The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-06-11 00:00:00

Pisrtilanegus 1-ttelligentt.

HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL.

ALPHA AND OMEGA.-Mr. Gladstone is the last
survivor among the eminent statesmen who have held
the office of Premier. Our friend Mossoo would there-
fore regard him as at once Premier and dernier.
Funny .Folks.

THE WARS IN AFGHANISTAN AND SOUTH AFRICA.
- The London Gazette of Tuesday evening announces
that the Queen has granted permission to Various
regiments engaged in the recent campaigns in
Afghanistan and South Africa to bear on their colours
the words "Afghanistan," "South Africa," in com-
memoration of their gallant behaviour. Some of the
regiments engaged in Afghanistan are, in addition to
bear on their colours the names of action d in which
they specially distinguished themselves. The follow-
ing are the regiments referred to :-(Afghanistan)-
6th Dragoon Guards, Bth Hussars, 9th Lancers, 10th
Hussars, 15th Hussars, the sth, 7th, Bth, 9th, 11th,
12th, 14th, 15th, 17th, 18th, 25th, 51st, 59th, 60th,
63rd, 66th, 67th, 70th, 72nd, 78th, 81st, 85th, and 92nd
Regiments, and the Rifle Brigade; (South Africa),
Ist Dragoon Guards, 17th Lancers, and the 3rd,
4th, 13th, 21st, 24th, 57th, 58th, 60th, 80th, 88th, 90th,
91st, 94th, and 99th Regiments.
AN ANCIENT GREEK CEREMONY.-One v:try ancient
Greek ceremony, strangely enough, has survived to
our times. It is the cutting off the tip of a tongue at
the dinner-table and keeping it "for luck." The
origin of this, which is mentioned in Homer, Sopho-
cles, and Aristophanes, seems to have been the sym-
bolical offering to the gods of the organ of voice, inter-
pres lingua through which even animals, birds es-
pecially, were thought to utter sounds communicating
to the knowing (i. €., to the impostors, the piiests) the
will of the gods. These " tongue-tips," which last
for many years, and become in time as hard as a piece
of wood, I have known to be kept in families who
could never be induced to throw them away as " rub-
bish ! "-Fraser's Magazine,

AVERAGE PRICES OF BRITISH CORN.—The following
are the average prices of British corn for the week
ending June 4, as received from the inspectors and
officers of Excise :—Wheat, 435. 10d. ; barley, 30s. 2d.
oats, 235. Bd. per imperial quarter. Corresponding
week last year :—Wheat, 445. 7d. ; barley, 28s. 4d.;
oats, 255. 3d.
PRECISELY.—It is a fact, not nearly so generally
known as it might be, that the man who cuts his
heirs off with a shilling, need not, as a matter of
course, do so with a silver razor.—Judy.

ELEGANCE WITH ECONOMIL—The Rational Dress
Society has great raison d'être. What can be much
more reasonable than trying to promote individual
taste, in the choice of attire; to improve feminine
costume with respect to health, comfort, and beauty;
and to limit the fashions to changes requisite on those
grounds alone? Fathers and husbands, and bachelors
also of moderate means who would fain marry but
fear to, think how considerably domestic happiness
would be cheapened by the success of the Rational
Dress Society—granted its real rationality and the
entire difference of its Associates, in that point, from
those ancient Bloomers whose grotesque attempts at
Dress Reform were as blossoms nipped in the hit I.
Punch.

FATAL ARTILLERY ACCIDENT IN GERMANY.7A
Reuter's telegram, dated Graudenz (West Prussia),
June 2, says :—During artillery practice this morning
at the fortress a shell dropped in the midst of a mark-
ing party while performing their duties at the target.
Three officers (captains) and two gunners were killed
on the spot, and a colonel, two artillerymen, and a
civil engineer were injured more or less severely.
AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS.—A week of exceedingly
hot weather without a drop of rain has put a good hay
crop beyond the bounds of possibility, as a rule,
throughout the country (says the Alark Lane Express.)
The rain has come too late to help the first cut much.
All the fodder crops, trifolium, tares, sainfoin, and rye
are exceedingly small; whilst the layers—which are
very weak and patchy—have ahead been fed off once
or twice by sheep. Peas on light soils begin to give
out, and the spring corn has been in very great need
of rain. The wheats are doing well on all the deep
soils. It is difficult to see how the price or the demand
for store stock can improve, until feed is more plenti-
ful. Stock, however, are generally doing well, and
this is usually the case after a dry time ; the little
there is for theml is good.
" MEDICINE MADE EASY."—Brown.—" Yes, miss,
I dew look prooty well, but I suffers horful from
rheumaatic gout."—Young Lady.—" Well, Brown,
why don't you go to the dispensary down there and
get something for it ?" B.—" Noa, noa, miss, my
wife 's a-taakin' physic from theer, fur bronkiters, an'
now an' then I takes a good long suck at it." Y. L.—
"Well, but it might be quite wrong in your case,
Brown." B.—" Well, you see, miss, what I ses is
this, what's sauce for the goose is sauce fur the
gander ! "—Fun.
A REVISED EDITION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT IN
WELSH.—On the motion of the Bishop of Llandaff,
seconded by the Bishop of St. David's, it has been
resolved at a representative meeting of Welsh Church-
men to take steps with a view of having a revised
Welsh edition of the New Testament. The basis
adopted will be the text used by the translators of the
revised English text.

THE GRAVE OF WILLIAM PENN.—The Pall Mall
Gazette remarks :—" It is with a feeling of relief that
most people will read in the papers that the trustees
of the cemetery in which the remains of William
Penn lie buried have not sanctioned the removal of his
ashes to another soil. More than half of the charm
of English travel lies in the association of our church-
yards and of the burial grounds in which the
troubled souls of the Nonconformists of bygone
generations at last found rest. Even in the grave-
yards of the Natiorial Church the proudest prelate of
the age not unfrequently lies side by side with the most
strenuous supporter of an antagonistic creed. William
Penn is in the company of those with whom he acted
during his public life, and with whom he agreed in
religious belief. No ground of equal appropriateness
could be found in America for his bones to rest in.
His grave is the object of frequent pilgrimages from
intelligent Americans, and in its present position it
has for them an interest which would be utterly
destroyed were it transplanted from amid his friends
and fellow-workers."

VIOLET CULTIVATION IN GERMANY.—Potsdam is at
present the chief place of violet cultivation. Some
gardeners are said to winter as many as 20,000 pots,
of which 5,000 are kept in blossom, so as to furnish
daily about 100 dozen of flowers. The price per
dozen during the winter months varies, according to
demand and supply, from thirty to seventy pfennige
(seven to seventeen cents). At Berlin, Charlottenburg,
and Leipsic the cultivation of violets is also very
extensive. The gardeners have succeeded in raising
small violet-trees by preventing the plant from
blossoming for several years and managing to have it
grow upright by carefully removing the lower leaves
and shoots. In this way a miniature tree is gradually
obtained of palm-like appearance, about fourteen
centimetres high, which, with its fine crown of
leaves and its• luxuriant blossoms, presents a most
charming appearance.

THE ELECTRIC RAILWAY AT BERLIN.—The electric
railway between the Lichterfeld station and the
Central Cadet Institution has (the Berlin correspondent
of the Standard says) proved such a success that it has
been decided to extend it. The line is first to be con-
tinued to Teltow, and subsequently to Potsdam. At
road crossings the conductors of the electric current
are in future to be laid under the ground, so that
horses may not be exposed to a shock. This precau-
tion is absolutely necessary. The other day a horse
fell while crossing the steel rails when the current was
in circulation, and another bolted from the same
cause.

OPENING OF A NEW PARK AT WOLVERHAMPTON_.
Upwards of 20,000 people assembled on Monday to
witness the opening by the Mayor of the first public
park for Wolverhampton. It covers an area of fifty
acres, which have been leased from the Duke of Cleve-
land for sixty•five years at an average rent of £350 per
annum, with option of purchase afterwards. The
land has been beautifully laid out, and planted with
about 40,000 shrubs and trees. Eight acres are occu-
pied by two connected ornamental lakes, spanned in
the centre by a bridge. Ten acres were set aside for a
volunteer ground, and there are also archery and
cricket grounds. The total expenditure has been about
£15,000. The opening ceremony was attended bor the
Corporation, magistrates, and members of the public
bodies of the town. Afterwards a luncheon was given,
at which over 300 guests sat down,
VOLUNTEER AMBULANCE TRAINING.—It has been
officially decided (says the British Medical Journal)
that at the great Volunteer Review, which is to take
place in the presence of the Queen at Windsor on the
9th of July next, a complete bearer company will
march past, and that the whole of the medical arrange-
ments on the occasion will be placed in the hands of
the Volunteer Medical Service, under the direction of
one superior officer of the Army Medical Department.
His Royal Highness the Commander in Chief has
further now sanctioned two men per company of every
Volunteer corps being specially trained in ambulance
drill ; and these trained men, after receiving certificates
of competency, will be distinguished by a badge on
their uniform, the pattern of which is now sealed in
War Office. It it estimated that the force will number
ab0ut,4,500 men.

SALE or JERSEYS IN AMERICA. —The famous
dSuitacepdsobnyhethrde oficslierasremyusahl ass been
aleof
aconlasrigdeersaeblelyctiroen-
which took place at Simpson Homestead, West
Farms, New York City. On the first day twenty-
nine animals wete sold for 15,340 dols., making an
average of 528 dots. and 93 cents to each. This is the
largest averageever made in a sale of Jerseys. The
gem of the sale was the eight months' old heifer calf,
Alphea Princess, which obtained 2,225 dols., the
highest price ever paid for a Jersey of her age. On
the second day of the sale sixty-six animals were sold
for 18,647 dole.

FULLER'S EARTH BEDS.—The American Register
states that innumerable beds of Fuller's earth, or rock
soap, have been found in California and Nevada.
This earth has detergent properties of a searching
character, and Indians 'prefer it to our soap. Its
great weight has been a bar to its general use, but a
factory at Oakland is making an excellent soap by
grinding it fine, and interworking cocoanut and other
oils, and potash. It is specially superior for cleansing
wool, removing stains of tar, grease, etc., and its. use
is capable of extension for other purposes. Agricul-
ture finds it highly insectivorous, whilst in powder
the refuse is & ferbiliser.

KILLED ON THE RAl.LwAY.—Frederick Robbins,
ticket-collector-at the Great Western Railway Station,
Bath, met with an accidei2t on Tuesday which re-
sulted in hi death. The unfoltunate man fell between
the brake van and the carriage attached to the fast
express from Paddingtonr arriYing at Bath at two
o'clock. His right leg was nearly severed across the
upper part of the thigh, and he wa, otherwise dread-
fully muti)ated. He was removed io the hospital,
where he died about six o'clock on TutsAday evening
in great agony. He leaves a wife and twb childrral
FATAL EXPLOSION.—Between four and nye o ,
the other afternoon an explosion occurred at Derby..
It would appear that a man named Taylor, along
with two other men, were employed near the top of
Mount-street in "flushing" the sewers for the cor-
poration. He had to go into the -passage under the
ground with a lights and no sooner E-20d he entered
than a tremendous explosion of foul air oseurred. He
was hown with great force up through the month of
the sewer, one side of his head being completely
carried away. Death must have been instantluieow;.
His fellow-workmen also received injuries, but are
progrcssing satisfactorily.
A USEETI, HINT.—The Lancet remarks :—" Just':
now, when a sudden though probably brief visitations
of fine and warm summer weather entails a small'
plague of flies and insects it is well to remember that
the prompt application of an alkali to the bitten part
allays the irritation and commonly at once relieves the
suffering consequent on a class of injuries which,
though small, are often exceedingly annoying and even
troublesome, especially in the case of children and
persons with sensitive skins. Soda and ammonia will
answer the purpose."
" VACCINATIOII."—(A Derby week remirriscenotj
—City Clerk (reading letter to office). " Sorry to sar
that, having been vaccinated, I am compelled to-keep,
my arm in a sling. The doctor has recommendedi
perfect quiet, 113 feverish symptoms have developed'.
So it is with great reluctance, &c.,
"All right ! That 'll do. I 'll call for you early, and
we 'll be off by an early train !"—Punch„

HOW HE LOOKS.—The aspect of the bicyclist
always produces an indescribable sadness upon the
spectator (says the Court Journal). The silence
with which he is surrounded may perhaps be the
cause of the feeling. The iron horse approaches
without other warning than the faint tinkle
of the little bell suspended in front, which,
sends forth a tremulous melancholy sound, very
different to the joyous clang of the waggoner's,
peal, which cheers the heart of the traveller on the 3
solitary road. The aspect of the serious shadow be-
striding the bicycle is saddening in the extreme.
His whole heart and soul seems intent upon the
avoidance of some peril which he knows to be &ate
at hand. He can neither turn to look behind, nor
respond to the friendly greeting right or left, but
is compelled to fix his glance upon the way which
lies straight on before him. He is too well aware:
that the least deviation in his course, the least im-
pediment in his path—even an upturned sod or
the print of an horse's hoof—may bring him to the
ground with a tremendous shock. Such a fall is but
lightly spoken of amongst the bicyclists, but the
doctors will tell you that as serious an injury may
result from such an accident as by a throw front al,
horse in the hunting field. And when the iron horse:
and his rider have passed us, there is no "long ox_.
lingering look" on our part, for the back view of our
friend is of all aspects the least graceful and capti-
vating.
A FAILURE THIS TlME.—First Casual Acquaint-
ance (who cannot for the life of him recollect whom he
is speaking to).—Deuced odd thing, but—er—l never
can recollect how you spell your name. Second Casual
Acquaintance.—Deuced odd, for there isn't an abso--
lutely embarrassing variety of ways of writing Tones!
—Funny Folks.
SPONGE CULTURE. From the recently-issue
report of Professor Baird, the Fish Commissioner to.
the United States, we glean some very interesting
facts regarding the recent development of this
industry. Among the more recent enterprises in the
way of the artificial propagation of aquatic animals is
that relating to the artificial propagation of the sponge
of commerce. Professor Oscar Schmidt, of the
University of Gratz, has been so successful in hie
preliminary efforts in this direction that the Austrian
Government have authorized him to attempt the.
development of the industry on the coast of Dalmatia.
The process is very simple, consisting in selecting the
proper season in the spring, dividing a living market-
able sponge into numerous small pieces, and then
fastening them to stakes driven into the sea bottom.
These fragments at once begin to grow out, and at the
end of a given time each one becomes an entire sponge,
According to Dr. Schmidt, three years is a sufficient
length of time to obtain from very small pieces fair-
sized sponges. In one experiment, the cost of raising
4,000 sponges amounted only to £9, and this included
the interest for three years on the capital employed.
DERBY DIALOGUE.—" Beautiful view : " exclaimed
a novice at the Derby as he stood on the hill-side,.
"but it's curious that one doesn't see any gentlemen's
residences about; no country seats, no—."—" Take
my glasses, my boy ! " interrupted his sporting friend;
"look straight across, and you 11 see Archer's Seat
and Archer's Mount. That's good enough for me."—
Punch.

GEORGE HERIOT'S HOSPITAL. —The 318th anniversary'
of the birth of George Heriot, the founder of Heriot'si
Hospital, Edinburgh, was celebrated on Monday at
Edinburgh in the usual manner. In the forenoon a
sermon was preached in new Grey Friars Church by
the Rev. Dr. Lees, of St. Giles's Cathedral. Immed-
iately afterwards the hospital boys and the children of
the outdoor schools to the number of about 5,000, who
receive a free education, assembled in the hospital
grounds, where they were addressed by Lord Provost
Boyd. The entire assemblage united in singing an
anniversary song in commemoration of Heriot's birth,
and the proceedings closed with the National Anthem.
A large number of spectators were present.

LORD SANDON AT LIVERPOOL.—On Monday Via-
count Sandon, M.P., formally opened the Fancy Fair
and Bazaar in Stanley-park, Liverpool, in aid of a new
church and some charities of Kirkdale. In the course
of his speech Lord Sandon said that everybody who
had gone much about among working men knew that
they were fully as ready for all the ordinances, com-
forts, and support of religion as any of those in a
different position, and what he would suggest as a
matter of practical advice was that the wealthy
churches in the town should, as they had in London,
each take up tome poor church in a poor district, as an
outlying part of the rich church, not only spending
money there, ut spending sympathy.
SALMON FISHING ON THE TAY.—The largest salmon
that has been taken from the Tay this season was cap-
tured on Monday in the nets of the Cock station,
below Newburgh. It weighed 561 b., and was in
splendid condition. Another monster fish weighing
491 b. was caught on Saturday. No fewer than
seventy-seven prime fish were taken at one station last
week. The fishing has somewhat improved.

THE LARGEST ORCHARD IN THE WORLD.—American
papers state that an orchard belongiug to Mr. Kinstry,
an- situated on the banks of the Hudson, contains
24,000 apple-trees, 4,000 cherry-trees, 1,600 pear-trees,
500 peach-trees, 500 chestnut-trees, 200 plum-trees,
15,000 grape vines, and 6,000 raspberry-trees. Mr.
Kinstry's fruit garden is said, in fact, to be the largest
in the world. Of apples alone he sold last year
upwards of 30,000 barrels, and a proportionate
quantity of the other kinds of fruit,

FASHIONS NO RATlONS.—Certain battalions of the
Militia are about to "be assimilated to battalions of
the regular Army as regards lace and frogs." Are
"frogs" to be on the menu of every mess? Ah !
Waterloo is avenged—or nearly.—Punch.
CLAN TARTANS.—As to the method of dyeing the
yarns of these fabrics the Highlanders of old did
not wander to foreign lands, or borrow from foreign
looms ; their eyes were accustomed to seek the dyes
that lay at the door. They took the blue hyacinth
for the purple of their tartan. They took the blae-
berry also for the same purpose. They used the
alder bark for black, the willow for fresh tints. They
sought their lovely crimsons and gorgeous yellows
from the moss on the great grey rocks, called crotal,
also another variety called crotal dubh, or nlack
dotal. They use the plant called rue, which
grows low in the sands, binding the same and
preventing it from driftine; in our Western Isles, in
such quantities, for their reds, that at last the
plucking of this herb was forbidden, for it loosened
the sands and spoiled the crops. General Stewart
says he saw tartan 200 years old, w'uch still re-
tained much of their original brightness. The cup
moss—a crotal moss—was gathered in 1808 to the
value of £5OO in the Aberdeen district alone. With
bullocks' blood and lime Highlanders could also dye
tartan.

PLACE FOR LESTRETES TO LIVE.—Too-Too-ting.--
Punch.

A SWEET GlRL.—Within her large dimly lighted
chamber, Mattie's toilet was proceeding joyously.
Stepping from mirror to wardrobe, from table to
cupboard, she hummed a tune in the pauses be.
twixt directing the maid and submitting to her
nimble fingers. All went well ; the glossy locks
were knotted up, the fragrant blossoms wreathed in
and out between them, the white robe was on, and
the pearls were clasped round the soft young throat.
Completely arrayed she stood, and no fairer foun had
ever been reflected in the ancient pier-glass than that
which, like a pensive lily, with hanging head, almost
too shyly satisfied to look, paused for a last survey in
front .—Black-wood's Magazine.
THE WHITE HAWTHORN.—UnIess some old tradi-
tions are next winter to receive a rude shock we ought
in proper sequence to have one of extreme cold. If it
is not BO to be, why all the vast preparation being
made by Nature for the provision of food for the
feathered tribe? Can the "oldest inhabitant" of
these isles (a somewhat apocryphal but not the less
possible being) remember in any past spring, however
remote, a more luxuriant bloom upon the hawthorn
than is everywhere seen now ? The hedgerows that have,
thanks to the survival of some good sense, not yet been
levelled to the ground are white as snow with won-
drous masses of flowers. Burdened with the weight
of floral beauty, the long branches droop and hang in
graceful elegance, forming festoons of flowers that
extend for long distances. Single trees, or trees in
clumps, are beautiful objects, quite eclipsing the
chestnut in floriferousness, though less noble in out-
line. The town dweller, who finds almost a new
sensation when gazing upon this abundance of
Nature's floral wealth, strives somewhat roughly to
gratify the natural craving to possess some of these
delights by making sad havoc amongst the branches.
Still there is enough and to spare ; and if in some
dark court, or perchance sick chamber, eyes too
little accustomed to the beauties of rural scenery
are for the moment gladdened by the sight of the
may in all its unwonted charms, who will care
to chide the marauder? The holly, too, has been
full of bloom, and is setting berries in great quantities.
This fact will perhaps give more tangible pleasure to
humanity than will the mention of the wealth of white
hawthorn bloom, because the red berries will, in the
dull leaden winter, gladden mar eyes and hearts at the
Christmas festive season. Then the singing birds have
a decided preference for the haws over the berries of
the holly, and these we shall not grudge them. Thus,
whether a hard winter comes, or the winter season be
characterised by comparative mildness, the birds will
have no lack of food, and we shall have bright red
berries in plenty to deck our Christmas firesides,—
Otwienere Chroniele*