The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1887-08-20 00:00:00

COMMENTS ON CURRENT NEWS'

TIM salvation of Knole House from the
flames is matter for much rejoicing. The
spl.endid example of Early English dome;,..tic
architecture, standing on the wooded hill
above Sevenoaks, and forming the centre of
one of the loveliest landscapes in Fair Kent
County, is among the most notable of the
"stately homes of England," beth for struct-
ural '-.)eauty, historic associations, and for the
wealth of the art treasures preserved within
its mass:ve walls. Since Baron Sack ville
has reigned in the lordly dwelling which
bluff King Hal was once so fund of, Knole
has been a forbidden place to the sightseer;
but, prior to the present peer's time, Knob()
was one of the principal show-houses iu the
country, and certainly left every other aristo-
cratic seat with easy reach of London far in
t )13 shade. When the grandold house which
used to attract tens of thousand of visitor to
Sevenoa,ks was seriously threatened with
destruction on Tuesday, Lord Sackville's
neighbours, forgetting- the love of exclusive-
ness which had for years kept them without
the quadrangle, and the bitterness of the
disputes as to public right of way through
the park, rushed in and worked hard to sub-
due the flames, happily with such snccess
that no irredeemable loss occurred, and none
Of the priceless pictures and other historic
reliques fell a prey to the devouring element.
The old barn by the Kings Stables and a
number of attached buildings were burnt out,
but the main edifice was spared, though for
a considerable time Lord George's Tower and
the Black Boy Passage were in imminent
danger. Fortunately, after hours of hard
work on the part of local fire brigades, police,
and numerous bands ot willing Sevenoaks
people, at was found possible to despatch a
message to Lord Sackviile at Scarborough
reporting that Knole had been saved, with
its magnificentlcarvings, its beautiful statuary
its matchless "old masters." its exquisite
tapestry and 'graver's work, and all that go
to make the ancestral seat of the antiquary
and lover of the remarkable.

"DYNAMITE for Osborne !" Such was the
the startling announcement on evening paper
placards on Monday. A Frenchwoman had
been arrested on landing at Cowes, as the
result of certain information conveyed to the
Deputy- Governor of the Isle of Wight.
She was charged with illegally carrying
dynamite for suspicious purposes. Her
luggage was seized and searched. Two large
flat cakes of a peculiar reddish substance
were found among her belongings. In vain
the stranger from Paris protested that these
were harmless modelling clay for artisti‘-; use;
she was kept in custody, brought b fore the
magistrates, remanded, and detained under
arrest. Meanwhile one police officer was
despatched to London with the suspected
"dynamite," and another to Paris to inquire
into the antecedents of the prisoner. Result,
Colonel Majendie reported the "dynamite"
to be common modeller's clay, as stated by
the Frenchwoman. The whole thing would
be ridiculous, were it not for the incon-
venience inflicted on an innocent person. It
scarcely reflects much credit upon the per-
ception of the police authorities concerned ;
and the suggestion that someone has hoaxed
a body open to give ear to any suspiei,ms
rumour does not seem likely to be devoid of
truth. We have not heard the last of the
matter yet. Had an English lady been so
treated in France, our press would have
been loud in its wail against Gallic tyranny
and blundering police officiousness.

PRINCE FERDINAND OF COBURG has taken
possession of the somewhat unstable Bul-
garian throne, with many brave words and
show of determination, He has had no open
approval of his action from the Great Powers
as we write ; but neither has he received a
plain rebuff from an intersted Co-art. It is
a feature in his favour that, he should thus
show himself able to act alone ; for hitherto
there has becn sadly too much intervention
in Balkan affair. The poor Balgarians are
anxious to welcome any change in the sit-
uation which bring them peace and security,
hence they receive Prince Ferdinand with
open mind and in the hope that he will rule
them wisely and well, and so, later on, win
their hearts. The Porte's attitude in the
matter has been, as usual, uncertain enough.
When it was seen that the Prince of Coburg
meant action, the Turkish envoy was with-
drawn from Bulgaria, and later the Sultan
sent out one of his charar.teristioa'ly cautious
circulars, asking what steps the Powers pro-
posed to take in the matter. Prince Ferd-
inaud's progress to Sofia does not seem to
have created at all the stir in the European
eapitals that many expected it would. The
general feeling appears to be that he should
be permitted to try his hand at directing
Balgari3.n affairs : and, as he is the chosen of
the people, we do not see why- he should be
interfered with so long as he bravely and
blamelessly aldresses himself to his some-
what thankless task. Russia is not under-
stood to look with a kindly eye upon the
Prince of the House of Coburg who has thus
advanced himself towards the Muscovite
borderland ; bat Russia could scarcely be
expected to smile on any ral,:r of Bal4aria
not nominated by herself, and then only so
long as he should ke,-31-3 constantly before him
the policy of St. Paersbnrg. Independent.
minded people are hoping that Bulgaria may
enjoy pacification and prosperity and desiting
that Prince Ferdinand may have fair play
and a free hand.

Tlf E long drought has come to a conclusion
at last, and all over the country almost we
have had such a showering of rain as has
freshened the p trolled me.-tdows and given
new life to the root crops Now that the
early harvest has advan •ed so far, farmers
were hoping to get the in:zathering of the
grain completed before a general break-up of
the weather should overtake them; but those
who have corn at all backward are beginning
to fear tint the rain, too long delayed, may
do more hurt than rod. A week's rain a
month earlier would have improved the far-
mer's outlook much Hop harvesting is be-
ginning, but the gardens, as a whole, do not
look too promising. A noticeable feature of
the altered weather is the great change in
the temperature, converting conditions of
tropical heat into enjoyable coolness. In
Ireland and in Westmoreland frost even has
been experienced in the mornings to an
appreciable extent, killing the dahlias and
other delicate habitants of the tlori4t's
garden. All thi-4 goes to show that the
summer is at length ended, protracted ant
sunny almost almost beyond compare as it
has been.

Hors LING DEFT'REICD.—.Wiftout .•.' iR
• rong way to pit it. t veil is the of
Miss Twomey. t;4,1-1 r for I,ne of t},: old
ho. se, -21 Co k, I!.,1 1. tht of
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n ura!ja, the rivid es Phe ni 1 w r.. in vi;n.
kind 1,. nn," s e wri Pz, "r.ug..o-rted that I .?houl
try St. .11vobs -.!;1 Without hive I did so, ;Ind I
am happy to t th•:! oftt-T a f-w alejn
we. 3 quL;.A r,..ieved from pain." Th, Oil i readEy
, within the rea:4l of all, the price beim but 2. 63
'n bT nibL ()tat, wiSe, it on be
uOEL direct from he Bauch douse of 'rue
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