The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-08-16 00:00:00

glistellantous

HOME, FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL.

LADINB AND HIGH LATITUDIEL—D.ughters of
Earth in one point differ from their Mother. A wad
of false hair at the beck of the female head maintains
a high temperature at the NlL—Punch.

- -
THE LATE CHARLES KNIORT.—An influential
committee has now been constituted, for the purpose
of raising an appropriate memorial in honour of Charles
Knight and of his lifslong efforts in the creation of a
pure, cheap, and elevated literature. The hon. secs.
are Mr. Starley Brooks and Mr. Samuel Spalding,
and the treasurer is Mr. George Routledge, who will
receive subscriptions.
THE GuaLontts. —The man, Bonin*, who was
condemned to death at the recent assizes of the Loire,
in France, for a murder committed by him in the wood
of Avaizet on a man named Laurent, has just suffered
the extreme penalty of the lsw at Montorison. The
prisoner heard that his appeal for • commutation had
been rejected with great calmness. In reply to the
magistrate and to his spiritual adviser, he said that he
was innoceot, and had nothing to confess. Be took
some wine and bi-cuits, and, after partaking of some
coffee and smoking • cigarette, he was conveyed to the
guillotine, the steps of which he mounted with firmness,
and the next moment he had paid the extreme penalty
of the law,

GREAT EARTHQUAKE IN VALPARAISO. A
great earthquake occurred at Valparaiso on the morn.
hog of July 8. The shocks felt exceeded in intensity
those felt in the year 1867. There were six shocks elle
after the other. Many famlliee passed the night in
the streets. The district of the Almendrol suffered
most, and few in it escaped being injured more or less.
The damage inside of the houses was very great in the
public as well as private edifices, and many people out-
forced fractures and contusions, but the deaths reported
are numerous. The statue lately put up in memory of
Lord Cochrane was wheeled halt round on its pedestal.
The shocks were felt severely at Limache, Qui'late, and
Calera. Vae earthquake was observed to come to the
east, and felt as tar youth as Curico.

•
MARRIAGR BY BAN/IR.—The Registrar-Geue-
ral notices, in hi a report lately issued, that marriages
by banns have been for some years becoming Melees.
iugly popular in England. Fifteen years ago they
were 78.6 in every 1,100 marriages at church; bet they
have since increased, untit in 1871 there were 843 in
every 1,000 church marriages. The absolute number
of the marriage, by banns gradually increased from
78,000 in 1811 to 122,000 in 1871; the marriages at
church by licence vier. under 16,000 in 1841, and under
17,000 in 1871. The Reigistrar-General calls attention
to the fact that the system of marriage by banns in
populous places affords great facilities tic clandestine
and illegal marriages, as it is imposaible for the clergy-
man to make inquiry into every case. A thorough re-
form of the law upon this subject was, recommended
by a Royal Commission five years since, but Parlia-
ment has been otherwise occupied.

Ma. 1.4•1110 021 PUBLIC AIPTAITUR.—Mr. S.
Laing, M.P. for Orkney, in addressing his constituents
on Tuesday at Lerwick, spoke at length on the pro-
ceedings of the last Session, remarking that it had not
been productive of any great measures, but that this
was not to be wondered at, seeing the many important
measures which Mr. Gladstone had introduced and
carried of late years. Ever since the defeat of the
Government in the Irish University BM, the
Rouse of Commons had appeared disinclined for
serious work; but as next Session would be the last
of the present Parliament, he felt oonlident the
new House of COllllllOOll would tike up those
questions which the present was not likely to
pass. He congratulated the country on the set-
tlement of the Alabama Claims, and spoke in terms of
warm praise of the system of arbitration. Referring
to the marriage of the Duke of Edinburgh, he observed
that it sprang from mutual att4chmeit. and he antl.
cipatod horn kt beneficial results to the tattoos of
Bill and
Mr. Laing havlsifiralalietulled to the Pendia,*
and the Contagious
.414b.tikets, and his votes
in favonr of the former an the latter, pro-
ceeded to deal with local du Which he believed
were in aisle we, to sittletnent, He wan well re-
ceived, and his address g.ve erithrfaation, especially
his pledgee to support the Liberal party in measures of
progress.