The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1868-10-17 00:00:00

A PAUPER'S DEATH!

Tor simple, unadulteratedhorror—horror that might
give the inspiration of a Oreek tragedy—commend us
to the true story of the death of James Dowsett, aged
fifty-five, a pauper in the Islington Workhouse (writes
the Daily Telegraph). On Thursday last, Dowsett was
sent on an errand by the workhouse officials ; and at
the corner of Park-street, on his way back, he saw
a barrel of port wine fall from a waggon which
was being unloaded, awl burst, the wine run-
ning into the gutter. The old pauper iminwliately
went down on his hands and knees, and pro-
ceeded greedily to swill the vinous contents of
the kennel. He swilled, and swilled, and swilled,
until he fell down insensibly drunk, was picked up
Iran a puddle of port wine, and taken to the
workhouse. There, it is stated, medical assistance was
net immediately forthcoming; when it slid arrive, the
man VMS dead. The suggestiveness of this story
makes it really dreadful. A pig could have done no
more, and would probably have done something like
what James Dowsed slid; but the pig would have
known when he had enough, and would have waddled
away from the gutter full of wine. We may say that
the pauper's act was that of a brute beast but a
horse or a dog would not have touched that wine in
the mire. A human rough or a blackguard street boy
might have filled his cap from the overflowing kennel ;
but he would scarcely have gone down on his hands
and knees to lap up mingled alcohol and filth, until he
fell into a stupor.

---
Iv A STRANGE Crrr !—A pretty good story is
told of a Weetern man, les, stopping in Boston for,.
day, bought a cigar, and sauntered out for a walk. Soon
a policeman notified him that he bad incurred a fine of
two dollars for smoking in the etreet. The straneer
paid the penalty. Shortly after a child who hadn't had
any breakfast or dinner, moved his 'oenerosity, and he
bestowed a remnant of gingerbread upon the hungry
ma 'thereupon ii :second officer informed hiln that lie
11,1 s iolated another ia :finance ef the city, as ith it two
it. -Ilar fine, The Maier hamlial mit it flew dollar bill.
The officer presented him the change. He slesik his
head : "Keep the whole—l shall want to whistle
presently."
A FRIGHTFUL Fatx.—On Saturday night, as
Mr. Parker, manufacturer (Withnell, near Blackburn)
anti his manager were proceeding homewards they came
upon a number of navvies who were unmercifully
beating a drunken man. They interfered on his behalf
and got the loan away. Subsequently, arnempanied
by a policeman, they went in search of the men, and
visited the public-houses. Their errand exasperated
the navvies in the neighbourhood, who pursued them,
and they took to their heels. Mr. Parker's manager
jumped over what he took for the wall of a field, but
which proved to be the wall of a bridge, and the poor
man fell a depth of eleven yards with his chin upon
souse iron spikes, which were plaCed in the water as a
protection against poaching. There was not much
water in the Damen, but the neas threat was cut
from one angle of the jaw to the other, and one of his
ankle bouts was fractured. He lies in a precarious
ea, having lost a great deal of blood before
medical aid could be obtained.
A NEW INDUsTRy.—The Richmond Enquirer
states that the extreme poverty of the people of the
Southern States, forcing them to find new fiehls of in-
dustry for means to live, has led to the gatheriegif
sumac in Eastern Virginia, and sending it to Etch-
mend, Alexandria sind Fredericksburg for sale. Large
quantities are driest and parked in bags, and sell readily
for from 1 75e. to 2 :ha, per 100th. Sumac grows
epontaneously, mid the crop of next year is improved
by breaking off the growth of the present year. It is
used in tanning leather and as a dyestuff. Large I plan-
tities of it are exported to Europe' after having been
finely ground and packed in barrels.
A SINGULAR MARRIAGE.—We (Boston Tra-
rellcni understand that a couple are to be united in
marriage in this city, who have never yet seen each
other. The bridegroom, who is a luau of talent
and considerable wealth, came from Isis house,
hundreds of notes west of the Mississippi River, to ,
meet his betrothed for the first time. he bride is a
Boston lady, possessed of rare accomplishments, and
one greatly admired for her disciplined mind and pre-
Possessing appearance. The engagement was brought
about in a manner partaking somewhat of the
romantic. The bridegroom while in the army adver-
tised in a lioeton literary paper for a lady corre-
spondent, stating it to be Isis object only to enliven Use
dull hours of camp life. Among the many /111SWVI'S to
his request he selected one from a lady in Boston with
whom he kept up a correspondence, which continued
after his departure for the West, until it finally re.
suited in an engagement. Portraits were interchanged
probably, but it is a fact in our own knowledge, that
the lady and gentleman had never seen each other till
to-day. From what we know of the parties, we are
inclined to believe that the marriage will be a happy
one.
A SAMISFACTORY TELEGRAM. —General Print
has been received with acclamation& General tran-
quillity reigns in Spain.—Punch.
A TANGLE.—In the neighbourhood of Beer,
two brothers have recently maaried a mother and
daughter. The mother must say to her daughter,
" Good morning, eister," and rice versa. The
husband of the mother has become father-in-law
of his own brother, who, on his own side, can call his
brother papa, and ids sisterinilaw mamma. As yet
there are only four members of both families. There
are therefore, a mother and daughter, two brothers,
a father-in-law, and two brothers-in-law, and two
sisters-in-law, and ij this smaller should have a son he
would be half-brother to his aunt.
A MINISTER'S REMUNERATION I—A curious dis-
cussion took place at the last meeting of the Belfast
presbytery. A "call" vit'as handed in, from a congre-
gation near Granard, whieh pledged itself to give the
munificent salary of £35 per annum to the minister
named in it—a Mr. William Moore. The Rev. Mr.
Johnston said he was exceedingly sorry to see a con-
gregation that numbered some of the most wealthy and
respectable persons in the presbyterian church amongst
its members coming forward and offering the petty sum
of £45 a year. One of the gentlemen in connexion
with that congregation had an annual revenue of
£9,000, while another, who was high sheriff of the
county, was able to receive the representative of their
church in a carriae and four. How these gentlemen
could expect their paster was to be a gentleman and a
Christian on F-15 a year was more than he could make
out. After a long discussion it was resolved to hand
the "call" to Mr. Moore.
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.—A committee of
the Lower House of Convocation, of which Archdeacon
Sandford is chairman, is now inquiring into the best
means of eheeking the evils of intemperance. A
number of queries asking for information on the extent
of the evil, its probable causes, its results, and its pos-
slide remedies, bare boon sent into every parish, and
upon the answers the committee hope to be enabled to
present a report in an early- session of Convocatien. In
addition to these the chairman has requested the
governors and chaplains of prisons, and the superin-
tendents of lunatic asylums throughout the kingdom,
to fill in a form showing the proportion of the con-
victed and the inane who have been the victims of in-
temperance. •
A TRUISM FOR THE TIMES. —The Ritualists
ought to be Eomanists by Rites. - Punch.
DEATH OF A CoLONIAL CvLEBRITY.—The colony
of Demerara has sustained agi at loss in the death of
Sir William Henry Holmes, 14 s expired suddenly on
the 9th of August, at Stoke I ievenpert. Sir William
Holmes had arrived in England from Demerara only
four weeks previously, and was cut off in the prime of
manhood at the age of 51. The news of his death has
been received with very general regret throughout the
colinsy, where he had served as a civil servant for
upwards of thirty years under Government, and in all
the appointments he held he had won the highest
esteem and regard of the community. In I 1155 he was
Commissioner for British Guiana at the Palle Exhibi-
tion, where his intimate acquaintance with the colony
enabled him most efficiently to represent it, and bring
its varied and little known resources under the notice
of the world at large. In 1862 he was one of the I 'om-
miss:loners of the International Exhibition in London.
For these services, in 1665, he received the honour of
knighthood, and was also made Chevalier of the Legion
of Honour. At the time of his death he was Lieutenant-
Colonel of Militia and Adjutant-General, Aide-de-camp
to the Governor, and Provost Martial of the colony.
GOOD RESIDENCE FOR TRUMPETERS.—A Cottage
Horny.—Panrk
A THEATRICAL PERFORMANCE IN A LUNATIC
AsTLUM.—Suine short time since Mr. Bothers'', while
going over the County Lunatic Asylum, at Eainhill,
, near Liverpool, was so pleased and interested with all
he saw, that he promised Mr. Rogers., the superin-
tendent, to give a theatrical performance before the
inmate's, as soon as; he could spare the time. Last
, Friday he fulfilled hiss promise, and, with the aseast-
ance of the company of the Prince of Wales Theatre,
at Liverpool, he appeared in his popular character of
, Sir Hugh de Brass, in " A Regular Fix." The
I Prince of Wales Company also gave a performance,
and so did Mr. Heller, the faznoue conjuror, to the
evident delight of the unfortunate inmates of the
asylum, who, however, enjoyed all they saw and
heard with as much gusto as if perfectly sane.
YOUNG CAVAIONAC.—It will be remembered by
our readers that one of the pupils of the Lye& Charle-
Imaple, young Genest, was excluded because he openly
expressed approbation of his fellow student Cavaignac
on the occasion when the latter refused to receive the
prize he had gained from the hands of the Prince
Imperial. The authorities of the school revised their
decision, and a short tiune back intimated to young
Geneet's family that he might resume his studies; but
at the last moment a second notice was given revoking
the former and maintaining the exclusion. On learn-
ing this, young Cavaignac resolved to share the fate
of his friend, and has taken his name off the books of
the college.—The Daily Telegraph tells the story as
follows :
Once upon a time there was a naughty little boy called
Master eavaignae. This young gentleman's papa had quar-
relled with another young gentleman's papa about politics
so, when the other young gentleman himself, who was called
the Prince Imperial, offered Master Cavaignac a prize,
Master Cavaignac said—in French—" I chant !" Then
another SAughtly little boy, called (lomat, clapped his stupid
little hands, and sanl—in French—" Brayvoh !" So little
Genest was turned out of the school: but the master was a
timid, wavering kind of musts, for first he let young Genest
return, and then he ordered him away again. And there-
upon Master cavaignae "took the sulks," which the French
call "nobly resolved to share the Into of his friend ;" and
he removed his name right off the hooks of the school. A
revolution is expected—by :Master cavaignae and a few
friends; and meanwhile an Immense amount of utterly fac-
titious importance is given to the impertinence and bad
breeding of a young Lyceen by the official Journals, which are
dull enough to treat such matters gravely.
THE SANDWICH ISLANDS.—The reported sink-
ing of the south-eastern shore of Hawali is confirmed.
The same occurrence was observed at Port Ililo.
The subsidence at Hawaii in some places wilA from
three to four and in others from six to seven feet,
while at Hilo the greatest subsidence noticed was
eight inches. Advice's to the sth of September state
that in Hilo, Pura and Kaufroll one to five earth-
quakes occurred :Lily. Considerable smoke was
arising from Kilauea', though but little fire was
visible. Oscillations of the sea at Hilo on the 14th,
15th, and 16th of August were remarkable. For three
days thirties rose and fell from three to four feet every
ten minutes.

A SPORTSMAN SIIRPRIOND.—The Figaro pub-
lishes an account of a practical joke which, unlike
most practical jokes, has the merit of being amusing.
An enthusiastic sportsman went to a breakfast given
in sign of the commencement of the shooting season.
The talk was of game, when suddenly in rushed
servant exclaiming to the host that a hare had been
seen moving about on the lawn. Out went the enthu-
siastic sportsman, gun in hand, fired at the hare and
missed him. The hare, scratching his nose, stood up
on his hind legs, presented a horse pistol at the enthu-
siastic sportsman, and fired in return. No one WM
hurt; but the enthusiastic sportsman was naturally
astounded, until at last it was explained to him that
the hare was a performing animal which had been
hired from a neighbouring show. The sportsman's
charge had, of course, been tampered with by the con-
fidential servant.
- - - •

A WELCOME APPARITION.—One day last week
a Birmingham paper, acting upon incorrect intelli-
gence, informed its readers that Mr. Welby Pugin,
the eminent Roman Catholic architect, was lying
dangerously ill at Malvern, and shortly afterwards it
was reported to the inmates of the convent at Stone,
near Stafford, that Mr. I'ngin was no more. The con-
vent bell was accordingly ordered to be tolled, and
whilst this tribute to the memory of their late friend
was being paid by the inmates a gentleman knocked
at the convent gate, inquired for the Rev. Father
ID—, and sent In Ilia card. The joy and astonishment

of • ~, tether ; , . • . ahe read the
ins rpti.o." Mr. W it tne amazement
of the latter on hem , ,ly to his question, "For
whom is the bell p.l!, , , it was f, a. himself may
aloe be realists! by tie, ‘lnlie, imagination. The re-
pois of Mr. Plight's illness and death were equally
without foundation.
Snwtnns p entleman of
elm en committ,l eoiebie a few- tlas eine,- in the Due
des t'i1,C3,10,1, Paris. Ile had 1 efistemi badly, and his
mother locked him up. On geiog to release him she
found hint hanging front the bedpost. Medical aid
urns called in, but proved ineffectual to restore Lim to
Ufa—A widow named Mare, who, v ith two young
children was in very straightened circumstances,
hanged herself in her room in the Rue de la Grferie,
in despair of not being able to pay her rent.—Another
suicide is reported : A man of forty-two also hanged
hineelf in bis cellar Last Fri lay.
THE OBNOXIOUS FrAcs ! —An amusing affair
has disturbed the tranquillity of St. Cabin, in the
Department of the Sarthe. A public banquet AVM in
preparation, to which the official notabilities had been
invited. The hall where the feasting was to take place
was decorated with all the small splendour that could
be conjured up in St. Catais, and as tlegs weie scarce,
it seems, in the town, ell the old banners of twenty
Vesls ago were furbished up for the occasion. At the
last moment, just as the official guests were about to
make their appearance, it WOA diSC,,Vere,l that some of
the old flags displayed the ones honoured anti now
abhorred words—ieberte, FM( rnite. There
was barely time to %slap up some of these inappropriate
ornaments and to turo others to the wall before the
officials took their places. How the managers of
the ceremony must letee trembled lest eome inoppor-
tune gnst of wind slit ml,l Itch se the ugly secret !
TITE TRICKS OF L.P.:tam—A gchtleman writes
the following to the papers :

—A your o,!

gine afternoon last week, whit. away at 1111POIOSS, a man
called at my house, and ti Id lily Srife he calm: to pay E, 2s,
duo to me : also, if it was not paiil that day, it WI Olt involve
an expense if es. sd. She hint to hack, hut of
course he could Suit. Ile then nri,ent, .1 iv:cit. Inv site took
to lieu eheOUO for V.:9 I's, wanting .0 thano:. t, gory
rst
Otis
BO very plausible, it ti : hoc eionnlemly It Mir Anoint
as she had only Us. iii change ha gladly took that, ti-king
that the Its remaining AO Mid Le sent in stamps by first post
next morning tin cry arrival home i found the paper ma
worth one penny.
A Bancffialf F istED —At the Liverpool Police'
court on Monday, Sir James Malcolm, Part., was
sunanoned before the Liverpool magistrates to answer
the charge of having assaulted two of the police-
constables of the borough. It appeared that on the
night of the let inst. Sir James mune into collision
with officers in the street, and strong, language was
used on both sides, the bassinet giving one of the
officers a violent blow, and slightly assaulting the
other. It was understood that the complainants
would not press the chfuge for a heavy fine, if an
apology were made. Sir James Malcolm apologised
accordingly, saying he was sorry he "did raise his hand
to these two men, as he would, any, to one of his own
position." A fine of 20s. and costs atm inflicted
in One CAM 111 the BeCOWI the summons was with-
drawn.
A CANARD !—There is a story that General Prim
in the month of August addressed himself to the
cabinets of the Tuileries, of London. and Berlin, with
regard to the corning events of Spain; and having
sought an interview with Napoleen 111. without
formally demanding an andienue, was unable to obtain
access to the Emperor, whereupon Prim said he would
come to an understanding w ith some other government.
The canard goes on ti say that that r•ther government
is the Prussian since it is stated in a letter from
Iffadrid that two German houses have been charged to
hand over to Print 600,000 tlialers. " 'rhe satisfac-
tion of the Berlin cabinet," says the Presse "is shared
by the English Government, which has the pretension
to direct the movement."
MYSTERIOUS DEIIII AT COVENTLY.—Consider-
able excitement prevails in Coventry respecting the
death of a young woman named Louisa Warren. She
was about eighteen years of age, remarkably robust
and muscular. On I.‘lenday week she WOO taken
imorly, and complained of pains in her back.
Dr. Craddock was called in, and gave her a powder.
She passed a very restless night, and suffered
much pains in the calves of her legs and her
back. The next day she was a little easier, but the
following night was OS restless SA bef. we. On Wednes-
day afternoon another doctor was fol.', for, but before
he came she (lied in a passive state. In conse-
quence of the sitrffilar circumstances attending her
death, Mr. Doves the City comfier, directed four
medical men ti make a post-mortem examination of
the body. This was dine, but none of the medical
men could find an) indication of the canes of death.
The stomach and smaller intestines were marked in
some places with patches. They have been forwarded
in sealed jars to Dr. Alfred Hill, the public analyst
for the borough of Birmingham, and the coroner's in-
quiry stands adjourned until the analysis shall have
been completed.
CAUTION TO CHEMISTS. A (-vie in which a
chemist exposed himself to the penalties of the Sale of
Poisons Act was heard at Dow-street fmlice-court in
London, on Tuesday. Poison had been sold to a young
woman WhO had afterwards al tempted to commit
suicide, and not one of the prifvisions f I the new enact-
ment had been complied with. The bottle had not
been labelled, nor had the name and address of the
unknown purchaser been taken. The offending
chemist IMO not, however, before Lire magistrate, who
(rid not inquire as to his HOMO, " ash, 'night be unaware
of the existence of an act so recently pa,sefl." Had he
been charged with the Ihence, a fine of I:5 must hate
been inflicted on conch-thin.
" LARGEST CIRCULATtON IN Till:: WORLD."—The

Elephant's.—Pn itch.
QUEEN ISABELLA GoiNo 1,3 11Vm e.—A Paris
correspondent of the Pall Mall Gaytte writes :
Queen Isabella has accepted tie hospitality offered her by I
the lope, and is daily expected at Room Iler fall is a great
blow to the Holy Father. The nutom population, Oa the I
cont:ary, hail it with satlslaett:n It 'mist be said, how-
ever, that the announcement that the Poles invitation has
been accepted by the ex• Queen creat., discontent chiefly on
account of a rumour that she does 11.4 p•rs.rss a halfpenny.
There is a story that on healing this int aligenee the Pope
said to his Premier, " Antonelli, what think you ? Shall I
give her back the magnificent tiara she sent ale:" The
Cardinal replied, " Most Holy Father, the tiara has been pre-
sented to the Apostolic Palace, of which I am prefect, and I
must oppose its restitution; nor has your Holiness any
power over IL" This anecdote is related on trustworthy
authority.
EQUITABLE JunISPICTION OF THE COUNTY
enrirts.—The year 1867 was the sae: mil complete year
11 the new equity jurisdiction of the County Courts if
England. In that year 613 equitable snits or proceed-
logs were instituted in those court,, instead of carrying
three small matters to the thigh C, net of 'hanc,ry, or
perhaps going without justice because of its castliness.
Diem were 189 plaints entered for the administration
of estates ; 48 for the execution of trusts ; 112 for
foreclosure or redemption of mortgaged property, or
for enforcing a charge or lien; 105 for specific perfor-
mance of a contract ' • nine for delivering up or can-
celling an agreement for sale or purchase ; 55 for
dissolution or winding-up of a partnership. There were
also 25 petitions or notices filed; 35 far the appointment
or removal of trustees ; 28 for other purposes under the
Trustee Acts ; 11 for the maintenance or advancement
of infants under age, and 21 for injunctions:. There
were only eight appeals. Two persons were com-
mitted for contemj,t, and 13 warrants of execution or
possession were issued. The attorney's costs allowed
amounted to 116,003. The aumunt of subject
matter ht dispute, or dealt with, is stated at
£82,622
A WELSH NAMlL—Before one of the Liver-
pool revising barristers, the other day, a claim was
made on the part of John Pritchard, whose qualifica-
tion consisted of freehold houses, and whose residence
was described as " Rhosllanerchrug,og, near Ruabon."
Mr France (to the friend who appeared for Mr.
Pritchard) : You say that Pritchard lives at—you
know the place. (Laughter.) The applicant: Where?
Mr. France: Oh 1 I can't pronounceit—(loud laughter)
—and I must leave it to Mr. Leader. (Renews'
laughter.) Mr. Leader: Does he live at Rose—.
You know where I meant Applicant: Yes, he lives
there. 31r. Leader: Well, we must accept that,. for I
can't for the life of me pronounce the word. It is suf-
ficient to strangle one. (Great laughter.) The vote
was allowed.