The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-06-11 00:00:00

ilia Kan* Carrtspodmi,

.-leem it right to state that we do not at all timee
ourselves with our Correspondent's opinions:

Some five or six years ago a sable ruler in the shape
of the Sultan of Zanzibar visited this country, and
spent a few days in London. One of his excursions
was from Woolwich to Westminster in a steamboat,
and the spectacle is such as can be presented in no
other city in the world. Mile after mile, right and
left, stretch away to the north and to the south the
homes of millions of people. The docks are crowded
with a dense forest of masts, the shipping therein re-
presenting the commerce of the civilized world. Ever
and anon the steamer had to pass under a stately
bridge—London Bridge and Blackfriars for instance,
teeming with the enormous traffic of the vast metro-
polis. -Upon the surface of the river itself crafts of all
sizes was moving up and down. At every point where
the eye alighted, all was life, and bustle, and anima-
tion. The scene was such a contrast to that which the
Zanzibar ruler was accustomed to contemplate that
after he had in some degree recovered from his be-
wilderment, he musingly said: "The greatness of this
city was not reported to us ! " No one had given to
him an idea of the immensity of the British capital.
The returns of the Census are gradually coming in,
and these show that London is growing in greater
proportion each successive decade. It has increased
by 560,000 since 1871, as against an increase of 450,000
during the previous ten years. Since 1861, therefore,
the population of the metropolis has grown by the
extraordinary number of a million persons; and as the
population is now nearly four millions, the same rate
of progression willin the year 1900 see the number
swollen to five millions. The mind almost fails to
comprehend the magnitude of the calculation. Already
London includes more people than the whole of
Scotland; it will very soon comprise more than
the whole of Ireland. Where and when is its

rowth to end ? Already it stretches out its giant
arms into four counties—Middlesex, Surrey, Kent,
and Essex; it is swallowing up the green fields, and
converting quiet lanes into thoroughfares resounding
to the tramp of feet constantly hurrying to and fro.
It is startling to think that within a decade a number
of human beings equal to the entire population of
Liverpool have been added to the inhabitants of
Lcndon. Many people come to live in London
because pleasant society is found there, or because
friends and relatives are in the great hive of its mul-
titudinous dwellers. The rest are bred in London,
or are brought there by a variety of considerations,
such as occupation, excitement, or the rate of living.
But however the increase of London may be accounted
for, here is the broad and comprehensive fact that in
ten years between five and :six hundred thousand
persons have been added to the already vast number
of its people.
Four or five years ago there was a scare in agricul-
tural England over a voracious pest called the Colo-
rarlo beetle; now London itself has been alarmed at
the announcement that the mosquito has been dis-
covered in Belgravia, the most aristocratic quarter of
the capital. A belief is current that the insects were
conveyed through the medium of travellers' luggage
from America. London has for the last few weeks,
in view of the Derby, been the sojourning place of a
number of United States' sportsmen. Can the dreaded
insect have been thus imported? Those who are
familiar with works of travel will remember the
discomforts which the mosquito causes in warm
climates. There are others of the species, however,
which are quite as troublesome in cold countries.
Lapland has a mosquito which is almost as great a
pest as that of the tropics. In India those who
cannot avail themselves of the protection afforded
by mosquito curtains are in the habit of smearing
their bodies with oil. In South America people not
unfrequently sleep with their bodies covered with
three or four inches of sand in order to protect them-
selves from this scourge. Thick clothing is hardly of
any use against the attacks of this active and voracious
foe.

The Whitsuntide holidays have come when the days
are at their longest and very nearly at their hottest.
A fine Whitsuntide is always a favourite time of recrea-
tion in this country; and with regard to the weather
it may be safely said that thus far the summer has
fulfilled the promise of those who predicted that it
would be hot and dry. A little of the rain which
fell in such enormous quantities in 1879, and so
sadly interfered with agricultural prosperity, would
now do good. Hay is a meagre crop through lack
of moisture; but, on the other hand, there is an old
proverb that drought never bred dearth in England ;
and, if the hay harvest and the root crops are defective,
the corn harvest is likely to be good. The dry spring,
with its long succession of parching east winds, /.9 suc-
ceeded by a dry summer ; the forces which created such
devastation in 1879 have exhausted themselves; and
the growers of wheat will reap the a.dvanta, e. The
autumn bids fair to be one of the best for toe railway
companies which has been experienced for many
years.

The Parliamentary recess at Whit.untide is, for the
House of Commons, a very short one, being, in fact,
one of three working days only. Adjourning on
the night of the 3rd, and meeting again on Thurs-
'lay, the 9th, Saturday and Sunday of course
would not ceunt, as Parliament does not sit
on those days; so that Monday, Tuesday, and Wed-
nesday only were left. This was not much,
seeing that there are now no more vacations before
the legislature is prorogued, so that a long unbroken run
of labour is before our senators. The Lords took a
little longer than was allowed to the Commons—
namely, a clear week; and there are many hard
workers in London who would have enjoyed seven
days' holiday in the first week of June, when the
benefit of the long hours of daylight is fully experi-
enced. It is hoped that her Majesty's faithful
Commons, to use a familiar phrase, will settle down to
the task before them with a determination that the
business of the country shall be got through. Parlia-
ment has now been in Session five months, having
assembled on the 6th of January; but thus far there
is very little to show for such a length of time. The
thousand amendments to the Irish Land Bill have as
yet scarcely been touched.

Between the close of the Whitsuntide recess and the
end of June or the beginning of July, is what is
generally regarded as the best of the time of the Lon-
son season. Into these few weeks are crowded all
descriptions of gaieties which mark the height of that
brilliant time. Garden parties by day, lounges amid
the beauties of the parks, balls, concerts, receptions,
and "at homes " at night—such is the round of life
until the scorching sun I July reminds those who are
able to get away that there is beyond the busy world
of the capital the No wegian fjord and the Lombardian
lake, the health-giving sea breeze, and the cool
mountain-top—all inviting the possessors of affluence
to leave the smoky city for a time, and seek recreation
away from its turmoil and its strife.
The directors of the Crystal Palace, anxious to make
the place one of instruction as well as amusement,
have started a series of international exhibitions illus
trative of the progress of our textile manufactures, and
the first of these is a Woollen Show. It was opened by
the Duke and Duchess of Connaught, and will remain
for public inspection until October. The machinery
and other objects on view occupy the whole of the
south nave and the long western corridor, together
with the galleries extending from the great orchestra
along the western side of the Palace, the south gallery
under the great clock, and the garden gallery to the
concert room. The exhibition promises thoroughly
to fulfil the intention that it should be complete and
comprehensive in all its details, and prove useful from
a technical point of view.

The spread of musical culture in this country, and
the increased importance ascribed to the study of the
art, have had the result of directing attention to institu-
tions originally formed for the encouragement of music,
but which have not received that public support to
which they might have looked forward. The laudable
efforts in connection with the Philharmonic and Sacred
Harmonic Societies are results of this influence. In
London there is at all times a varied programme of
musical enjoyment, "from grave to gay, from lively
to severe " ; while the Triennial Festivals in different
provincial towns serve to keep alive the interest in an
art whose pleasures have been described as having a
tendency to enrapture the mind and to elevate the soul.
The Birmingham Festival is one of thebest attended in
the provinces; but Norwich, Gloucester, Hereford, and
Worcester testify alike to the energy of the promoters,
and to the judgment displayed in the compilation of the
programmes.

The applications to attend the Volunteer Review
at Windsor on the 9th July have been very numerous;
and as the Rifle competition at Wimbledon begins on
the following Monday, the attendance will in all
probability be a very numerous one. The number
likely to be present from the home district will
be nearly 23,000, but this will greatly depend
upon the response made by employers to the appeal
of the metropolitan commanding officers that the
Volunteers may be allowed to attend the review.
The provinces will be represented by about 7,000
men, making the total willing to be present 30,000,
This is about 3,000 more than the number present
at the last Royal review of the Volunteers at Windsor.
which took place on the 28th June, 1868. A Royal
Volunteer Review, however, which attracted much
public interest was that which took place in Hyde
Park very soon after the establishment of the Volun-
teer institution in this country in the summer of 1860,
when the Queen and the Prince Consort witnessed the
march past of about 20,000 men of the citizen array,
which is now rornerous and so efficient.