The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-12-19 00:00:00

Ilistrilantons Itntrlligente,
POME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL.

hursraanows TO TIIN: QUEEN'S BOWL—A most
sumptuous edition of "Leaves from the Journal of
Our Life in the Highlands" has just issued from the
publishieg house of Smith, Elder, and Company. It
contains such a series of engravings on steel, chromo-
lithographs, and vignettes cut on wood, as will be
universally deemed a fitting tribute and accompani-
ment of art for the text of the volume familiarly
endeared to English households by its common title,
"The Queen's Book." No pictorial work of the kind,
presented to the public this season of welcmie gifts,
can hold comparison, either as regards wide and deep
interest or mere technical merit, with the book now
under notice. Many of tht illustrations are facsimile
renderings of sketches fromsher Majesty's own hand—
s hand well trained and practised in the art which
closely and lovingly follows nature.

A lieftworaD OFFENDER—At the Manchester
Assizes, James Devonport, has been indicted for
having on the night of the 2311 of November, feloni-
ously and burglarously entered the house of James
Ashton. at Blackley, and stolen two shirts, a pair of
boots, four towels, and other articles. Mr. Watson
prosycuted. The prisoner hail formerly been in the
employ of the prosecutor, who is a farmer, and on the
night in question he hail been observed lurking about
the premises, and after [he robbery the property men-
tioned was found upon him. He was found guilty,
and sentenced to ten years' penal servitude. He
prayed for "one chance more," but, as he had been
convicted nine times previously, his lordship thought
that he had had a reasonable share of chances,
ATTEMPT TO MURDER A FATHER-IS-LAW.—
At the pAty sessions held at Hyde, Robert Cooper.
aged twenty-five, a labourer, of Sandown, was charged
with attempting to murder his stepfather, an old man
some fifty or sixty years of age, on the morning of
Sunday, the fith instant, at Sandown. The parties had
been celebrating the marriage of Cooper's sister on the
previous day, and had perhaps drank somewhat too
deeply. On their return home, about two o'clock in
the morning, a quarrel took place, the prisoner ex-
pressing in violent language his disappro.val of the
match. He eventually seized a knife, and threatening
to "do for him," plunged it into his stepfather's neck,
between the jugular vein and the windpipe, inflicting
injuries of so serious a character that for sonic time his
life was despaired of. The prosecutor did not appear,
though it was stated he was well enough to do so, and
had left his home for that purpose. The magdstratt s,
in the absence of the party aggrieved, decided on
discharging the prisoner, at the same time warning
him that he was liable tu be ale, rehended again at any
future time.

EXTENSIVE ROBBERY OF DIAMONDS.—A young
Englishman arrived from Wiesbaden ten days back,
accompanied by a female of prepossessing appearance,
and bearing a passport vis6ed at St. Petersburg)),
which gave his name as Henry Harris. lie occupied
a handsome apartment in the chief quarter of the town.
After staying there a few days he called on a jeweller
and selected a parure of diamonds, which he ordered
to be sent to his residence for the approval of his wife.
The tradesman called at the hour appointed, and was
told to remain in an antechamber while the article was
being shown to the lady, but after waiting for some
time he lost patience, and on making inquiries found
that his pretended customer had made off by another
door with the property, and had gone to join his female
confederate who had left shortly before. Neither
has since been heard of. The jewels were valued at
Z3,000f.

STRIKE OF COLLIERS AT. REASON. The col:

liens of the large works belonging to the Ruabon Coal
Company have struck work for an increase of wages.
They allege that when the rate of wages was de.
(leased in the summer they were promised an equal
increase in the winter, and it was upon this under-
standing that they agreed to the decrease. The mas-
ters seem to consider there was no such agreement.
The example of the Ruabon Coal Company's men has
been followed most strictly by all the colliers of the
district, notably by the men working for the New
British Iron Company, who employ the greatest num-
ber of hands. A monster meeting of the colliers was
hell at Ruabon on Saturday evening, when it was re-
solved to stand out till their demands were granted.
FATAL GUN Accuattirr.—On Saturday, a fatal
accident occurred to Henry Pheeler, aged 37, head
gamekeeper to Earl Ferrero, on his lordship's estate at
Chartley, near Stafford. The deceased and an under-
keeper were in a bat on the pool, in front of Chartley
Castle, shooting wild ducks. Both men were armed
with double-barrelled guns, and they had two dogs
with them in the boat. The deceased was loading one
barrel of his gun, the other being already loaded, when
one of the dogs touched the trigger of the loaded barrel,
which had been left at full-cock, and the gun went off.
The charge entered the deceased's face, and eatue out
at the back of his head, carrying away a portion of his
skulL Death, of course, was instantaneous.

• •
SINGULAR FATAL ACCIDENT TO A ClitLD.—An
inquest has been held in London to inquire into the
death of a child named Florence Ada Howlett, aged
fourteen months. On the 25th ult, the deceased was
toddling about the room in which her mother was sit-
ting with a pointed black lead pencil in her hand when
she fell down and gave a slight scream. The mother
picked her up and foundthat the pencil was wedged fast
in the side of one of her eyes. A medical gentleman was
caned in but the child died on Thursday last. Death,
it was proved, ensued from inflammation of the brain.
The post morton examination showed that the pointed'
Pencil had pasted the upper part of the orbit, penetra-
ting into the interior lobe of the brain' and then
became fixed inside the skull. A verdict of "Acci-
dental death" was returned,
A FENIAN CONSUL FOR LEEDB.—A Washing-
ton correspondent alludes to the appointment of Mr.
John Savage, of New York, as consul to Leeds, and
intimates that it will be objectionable to the British
government. Remarking on this,, the New York
Times says :
We do not suppose that Mr. Ravage will accept the appoint-
ment. We certainly think it seas in bad taste for the Pre-
sident to make it. Mr. Savage is a worthy gentleman, a
man of ability aril character, and respected by all who
know him. Ile would make a good consul, but he Is the
Premdent 1,1 the Fenian organisation in this country, and mi
avowed enemy of the English government. The ministry
could not well permit him to hold any official position. We
should not, therefore, he surprised to find Mr. Savage de-
clining the appointment, or, if he accepts it, to. n that
his esequatur has been 'refused by Lord Stanley.

GLADSTONE AS AN ORATOE.—Notwithstanding

his tendemey to diffuseness and repetition, Mr. Glad-
stone, alike by natural gifts and careful cultivation,
must be admitted, even by political opponents, t • be
the most accomplished and effective orator of the
House of Commons. He has the qualities of eloquence
in remarkable combination—readiness of argument,
fertility of illustration, copiousness and wealth if dic-
tion, a perfect elocution, and a fresh, natural, and tin-
:Wet ted delivery. His voice is rich and sonorous, and
modulated through tones so musical and varied that it
never tires the ear. Lord Brougham had not been at-
tracted to the Commons for many years, until he came
in one evening to hear one of Mr. Gladeitt tile's Budget
speeches. He described it as "a masterpiece of per-
suasive rhetoric." The illustrative power and charin
which can make statistics attractive, and finance a
high intellectual treat, are scarcely manifested twice in
the same generation. The belief that his eloquence is
animated by principle anti conscience, SA well as high
intellect, may seem to belong to the debateable ground
of politico, yet it is undoubtedly held by his party, anti
it is the secret of much of Mr. Gladstone's power. Of
humour he possesses little, and of pathos be is less a
master than might have been supposed from his re-
markable earnessness and sensitiveness of tempera-
. meat. —Gentleman's Magazine.
I WILL ISIS SECRETARY TELL Us —At one stage
of the elaborate rites and ceremonies which protect the
British Constitution' when a New Parliament is pro-
vided with a Speaks; he presents himself in a "bob-
wig." The question has been asked, whether it is so
called as only costing a shilling ?-1-qoich.

MELANCHOLY Guw FATALITY.—An inquest has
been held at Casterton, Westmoreland, on the body of
Jane Price, aged nineteen, a servantin the employment
Mrs. lleckersteth, of Casterton Hall, near Kirby
Lonsdale, who died on the 11th inst. from a gunshot
wound inflicted on her under the following melancholy
circumstances William Rogers, of Casterton Hall,
butler, had been out shootisg on Friday, and on his
return. he placed the gun, which was loaded, outside
the hall ; and shortly afterwards he cart the footman,
James Arkinstall, to bring the gun into the hall.
While doing so, in passing through the kitchen, .Arkins
stall jestingly pointed the gun towards the cook, who

told him tube carefuL He replied, 'I cannot shoot _
anybody with nothing but a cap on it." .J us Price
then came int. the kitchen, and stood betore him,
when the gun went off, and the shot entered the side of
her bead, causing her death.
PCNCIft3 Pt RIMME.--; Essence of Parliament."
—Punch.
AN AGREEABLE DISCOVERY.—The administra-
tion of the Asylum for the Aged at Abbeville, France,
, has just made an agreeable discovery; on the box for
' voluntary contributions being opened a few days ) ack,
it was found to contain, besides toe usual small coins,
scum of 12,000 f. in hank notes.
AN INCENDIARY SENTENCCD TO DEATH. —A
labourer named Delafolie, aged twenty-two, of tianchy-
Cauchy, Frazier, has just been tried at Arras on no lets
than fourteen charges of wilfully setting fire to crops
and farm buildings. The value of the property thus
destroyed amounted to 100,000 f. The jury returned
a verdict of guilty, without the admission of ex-
tenuating circumstances, and sentence of death waS
passed on him.
Mx. PEARODY.—We have been thinking how
to word an acknowledgment to the noble-hearted
American who has just increased his donation to the
'Amnion poor (not paupers) to 4'350,000. We
think this will do. "He may have the Dopy 4.f
a PEA, but, by Jove, he has the Soul. of a BEAN
(Forthe in formation of poste, it//, a Beast means the same
as a Brick, and that is the highest form of eulogy kumon
to the ninetanth century.)—Punch.

ARGIIMENTUM BACULINUM. —A violent personal
attack in the streets of Berlin, committed by a mem-
ber of the staff of the Rrezez-zeitung upon the editor of
the Volke,zeitung, has elicited a petition signed by the
representatives of nearly all the Berlin papers,
addressed to the Presidents of both Chambers to expel
the offender from the lsot set aside for the represen-
tatives of the press, or rather to withdraw the per-
mission granted to him through the paper on which he
is engaged. "They protest moot energetically against
the introduction of a brutal custom from a forehni
country were it is stigmatised as cowardly
by all right-minded men, and already begins
to disappear, and call upon the Presidents of both
houses to give expression to the indigliation which this
, act has called forth among all classes, by the expulsion
proposed.
- . . .

. .
GETTING ON WITH IT.—An article in Monday's
Moniteur gives a very favourable account of the pro-
gress of the Suez Canal works. From the 15th
October to the 15th November '2,090,000 cubic metres
were excavated, the contractors having estimated that
only two millions would be excavated in that time.
As many as seventeen thousand men are now em-
ployed upon the undertaking, and sixty dredging
machines of exceptional power are engaged night and
day. Of the sixty-five million cubic metres which
had at first to be excavated, only twenty millions
remain, so that there is Wwthan ten months of work
now to be done. Steamers wilFbe allowed to go through
the canal at a low rate of speed, using their own
machinery, but all sailing vessels above fifty tons in
burden will be towed. _

NOT TO BE WONDERED AT !—At Rio, Prince
Alfred's Scotch piper made a great sensation, being
brought into the Prince's cabin after dinner' when the
Emperor was on board, and told to march round the
guest,, after the Scotch fashion, blowing at his pip s.
His linperial Majesty was taken quite aback. Being
asked ky his host how he liked the music, he replied,
" I like the piper, but not the piping. It is very
national and charactelistic, and on that account I
admire the performance, but I cannot say I like the
noise." In due time the Empress heard of this strange
music, and an Imperial command came down for
Sawny to go and play before her Majesty at the
Palace. But Sawny either could not or would not say

what the Empress hought of his pipe.
WANTED, A CURATE !—Sir, I beg to enclose the
following advertisement which appears in the Eccle•
samtiral Gazette for this month, for the edification of
your non-clerical readers (writes a correspondent of a
London paper) :
Wanted in She spring, a curate in foll orders, of moderate
for a vintwe near Barnstaple, North Devon. As the
population is considerable, be will be expected to devote
himself entirely to the parish, and to any friend-hips he may
tons there • therefore, curates with friends at a distance, to
risk and to he visited by, need not apply.—Address, S. A. P.,
Post-oitice, Barnstaple, North Devon
Also, poor curate! Is he to be treated worse than any
schoolboy? Must he bid farewell to all his friends, and
give up all hope of holidays when he goes to this de-
sirable curacy? No wonder that curates are scarce.
The absurdity and had taste of such an advertisement
as the above deserve but need no further comment. —I
remain, Sir, your obedient servant, J.
SUITABLE. —Not a bad Dame for the Pro
prietor of a Menagerie (American)—" Mn. FORE-
PA IN: 11."—Punch.

A Nice Bourn A very important case in
connection with the right of a son to his deceased
father's property has been before the Liverpool
stipendiary magistrate. A young man, named
Henry Almond, was charged with stealing a quantity
of furniture belonging to Mee. Ann Ahnond. It
appeared that Mrs. Almond was the second step-
mother of the prisoner, and the third wife of his
father, who died a few days ago. The young man,
acting under instructimie from his solicitors, proceeded
lin Saturday morning last to the house which his de-
ceased father hail oiccopied, and took forcible posses-
shoi of one-third of the household furniture, and carried
it away. The court admitted that the prisoner
believed that when he took the goods away that he
was entitled to them, and that he ought not to have
been locked up run a charge of felony ; but at the same
time he had not removed the property in a legal
, manner. The prisoner was ordered to be locked up
until the goods were sent back to the residence of his
late father.
To THE MUSICAL WORLD.—" A Bewildered
Musician," who has been constrained to hear a great
deal about the Cattle Show, would be glad to be in-
formed what sort of an instrument the " Scotch'
him " ie.—Punch.
REWARD FOR BRAVERY.—Last month the ship
Grand Bonny was wrecked on the shore at Waterloo.
Amongst her cargo was 21,000 gallons of spirits, and
1,900 kegs et gunpowder. At low water she was left
dry on the sands. Soon after the discharge of cargo
was commenced, on the morning of Wednesday,
November 4, an alarm of fire was given, and smoke
was seen coining out of the after-hatchway. The
nature of the cargo being known to those on board,
many at once left the ship ; but the agent in charge of
the ship, Captain Chisholm, with his assistant, Captain
Stark, aided by men who remained with him, by great
promptitude and energy discovered the exact position
of the fire, and put it out before it had time to do much
damage. The tire had been caused by a cask of lime
getting wet, The underwriters have determined to
award 100 guineas to Captain Chisholm and his men
for the bravery they displayed lin the occasion.
A SINGULAR TRAGEDY IN AMERICA.—Late last
night a singular and lamentable tragedy was per-
formed in Smith St. Paul-street, of which we have
gathered the following particulars, says a Rochester
paper :
A beautiful and accomplished young lady, Miss Emma
a stranger, temporarily lodging at the I /shun. House,
disguised herself in male apparel and proceeded to No. 27,
South St. Paul street, where several of her friends, including
her uncle and mother, were passing the evening, whom she
at first act:listed in a friendly mariner, and conversed with
pleasantly enough, though rather excitedly, for an hour or
two. She mists! tn have been aperson of singular romantic and
erratic disposition, 81111 her freak of donning man's attire,
therefore, attracted little attention and created no surprise.
lit the course of the evening, however, she suddenly because
insane, and drawing a knife, attached and fatally wounded
an old gentleman who endeavoured to curb her eccentricities,
and then rushing slam her uncle, whose name was K trig,
killed him with a single blow of her weapon. Before the
horrified spectators could summon presence of mind
enough to seize the infuriated lunatic, she swallowed some
potent poison, apparently strychnine, and died in a few
minutes.
QUOTATION REVISED.—A Liberal friend as-
sures us that he feels perfectly comfortable now as to
the safety of the Vessel of State, with "Bright on
the prow and Gladstone at the helm."—Punch,
LIKE UNTO MARRIAGE !—The Tittles thus com-
pares the formation of the present ministry to mar.

riage :
Marriage is commonly reckoned a serious business, and
the form ition of a Ministry is not unlike a marriage in the
hopes and fears it excites. Who can tell. whether elements
excellent in themselves will suceeeti ill combination I Some-
times there is the fairest promise of future happiness, tint
wtme nnforeseen drawback arises—a slight Incompatibility
of character, a trivial diversity of tastes—and friends are
called in, and there are infinite worry anti annoyance to
everybody concerned, and at the Rat a sorry ending to the
bright commenontent. Or it may tie the other way. The
most queerly assorted pair, who have come together by luck
rather than by sluice, with active minds anst tempers appa-
rently irreconcilably diverse, fall into each other's ways,
and are the model of their neighbourhood for the equable
serenity of their household.
A STRONG DETERMINATION.—A man named
Hunt died the other day at Maidstone. On the morn-
ing of Saturday, the 21st ult. deceased was engaged
in feeding a rape-crushing machine, which was being
driven by steam. About nine o'clock a fellow-work-
man braid the deceased cry out, and he immediately
went to the place where he was working awl found
n that his arm had been drawn into the eLhine nearly
up the shoulder. His arm was very much crushed
and cut, and us there were no means of releasing him,
he out the man's arm off with his pocket-knife. The
house surgeon of the hospital stated that upon Hunt
being admitted into the hospital it was found neces-
sary to further amputate the both. He progressed
very well until the 4th inst., when lie complained ot
great difficulty of breathing, and gradually got worse
until the following afternoon, when he died.
MR. BRIGHT ON HIS ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICF.—
A letter, addressed by Mr. John Bright to a gentleman
in Sheffield, has been forwarded to the Stallidd and
RW11(3.1.1,11 Independent, Mr. Bright says t
It ts a great pleasure to mete know that you slid your
friends in 5h.41141 are satisfied It WI tile valise I have taken
Is joining she ties Adininistrati.n. I base dohe it with
extreme reluctance, but the pressure put upon me was more
than I could whilst and. I hope t have done what it seemed
finally my duty to din.
A BAND OF Miscaussm—The other day the
' passenger train from Pesth to Bazias ran off the rails
near Kteslielli, owing to part of the line having been
torn up. The locomotive and three carriages were pre-
cipitated down the embankment. While in this position
the train was attacked by a strong band of brigands,
well armed, who had effected the damage in order to
rob the passengers. The latter, however, defended
themselves and, used their pistols ; shots were ex-
changed, and ultimately the assailants were driven off.
The watchman and his family were found bound in
their dwelling. As far as is knowniao one has been
injured.
WONDERFUL CAPACITY OF THE RTHIEFLaNDERS
roe WINE.—The wonderful capacity for drink of the
Rhinelanders is amusingli illustrated by Goethe in his
journals. "l he Bishop of Mayence," he says, " once
delivered a Bullion against drunkenness, and ate,r
painting in the strongest colours the evils of over-in.
dulgence, concluded as follows t—' But the abuse of
wine does not exclude its use, for it is written that
wine rejoices the heart of man. Probably there is ft
tine in my congregation who cannot drink four bottles
of wine without feeling any disturbance of his senses ;
but if any man at the seventh or eighth bottle so for-
gets himself as to abuse and strike his wife and

children, and treat hie best friend a. eaelnies, let him
look into hie oonsciencr, and in future always atop at
the sixth bottle. Yet, if after drinking eight, or even
ten or twelve bottles, he Can still take his Christian
neighleuir lovingly by the hand, and obey the I 'niers
of his epiritnal and temporal superiors, let him thank-
fully drink his modest (sec) draught. He must be
careful, however, as to taking any more, for it is
seldom that Providence gives any one lir special
gra,e to ilncic sixteen bottles at a sitting, as it has en-
abled nie its on,worthy servant, to do without either
neglecting my los or losing my temper."

_
A ('LERGYMA" I lit krt,;,d) WITH ASSArLT.—At
the Rotherham P..tty ls.ssions, the Rev. J. Christie,
the heraldwaster of the R itherham ilrammar School,
was chibrgeil with assaulting Arthur Harris, one of his
pupils, a boy thirteen years of a. c. It appeared that
the complainant had found a pet jackdaw, which hod
strayed, and, lienu limier the int press: oi that it Was a
wounded crow, had killed it by daaLinu its head aca:ust
a wall. The defem'ant hearing of this char,ed thel,oy
with cruelty, and chrashcil him severely wi!ll a cane,
' such injuries 1114'n hi. shoulder and ia la that
VIM health had since been impaired. Dr. Shearnism a
local molical gentleman. sa 1 that the lioy hail been
'• barbarously treated," and the boy's arm. which WaS
exhibited in court, dewed that htill liv. ii ys ICr
the occurrence bore marls of a ',ever, eaatication.
Toe defence Was that the do) Mel been gnilty of
wanton cruelty towards the jackdaw, :act tie evidence
of Dr. ShRIMIRAR WES unproved, because he was 01.p4 era
to corporeal punishment in public schools. The noigis-
trates dismissed the case.

HUNTING IN HOME.—OG Monday the Roman
hounds met at Prince Borghese's picturesque old
castellated farmhouse called Torre Nuova, six miles
from Rome, on the road to Palestrina. It was the
first day of really good sport this ses.son. Out of corn
!dimwit to Prince Borghese, as owner of the estate,
the master of the hounds, Prince Bandini-Giustiniani,
transferred his authority for the day to the griuee of
Sulmona, Prince Borghese's son, who, although a
younger hand, was perhaps more successful in his
direction of the' day's operations, as several capital
runs were obtained, and three foxes killed. The bell
was very brilliant, a number of Roman aud British
beauties being in the saddle. Among the former was
, the Princess of Sulmona, née Apponyi. Lord and
Lady Lindsay were out, and their daughters were
, riling, as were the Misses Tarratt. Miss Evelyn
Wilbraham, sister of the Princess of Team., was
among the foremost of those fair equestrians, and her
good riding was rewarded with a brush. Most of the
young Roman nobles were out, and the British element
in the field was strengthened by the presence of Capt.
W. Moore, who has the experience of several seasons'
foxhunting in the Campagna, and is a capital rider.