The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-05-02 00:00:00

111istellancett5- lintrifigcnte.

HOME. FOREIGN, AND COLONIAL.

DR. LIVINGSTONE'S GRAVE—The place of
burial of the great traveller is now marked by the
following simple inscription cut in large letters on one
of the tiles of the floor :—" David Livingstone, 1873."
Since the fungal, Westminster Abbey has been visited
by a large nutllber of persons anxious to see the spot
where the Doctor lies, many of whom have placed
spring flowers over his grave.
DREADErL ILOCIDINT 10 A YOUNG LADY. —On
the evening of the 4th inst., after a ball at the house of
Mr. Roberts at Allyghur, Miss King, the sister of an
officer in the Public Works Department, who had re-
turned home, was going to her own room when she ac-
cidentally struck a hand kerosine lamp %hich she was
•-arrying against the wall or door. Th. lamp fell, and
the oil blazed up and set her clothes on tire. She
rushed shrieking into a bed-room occupied by Captain
O'Dowda, superintendent of police, and his wife, who
were asleep. They awoke at once and rolled her in
their razai, and she probably would have recovered had
not a native servant, hearing the cries and seeing the
flames, rushed in and thrown over her gurra of water.
This caused the flames to burst out afresh, and terrible
injuries were the result, under which she succumbed
after a protracted suffering, endured with the most
heoroic Christian patience for nearly three weeks. -
Bombay Gazette.
DOCIBLE MURDER BY A LUNATIC.—A dis-
tressing event is reported by the T iNieB of India to have
occurred near Oorurut, a station on that portion of the
Bombay, Baroda, and Central Indian Railway which
has just been finished. Mr. J. C. Hall, of the Politi-
cal Department, had been sent to Bombay last year on
account of his being subject to fits of insanity, but while
under surveillance he appeared to be better, and was
eventually allowed to rejoin his appointment. On the
4th inst., having relapsed into a state of insanity, he
shot at three natives, killing two of them on the spot
and wounding a third. Mr. Hall was formerly in the
Guzerat Revenue Survey Departn.ent, but for some
months past he had been on special political duty. He
was conveyed to a lunatic asylum in Bombay.

BREAD RIOTS AT PARMA. —A demonstration
has just been made by the inhabitants of Parma against
the high price of provisions. On this occasion, bread
was the immediate object of the crowd's manifestation,
a great multitude having assembled in front of the
bakers' shops, and demanding to be supplied at
the 21b. loaf. The tradesmen yielded for the moment,
as they were unprotected, but only until the arrival of
a military force to preserve order. Some of the noisiest
of the women, of which the bulk of the assemblage
was composed, were taken into custody.
-

.
Tun LOUISIANA FLOODS. —A Philadelphia
Correspondent writes under date April 10:—" Phe
usual troubles along the lower Mississippi and its
bayous from the Spring frethets and overflows are re-
ported. The country en the west side of the Minds
sippi below the mouth of the Arkansas has been for
some time submerged, though the waters are now sub-
siding. In some places the overflow extends 30 to 40
miles back from the river. The levees are also broken
at other places along the river, and horn Vicksburg
south the complaints of crevasses and over-
flows are general. A number of railways have
been washed away and travel stopped. A serious
crevasse is reported from Bayou la Gourche,
near Thibodeux, in Louisiana, from which the water
is spreading over a large surface. Opposite New
Orleans the water is at a very high stage, and several
overflows are reported and serious danger of damage is
apprehended. There has been a sreak at Carrolton,
near the city, but it has been repaired. The insecure
and, in some cases, positively dilapidated condition of
the levees in Louisiana, makes the danger from this
freshet in the Mississippi more serious than it other-
wise would be. The crops are better this year than in
1872 or 1873, and the risk of loss therefore, the
greater. Numerous parties are at work strengthening
weak places, and three leaks, which occurred within
few miles below New Orleans, have been to-day suc-
cessfully closed. One of them attained 60 It. width
helot the flood waa conquered."
_

AN EXEMPTION.--The new Bill which has
been introduced into the House of Commons, to alter
the law affecting Jurors, does not propose to abolish
the Old Jewry in the City of London.—Punch.
THE LATE MR. SHIRLEY BROOKS. —The
Morning Post says that arrangements are in progress
for a performance at one of the principal theatres for
the benefit of the widow and children of the late Mr.
Shirley Brooks. Cut off, as he was, at a comparative
early period, Mr. Brooks had not been able to save
much for those so near and dear to him. No one
was more reedy than he to extend a helping hand, and
by his pen or otherwise to aid in raising funds for
others in need; and there can be no doubt that the
present appeal on behalf of his family will meet with
a fitting response from a public for whose amusement
and instruction he laboured so long and so well. To
quote his own words from a document in his hand-
writing, dated April 29th, 1873, and found after his
decease -" All I have in the world I shall leave to
the absolute disposal of my dear wife, who has helped
me to make so much of it. Should I die suddenly, I
have no objection to a theatrical performance or aught
else that will enable her to live comfortably and edu-
ate the boys." The proposed benefit performance,
therefore, is in harmony with his wishes.
A Don STORY.—The Boston Trareller relates
the following dog story i—G. F. Riehardson, of
Lowell, owns a magnificent Newfoundland dog. Mrs.
Richardson took the children and dog to the photo-
graph saloon to have the group taken; but the dog
was in a wilful mood, and would not pose, and was
turned out. The next day the dog put in an appear-
ance at the saloon and scratched at the door till he was
admitted ; he then proceeded directly to the spot as-
signed him the day before, and placed himself in the
exact position desired by the artist. The photograph
was taken, and when completed put into a box and
given to the dog, who carried it directly to his
master."

ABOUT WET SUNDAYS AT CHURCH.—What is
more miserable or more injurious than sitting at
church in damp clothes and damp boots, with the drip-
pings of an umbrella falling on one's toes? Why
should we not have vestiares " for the public as well
as vestries for the preachers, where we might deposit
our coats and change our wet boots, and avoid the ne-
cessity of cramming our best Sunday hats under a
dusty seats The fact is, no place is so uncomfortable
as a church in wet weather, and on such occasions we
are very emphatically "miserable sinners." May one
ask if there would be any special impropriety, or in-
superable difficulty, in setting apart rooms for ladies
and gentlemen, where they might divest themselves of
their wet or superfluous garments? As regards top
coals( it is very awkward, as pews are now constructed,
to take them off or put them on, and is often attended
with risk to a most prominent feature on a gentleman's
face, or may even (while you are struggling with your
coat sleeves) disarrange to a serious extent, that pretty
little " jardiene," which your fellow-worshipper calls,
by courtesy, a bonnet. Ought these things to be ?
Pictorial World.

FATAL GUN ACCIDENT.—Aboy named William
Brown, 12 years of age, was on Monday shot through
the head at Paidey. Brown had gone into the garden
of Mr. John Nicol, warehouseman with two sons of
that gentleman. One of the Nicole took an old fowling
piece out of the tool house, and suddenly letting it fall
to the ground, the weapon exploded, and the charge
passed through Brown's head, 'killing him on the spot.

A DOMESTIC FIRE ESCAPE.—In London, last
week, Major Wetherbed, R.A., exhibited his patent
fire escape at Messrs. Devas. Routledge, a- d t'o',
lofty warehouse in Cannon-street. A crowd assembled
to watch the singular spectacle of a gentleman lower-
ing 'himself by a rope from a window 70 feet above
ground, and his successful descent they rewarded with
hearty cheers. The experiments were watched by
some members of the Committee of the Royal Society
for the Protection of Life from Fire. Major Wethere,l,
slinging himself in a seat of webbing, lowered himself
with speed and ease, regulating the speed of his descent
by pressing the handle of a wrought iron pulley. The
Major claims for his invention the means of escaping
.from the highest buildings, and says that an individual
singlehanded—for instance, a policeman on his beat—
may from the roofs or windows of an adjoining house
rescue the inmates of an adjacent burning dwelling.
He points out that the apparatus should be provided
in every private house and in every hotel. The rope
by which the escape is made is fastened round the
sash or upon a hook. All the experiments were suc-
cessful

PROSPECT OF THE CROPS. —Mr. Meehi writes
from Tiptree Hall, Kelvedon, Essex, on the proi-pects
of the crops :--

Copious rains and an unusually high temperature have
still further improved our harvest prospects, which we may
rewo nobly expect to be very early and abundant. Pastures
and green crops have also greatly benefited by those April
rains. Spring-sown corn of every kind comes in quickly and
healthily, so that, on the whole, I trust we may be blessed
with ample homegrown food for man and beast. The bushel
of wheat per acre is rather too thick on this farm this year,
and the half-bushel per acre drilled is now as thick a plant as
could be desired. No doubt in our southeni and eastern
counties, there might be a great and advantageous saving
of seed where the fanning is good and clean.

ROYAL SYMPATHY. On the occasion of the
recent Royal visit to the wounded f the
Ashantee campaign at Netley Hospital, a
major of of the 42nd Highlanders, who was wounded at
the battle of Amoaful, was prevented to her Majesty.
The sergeant, writing to his friends at Kinross des-
cribing the interview, says —"Ac: you would see from
the newspapers, her Majesty paid a visit to Netley
Hospital. Her Majesty chatted a few minutes to me,
and made kind inquiries about me. The doctor told
her how I had been in the Crimean and Indian cam-
paigns, and on hearing my story her Majesty burst into
tears. She introduced me to her young/at son and
daughter, who were present, and they w"ere aa. much
affected as their noble mother. Next day I received
from Osborne a copy of ' Leaves from my journal in
the Highlands,' with the following inscription iri the
Queen's own handwriting :—' Preirented to Sergeant-
or John Barclay, 42nd Highlanders, Viotti& R.,
Osborne, April 17, 1814.'"

PADDLE YOUR OWN CANOE.—Judge S. gave
his own sou a thousand dollars. sad told him to go to
college and graduate (says an American paper). The
son returned at the end of the Freshman year, without
a dollar, and with several ugly habits. About the
close of vacation the Judge said to his sou—" Well,
are you going to college this year?" Have
no woorey, father." "But I gave vu a thousand
dollen to graduate on." " That's all gone, father."
" Very well ,my son. I gave you all I could Miura to
giveyou. "1: ou can't stay here--you must now pay your
wayiu the world." Anew light brokein upon the vision
of the young man. He accommodated himself to the
situation. He left home; made his way through the
college, and graduated at the Lead of his class; studied
law; became Governor of the State of New York;
entered the Cabinet of the President of the United
States ; and made a record for himself that will not
soon die—being none other than William if. Seward.

MISSIONARY ENTERPRISE. Such of your
readers as are interested in New Guinea will be glad
of furthernewsfrom thatquarter(writes the Australian
correspondent of The Tunes). A letter from Rev. A.
W. Murray, of the London Missionary Society, ap-
pears in the Melbourne Herald, under date December
17, 1873. The expedition of which he gives an account
was designed to visit the islands where native mis-
sionaries had been left. At York Island, for instance,
the missionary and his family were found well and
kindly treated by the Papuans, who were very
attentive to his instructions. Redeem Bay was
also visited with a similar result. From one of
the islands it was found needful to remove
the teachers in consequence of their having
suffered much from fever and ague. This was
unwelcome news to the chiefs who were gathered to
confer. They were carried to a populous village, on
a hilly site, between Redsear Bay and Port Moresby;
they were received with indications of great joy. In
this place, Anuapata, the buses number about uko,
and around are many villages. The surrounding land
is good and cultivated. Mr. Murray says that there
are no traces of gold here or elsewhere. The people are,
as Wallacerepresents them, a gentle, mild race, and
the succeesof the mission is spoken of with confidence.

No TIME TO WASTE IN WORDS. —ln an
American theatre the other night, a noble son of the
soil occupied a whole seat in the orchestra stalls. He
was evidently a person of mature years, and looked
as though he might be a descendant of Anak. Another
man, of lighter heft, and apparently of uncertain
tenure of purpose, came up to this first party, and,
tapping him upon the shoulder, said to him, "That's
my seat." "How kin it be yourn when I'm into it,
eh ?" "I don't care; it's mine, and here's my coupon."
"I don't keer a cuss for yer capon, so y,u coop off;
I'm here, and here 11l stick. Stranger, I've tuck
root" Then the coupon man said, "Come move; I
have no time to waste in words ;" and with that he
placed his effeminate hands upon the shoulders of the
man who had taken root, and sought to dispossess him
vi it orals, or something like that. But that was his
last grasp and his last hold, for the denizen of the
forest rose like an eruption of Bahl Mountain, and
seizing that would-be usurper by the north and south
of his costume, he tossed him clean out into the lobby;
and then, like a giant refreshed, he thlopod down int*
his seat again, remarking, "I have no time to waste in
words."