The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-02-27 00:00:00

iltistetiamous ("ntelligtutt,

HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL.

ENGLISH SOLDIERS.—We hear that Count
Schouvaloff, on the occasion of a visit to some London
barracks 'in which a battalion of the Guards are quar-
tered, exclaimed, "I now see why England never can
have an Army !" He explained his meaning to be that,
rich as England was, it would be quite impossible for
her to maintain a large establishment on a scale of so
much luxury and comfort as he saw our private soldiers
enjoying. It must be remembered that. although
Count Schouvaloff is here as a diplomatist, he is a
soldier, and is more proud of his officer's coat than of
his ambassador's uniform. He served in the defence
of Sebastopol.—Army and Navy Gazette. .

THE ROLL OF THE LORDS.—There are 26
spiritual and 465 temporal Lords upon the roll of the
Lords. The total number—namely, 491—is one less
than the number on the roll of last Session. The name
of Prince Arthur, as Duke of Connaught and
Strathearn, appears on the roll for the first time.
The names of Lord Kildare (now Duke of Leinster)
and Lord Panmure disappear. The other changes
are but substitutions. The Earl of Clonmell and.
Lord Castlemaine take the places of two Irish repre-
sentative peers deceased; the Bishop of Ely comes
into the House on the retirement of the Bishop of St.
David's, and Baron Ravensworth is advanced to a
place among the earls. The House of Lords consists of
five Princes of the Blood, 28 Dukes, 32 Marquises,
171 Earls, 37 Viscounts, 26 Prelates, and 192 Barons.
John Wilson Patten, Lord Winmarleigh, is still the
junior Lord.
DUTY ON RAILWAY PASSENGERS. —From an
official document recently issued it appears that in
the year ended the 31st March last, the duty on railway
passengers had increased £7,636 on the preceeding
year. The sums were £507,079 in 1873 and £514,715
last year.

CLINCHING IT !—A New Englander, riding in
a railroad car, seemed particularly anxious to astonish
the other passengers with tough stories of Yankeedom.
At last he mentioned that one of his neighbours owned
an immense dairy, and made a million pounds of
butter and a million pounds of cheese yearly. This
story produced some sensation; and the Yankee, per-
ceiving that his veracity was in danger of being ques-
tioned, appealed to a friend as follows: "True, isn't
it, Mr. P.? I speak of Deacon Brown—you know
Deacon Brown? " " Y-e-e-s," replied the friend,
"that is, yes I know Deacon Brown; I don't know
as I ever heard precisely how many pounds of butter
and cheese he makes a year, but I know that he has
twelve sawmills that go by buttermilk."

SUPPLY OF WooL.—Our supply of wool from
abroad in the year 1874 reached nearly 339 rnillon
pounds. This was sheep and lambs' wool; adding alpaca,
vicuna, and lama, the import of foreign and colonial
wool into the United Kingdom in the year amounted,
in round numbers, to 343 million pounds, or above 25
millions more than in the preceding year. The de-
clared value of this great total exceeded 21 millions
sterling, or a million and a half more than in the
preceding year. But much of this imported wool leaves
us again' as it came, in its unmanufactured state' for
France, Germany, and other countries. In 1874 this
export from the United Kingdom of foreign and colonial
wool exceeded, 144 million pounds, and was 21 million
pounds more than in the preceding year, leaving in our
possession more than 198 million pounds, or about four
millions more than in the preceding year. Two-thirds of
our supply of sheep and lambs' wool now come from
Australia. The quantity arriving from Australia was
less than 60 million pounds in 1860; in 1867 it had
reached 13'31nillion pounds; seven years later, in 1874,
it had risen to more than 225 million pounds, and what
we should have done for wool without Australia is a
question more easily asked than answered. The above
statements are given in round numbers because the
figures taken present from the first entries of importers
partially, revised, are subject to some amount of
subsequent correction. _ _

INCREASE OF THE EPISCOPATE. Lord Lyt-
tleton's Bill, which has been printed, proposes to enact
that, upon sufficient funds being provided by voluntary
gift, the Ecclesiastical Commissioners may prepare
schemes for the erection of new Bishoprics in England
and Wales, with archdeaconries, and also, in such a
scheme, or by a subsequent separate scheme, may pro-
pose the creation of a Dean and Chapter or a'Chapter
for the Bishopric. But a scheme is not to take effect
unless approved by Her Majesty in Council, nor if
either House of Parliament address the Crown in op-
position to the scheme. New Bishops will sit in Par-
liament when their turn comes by seniority ; but the
whole number of Bishops sitting and voting as Lords
of Parliament is not to be increased. Her Majesty is
empowered to nominate and appoint to any new
bishopric until the creation of a Dean and Chapter or
Chapter.
THE "MORE DANGEROUS" AND THE "LESS
DANGEROUS." —The Council of State at St. Petersburg
has issued a report proposing to supplement the new
marriage law for the members of the various sects in
Russia by a series of regulations granting them further
privileges so as to place them more on an equality with
the members of the Orthodox religion. The sects are
to be divided for this purpose into two classes : the
"more dangerous" and the • less dangerous." Those
of the first class are to be allowed to hold prayerineet-
lugs in the houses appointed for that purpose, but only
if such meetings are not opposed to public decency and
order. The less dangerous sects will be permitted to
hold divine service in chapels, private houses, and
churchyards, provided they do not attempt to allure
converts from the Orthodox Church, and also to re-
open chapels which have been closed or fallen into ruin.
Their members are to be given passports for travelling
in the interior of Russia, and also for travelling abroad',
though they are not to be permitted to bring any
foreign members of any sect into the empire. . They
will also be admitted into the trade guilds, and allowed
to engage in commercial transactions under the same
laws as other Russian subjects; they will be eligible
for commercial appointments and various paid offices
under certain specified conditions, and they are to be
given the right of establialaing elementary schools,—
Pali Dfcca ChaftN• •
_

THE BEST SORT OF WOOLWICH INFANT. —The
Prince ImperiaL —Punch.

A CHEAP PLEASURE.—It is gratifying to
notice from time to time announcements in the news'
papers of gifts of toys to the children's wards of thd
various hospitals (remarks The Tinto). The happinesd
and real good derived from presents of this descriptioy
by the little sufferers who are surrounded by the sad-
dening evidences.of sickness and misfortune may be
easily imagined. No easier acts of charity can be per-
formed by ladies and heads of families than the re-
mittance of disused toys to the London hospitals._

- _
HOW A FINE BRIDGE WAS BUILT !—Many
years ago an ingenious plan was adopted by the Grand
Duke of Tuscany to rid Florence of beggars. It was
proclaimed that every beggar who would appear in the
Grand-square at a time mentioned would be provided
with a new suit of clothes free of coat. At the
appointed hour the bekr,gars of the city assembled, and
the Grand Duke, causing all the avenues of the squaiP
to be closed, compelled them to strip off their clothes,
and gave each one, according to promise, a new era.
In the old clothes thus collected, enough money woe
found concealed to build a fine bridge over the Arno ;
and the city, for the time being, was relieved of the
beggars by which it had been previously overrun, as
none would give anything to the well-dressed indivi-
duals who implored charity.
OLD STYLES OF DRESS REVIVED.—A pretty
brunette recently, at a party, wore a dress 149 year's
old; it was an heirloom in her famillft and had been
preserved with great care, having been worn by hes'
great grandmother (says the Court Journal). Thd
petticoat was of pale blue silk, very pale, very pale
indeed with age, and the overskirt, which was turned
back down the front, showing the petticoat, . was e
creamy white with great bouquets in raised brocade
strewn over it; an old-fashioned cape of rare lace
covered the shoulders, and deep frills of the same fell
from the elbow sleeves; a pair of long white Os
mits reached to the elbows; and the hair was done in
puffs and crowned with a high comb. The wearer a
this costume frankly remarked that it was complete el
her great-grand mother is supposed to have worn it,
with the exception of the shoes, which were too small
for her. A turban of lace and feathers was the head-
gear, and the young lady who wore this costume dis.
played an amount of heroism that would be remarkable
in a greater cause. One could easily see how we are
continually reviving old styles of dress in some forra
or other, and the brocaded over-skirts, white hande
kerchiefs, and powdered hair did not seem nnfamiliam
~.,,,
FELINE AMENITIES.—" By the bye, wars., .
I expect a great Friend of mine this afternoon—garf ,
Miniver."—"Horrid Man! I can't bear him.
"And why, pray ! "—"Because I know he Saki WI
—"Does he, really? I thought he scarcely knew yot4r
—Punch.
THE Two INNocENrs !—The other morning a
nice young man got into a carriage, and saw to his
delight a young lady acquaintance. He entered with
joyous strides, and her eyes answered his delighted '
looks. But just as he got there, an elderly parti
walked in, and dropped into a seat. The young marl
accosted the young lady—" How is your brother? is
he able to get out?" "Oh, yes," she answered. "%Vlll
he be very badly marked?" he continued, and the old
gentleman grew suddenly interested. "Oh, no," fig„ci
the fair one; "with the exception of a few small
marks on his forehead, you would never know he had
had it." "Were you not afraid of taking it ?" the j
young man went on, while the old gentleman fidgeted.
"Not at all," she replied; "I was vaccinated, yon I
know." The carriage seat was vacated instantly, and
the two innocent beings were left to enjoy each other'e,
society. The reward should be a breach of promise a 'A
, 1
marriage.—Court Journal. . -.1 1
NEWSPAPER STATISTICS.—The followma alt
tracts on the present position of the Newspaperl"ress . 4
are from the "Newspaper Press Directory' for 1875.
There are now published in the United Kingdom
1,609 newspapers, distributed as follows :—England--
London, 308; Provinces, 939-1,247 ; Wales, 58.
Scotland, 149 ; Ireland, 137; Isles, 18. of these there
are—daily papers, England, 98; Wales, 2; Scotland,
14; Ireland, 19; Isles, 2." On reference to the first
edition of this directory (1846) we find the following
interesting facts—viz, that in that year there were
published in the United Kingdom 549 journals; of !
these 14 were issued daily—viz., England 12, Ireland
2; but in 1875 there are now established and circulated
1,609 papers, of which no less than 135 are issued daily,
showing that the press of this country has very greatlf
extended during the last 29 years, and especially so in ,
daily papers, the daily issues standing 135 as against ,
1
14 in 1846. The magazines now in course of publication,
, including the quarterly reviews, number 643, of which '
' 240 are of a decidedly religous character, repre:enting
the Church of England, Wesleyans, Methodists,
Baptists, Independents, Roman Catholics, and other
Christian communities.
1 SCARCITY OF CLERGYMEN—The Ger Mad °Or-
respondent of the Guardian notices t at a similar
difficulty respecting the supply of candidates for the
clerical office exist in Austria as in Prusia and England,
Bishop Zwerger, of Seckau, lately announced ill 'ilb
sermon that in Styria alone 60 cures were vacant fielP
want of clergy to fill them.
THE TITLE OF ‘`REVEREND."—ArChdeaeaI
Allen reminds us (The Times) with reference to some,
remarks of Bishop Wordsworth, that the title 'Or
" reverend " in no way declares, a man to be a doll'
man. Two hundred and fifty years ago Masters La
Chancery were styled reverend.
Two CHILDREN FROZEN To DEATH.—h 6
New York Herald states that a fire attended with terrible
results has occurred at the house of a Mr. Daniels, at
Hartford, Connecticut, during the temporary absenee!,
of the father and mother. Their children, seveih ill
number the oldest being seventeen years, wereobliglid
to flee half dressed. One of them, a boy eight "year°
old, reached a neighbour's house, and was found -on
the doorsteps next morning nearly dead.- The °then,
took refuge in a clump cf cedars near by, and on the,
following morning when help arrived one of them, a gio
thirteen years old, was frozen to death, and another was
so badly frozen that life is despaired of.
REFRESHMENT FOR MAN AND BEAST.—TratiPl',
ler in Ireland (who has been into a Shebeen). "But are
you not going to bait the horse? "—Pat. "Is it bate
him? Sure and didn't I bate him enough corning
along? "—Punch.
TOBACCO STATISTICS.—Some curious statistics
as to the consumption of tobacco are given in the re-
cently issued report of the Inland Revenue Commis'
sioners. In 1841, the quantity cleared for consumption
was, in the United Kingdom, 23,096,2811b5., being la
ounces per head of the population; in 1851, the cfilan-
tity was 27,734,7861b5., or 11b. ioz. per head ; in liAll
the quantity was 35,413,84151b5., or 11b. 3Aoz. per head,'
' in 1871, the consumption was 42, 656,6581b5. ,or 11b. 'sitiz- ;
and in 1873, the consumption had increased to
46,315,0701b5. in the United Kingdom, or at the rate
of 11b. 61oz. per head. The consumption it is under-
, stood is still increasing.
AN INCORRUPTIBLE LEGISLATOR.—An incor-
ruptible legislator is a being to be tenderly regarded
And mentioned with awe. There are not so manY a
them in these days that even one should be permittad.
to waste his sweetness unremarked. We are accore'
ingly enraptured to present to public admiration Lb
Missouri gentleman whose constituents lately surly
moned him to his home on a certain Saturday evening.
The incorruptible sniffed gold-headed canes and ice- •
pitchers in the ambient air. Without one Pe2r -
minute's hesitation he plunged into the telegraP" oil
office, and sent the message that he'd rather not conic,
because, as he observed, " I understand that it is the
intention to make me a present of something appre-
ciative) I am," he continued gently, "and always
have been, opposed to public displays to officials le
the way of presents, addresses," &c. And then he
burst into this noble and lofty expression, worth,"
alike of the man and the statesman: "If you have
concluded to do anything of the kind, give it to n 39
wife."—New York Paper.

I

REMARKABLE ILLUSTRATIONS OF LONGEVITY
—The Times of Wednesday, the 24th, said :
The obituary of The Times of yesterday contained some re-,,
markable illustrations of prolonged existence in 13 persons--
viz., five ladies and eight gentlemen, whose united Ages
amounted to 1,103 years, giving an average of 85 years anti
more than two months to each. The oldest, as usual, was
lady, who had reached the great age of 99 years, the youngesl*
of the same sex being 82 years of age. Of the gentlemen the'
oldest was 85 and the youngest 81 years of age. The folloW:
lug were the respective ages—viz., 80, 81, four at 82, two s!
84, 85, 86, 89, 92, and 99 years The same obituary recordeu
the deaths of ten septuagenarians, Whose united ageg
amounted to 766 years, giving an average of 75 years an
more than seven months to each On adding these to the
former a total of 1,864 is given, thus showing the remarkable ,
fact that in a single day's obituary in The Times the deathi
of no less than 23 persons were recorded who averag
more than 81 years of age.
PERFECT CURE FOR A CLERGYMAN. —A Cnra'-.
of Souls.—Punch.
THE USE AND ABUSE OF THE GYMNASIUM."'"
—The public generally is warned that exercise in the:
gymnasium is not confined to moderate limits, but '
may mean work of a much more serious character '
(says the Court Journal). The weak and the strong
alike are led step by step until the point of endurance
has been passed by many, in a vain attempt to emulate
feats which should be attempted only by the most
powerful and skilled gymnasts. Indeed, some of the
performances daily practised by many young men
should be absolutely prohibited in the gymnasiunl.
It is hardly necessary to say that great discrimination
should be made in regard to the character of exercise"
suitable to each individual; and that it is particularlY
true in the case of young men and boys, who are the
most constant frequenters a the gymnasium. During
the period of adolescence, injuries may be inflicted
which will eventually break down the most powerful,
frames. Cases of this kind are common enough to the
physician. - The remedy is a simple one. Place the
gymnasium under the control of a medical officer who
shall be the solo judge of the exercise suitable for each
individual. Exclude acrobatic performances alto-
gether, and we shall hear less of strained hearth and
weakened lungs, while severe injuries will be unknown.

U

A NEW COMPLAINT.—A young gentleman in
the Civil Service, who has been absent from his dutieg 4
for some days, wrote to the head of his department *
yesterday that he is suffering from (Refreshment)
Room-atism.—Pl(ll ch.
HOSPITAL FOR ANIMALS.—The Brown Insti•
tution in the Wandsworth-road is a curious feature in
London at present (remarks the Medical Press and
Circular). Lame dogs sick horses and donkeys, form
the out-door patients of this hospital. It was estab-
lished by a gentleman who died 20 years ago, leaving -31 P
over £20,000 for this purpose, bequeathed to the Chao'
color, Vice-Chancellor, and Fellows of the Universi,7
of London for the purpose of establishing and upholu.;
ing an institution for investigating, studying, (Wu --
without charge beyond immediate expenses, endeavour-
ing to cure maladies, distemper; and injuries which
any quadrupeds or birds useful to man
may be found
subject to. During 1873 there was about 7,000 ani-
mals, chiefly horses and donkeys, receiving treatment
at the Brown Institute. Many of the horses, it was
found, were the property of rich proprietors, so that
the trustees have lately restricted the benefits of the
charity to the poor. Hence, last year, not more than
4,000 animals attended as out-patients. Of these 800
were doffs, and among these about 12 cases of rabies.
The endowment of the charity gives only some 000
a
rear, which, after all expenses are paid, leaves nothing
or the purchase of diseased or injured animals of
thOif caxcmo for Oat proaaction Qocitmcip,a;gb