The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-10-01 00:00:00

HOW TO DIE.

A man of curious tastes, whom the Gaseta calls "a
fature Rossi," has been making the rounds of the
hospitals in St. Petersburg in order to "see how
people die." He inquired of the different physicians
whether they had any patients on the eve of death,
and when he received an affirmative reply, begged
leave to be allowed to stand at the bedside during the
dying moments. He said that he was educating him-
self for the stage, and understood that both Salvini
and Ros:i had made a point of studying the nature
of death from the life." As the man was thoroughly
intelligent, and evidently mate, his strange request
was granted is some of the hospitals, although it was
refused in others. He invariably made inquiries into
the means of the deceased, and in cases where the dead
persons were poor, sent a present to the kinsfolk.

So, Mr. Palette, you can guarantee a satisfactory
picture of my wife ?—Yes, Mr. Podsnap, I can paint
a speaking likeness of her.—A speaking likeness!
My dear sir, it you want the picture to suit me, you
will do no such thing.
DI& following is from the advertisement columns
of a Swiss newspaper : Wierbach, in the Bernese
Oberland, is the rendezvous of everybody who is de-
sirous of solitude. It is frequented by visitors from
the four quarters of the globe.
MY friends, said a temperance lecturer, lowering
his voice to an impressive whisper, If all the grog
shops were at the bottom of the sea, what would be
the result P—And the answer came: Lots of
.people
would get drewned I -- -

POLITICS OF THE RECESS.
MR. CHAMBERLA.IN ON THE SITUATION,

The Right Hon. Joseph Chamberlain presided at a
largely-attended meeting of the Executive of the
National Radical Union, held at the offices in Bir-
mingham. Amongst those present were Mr. R.
Chamberlain, M.P., Mr. Jesse Collings, M.P., and
Mr. Kenrick, M.P. The meeting, which was private,
was convened to consider the state of affairs in Ire-
land, with particular reference to the Mitchelstown
affray and the murder of Constable Whelahan. It
afterwards transpired that Mr. Collings proposed the
first resolution, which was 03 follows: "That this
meeting expresses its horror and indignation at the
atrocious murder of Head Constable Whelaban in
the performance of his duty, and condemns the
tyrannical system of the National League, which has
led to this and other murderous outrages in Ireland.
This meeting also condemns the action of the League
and of its -English allies in promoting a meeting
at Mitchelstown intended to intimidate the judicial
tribunal charged with the hearing of the Cala against
Mr. O'Brien, M.P.; and while refraining from pre-
judging the conduct of the police on that occasion,
which will be the subject of judicial inquiry, it repro-
bates the language used in advance by the advocates
of disorder as tending to provoke further eir,inflicts,
and to weaken the executive in its contest with dis-
loyalty and mob-violence." It was subsequently re-
solved, amid loud applause, "That this meeting,
having heard with great satisfaction of the appoint-
ment of the president of the union as chief of the
British commission with respect to the North
American fisheries, is confident that Canadian
interests and a fair settlement of the disputesbetween
Canada and the United States will be safe in his
hands, and hopes in a few months to welcome him
home in health, with enlarged experience from
rendering further eminent service to the State."

Mr. Chamberlain, in opening the proceedings,
referred, it is understood, to the circumstances con-
nected with the murder of Whelahsn, and strongly
denounced the action of the Birmingham Liberal
Association in passing resolutions with regard to the
Mitchelstown affray without taking eognisance of the
murder of Whelaban. He maintained that it was the
duty of whatever Executive was in office to uphold the
law. In a country where the democracy had full
power government was the creation of the electors,
and he condemned any unlawful or violent methods
for securing political reforms. Such reforms must
be brought about by constitutional means—that was to
say, through the ballot box. Be ridiculed the way in
which some of the self-styled Radicals spoke of the
Government of the country as an irresponsible
tyrant or power, declaring that such language
was disloyal to a democracy that elected a Par-
liament which elected the Government. If Mr.
Gladstone had been in power he would have done
infinitely more in the way of putting down these illegal
demonstrations than the Tory Government had done.
He pointed out that during Mr. Gladstone's tenure of
office no fewer than 130 meetings were suppressed by
the Executive, whilst during the Conservative Adminis-
tration only twelve meetings had been suppressed. He
believed the Government were justified in taking the
step they had, and if he had been in office he should
have done the same. The democracy would never be
strong unless it was based on the maintenance of the
law. He deplored the mischievous effects of the policy
of those English members of Parliament who had
sociated themselves with meetings in connection with
the National League, more especially when it had been
announced by the Nationalist leaders that the present
crisis was a struggle for life and death between the
Land League and the Government of the country.
All true Radicals must be on the side of the Govern-
ment in such a struggle. For his own part, so long as
the Government upheld the law, he would support
them. He spoke of the courage and fidelity of the
Irish constabulary in carrying out their arduous
duties, and as to the condemnation which had been
passed upon them—the accusations of timidity and
cowardice—he said he should like those who were
railing against the police to be in a similar position,
to face a mob of five thousand people armed with Mr.
Dillon's ashplant and willow sticks, and, he would add,
blackthorn sticks, and see what effect it would have
upon them. Where would their courage be if they
had to face such an infuriated mob, and what would
be their conduct under such circumstances? The
police had acted with the greatest forbearance and
temper as well as courage. In his opinion the
Mitchelstown meeting was held for the purpose of
defying the law. In reference to the murder of
Head-constable Whelahan, he called particular at-
tention to the fact that whilst the Gladstonian
speakers were going all over the country denouncing
the action of the police in the Mitchelstown affray,
they had not a word to say about the cruel and un-
provoked murder in question. Head - constable
Whelaban was everywhere described as a most for-
bearing officer, and he died in the performance of
his duty. But there was not a word of pity for his
widow or his children, and no reproval of the action
of the Leagae which led to his a 4..tku