The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-12-24 00:00:00

EPITOME OF NEWS.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN.
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The United States Congress has passed the bill
ccnferring upon Mrs. Garfield the privilege of franking
letters. _

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Last week's receipts of cotton at all United States
ports have been 235,000 bales, and since Ist September,
2,713,500 bales. Exports to Great Britain, 89,p00 bales, and
to the Continent and Channel, 47,000 bales; total since let
September, 1,314,300 bales. Stock at all ports, 1,077,000 bales.
An lowa pig made his noon•day meal off a wallet
containing 2,000 dole. Every grunt was worth a hundred
dollars.
Official placards have been posted dated "Dublin
Castle" inviting applications for employment in the Royal
Irish constabulary for a limited period, from men of the
first-class army reserve, army, marine, and police pensioners,
not exceeding forty years of age, and from other persons
between the ages of twenty and forty years. The men are
required for "special protection duty."
It is said that between twenty and thirty thousand
people die from snake-bite every year in India. Hence it
Is that several physiologists and chemists are• at work to
discover an antidote to this virus, which in its annual effects
on human life is comparable only to a war.
A panic occurred on Tuesday evening in the
northern quarter of Vienna owing to the explosion of a
gasometer situate behind the Northern Railvray Station.
Two persons were killed and two badly injured.
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The agents of Sir N.M. De Rothschild, M.P., and
Mr. Alfred Rothschild have made an allowance of 15 per
cent. to their tenants on the half year's rent. A similar
course has been pursued by Baron Ferdinand De Rothschild
with regard to the Waddesdon estates.
An inquest has been held at Maidenhead, on the
body of Edward Walters, a painter, aged fifty-five, who had
died from injuries received at Maidenhead Station on the
previous evening. It appeared that in attempting to alight
from the 8.20 down train, whilst it was in motion, deceased
fell between the platform and the train, and received acorn-
pound fracture of the right leg below the knee, and other
injuries. He was removed to the Maidenhead Cottage Hos-
pital, but only lived a few hours. He told his wife that the
train had stopped before he endeavoured to alight, and that
this statement was contradicted by Mr. Moyse, a builder's
clerk, who rode in the same carriage as deceased, and the
foreman porter at the station. Moreover, it was stated that
the latter twice called to the deceased, cautioning him not
to leave the train till it had stopped. A verdict of "Acci-
dental death" was returned.

Mr. George Edmund Street, R, A., the distinguished
architect, was suddenly seized with paralysis on Thursday
In last week and died on Sunday night at a quarter past ten
at his house, 14, Cavendish-place, London, Mr. Street was
born at Woouford, Essex, in 1824, and educated at the Col-
legiate School, Cainberwell. His architectural studies were
begun under Mr. Owen Carter at Winchester, and completed
undtr the late Sir Gilbert Scott, with whom he remained five
years.
A " King's Share" in the New River Company,
London, was sold the other day for the sum of £97,000. In
1852 a valuation was made by a Parliamentary Commission,
and the value If a King's Share was then reckoned at
.C 22,000. Tlrat was considered an amazingly large sum for
shares which originally cost £7,000. The new £lOO shares
already stand at nearly £4OO.
A young German, who has been employed in a
Pittsburgh Turkish bath establishment, has been notified
that his mother has just died, leaving an estate of
600,000 dots.
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George Howitt, the well-known cricketer, died
suddenly at Nottingham on Monday. Hewitt at one time
played with the Notts Eleven, and was subsequently engaged
by the Middlesex Club. He has latterly been in the employ
of a Nottingham solicitor.
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A curious story comes from St. Petersburg. It is
related that for several nights past the ghost of the dead
Emperor Alexander H. has regularly appeared at the alter
of the cathedral in that city, clothed—unlike most spectres
—in a richly-braided military cloak. Proper regard is of
course paid to the rank of the ghostly visitant, and, as the
story goes, the uncanny apparition is accompanied by an
aide-de-camp. It is sat I that on the aforesaid intelligence
being conveyed to Gatschina, the temporary retreat of the
reigning Czar, strict orders were issued to the police to
seize, if possible, the intruder, in order to ascertain whether
the thing was really flesh and,blood.—Court Journal.
The additions to the Zoological Saciety's Gardens.,
Regent's Park, London, during last week included a potna.
torhine skua, British, presented by Mr. George 11. Baxter;
two kestrels, British, presented by Mr. F. Usher; a horrid
rattlesnake, from Brazil, presented by Dr. A. Stradling
C.M.Z S.; a dwarf chameleon, from South Africa, presented
by Major Hunt; a common jay, British, presented by Mr. J
Young; two cape crowned Cranes, from South Africa, a giant
toad, from Brazil, deposited; a red kangaroo, two blocassin
snakes born in the Gardens.
In London, on Tuesday evening, the "first
annual gymnastic display" of the members of the Young
Men's Christian AfiSOCiAtiOrl took place in Exeter Hall.
The displays were of the ordinary order—including squad
practice, performances on horizontal and parallel bars,
dumb-bell exercises, swinging of the Indian club, single-
stick encounters; and, specially noticeable, according to
the programmes, sword feats by a professor in the act, of
hewing his way through a bar of lead with a single blow of
his sword, parting an apple on the hand, and severing with
a modern scimitar a silk handkerchief as it fell free through
the air. A considerable amount of applause was bestowed
upon the youths and their professional instructors by the
company which attended to witness the display.

The exports of breadstuff from the United States
in November were 18,025,080 dols., which is four millions
below the previous November. The exports of provisions,
, in November were 8621,521 dols., against 12,075,864
a year ago.
A telegram from Madrid says that an explosion of
dynamite has occurred in the Perruca tunnel, in the province
of Asturias, by which four of the workmen engaged in its
construction were killed.

eze , in N
I dole. "

A most violent hurricane swept over Tunis and its
environs on the 14th. Many tents were carried away by the
tempest. A wall at Medjez was blown down, killing five
men of the 127th Regiment of the line, and wounding seven
others, three. seriously. Many telegraph wires were broken
by the gale. • - -

•
A Band of Hope.—An engagement ring.—Season
Tickets.—Christmas Cards.—llloonshtne.

A New York telegram says that the visible supply
of wheat on Dec. 16 was 18,500,000 bushels, as against
18,900,000 last week, Visible supply of corn, 18,400,000
bushels, as against 18,800,000 last week. Export clearances
of whcat for Europe during the past week, 760,000 bushels;
export clearances of Indian corn for Europe daring the past
week, 1,030,000 bushels.

The French Northern Railway is now trying experi-
mentally the result of placing an electric light on one of its
engines, so as to powerfully ilituninate a long distance ahead
the onward career of the locomotive, which itself feeds the
motive power required by the light.

The Burgomaster of Vienna ha. 4 telegraphed to the
Lord Mayor of Linden, iu rep!y to his communication of
spup :thy en the oc,Aarence ,pf the recent tire at the Ring
Theatre in that tit. in the likollowin,. terms :—" The sy.n-
pattiy of Loudou with tilt mourning City of Vienna is a
great eLnaulatieu in these days of public accidents. In the
name of the Municipaiity I beg to tender my best thauks
for the expression of such sympathy."

A correspondebt of a contemporary points out that
the Act which imposes a yearly duty of I.os. on persona
carrying "guns" defines the term as including " a firearm
of any description, and an air-gun or any other kind of gun
from which any shot, bullet, or other missile can be dis-
charged ,• " and he suggests that an endeavour might be made
to stop the increasing and dangerous prActice of carrying
firearms by enforcing the £lO penalty. '
It appears that an "Anti-Crinoline" League has
been formed. The members take the following pledge We, the undersigned, believing that the artificial aid to dress
known as crinoline or hoop is inconvenient and ungraceful
to the last extent, hereby engage ourselves never to wear the
same, whatever attempt is made on the part of milliners to
impose this tyranny on the ladies of England.

Several hundred tons of stone and earth slipped
down from the rear of the Wesleyan School-room, Leek, on
Saturday night. An ancient footpath was carried away, and
the mass of earth fell upon eight cottages, situate in Mill-
street, 50ft. below. The greater slip was preceded by a
smaller onn. 'ma fli. inbabita"to las<l iti.t time to escape.
Another fall took place on Sunday, and others are im-
minent.

Mr. Gladstone has expressed his willingness to re-
ceive a deputation from the Central Associated Chambers of
Agriculture on the subject of local taxation early in the
ensuing year. The precise date is not yet fixed, but it will
probably take place during the week beginning on the 29th
January.

On Sunday morning the servioe in the Metropolitan
Tabernacle was conducted by the Rev. Jackson Wray, and
it was announced during the ceremonies that Mr. Spurgeon,
who was in the enjoyment of good health, would arrive in
London from Mentone in the course of the week, and would
preach the sermon in the Tabernacle on Christmas Day.

On Sunday morning about four o'clock the German
brig Sagita, bound from Hamburg to Mexico, went ashore on
the rocks near Haddock's Coast-guard Station, Fairlight,
Sussex. She soon became a total wreck. Captain Behren
and six ot the crew were drowned, only one being saved.

The audience in a private theatre in the southern
suburb of Vienna were on Monday thrown into a state of
terror by an alarm of fire. A chimney had taken lire in the
saloon, and as the doors were closed to prevent a rush out
of the building a panic nearly ensued,

Advices received in Berlin from Athens state that
serious apprehensions are inspired there by the continued
sinking of the island of Chios. It is feared that the entire
island will before long disappear beneath the waves. Earth-
quakes are of constant and, indeed, increasing occurrence,
and hot springs are everywhere appearing.
Mr:Gladstone has directed a letter to be sent to the
London and Counties Liberal Union thanking the council of
that body for a copy of the resolution which was adopted at
a recent meeting of that body in favour of reforming the
land laws of Great Britain. The letter ends :—"I am to
assure you that her Majesty's Government are very sensible
of the importance of the subject; but, regarding this and
other legislation, I am to observe that as to time much
must depend on the reform which it may be possible to
effect in parliamentary procedure."
A tin box, bought for ten cents at a sale of un-
claimed express packages in New Orleans, was found to con-
tain a gold medal awarded by the Howard Association of
Memphis. Tenn., to Dr. Legare, for services rendered during
the yellow fever epidemic of 1878. The purchaser ascer-
tained Dr. Legare's present address, and informed him.

At the annual meeting in connection with the
Metropolitan Hospital Sunday Fund, the discussion turned
chiefly upon whether "Surgical and other kindred Societies"
should share in the benefits of the Fund. The general
feeling was in favour of continuing the practice hitherto
pursued; and a resolution was adopted authorising the
application of some of the remaining balance of the fund to
cover expenses already incurred for
_surgical appliances.
The Boston Literary World, 'While remarking that
old books, such as the folios and quartos of Shakespeare,
pay no duty whatever when imported into the United States,
complains that one of Mr. Griggs's admirable facsimiles is
taxed 38c.. or more than 25 per cent, on the publishing
price. It appears that the total customs duty levied on
books realises not less than 250,000 dollars, or about £50,000.
The exports of domestic produce from the United
States last week, were the smallest of the year. This LI
attributed to the detention of freight easels by the
recent gales. The total was 4,911.908 dols , again-t
7,25:6'48 dols. last year.

A large dead whale was washed ashore early on
Sunday morning on the beach at Milford. It is about
seventy feet long and six feet high, and is supposed to be the
stun:. as was seen off Cherbourg and mistaken for the missing
balloon.

There were 44 BritiEh and foreign actual wrecks, of
which 33 were British (12 being steamers, all British), re-
ported during the past week, snaking a total of 1,015 for the
present year, or an increase of 312 as compared with the
corresponding period of last year, the decrease on the week
being eight. The approximate latlue of property lost was
£7,000,000, including British A:6,00,000
Among the 610 students entered at the University
of Heidelberg for thewinter term, there are ten Englishmen.
Intelligence reached Inverne-s on Tuesday that a
bottle was last week picked up by a Norwegian pilot, at
Arendall, Norway, containing a communication confirming
the loss of the schooner Kate, of Inverness, with all hands.
The Kate sailed front F. aserhurilt on October 9th, wills
herrinzs, from the Elbe, and had in encomiter the dreadful
gale which prevailed on the 14.11 of that month in the North
Sea The pencil note picked up in Norway is dated October
14,h, and is from the mate, to his wife in Inverness. It
states that the vessel was off the JistlAnd coasts, and that
they expected to founder and perish every moment. The
Kate was manned by four men, all of whom belonged to
Inverness.

A Reuter's telegram, dated New York, Dec. 19,
says The barque Helen Isabel has arrived at St. John's,
Newfoundland, and reports having met with a great quan-
tity of wreckage, which her officers believed to have come
from the overdue steamer Bath Oily. The steamer Hector,
from New Orleans for Liverpool, has gone ashore at Mar-
quesas Keys."

As a coal vessel was discharging at the Vauxhall
Gas Works, Nine Elms-lane, London, on Monday morning,
two men named Honan and Mullins were knocked from a
scaffold by the discharging crane and injured so severely that
they died shortly afterwards.

The latest wrinkle from the States is turning every•
thing into profit is to keep bees on the leads of your hoir.es
(says Land and Water. An enterprising wan in New York
has got several hiverion his roof, and the bees journey to
Central Park for their honey regard)ers of the noise of the
streets; he says it keeps the eats away also.

An attempt is being made to bring the Hogarth '
hat into fashion. The idea is taken froui a picture called
"The Forfeit." An arch-looking girl has put on a young
officer's hat, and the young officer bends over her shoulder
and takes' compensation for disturbance.' The hat is three-
corned. It will be a brave woman who will dare to wear it.
Court Journal.

In New York, the places where paint', hair dyes
and powders are sold are called "beautifying parlours,"
and the establishments often occupy three floors a a large
building, the lower floor being elegantly fitted with mirrors
and counters, and the upper ones devoted to the beautifying
process, where are many attendants waiting to begin the
process.
Some British shipowners have begun to pan their
vessels with negro seamen exclusively, the officers alone
being white men. They take them at the same wages as
ordinary English or foreign seamea Those kvho have tried
the experiment state that they find coloured men as good
sailors as Europeans, and that they are more docile and leas
inclined to run away than our own men. '

On Tuesday the Brighton magistrates followed a
time-honoured custom by distributing the contents of their
poor-box to an assemblage of the oldest and most indigent
inhabitants whose necessity and deserving character had
been approved by the chief constable. me stipendiary
acted as almoner to the court, and,distributed a Christmas
dole of halt a sovereign to as many as 150 old people, 88 of
whom were women. All of them were 70 years old or
upwards; the oldest a man, being 97; the next oldest, also
a man 93; the next, a woman, 90. Twenty-one were SO
years old. The united ages amounted to 12,047 years; the
averag, age of the men being nearly 81 years, and that of
the womin nearly 80 years.