The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-06-30 00:00:00

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

LAST WEEK'S WREClTS.—Shipwrecks reported lasi
week increased in number to 51, compared with the
previous week. Thirty-eight were foreign vessels, ol
which 31 were lost at the Iceland fishery. Twc
British vessels sank by collision. Total number of
collision cases, 25; number of collision cases off Grea,l
Britain, 18. _
_

THE FATAL SATURDAY.—The following record shawl
that for 176 years Saturday was a very fatal day to the
Royal family in England :—William 111. died Satur•
day, March 18, 1702; Queen Anne died Saturday,
March 18, 1714; George I. died Saturday, June 10,
1727; George 11. died Saturday, October 25, 1769;
George 111. died Saturday, January 29, 1820; George
IV. died Saturday, June 26, 1830; the Duchess of
Kent died Saturday, March 16, 1861 ; Prince Consort
died Saturday, December 14, 1861; Princess Alice
died Saturday, December 14, 1878,
A MILITARY MICROPHONE.—It is reported that a
young infantry officer of the French army has invented
a kind of military microphone, by means of which tho
approach or the movements of troops, as well as their
probable numbers, may be gauged. The apparatus is
described as being as simple as it is ingenious, and con-
sists of a transmitting and a receiving machine, which
are connected together by a metallic wire. The experi-
ments made with the instrument during the recent
manceuvres at Montauban before General Vincendou
and his staff were regarded as very satisfactory.
A SENSIBLE SOVEREIGN.—Among the numerous
traits related by the German papers to illustrate the
amiable character of the late German Emperor is his
liking for the conversation of journalists, whom he dis-
tinguished on various occasions. He was, it seems,
fond of reading the Opposition journals, and, above all,
the Radical rokszcitung of Berlin. When a Court
official proposed to substitute a Government journal for
that "revolutionary print," the Crown Prince drily re-
plied, "Leave it alone. What the Government thinks
I know very well myself; but I am anxious to know
What other people think."

ENGLISH RAILWAYS PLEASE COPY. - Intending
travellers on German railways will be glad to hear of a
special Ministerial order issued to officials on all
Teutonic lines. The Minister requests railway officials
to treat passengers "properly and politely, and to
take greatcare of the luggage. To ensure public com-
fort carriages are not to be crowded, but only four
persons should be put in each first-class, six in the
second, and eight in the third. During the hot
weather all carriages should be well aired and the
roofs frequently sprinkled with cold water to keep
travellers cool, while all platforms must be kept free
from dirt.

THE Sr. GOTTIARD RAILWAY.—The second line of
the St. Gothard Railway has been commenced, and
active operations will shortly begin on the Faido-Rodi-
Fiesse portion. This part of the line offers the greatest
difficulties. It will involve the construction of two
curved tunnels about 50,000 ft. long, and four straight
tunnels of about 33001 t., and two iron bridges of con-
siderable span. The Railway and Engineering Journal
says the Faido-Airolo portion is to be completed by the
year 1890; the Faido-Biaska portion by 1892; and the
Erstfeld-Goschenen section by 1896. The total esti-
mated cost is 3,000,000 dols.

PARIS OPERA COMIQUE.—The Paris Opera Comique
will be rebuilt on its original site, should the Chamber
vote £260,000 required for its construction. The
new house, however, will be completely isolated from
any neighbouring buildings, and will front the Boule-
vard.

SPumous PicruuEs.—American art amateurs are
too often "taken in" by picture dealers. It is esti-
mated that at least 500 counterfeit Old Masters, bought
at high prices, now hang in the galleries of the United
States.

A LONG TUNNEL.—One of the longest tunnels in the
world is the one at Schemnitz, Hungary. It has a
length of 10.27 miles—one mile longer than the St.
Gothard, and 24- miles more than the Mont Cents
tunnel. When the contract was made in 1872, the work
was let at about 35 dols. a yard, but for some 'years
before its finish, a little while ago, the cost was about
110 dols. a yard.

A BIG CHEESE.—A monster Parmesan cheese was
one of the amusing features of the Bologna University
fetes held the other day. The students of Parma pre-
sented their Bologna brethren with a cheese weighing
1601 b. and entirely covered with Latin inscriptions
worked in maccaroni. This was to be washed down by
a huge tun of Berbera wine given by.the students of
OFF THE FLIES.—A large fortune awaits the
man who will devise a remedy which will kt ep flies from
worrying the horse in summer, and at the same time
not kill the horse. Carbolic acid washes, the atomatic
oils, especially pennyroyal, and various other drugs,
to say nothing of mechanical appliances' have all been
used, but with only temporary benefit. The oil of bay
is said to be particularly efficient, and to be extensively
used in Switzerland and the South of France.

THE BATH.—There can be little doubt (remarks
The Hospital) that were the bath with friction of the
skin regularly employed by those up in years—and the
habit, if acquired, can be easily carried on—much
suffering and disablement from bronchitis or winter
coughs might be avoided, as well as many of those
troublesome forms of skin disease so often met with.
As a means for preventing colds the bath is only of use
if employed frequently—daily if that can be, if not,
then as often as possible, and with regularity.
THICK ON THE GROUND.—It is computed that the
actual density of the world's population is in Europe
34 for every square kilometre; in Asia, 19; Africa, 6;
Australasia, 3to 4; and America, 2to 3. Taking the
entire globe, there are about 10 people for every square
kilometre. Of European States, Belgium contains 201
inhabitants per square kilometre; the Low Countries,
133; the United Kingdom, 179; Italy, 105; Germany,
SG ; France, 72 ; Switzerland, 70; Austria-Hungary,
59; POrtugal, ; and Ppain, 34.
NITRE IN MlLK.—Nitre is sometimes used to take
away the turnip taste from milk. A case was tried
some time ago in the west of Scotland, where nitre
was supposed to have been added to milk. The dairy-
man pleaded not guilty to using nitre, hut said he gave
his cows rock salt. The magistrate found the man not
guilty of using nitro, but guilty of adulterating his
iinsmuch as by giving cows rock salt they were
thirsty and drank more water, and thus the Mlik was
diluted with an extra quantity of water.
LIGHTNING SPEED. —lt appears from Professor
Gould's investigations on the speed of electricity, that
aerial telegraph wires on poles transmit electricity at
the rate of from 14,000 to 16,000 miles per second, and
that the velocity of the transmission increases with the
distance between the wires and the earth, or, in other
words, with the height of suspension; and that sub-
terranean wires, like submarine cables, transmit with
reduced rapidity. Again, while wires suspended at
a feeble height are known to transmit signals at a
velocity of some 12,000 miles per second, those that
are suspended higher give a velocity of 16,000 to 24,000
miles.

ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.—The additions to the Zoo-
logical Society's Gardens during the past week include
two pig-tailed monkeys from Java, presented by Mr.
C. W. Ellacott ; a bonnet monkey from India, pre-
sented by Mr. J. Wiltshire; a pig-tailed monkey from
Java, presented by Mrs. Gleig ; two spotted cavys from
South America, presented by Mr. W. H. Statber ;
a Mauge's dasyure from Australia, presented by Mr.
H. R. Brame; three Abyssinian sheep from Abyssinia,
presented by Mr. A. J. Baker ; two Pallas's sand
grouse from the Island of Tiree, Argyllshire, presented
by Lieut. Colonel Irby and Captain Saville Read, F.Z.S.
a Wapiti deer, born in the Gardena.

INSTITUTIO N
FOR MUTUAL LIFE ASSURANCE.
Founded 1835. Funds, £4,300,000.
Claims Paid, £7,000,000. Profits Declared, £4,000,000.

ENDOWYZNT Asst.:ea:tors on very faveuratnle terms.
Economical Management. Liberal Condlti“na. Large Snnusea.
48, GRACECHURCH STREET, E.C., LONDON.
AGENTS WANTED WHERE NOT REPRESENTED.

Barthclornew's Illustrated Guide to His Turkisit
and other Baths. l'rice
Bartholomew's Medical Lecture on the Curative
Action of the Turkish and other Baths. Delivered be-
fore the Learned tioCielirs, Westminster Ball. Loudon. Price sd.
Sent post ire from his establishments in Brie 01, Bath, RIP,
Ininicham, Mani-hem:cr. Worcester, and Leicester Square. London..

I iii
THE ANIMAL WORLD. Monthly. Mice VI.
IC folio p,get,
THE BAND or MERCY. Monthly. Price id.

pnge,
T,ondon : PArTntnna tco.. and rl all nmoir,iiers.

HAND-IN-HAND FIRE AND LIFE OFFICE,

26, New Bridge Street, London, E.C.
The Oldest Insurance Office—lnstituted A.D. 1696.
Minimum& Bonus Returns:—
}1) 1* cent. per annum.
Frce
4205 .
Accumulated Funds, £2,280,731.

Tications for Ageneigis are invited,

LNIjX bOLUBLE. and NuT