is to disfranchise him.
Whatever be the capacity in which he is hired or em-
ployed for reward in connection with the election, such
employment uot only prevents him from with% for the
candidate who employs him, but prevents him from
voting at all during the election." The other regula-
tion that will come into force, is the abolition of the
right to convey electors to the pa This alteration
will have one effect, whatever other result may be
produced. It will reduce the excitement of the ex-
ternal features 14 the contest, and as to "the humours
of the election" the-re will not be so much of that as
formerly ; and so much the better.
The revolution in Spain appears to be developing
itself at peacefully, that it is not surprising that no
great amount of interest is manifested itt it here. To
say that the news from Spain excites no interest would
be to say too much ; but Anse anarchy or military
despotism have not followed revolution, as is so often
the case, people read the Spanish mews as a matter of
course, and with no excitement. Perhaps, of niece
moment than the news from the Peninsula is that from
France, if, indeed, we niay take it out of the region if
rumours and place it in the category of news. The
Emperor if the French, it is said, intends to invite the
European powers to disarm, and it is certain that con-
siderable reductions are to be made in the French
army. Bit we nmst not forget that a reduction in the
army of France does not mean the same thing as the
same step in our own army. The system of furlough
in France enables the Government to have a hold on
the men who, for a time, cease to be soldiers, and they
can easily be recalled to active service should occasion
require it. Toe much reliance, therefore, must not be
placed on nominal reductions, and it will not do to
have implicit faith in the rumour of the Emperor
calling on the European powers to reduce their armies.
It has long been known that this is a favourite theory
with Napoleon the Third, but it is evidently one that
it is very difficult to put into practice.
Efforts are being made to get up another South
London Working Men's Exhibition. Such a scheme,
I suppose, amuses the projectors, and does not hurt
impose "Inc ; but these ',Keil exhibitions in London have
hitherto been such failures as exhibitions, and have
degenerated into such advertising bazaars, that no one
hut those immediately concerned can be expected to
take much interest in them.
There may be seen on several id the hoardings; of
London a miserably-printed placard, purporting to be
is "proclamation to the believers in the divine mission
of Johanna Sonthcott." It is net worth quoting, so
strangely is Scripture jumbled rip with a curious jargon
which can only be the offspring of ignorance and
fanaticism ; but the fact is worth 4jutting, as showing
that there more still believers in the imposture which
this noterioua woman originated. Many must have
read of the strange influence which Johanna Southcett
exerted, thiewh, to judge by her pie trait, she was the
very embodiment of onperstition and fanaticism. At
the early part of the present century she had thousands
of fellow, s, awl among Boni were many persons of
biji so :chit ,n. She pretended t• " the woman
spoken of in the 15k of Bevel:Mb and declare:l that
she would be the " mother of the promised Shileh."
She diel in 1014, but it is well known that for tremy
years afterwards her ifs or dupes, Were still very
numeroni. That there are still mane loft, or that other
fanatics have risen up in the place of those who have
died, is shown by the names awl addresses appended
to this proclania•ien. But, after all, is this so very
remarkable, when we call to mind that Mormonism
gill exists in all its hideous deformity ?
The Smoking chime in the new Railway Regulation
Act is working very well whir- ilireCtorit interp: et
in a liberal spirit the loos ly•werdell terms of
the enactment, but as dirsiters 1111 not always
tide, there are, r.rilaw, on the while, sue many
disputes about the ri lit to oreeke imd the imisanceS
of smokisg as ever. And perhaps it will be well
to leave it thus, fir no possible legislatien can
wholly meet the difficulty. The other day I Was in a
second-class compartment on a line where the directors
are supposed to be very strict in their non-fumigatory
regulatiees. Four gentlemen in thus compartment were
smoking before the train left the station. " You must
not smoke here, gentlemee," said a functionary very
politely. " All right," said one of the smokers, popphig
into the hand of the official a white and lawful coin of
the realm, the palm of the said hand being conveniently
placed for its reception. A knowing link of gratitude
accompanied the receipt cd the bribe, and just as the
train was moving off, the zealous hut discreet official
repeated, with a roguish twinkle in the eye, " Mind,
no smoking, gentlemen." That man may be a railway
(Erecter yet ; but he posseeses a by no means singular
talent.!

Without expressing any opinions for or against
Trades' Unions, I cannot lint remark on the importance.
which the group of questions connected with this I,
subject is now assuming. Mr. Roebuck recently
remarked at Sh.•ffield, thst the Irish Church and Trades
Unions would lie the two principal questions during
the next Session of Parliament, and thousands of
pci phi think with, him. Ihe ninny theories and
problems arising out of the gcneral question ar, now
being more eagerly discussed than ever, the unionists
having their organ in the Beehive, and the non-unionist
party being represented by the Free Labour Journal,
while journals of the highest clans are giving us the
pro and con of the controversy. During the next
session we shall, in al probability, have a measure
iiropoaed to give security to the funds .4 Trades' Unions,
and then perhaps the whole subject be discussed
in the two Houses. No proposition can well have
greater interest for the entire community.
We heard the other day of a pauper being sued for
the price of pianoforte lessons to his daughter. But
can we not see the same mixture of pride and poverty,
the same stuckupishness, in the ranks a little above
this? Here, for instance, is an advertiser who tells us
that in his school, where home comforts are studied,
" a limited number 14 young ladies are boarded and
instructed at four guineas per quarter, including
French, music, singing, drawing, flower painting, and
dancing." That is to say, that for Is. M. a week—
which most people would think cheap for the lsardhig
and lodging of a " young lady," not only these are
offered, but an education which, if carried out as
promised, would, under ordinary cireuinstrires be very
expensive. Now any parent who womd send his
daughter to a boarding sclmol where the terms are so
ridiculonsly low as sixteen guineas a year, can scarcely
be in a very good position in life; and yet a
poor man is asked to have his lam 411t,r taught French,
music (the pianeforte of course), singing, drawing,
flower-painting and dancing ! Not a word is said
about needlework, the accomplishment "which would
be most valuable to the laughter of is man who can
only afford sixteen guineas a year for her education."
Probably the answer to any demand of this kind
wind() be, " Oh, we expect that she will be taught that
at home" Anil this if a 'nether who was, perhaps,
never taught needlework at aIL It is really lamentable
to see such a mockery of "education' as this, put
forward with the bait of cheapness, to tempt those
who ought to have their daughters taught needlework,
cooking, and household management. Supposing the
"young lathes" at this "establishment" grow up to
marry mechanics or artisans? Of what avail will it
be to a man who has but scanty furniture and no
piano—that his daughter can play an instrument that
she is never likely to have? If she cannot make or
mend her own and her chilt‘relis dresses what consola-
tion to a husband will it be that she understands
"flower-painting I" a branch of art, by-the-bye,
that does not bring bread-and-cheese to its pro-
fessors.
It seems that next summer we are to be treated to
another aeronautic exhibition at the Crystal Palace,
.ind advantage is to be taken of the mistakes and
failures of the present year. Really these aeronautic
enthusiasts nmst have unfailing faith in their science
or art, or whatever else they call it, but they never
seem to get ally nearer the goal of success. The wind
is still their master. The Crystal Palace and Cremorne
expenments of the past summer have only proved
this, and at a loss of such a sum as would have founded
is hospital.