The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-01-15 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.

Hobart Pasha, who has just been appointed a Mar-
shal a the Turkish Empire, is, it is stated, the first Chris-
tian who has been raised to that dignity.

At an informal meeting of English Liberal Mem-
bers of Parliament, held during Tuesday afternoon, it was
resolved by upwards of thirty who were present to abstain
from voting altogether whom the question of coercion in
Ireland comes before Parliament.

The Registrar-General reports that last week scarlet
fever showed the largest proportional fatality In Sunder-
land, Norwich, Nottingham, and Oldham; and whooping-
cough in Nottingham, Portsmouth, Sunderland, and Leeds.
The highest death-rates from fever (principally enteric)
occurred in Plymouth, Leicester and Leeds.

An outbreak of trichinosis has just occurred at
Hoerde, in Westphalia. Thirteen persons are lying ill.

A large meeting has been held at Augusta, Georgia,
at IN hich a branch of the Land League was iormed.
There seems to he some apprehension of an epidemic
of polygamy in. the United States, and which is said to be
spreading from Utah.
At the quarter sessions held at Windsor, there
being no prisoners for trial, the mayor presented the re-
corder with a pair of white gloves.
The Constantinople Correspondent of the Daily
News telegraphs :—" Preparations for war against Greece
continue with undiminished activity. Recruits are pouring
In, and every effort is being made by Turkey to make its
army and navy effective."
The Times states that the Government will support
the second reading of the bill for closing the public-houses
in Wales on Sundays, which stands as the first order of the
day for Wednesday the 6th of May next. According to the
same paper, Sir Wilfrid Lawson will not introduce the
Permissive Bill during the present session.

An American paper says that church-going in
Toronto was seriously at by Lord Beaconsfield's latest
work. " Endymion' as first put on sale in that city on a
Saturday night, and next morning half the churches were
empty.
I.els are the national dish for Christmas Eve in
Ifsly, no pious Catholic failing to make a sumptuous
supper oil this favourite dish on his return from visiting the
Bambino. On New Year's Day superstitious Italians eat
seven times, in order to secure plenty of food during the
coming year.

In reference to the report relative to the strength of the
navy, the Daily Telegraph says it is able to state that neither
will the number of boys trained for the navy be uduced nor
will any able-bodied seamen be discharged. ThNavy Esti-
mates will remain as they were, since the present Government
proposes to carry out the plans of the late Adminiztration
without any material change.

A Dundee telegram says that on Tuesday, while
two children, a boy and girl, named Williamson, were play-
ing on the ice on a tidal loch at Gell, in Shetland, the ice
gave way, and both were drowned. The accident was un-
observed by any one, but a dog which accompanied the
children carried off the boy's cap and ran with it to the
parent's house, thus giving information of the accident.
Both bodies were recovered.
The effective of the Standing Army in France for
the present year has been fixed at 498,000 men, of whom
nearly 53,000 belong to the Algerian forces. rhe total is
divided as follows :-4,174 men for Staff service, 3,122 un-
attached, 2,670 unclassed in the other Corps, 283,563' in the
Infantry, 68,758 in the Cavalry, 68,762 in the Artillery,
11,005 Sappers, 11,630 in the Train, 18,025 in the Commis-
, sariat Service, and 26,459 Gendailnes. There are 26,968
officers, 121,914 non-commissioned officers, and 349,615
_rank
and _ . _
" NEURASTHENIPPONSICELESTERIZO. Why have I
not heard since I left England? I have written. Am ever
thinking and longing for reunion. God bless and keep you,
Same demon line. Deeply grieved to hear of your suffering.
—Advertisement in The Times

The ratepayers of Huddersfield have by a poll re-
fused to adopt the Public Libraries Act, 1855.

Notices have already been placed in the Order Book
of the House of Commons for as late as the second, third, and
fourth Wednesdays in June.
It is just fifty years since the foundation of King'
College, London, and the governing body propose to cele-
brate the event by a movement in connection with the
higher education of women.

The latest returns all indicate activity in the labour
market. The concession of 5 per cent. in wages by the
manufacturers commenced this week to the weavers, and
there is every reason to believe that the same will be made
to the spinners and the room hands in a few weeks. The
Iron trade continues very brisk, and prices are advancing.
Viscount and Viscountess Tarbat have sustained a
domestic bereavement by the death of their infant son, who
Lived only two days. The funeral, which was as private as
possible, took place on the ith, the child being buried in
Brompton Cemetery, only Lord Tarbat and the Duchess of
Sutherland attending.

•
The South Wales tinplate associated masters have
caused notices to be put up in all their works to the effect
that after Jan. 31 instant a reduction of wages will be made
to all foigemen, peddlers, and others, amounting to between
10 and 15 per cent.
Some of the high-speed trains in France now nearly
approach the rate which our long-distance expresses travel,
and merchants and others in that country have recently
asked why they cannot travel as rapidly as the English.
The answer of the railway companies is that fares are one-
third less than here. Perhaps the majority of English
travellers would be oontented to lose twotor three miles an
hour U they could save 30 per cent of their fares.—Echo.

The Daily Telegraph understands that the Juvenile
Offenders Bill, mention of which, for various reasons, did ,not
appear in.the Queen's Speech, will be introduced shortly after
Easter, by which time the various reports that have been
demanded from the Justices of the peace throughout the
country will, in all probability, be received.
The students of the Berlin University have asked
the Rector to institute a searching inquiry for the pnrpose
of establishing the fact that the members of the University
had no share in the anti-Semitic disturbances which occurred
on New Year's Eve.

In London, on Monday evening, Cardinal Manning
presided at a tea party and concert in the Shoreditch town-
hall, given by the Catholic Total Abstinence League of the
Cross, of whieh organization he is president. A short
address was delivered by the Cardinal on the evils of intem-
perance and the great importance of the work in which the
League is engaged.

Some thirteen years ago, a benevolent Quaker lady
founded a little hospital for sick children at the Hackney-
road, London. From this humble begining there has grown
up an inbtitutiou—thenEastern Hospital for Children—which
last year admitted 397 in-,patients and administered to the
wants of 13,472 out-patients.

"On the 20th Dec., killed in the action with the
Boers in the Transvaal, South Africa., Herbert Augustine
Christopher Harrison. Lieut. and AdjUtant 94th Regiment,
third son of the late Rev. C. R. Harrison, Vicsii of North
Curry, Somersetshire, aged 24. "—Monday's Obituary in The
Times.

It is said that a great industry is springing up in the
cultivation of the handsome white blossom of the pampas
grass, that has become so much in request for decorative
purposes. The profit that can be made out of this in Soh
California seems to be limited only by the means of culti-
vating it.

After a fire that took place on Sunday night at
Wapping had been extinguished, the lifeless body of a little
girl was found by the firemen in the wrecked building.
The bodyproved to be that of Mary Dwyer, aged nine years,
daughter of William Dwyer, who tenanted the house, and
who occupied the third and ground floors. The body was
dreadfully burned. Two of the other occupants of the
house escaped by the roof, from which position they
were brought down In safety by the conductor of the fire-
escape.

The Temperance Societies and Orders of New
South Wales have united in an address to iiir Wilfrid Law-
son, M.P. congratulating him on the passing of the Local
Option Resolution. The address, which is elegantly
illuminated, was presented to Sir Wilfrid on Monday after-
noon, at the London Offices of the Alliance, 52, Parliament-
street, S.W. by Mr. Saul Samuel, late Postmaster-General
of New South Wales, and now residing in England as Agent-
General of that Colony.

Regarding the origin of the name " Endymion,"
a Lincolnshire correspondent says that a track of land con-
taining 2,200 acres, in North Somercotes, on the Lincolnshire
coast, was embanked from the sea from Endymion Porter,
wader letters patent granted to him by Charles 1., dated the
28th April, 1648. A portion of the tract was set apart for
Sir Jervase Scrope, as Lord of the Manor. The entire en-
closure is still known as " Porter's Marsh."

Mr. Sheriff Cropper, speaking at a social meeting
at Nottingham, said the places of worship in this town
would not accommodate more than twelve of every hundred
of the population, and that not even that number attended
worship.

In connection with the British and Foreign Sailor's
Society it has been resolved to give two prizes of £.lOO and
£.50 for two essays on "The British and Foreign Mercantile
Marine, how best to improve, afloat and ashore—the
material, mental, and moral well-being of our sailors."
Writers must distinguish their essays by a motto, which
should also be written outside sealed envelopes, containing
their names and addresses, to be sent with the essays before
August 31, 1881, to the Adjudicators, Sailors' Institute,
Shtulwell, London, E.

In London last week 2,913 births and 1,510 deaths
were registered. Allowing for increase of population, the
births exceeded. by 81, whereas the deaths were 324 below,
the average numbers in the corresponding week of the last
ten years. The 1,610 deaths included 33 from small-pox,
71 from measles, 41 from scarlet fever, 11 from diphtheria.
33 from whooping-cough, 7 from en t eric fever, 3 from ill-
defined forms of continued fever, 17 from diarrhcea, one
from dysentery, and none from typhus fever or simple
cholera.

The following sums have been inscribed in the
year's budget of the city of Paris for works of fine art :
Paintings, sculptures, engravings, and medals, 300,000!.;
for encouraging the composing of music, 10,000 f. ; for
historical and topographical publications about the city,
69,000!.; for the Ecole Nationale des Arts Decoratifs,
10,200 f.

Eight new tea gardens have been opened during the
past year in Julpigoree and the same number in Darjeeling,
the total number of gardens at the present time being 37 in
the former district, and 152 in the latter ; 11,079 acres are
now under tea in Julpigoree and 37,327 in Darjeeling. The
yield lithe season Is estimated at a total of 5,538,0401 b. for
the two districts, as against 7,535,9801 b. in the previous
year.

The report of the Local Government Board for the
year eptlel the 29th of September just issued, shows an in-
crease of £51,959 in the net annual value of rateable pro-
perty in Ireland during the year, an increase of £16,421 in
the total amount of poor rate, of i'-700,921 in the total
expenditure under the Poor Law, and of 195,518 in the
number of persons relieved. There was an xcess of expen-
diture over poor rate of £.188,799, which was partly met by
Parliamentary grants. There is still, however, a deficit of
£25,000 over the total receipts.

It is announced that over 90 per cent. of the cmptoyes
of the Brighton and South-coast Railway have accepted the
terms offered by the company and contracted themselves oat
of the Employers' Liability Act.
Sunday (9th) being the anniversary of the death of
King Victor Emanuel, in Rome numerous deputations repre-
Bolting public bodies and societies of various kind,' went in
pFocession to the Pantheon to present garlands of immortelles
In token of respect for the memory of the late King. The
day was also observed in several provincial towns, and
notably in Palermo. .

On -Sunday afternoon Thomas AcCallen and Wil-
liam Tames Tedford, both about sixteen years of age, were ,
drowned at Belfast. With a number of other lads they
were on a sheet of ice, on a pond, when the ice gave, and
as their companions were unable to render assistance they
were drowned. The bodies were afterwards recovered.

An American editor says he has given 20,000 dollars
for a race-horse in order that he may catch defaulting sub-
scribers. Another, having heard that drowning men re-
member every event of their lives, advises his defaulting
subscribers to bathe in deep water.

A third death has resulted from the recent railway
collision at Leeds; Eva Mosley, aged fifteen, who resided
at Normanton Common, having died on Monday night in
the Leeds Infirmary. The other sufferers are reported to be
doing well.

In the division on the motion for the adjournment
of the House of Commons on Saturday the minority (40)
were composed exclusively of Irish members belonging to the
Home Rule Party. Some Home Rulers, including Mr. Shaw,
Mr. Smyth, and Mr. Collins, declined to vote with their col-
leagues on this occasion, and the only one who supported the
Government in opposition to the motion was Major O'Beirne
(Leitrim). Twelve Irish members were in the majority, of
whom five were Liberals and seven Conservatives, leaving 51
to be accounted for out of a total of 103.

Very little hope now remains of the safety of the
barque liannah liorris, which left the Mersey on the 6th
September, bound for Philadelphia, and has not since been
heard of. On leaving Liverpool the vessel, which had on
board a thousand tons of iron and a general cargo, and was
under the command of Captain Charles A. Dunbar, was
manned by a crew of sixteen hands, all of whom it is feared
have gone down with the vessel. Four months have elapsed
since she sailed from the Mersey, and ii is stated that her
owners have ceased to regard her as being still afloat. She
belonged to Windsor, Nova Scotia.

Mdlle. Surlemont and three young men who were
skating on Sunday on a pond near Brussels were drowned.
One of the young men was not on the ice when it gave
way, but lost his life in trying to rescue 31dlle. Surlemont,
who was only 18 years of age.

A number of Roman remains have been dug up out-
side the railway station at Metz. Among them are three
skulls, which, according to Professor Schaffhausen, of Bonn,
belonged to three different peoples. One is that of a civi-
lized German, another that of a low German of the tribe of
the Trisians, and the third is of Lappish origin. There were
35 vessels, four metallic objects, three coins, and two tomb-
stones with inscriptions found. The spot on which all the
objects were dug up was, it appears, the chief burial ground
of Roman Metz.
The amount of proceeds of the splendid fête given at
the Hippodrome in Paris last winter, for the benefit of the
French poor and the sufferers in Murcia, has just been an-
nounced by the Committee. The fete and the sale of the
"Paris-Muscle Journal" realised between them nearly
350,000 f., the greater part of whist' sum has been equally
divided, Paris and the Departments receiving each 75,000 f.,
while 150,000 f. go to the Spanish province, the reraainder
being for the present deposited with the Societe Generale.
Mr. William I'Anson, the celebrated trainer and
breeder of racehorses, died at his residence. Hungerford
House, Malton, at five o'clock on Monday afternoon, after
a lingering and painful illness, at the advanced age of 70
years. The cause of death was cancer in the bowels, the
effects of which had been felt for many months, and which
confined Mr. I'Anson to his room for several weeks prior to
his death.

The London correspondent of the Man&tester Guar-
dian says he has the best authority for saying that our com-
mercial treaty with France will come under the considera-
tion of the French Government within the next few weeks.
The most prominent of french statesmen is of opinion that
the result may be a relkxation of the existing restrictions
upon trade between the two countries, but he thinks it
difficult to forecast the effect of Protectionist obstruotion in
the Senate.

The Constantinople correspondent of the Standard
states that official information has reached the Porte that
the Turkoman victory in the late'engagement at Geok Tepe
was crushing. General Skobeleff had a famous white horse
shot under him, to the dismay of the superstitious soldiers.
Confirmation arrives from another quarter that the Russian
force eencentrated at Natchivan, on the Persian frontier, has
broken camp and is marching with hostile designs towards
Geok Tepe -
On Tuesday part of an empty house in a court in
Gem-street, Birmingham, fell in suddenly, and two boys,
named William and Robert Curtis, who had been playiug
Inside, were buried in the &brie. William, when extri-
cated, was found to have Sustained a number of severe
bruises, and Robert, upon whom an immense pile of ma-
terial had fallen, was killed.
The Prince of Wales, being on a visit to Lord and
Lady Aveland at Normanton Hall, Rutland, had an excellent
day's shooting in time South Park, at Normanton, on Tues-
day. In the middle of the day the Princess of Wales, Lady
Aveland, and a number of other ladies met the Prince and
the shooting party in a large marquee on the lawn where
luncheon was served.
-

It has been arranged that Lord Dalhousie shall in
future represent the Home Department of the Government
in the House of Lords, in succession to the Earl of Fife, who
has resigned his appointment.
In London on Tuesday Lord Sydney, Lord High
Steward, was presented with the freedom and livery of the
Tinplate Workers' Company at a special meeting of the
Court, held at the 34staton House. The presentation was
'made "in reeognitioirbf the great services rendered by his
lordship to the State." Earl Sydney, in thanking the guild
for the honour conferred upon him, said that he believed
the funds of these companies were administered with
liberality and justice? and for the benefit, in most in-
stances, of the trade for which they were specially in-
stituted.

Many preachers seek to impress their hearers with
the fact that life is short, but forget it in their sermons.
Boston Globe.

Some of the members of the French School at
Athens, while making an excursion along the western coast
of Asia Minor, have discovered close to Budrum (Halikar-
nassos) the longest Greek inscription yet known. It was
lying at the bottom of a spring of clear water at which they
had halted for their midday meal.
A vigorous attempt has been made to enforce
Sunday closing in Philadelphia. The chief of police in the
Quaker City, on beginning the campaign against Sunday
drinking, announced that the whole force of the constabu-
lary would be employed in the work. Any officer omitting
to report any violation of the law was threatened with im-
mediate discharge. "We mean war to the knife," said he.
'You are to act in this matter without fear or favour.'

The gold mines near Candahar are said to be
gradually yielding a large outturn, owing to their being
worked on a more comprehensive andiecientific plan
The revenue of New South Wales for the past year
year is returned at £4,912,000, showing an increase of
£430,250 as compared with 1879; for the quarter ending Dec.
31 last, the revenue of
.Victoria amounted to £1,252,000,
being an increase of £193,000.

The Great Western 'Railway Company have circu-
lated bills offering a reward of £5O for information leading
to the conviction of the person or persons who recently
placed on the up main line about ball a mile east of
West Drayton Station, an obstruction calculated to throw a
train off the rails, and at the same time tampered with the
down-line signals with a view to misguide the drivers in
charge of trains. Information is to be given to any of the
company's stationmasters.

The oxford University Boathouse, which had just
been completed at a cost of over two thousand pounds, was
destroyed by lire early on Sunday morning, and more than
forty eight oared racing boats belonging to the various Col-
leges were destroyed at the same time.
Six young persons were skating on Monday even-
ing on the river Lossie.at Elgin when they fell into the
water. One of them was drowned. .

The Chief Registrar of Friendly Societies, in his
report for the year ending 31st December 1879, just issued,
gives the names of 174 registered trade unions in England, of
which 130 hare made the return required by law. These
possess funds to the amount of £272,413, and an annual in-
come of £257,439, with an aggregate membership of 2,853.
Scotland has 33 societies, with funds amounting to £16,408,
income £20,065, and 12,596 members. Twenty-eight societies
are returned for Ireland, having £2,229 in funds, £2,930
annual income, and 2,440 members.

Saturday (the Bth) was the 17th anniversary of the
birth of Prince Albert Victor Christian eldest son of their
Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, and
grandson of her Majesty the Queen. Prince Albert N. ictor
was born at Proginore, near Windsor, on Jan 8, 1804, and was
baptised at Buckingham Palace on March 10 following. He
became a naval cadet on board H.M.S. Britannia in June.
1877, being transferred to the Bacchante in August, 1879,
and is now serving in the latter vessel with his younger
brother, Prince George of Wales.

In the United States army leave of absence for
sheoting and hunting is counted as regular leave, in order
to make those who obtain it thorough frontiersmen.
It has more than once been stated that Lord
Beaconsfield has for some years been preparing materials
for his autobiography. It is said at such is the case, but
the work is intended for posthumous publication, and that
Its revision and completion will be undertaken by Lord
ILowton, should be survive his chief. More interesting than
any romance is the true story of Benjamin Diaraells upward
career.— Court Journal.

Numerous serious accidents have occurred in Ame-
rica. Thirteen persons have pexished by the burning down
of the main building of the Straniord County Poor Farm in
New Hampshire. Nine persons were killed and three
fatally injured by an explosion at a rolling-mill at Allen-
town, Pennsylvania. Three others were killed at Newark,
New Jersey, by an explosion at the- smelting works in that
town; and four more perished by an explosion at a brewery
In New York.

Those who complain that 31s. 6d. is too much for
" Endymion" in London can have Lotd Beaconsfield's last
novel for nothing in Paris. Hachette has brought out some
thousand volumes of the French translation, and the Gaulois
has bought up the right of sale of all the copies that issue for
the next three months. That paper sells to all corners the
two volumes of 6501 pages for the price of 3s. 4d. (four francs),
but gives the booklor nothing to all its general subscribers
as a premium 1 This will circulate both the novel and the
rlewspaper.—Court Journal.

A curious New Year's custom is still kept up at
Oxford. The members of Queen's College are entertained
at dinner in the college hall, and to each guest present the
provost hands a needle threaded with either red, black, or
blue silk, representing Divinity, Medicine, and Law, with
the injunction, "rake this and be thrifty."

At a maas meeting on Saturday of the men em-
ployed at the Bridgwater Collieries, near Manchester, it was
resolved to stay away from work until the employers with-
drew the notices requiring the men to contract out of the
Employers' Liability Act. About 6,000 men are therefore
now on strike.—A similar resolution was come to at a meet-
ing at Pendelbury, about the same number of miners being
affected.—About 2C,000 miners in Bolton and Wigan districts
have refused to work rather than contract out of the Act.—
A petition to Parliament to make the Employer's Liability
Act compulsory is being extensively signed by miners.

The Bristol Sanitary Authority ha now made
arranqementa for testing in the central streets the use of the
electric light._ _ _ _

The Lim Times is informed'that Mr. R. P. Blenner-
hasset, M.P., intends this session to reintroduce his three bills
to amend the marriage laws. Cne of these bills proposes to
extend the hours for the solemnization of marriages from
eight a.m. to six p.m., but renders it optional with the
clergy of the Church of England to solemnise marriages
after twelve. Another proposes to relieve the clergy from
the obligation of marrying divorced persons.
-- - -

- -
The balance-sheet of the Dublin Mansion House
Relief Fund shows that during the distress the total amount
received by that committee was .£181,065, and the balance
transferred to trustees amounts to £.2,550.

_
The Standard understands that four out of five of
the members of the Irish Land Commission have signed a
report which recommends the adoption of the principle of
thity of tenure. A separate report has been prepared by Mr.
Kavanagh.
The American Rifle Association has declined Earl
Stanhope's invitation to compete with a team representing
Great Britain and Ireland in July next.
On Monday afternoon the Empress Eugenie visited
the Queen at Osborne. It is understood that the Empress
will not leave the Isle' of 'Wight until her new abode Is
reader for use, the Queen having placed Osborne Cottage at
her disposal.

A serious ice accident has occurred at Skelmersdale,
where two boys went to a clay pit, and one of them who
venture ion the ice fell in. Two lads came up and ran to
fetch, young trfan named Bell, a neighbouring shoemaker,
who :rawled on the ice and seized the boy. Ile was
gradually drawing him to the side, when the ice broke, and
both went under and were drowned.
A fine specimen of the osprey or sea eagle
(Helicetta atbicilla) wasp shot at Veira, Orkney, the other
day, and brought to Kirkwall. The bird measured 6ft. 6in.
from tip to tip of wings; tail, if t. long, and from bill te tip
of tail, 21 t. 10in. The outer quills of the wings were 21t.
In length.

The York Herald announces the death of Mrs.
Clifford, eldest daughter of Sir John Lawson, of Brough.
The sad event took place on the way New Zealand, whither
deceased was accompanying her husband, to whom she was
married only last spring.
At Bolton, on Monday, a shocking aocident occurred
at the foundry of Messrs. Hick, Hargreaves, and Co. A
number of men were on a large travelling crane, which was
being used to lift an engine weighing about fifty tons. When
it had been raised a few feet from the ground the cross
beam of the crane gave way, and the whole apparatus, to-
gether with the hands, were thrown to the ground. One
man fell under the beam, many tons in weight, and was
crushed to death. Seven others were seriously injured.
The Revenue returns for the past year are thought
in financial circles to be very satisfactory. Unfortunately
the expense of the re-conquest of the Transvaal and the
armed occupation of Ireland will make sad havoc in Mr.
Gladstone's surplus. The monthly cost of the Basuto war
Is said to be £330,000, or £4,000,000 the year 1 What, then,
is the Transvaal war likely to cost? Here is a question
which will lead to warm debates in Parliament.

A despatch received at New York from Havana
announces the destruction by fire of the Excepcion Cigar
3lanufactory. Seven persons perished in the flames.

A deputation of Delegates from Trade Councils
waited upon the Home Secretary last Saturday to ask that
more factory inspectors might be appointed. Sir W. Har-
court, in reply, spoke of the constant difficulty of keeping
down the public expenditure, and of the nucessity of avoid-
ing friction in the working of the Factory Acts. He would
do all he could to make the existing force of inspectors
more efficient, and would take pains to ascertain the pro-
portion of inspectorships to the work to be done. Mr.
Gladstone agreed with him that the artisan class had a fair
and strong claim to be represented in the inspectorships.