The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-12-04 00:00:00

SALE OF AN AMERICAN PRISON.

A sale of unusual interest took place at Richmond,
in the United States, on the 11th of November (says
the St. James's Gazette). Libby Prison, the historic
military gaol of the Confederate Government, was
sold by auction under a deed of trust. The auctioneer
stated that the property was now being rented as a
tobacco factory at 50 dols. a month. The lot was
started at 5,500 dole., and the biddings went up by
slow degrees to 6,000 dole. Here they came to a•stop,
but revived again on an ingenious suggestion by the
auctioneer. "Such," he said, "was the value
of the historical associations of the building,
that if it were pulled down the bricks could
easily be sold in the North for one dollar apiece,
and as there were 240,000 bricks, the building would
bring to the purchaser at least 240,000 dollars." This
happy thought renewed the competition, and sent the
bidding up to 6,725 dollars, at which price Libby
Prison was knocked down to a youthful capitalist of
Richmond. On the walls of the building are still to
be seen letters and dates carved by the Federal cap-
tives. There are alsz many artistic designs of skulls,
cross-bones, coffins, and chains. .Altogether, what
with its associations and its decorations, the youthful
capitalist of Richmond is considered to have no reagon
to be dissatisfied with the terms on which he has
secured the famous Libby Prison.

•
CUTTINGS FROM AMERICAN PAPERS.

A man in Utah who has only the legal number of
wives is spoken of as, "comparatively speaking, a bachelor."
They call it a romantic marriage in Michigan when
a couple of the neighbours get the bride's father in a back
room and sit on him to prevent his interrupting and break-
ing up the wedding.

. -
A queer-looking customer inserted his head into a
New York auction room, and gravely inquired: " Can I
bid, sir?" "Certainly," replied the auctioneer. "Well,
then," said the wag, walking off, " I bid you good night."

He was a great bore, and was talking to a crowd
about the coming'stocal election. Said he, "Jones is a good
man; he is capable, honest, fearless, and conscientious. He
will make the very kind of officer we need. He once saved
my life from drowning." "no you really want to see Jones
elected?" said a solemn-faced old man. "I do, indeed. I'd
do anything to see him elected," answered the bore. "Then
never let anybody know he saved your life," counselled the
solemn-faced man.

An American editor, noticing the present of a
silver cup to a contemporary, says :—" He needs no cup.
He can think from any vessel that contains liquor, whether
the neck of a bottle, the mouth of a pickle jar, the spile ci
a keg, or the bung of a barrel."

"-§arnho, whar you get dat watch you wear to
ineetin las' Sunday?" "How you know I hab watch ?"
"Bekase I seed the chain hang out de pocket in front." ." Go
'way, niggar 1 S'pose you see halter 'round my neck, you
tink dar is horse inside oh me?"

An election which has taken place at Sisteroa, in
the Basses Alpes, shows the progress made by Republican-
ism in that quarter. At the contest in 1877, a Monarchist
proved a formidable competitor, though he was defeated by
the Republican candidate. On the present occasion the
battle lay between two Republican candidates, and the
most advanced politician proved victorious by a considerable
majority.
On Monday Lady Claud J. Hamilton, wife of the
junior member for Liverpool, was presented, at the
Athenrcum; King's Lynn, with a handsome diamond bracelet
in acknowledgment of the many acts of kindness shown by
her ladyship to the people of Lynn during the time that her
husband represented that borough in Parliament. The
presentation was made by Sir Lewis Jarvis, Chairman of the
Lynn Conservative Club.
- - -

During last month 13 vessels were launched from
the Clyde, of which 12 were screw steamers and one sailing
ship. They represented 25,410 tons, of which 8,400 tons were
steel vessels. In November last year the total tonnage was
20,240. A large amount of new work has been secured to
fill the vacancies caused by the launches last month. The
prospects are fairly good.

I

are invited to parti4ate in the chances of
winning in the grand drawings of prizes guar-
anteed by the State of ilamturg in which more
than 8 millions 600,000 marks have to be

drawn.
In the course of these advantageous drawings
which contain according to the prospectus only
90,500 tickets, the following prizes will be
forthcoming, Viz.:

The higEest prize will be ev. 400,000 Marks.
Preniiuin of 250,000 Marks.— 1 Prize of
150,000 Marks-1 Prize of 100,000 Marks
—1 Prize of 60,000 Marks-1 Prize of
50,000 Marks-2 Prizes of 40,000 Marks
—2 Prizes of 30,0 C. 0 Marks— 5 Prizes
of 25,000 Marks-2 Prizes of 20,000
Marks-12 Prizes of 15,000 Marks-1
Prize of 12,000 Marks— 24 Prizes of
10,000 Marks-4 Prized of 8,000 Marks
—3 Prizes of 6,000 Marks— 52 Prizes of
5 CCO Marks-.- 6 Prizes of 4,000 Marks
—lOB Prizes of 3,000 Marks-214 Prizes of
2000 Marks-10 Prizes of 1500 Marks-
-2 Prizes of 1200 Marks-533 Prizes of
1000 Marks-676 Prizes cf 500 Marks-
-950 Prizes of 4.00 Marks-65 Prizes of 200
Marks-100 7rizes of 150 Marks-26345
Prizes of 138 Marks 2300 Prizes of
124 Marks —7O Prizes of 100 Marks-
-7300 Prizes of 94 and 67 Mark-.-
7850 Prizes of 40 and 20 Marks which will
sure drawn in 7 drawings within the space
of a few months.

The first prize-drawing is officially fixed for
the 15 and 16 of December of the rresent year and
the price of a whole original ticket is only
shill. 6. or 6 Marks, a half original ticket is
only shill. 3. or 3 Marks, a quarter original
ticket is only shill. I. 63. or 14 Marks, and I
will fi,rward,ql these original tickets guaranteed
by the State (not prohibited prisraissory notes)
even to the most distant countries. in return for
the amount forwarded prepaid. Every ticket
holder will receive from me gratis along with
the original ticket the original prospectus pro-
vided with the arms of the State and inllnedi-
ately after the drawing, the official list without
any charge.

The payment and forwarding cf the sums
won to those concerned will have my special
and prompt attention, and with the most ab-
solute secrecy.

ttir All orders can be sent by the medium of
a Post Office Order.

czr Please address the orders before the 30th
N ye. ~er on account of the approaching draw-
ing of the prizes, in all confidence to

SAMUEL HECKSCHER, SENR.,

BANKER AND EXCHANGE AGENT IT HAMBURG
GERXANY.