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

I LAGER-LOVING DOG.

eri4 "

Poor Nellie :s dead! Nellie was a dog, a fine spec!.
men of the Rucsian fox-terrier breed. She had one
fault, and that was her love for lager beer. Nellie
was considered an inveterate tippler, and while
"crazy drunk" the other day met a terrible death by
being run over and killed by a heavy laden truck.
There were probably few such smart dogs as Nellie.
She was the property of Andrew Reardon, a bar
tender in Lynch's saloon. Last summer Nellie, who
bad made the saloon her headquarters, became ad-
dicted to the use of lager. It was nothing unusual to
see the animal going to the trough and sipping the
drippings. The customers rather enjoyed this, and
for hours sometimes watched the antics of the young
dog. During the winter months she limited her con-
sumption of the beverage, and appeared resolved to
drink moderately. As the warm weather came on,
however, Nellie drank more than ever, and on account
of her intemperate habits and foolish actions became
a scandal to the neighbourhood. Not until recentilv
did Nellie show symptoms of having become a corn.
plete slave to drink, however. Her owner observed it
also and kept her securely chained in the rear of the
store, furnishing her with a moderato allowance of
lager. Two weeks ago Nellie gave birth to
pups, and she was released from her imprison-
ment. She was chased away from the beer troughs
several times, but when not observed would tackle
the lager again. She began to drink to excess, and
would stagger when in that condition to her bunk
and sleep off the effects of her debauch. It was no
uncommon occurrence after a nap of a few hours fox'
her to go straightway again to the trough and quench
her thirst. Since the birth of her puppies she had
become more dissipated than ever before. One day
she began to sip the lager at an unusually early hous
She slept during the forenoon, and in the afternoon
again imbibed to such an extent that she became
tipsy, and staggered around the rear room. Nellie
finally reached the street, where she wandered into
the gutter. In trying to dodge a car she accidentally
got under the wheels of the truck, and was killed out-
right. The mangled remains of the favourite animal
were gathered together and buried in a vacant lot not
far away.

A MAN came into a cigar shop, bought a cigar, and
threw a bad sixpence on the counter. He was
hurriedly departing when the dealer called after him;
"Hold on, hold on, it's bad !" "Never mind,"
answered the purchaser, as he quickly passed out,
"I'll smoke !I; Anyhow."
. .

THE EMPEROR WILLIAM.
PACIFIC SPEECH TO PARLTAMPNT.

A orilliant and important function was carried out
on 71onday, in the opening of his first Reichstag by
the Emperor William 11. In his speech from thE
thro-e his Imperial Majesty said: "Gentlemen,
gre.t•you with deep sorrow in my heart, and I know
t at ou mourn with me. The fresh remembrance of
t e grievous sufferings of my father, who has entered
into rut, the momentous fact that three months aftei
the dece Ise of his Majesty, the Emperor William 1., I
have been -.ailed upon to ascend the throne, exercise
a like effect 17i the hearts of all Germans, and our grief
has met with v,--2rm sympathy in all countries of the
world. Under this burden I pray God to give me
strength to fulfil the high duties to which His will has
called me. In obeying this call I have before my
eyes the example of peaceful rule which the Emperor
William, after stern wars, left to his successors, and
with which the Government of my lamented father
corresponded in so far as the execution of his inten-
tions was not prevented by illness and death: I
have, gentlemen, summoned you in order to declare
to the German people in your presence, that I am
resolved as Emperor and King to follow the same
path by which my deceased grandfather won
the confidence of his allies, the love of
the German people, and the goodwill of
foreign countries. Whether I shall have the same
success rests with God, but I shall earnestly strive
to attain that end. The most important duties of
the German Emperor lie in the domain of assuring
the military and political safety of the empire
abroad, and in watching over the execution of the
Imperial laws at home. The chief of these laws is
the Imperial Constitution. To guard and protect it
in all the rights which it guarantees to the two legis-
lative bodies of the nation, and every German, and
also in those which it guarantees to the Emperor
and each of the confederated States and their
Sovereigns, appertains to the chiefest rights and
duties of the Emperor. In the legislation of the
Empire, I have in accordance with the Constitution,
to co-operate more in my capacity as King of Prussia,
than in that of German Emperor, but in both it will
be my endeavour to continue the work of Imperial
legislation in the same spirit as that in which
it was begun by my deceased grandfather. Espe-
cially I appropriate to myself, to its full ex-
tent, his Message of November 17, 1881, and
in the sense of that declaration shall continue
striving to make Imperial legislation continue
in the future to afford to the working population
the protection which it can extend in conformity
with the principles of Christian morality to the
weak and distressed in the struggle for existence. I
hope that it will be possible in this way to come
nearer to the equalisation of unhealthy social con-
trasts, and I entertain the confident hope that in
solicitude for our domestic welfare, I shall meet
with the unanimous support of all true friends of
the Empire and of the Federal Governments with-
out division or party differences. In the same way,
however,. I consider it necessary to support our
national and social development within the
paths of legality, and to oppose firmly all
efforts having the aim and tendency to under-
mine public order. In foreign politics lam re-
solved to maintain peace with everyone so far as lies
in my power. My love for the German army and
my position in regard to it will never tempt me to
jeopardise for the country the benefits of peace
unless the necessity of war is forced upon us by
an attack on the Empire or its allies. Our army
is intended to assure peace to us, or, if peace is
broken, will enable us to fight for it with honour.
That, with God's help, it will be possible for it to
do by reason of the strength which it has
derived from the military law which you have
recently passed unanimously. To use this strength
for aggressive wars is far from my heart. Germany
needs neither fresh military glory nor any conquests
since she has finally won for herself by fighting the
right to exist as a united and independent nation.
Our alliance with Austria-Hungary is publicly known.
I adhere to it with German fidelity, not only because
it has been concluded, but because I see in this
defensive compact a basis of European equi-
librium as well as an inheritance from Ger-
man history, the purport of which is now
sanctioned by the public opinion of the
who'e German people, and corresponds with the
traditional European international law as it has stood
uncontested until 1866. Similar historical relations
and similar present national needs unite us with Italy.
Both countries desire to preserve the blessings of
peace in order to work in tranquillity for the consoli-
dation of their newly-acquired unity, the development
of their national institutions, and the promotion of
their prosperity. Our existing agreements with Austria-
Hungary and Italy permit me, to my satisfaction, to
cultivate carefully my personal friendship for the
Emperor of Russia and the peaceful relations which
have existed for the past 100 years with the neigh-
bouring Russian Empire, and which correspond with
my own feelings and with the interests of Germany.
In conscientious solicitude for peace, I devote myself
with equal readiness to the service of the Fatherland
as to care for our army, and I rejoice in the tradi-
tional relaticns to foreign Powers by which my
endeavours 'M the cause of peace will be assisted.
With trust in God and in the defensive power of our
people, I feel confident that it will be vouchsafed to
us for eon time to defend and as.sure by peaceful
labour what was won in arms by my two prede-
cessors on the Throne, now resting in God."
The Emperor's voice became especially emphatic
when saying that he was resolved to preserve peace
so far as it rested on him to do so, and his manner
became very earnest in declaring his friendship for
Russia. The reading of the Speech was greeted at
many points by cheers from the deputies, and the
appearance of the Emperor was most dignified.
At the conclusion of the impressive Speech, Prince
Bismarck bent low, and kissed the Emperor's hand.
The Emperor raised him, and shook hands with him
warmly amid the ringing cheers of the assembly.
Three cheers for the Kaiser were then called for, and
given with a will.