The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-08-09 00:00:00

Our fo6on (Eorrtsponbtitt.

that we do not at all time.
respondent's opinions

[We doom it right to
drably ourselves with our

state

Parliament is prorogued, and the Session of 1873,
with its toile and its hopes, it. excitements and its dis-
appointments, is at an end. Both Lords and Com-
mons sat on Saturday last for the purpose 4,1 hurrylng
on the 1,11Pi11.18 upon the notice paper ; the routine
work was rapidly wound up, the Royal message releas-
ing the Legislature from its duties was considered at
• meeting of the Cabinet on Saturday, approved by
ber Majesty at a council held at Osborne on Monday,
and now both peers and commoners have separated,
not to assemble again until February next. No longer
does the Lower Honse resound with the triumphant
shout of the Ministerialiste or the ringing cheer of the
Opposition. Toe Speaker's mace has been carried
away by the Sergeant-at-arms ; a barrier Is drawn
across that part of the House marked by the position of
the table, and the place is left to the charge
of the courteous attendant, who on the clays
when admission is permitted by the Lord Chamber-
lain, explains to visitors the different obj eta of
interest in the building. "These, Keotlem, n,
are the division lobbies. The ayee tile ed to the
right, and the IV,es to the left. That (pointing to
a prominent seat on the bit of the Speaker's chair) ie
where Mr. Disraeli sits ; that (indicating the centre of
the Treasury bench) lathe seat of Mr. Gladstone. This
(pointing to that part of the Howe nearest the door)
Is the gangway, where the indepeudent members oat
the Liberals on the right ; the Conservatives on the
left." This is the sort of talk which will be heard iu
the House of Commons during the next six months,
and strangely it seems to contrast with the polished
periods of the Prime Minister, or the playful satire of
the Opposition leader. Does it ever occur to any of
your readers that each returning session finds these
two eminent men a year older? There they have sat,
facing each other, year after year, yet it is evident that
time is telling upon both. Mr. Disraeli is theisenior of.
his rival by four years, and will be GS in December
next, Mr. Gladstone's birthday is also in December,
when he will be 64. The assembly of which they are
ornaments is proud of both, for the removal of either
would leave • blank in the Howse of Commons which
It would be difficult if not impossible to till.
The London papers have been busily engaged in re-
viewhig the work accomplished by Parliament during
the put session. There is, however, one bill which the
legislature has not bad time fully to consider, but which,
notwithstanding, is of great importance to the coin-
nullity. It was introduced by Sir H. Selwin-Ibbetson,
for ensuring the greater Wets- of three who travel
by railway. The debate upon it excited such little in-
terest that it was summarily cut short by a count-out,
and there was, of course, an end to the matter for this
session. What is called the" block system" has often
been recc,mmentled.by am Board of Trade, but it is
not generally carried out. Where it is in operation
there can be no chance of collision, because only one
train is permitted on the same line of rails between
any two signalling stations at the same time. Some
of the railway companies decliue to adopt it because it
Ii expensive; °there plead that it involves the loss of
time. Still the safety and security of the travelling
public ought to be one element of consideration.
I suppose that very few persons come to London
from the country without paying a visit to the Tower.
But there is little doubt that in the metropolis itself
there are large numbers who not only never saw
this historic building, but are never likely to do so.
Still, there it be, as it has stood for centuries, seemingly
• massive incongruity in the very heart of the busy
capital. Rising from the banks of the Thames where
Its surface is covered with shipplrg, the Tower, with
Its courtyard., airing grounds, and Jeswbridgee, covers
• space of twelve scree. It wae an idea of William
the Conqueror, and the object of its construction was
to overawe the citizens of London. It has alternately
been s enlace, a fortress, and a prison. The Kings
and Queens of England, from the time of the Con-
queror to that of Elizabeth, occasionally resided in the
Tower, and it warn here that King John was resting in
fancied security whilst his barons assembled at Runny-
mede, and having drawn up Magna Charta, marched
to London, and compelled him to sign it. It was
here that Henry the Second took refuge from the com-
bined attack of the citizems of London and of the barons.
The tower is recorded as having been the principal scene
of action during the rebellion of Jack Caste, in the
reign of Henry the Sixth; it was the spot where the
two young princes were murdered at the command of
Richard the Third ; it witnessed the splendid installa-
tion of Anne Boleyn so one of the Queens of Henry
the Eighth, and here also she was executed; it was
the prison of Archbishop Creamer and Bishop Latimer,
during the reign of Queen Mary. The visitor is also
shown the dungeon where Sir Walter Raleigh was c
tined for the long period of thirteen years. The bull log
Is now one vast armoury; implements of destructi .n
which have served their purpose in all ages are there
exhibited. One interesting collection conaiete of the
.rms and instruments of torture which were taken
from the ships of the Spaniards when the country was
threatened by that emit Armada which, instead of
descending upon our shores, was scattered by the com-
bined action of our little fleet and of tbo winds of
Heaven. The Crown jewels are &leo kept in the
Tewer. These are said to be worth two millions
sterling, and as may beentieipatel, the treasure is very
strictly guarded.
The reference which I have made to ti .v Spaci.h
Armada recalls to mind the distracted state of tint un-
happy country at the present time. Three hundred
years ago Spain thought herself sufficiently strong to
Invade this kingdom; but what a Iffereece betwe,n
the two nations now! Whilst our flag is floating upon
every sea, and our Influence is felt in every clime, our
Invaders of that day have fallen to a position no better
than cue of those South American republics which is
being c instantly rent to pieces by civil war. And it is
ovident that no enormity perpetrated by savage races
.—not even excepting the Maories and the M 'does—
has been beaten by the horrors lately enacted in Spain.
That country has been compared to a patient under
treatment in a hospital, and the best friends of a
beautiful and fertile land look forward to the time
when she will emerge from the present dreadful ordeal,
purified in the furnace of affliction. Let us hope so,
for the present condition of Spain is a scandal to the
cause of civilization, and a reproach to the name of
humanity.
As the preservation of the health of such a vast
popadation as that of London is of the utmost im-
portance, a Select Committee of the House of Corn.
MOIL was appointed some time ago to inquire into the
expediency of continuing noxious businesses in the
midst of this crowded province of houses. Amongst
these are Included slaughterhouses and fellmongera'
factories, and the committee have just reported that
theme are 'till to be permitted unless • came of nuisance
can be established against them. At the same time
the committee recommend that all trades likely to
become noxious should undergo regular and stringent
inspection. This suggestion, it is hoped, will not be
allowed to remain a dead letter, especially in the face
of the fact that one case of Asiatic cholera has already
been reported in the metropolia.
One season has passed away, and another has
arrived. When Parliament Is up, what is called the
London season may be considered at an end. Then is
the time for the Thames boating season to commence,
or rather to be in the midst of its glory. Upon every
mile of the river above Richmond, more especially on
Saturday afternoons, boats may be seen in scores, and
It is evident from the facet of the eccupants how much
they enjoy the health-giviug exercise. Occasieually
we hear of very sad accidents taking place either
through the carelessness of a boating party, or owing
to the recklessness of a river steamer. There can be no
doubt that many of the latter are not so careful as
they might be over the safety of the smaller craft,
They slacken speed little, if at all, on coming near
thew, while en the other hand many of the boat-hirers
put themselves into the very wash of the steamers, by
which they run a great risk of being swamped,
although the chances are that cot one in the boat is
able to swim. Your readers may rely upon it
that when a fatal accident occurs the fault is not
Always on the side of the steamer.

The Improved Dwellings' Company appears to be
tazryiog On a good work in the metropolis. The Lord
Mayor Is chairman of the undertaking, and the half
yearly meeting, over which his lordship presidetc was
held at the Mansion Rouse • few days age. The
object is to provide better homes for the wt,t Mog
climes of London, and the company has, so for, suc-
ceeded in supplying accommodation to ely u: 7,500 per-
sons. The death rate In these dwellings is only fifteen per
thousand while that of the whole metropolis is 21. This
is mainly attributable to the excellent construction of the
buildings, for sound sanitary principles are recognieed,
sad there is good ventilation both front and back. The
sevaribed capital, on which • dividend of 5 per cent.
Is reel:lady paid, amounta to 1:213,000, while the rents
during tire part six months have produced more than
£12.000. Contracts have been taken for erecting
additional dwellings in the Commercial road, in White
chapel, in Pinalicotroad, and on the Bethnal Gr.. n
ortate•—•ll crowded localities, in which better houi
for the people will be highly appreciated.
A Tractile Guild of Learning was lately formed to
promote technical education in the various trades and
industries practised in the United Kingdom, and last
!Saturday, before the Marquis of Ripon went to the
Cabinet Connell, • deputation waited upon hislordship,
urging the Government to take further steps for the
promotion of technical instruction amongst the artisan
clam. Ono point upon which especial emphanb was
laid was the establishment of Art schools in annew

tion with the museums, and it was pointed out to Lcrd
Ripon what a boon this would be at the Baste, .1,
which now possessed a museum in Bethnal Green.
One of the speakers declared that when the British
workman travelled he was reminded of his inferiority
in many branches of manipulative skill, and that this
was entirely owing to the want of appliances for
technical education in his own country. The Marquis
of Ripon promised that the views of the speakers
should receive every consideration; and from the
increased importance now attached to this question,
there is little doubt that something will be done.

Last Monday was one of those institutions which
seem to increase in popularity the more frequently
they occur. The Act passed by Sir John Lubbock for
the establishment of pericdical Bank Holidays, be-
sides proviling for Eager Mon lay, Whit Monday,
and Boxing day, included the first Monday in August
in the favoured list, thereby providing a break in the
long space between May and December. Last year,
upon the Awes:, holiday, the wrath T was wretched
in the extreme, and considerieg that immense numbers
of the p ipulation had been so long looking forward to
It, and that it was the only day they would get until
Curiettnas, the 'Mu was looked upon as little short of
a calamity. This year the elements were much more
propitices. There was none of that overpowerirg
heat of which I spoke lot week, and which, however
bent ficial it might be in forcing the crops, is anything
but pleasant to the dwellers in a crowd, d city. The
weather was now really everything that could
have been desired for such a day. There was
a beautiiiilly cool teinuerattue, and a light pleasant
breeze, and the number f persons who bought out-door
remeation was enormous. You might have pawed
through street aiter street in the city, and thorough-
fare after thorougaare in the suburbs, awl you would
have found the route characterised by long lines of
closed shops, the assietenta in which were scattered in
all directions, blessing the thoughtfulness of the hon.
baronet who represents Maidstone in the House of
Commons. At the Crystal Palace there was a great
holiday fae which combined all the attractions of that
popular place of resort. Such out-door places of amuse-
ment as the Surrey Gardens, Cremorne, and the North
Weolwich Gardens were very largely patronieed, while
those who preferred Kew, Richmond, and Hampton
Court were enabled to enjoy the beauties of nature
combined with the embellishments of art. Altogether
the August Bank Holiday of 1873 was a most enjoy-
able one, and will leave happy memories ill the minds
of thousands of hard-working Londoners.