biglam/hmd_newspapers huggingface dataset:
The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-12-24

BRITISH COTTON EXPORTS.

According to a statement just issued, the total
declared value of the exports of cottons, cotton N arm:,
and plain cottons from Liverpool, London, South-
ampton, and the Clyde to the East for the eleven
months ending the 30th ult. wm £42,853,942, com-
pared with £41,859,895 in the corresponding period of
1880.
The shipments to Calcutta were £13,518,987,
against £13,303,301 ; Bombay, £8,996,520, against
£8,469,318; Shanghai, £5,568,592, against £6,064,911 :
Hong Kong, £3,385,963, against £3,339,227; and
Japan, £2,488,766, against £3,132,419.

THE LOSSES in the FRANCO-PRUSSIAN
WAR.

The twentieth and concluding volume of the work,
The Franco-German War of 1870-71, by the Staff of
the German Army," has just been published. Nine
years have passed since the appearance of the first
volum'e.

The new volume contains statistics from which we
gather that the German army lost during the war
6,247 officers and 123,453 men. Of this number 40,081
fell either before the enemy or died of their wounds
or of illness; the rest were wounded.
The whole forces of the German army during the
war amounted to 44,420 officers and 1,451,944 men, of
whom 33,101 officers and 1,113,254 men took part in
the campaign.
Within seven months 290,000 persons were nursed
in the field hospitals, and 812,021 patients received in
the reserve hospitals.

The .number of letters forwarded by the field-post
amounted to 101,267,500.

The voluntary contributions amounted to
33,000,000 m. (£1,650,000) in money and 5,000,000 m.
(k 79,000 in 2ther gifts. In addition Germans abroad,
especially in North America, sent 7,500,000 m.
(£375,000).

THE LEIGH SMITH ARCTIC
EXPEDITION.

On Tuesday afternoon a deputation from the Royal
Geographical Society, which included the Right Hon.
rLord Aberdare, Sir Henry Rawlinson, Sir George
Nares, Sir Allen Young, Captain Clement R. Mark-
ham, and several members of the council of the
society, had a private interview by appointment
with Lord Northbrook, at the offices of the Ad-
miralty in Whitehall, with reference to the ques-
tion of searching for and conveying assistance to
Mr. Leigh Smith and his companions in misfortune
on board the ship Eira, whose fate is just now
creating considerable interest, not only among their
friends, but among the geographers. The object of
the deputation was to urge upon the Government the
necessity of takind some steps in order to despatch an
expedition to the Arctic regions with a view of re-
lieving Mr. Smith and his comrades, and speeches in
support of the views of the Geographical Society were
delivered by Lord Aberdare, Sir George Nares, and
others.

Lord Northbrook, In closing the interview, said
that he fully concurred in the views of the council re-
specting the claim which Mr. Leigh Smith's geo-
graphical service gave him to special consideration,
and promised that the case should be laid before the
Government, and should receive the best c,msidera-
tioti.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-12-24

CHANGES OF MINISTERS.

Since the French Republic was founded eleven years
ago France has had no fewer than thirteen Ministries
and no fewer than twenty-eight Ministers of the
Interior (remarks the Pall Mall Ga:ette), The French
Home Office uses up its occupants twic, as fast as the
Foreign Offices' which has only seen fourteen
Ministers since 1871. The contrast between thee
rapid changes and the length of time the p9rtfolio
of Foreign Affairs remains in the same hands in
other countries is very marked. In the same period
England has only had three Foreign Ministers, one of
whom is now in office for the second time ; Prince
Bismarck has never left the helm in Germany nor
Prince Gortschakoff in Russia. In Austria. Hungary
Count Kalnoky is the third Foreign Minister since the
resignation of Count Beust. In the last 128 years
Austria-Hungary has only known nineteen Foreign
Ministers—not twioe as many as France has pos-
sessed since the fall of the Empire.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-12-24

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER.

ROWLEY SCHOOL BOARD.

and remarked that the decrease in the number of

A meeting of this body was held in the Board scholars attending the school was doubtless due, in
a great measure, to the agricultural depression
Room, 0: i HU!, ea Mon :It last, M-. W. Pas asio
eilin. 'ree other rueerbers ereent were in the district. In the Quinton district alone 13
prz Messrs.
G Geeee IV:ri.ley, a-. B. Halley.
, farms had recently changed hands or been vacated
Th rery au i many of them were vacant at the present
e ,; t'se Finance Corumittee showed
t'-est the receipts during the month amounted to time —The vote o' thanks was seconded by Mr. E.
(em, and heartily accorlecl.—ln acknowledgine.
£1.13 5s ld, and t'-e expenditure to £76 lls 2d.
the compliment Lord Lyttleto said he believed the
Accounts am unting to £865 6s 8d (including £269 day was far distant when the school would become
18s od for teachers salary) were examined and
extinct. m the motion of Mr. Bloomer,
ssed and cheques ordered for eayment.
seconded by Mr. Trewolla, a cordial vote of thanks
The Chairman read a letter from Miss Chovell was also passed to the head ma.ster (Mr. Matthews)
(head mistress of the Cradley Heath Schools) tends,.
s
lug her resienation from the post, giving a quarter's for the efficient discharge of hi duties through-
notice Mr. Whitley : We are very sorry indeed. out the year, The proceedings then terminated.
The freignation was accepted.
A letter was read from Miss E. Rose, assistant
mistress in the Old Hill junior department, asking
for an increase of salary. In the letter she remarked
that in that department the number of scholars had
increased since her appointment and it was now one
of the largest under the Boa-d.
Mr. G. Green proposed that her salary be in-
creased from .250 to £6O per year.
The Chairman k aid they could not formally deal
with the question, as it was not entered on the
agenda and the matter was deferred until the next
Board meeting.
The School Attendance Officer (Mr. Hodgetts) re-
ported that there had been a slight decrease in the
attendance since the last Board meeting as compared
with that of the previous month. He had no reason
to believe that this was owing to an increase of
fever cases, but a number of children were away
from school under the plea of colds, coughs, &c. It
was also a custom for parents to keep their children
(or part of them) away from school for a week or
two before or a week or two after each holiday.
As remonstrances were useless in these cases he was
afraid the only way to deal with them was to sum-
mon the parents before the magistrates. He was
pleased to say that the number of children whose
fees were remitted W 2.4 still diminishing, there being
only 313 free at the present time, while at the cor-
responding period last year the number was 576.
There was no other business of public import-
ance.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-12-24

WHOLESALE DEPOT 14011

CHRISTMAS CARDS,

FOR THE COMING SEASON.

MIMOTHY JONES & Co„ now have their
_j_ Sample Books of the above ready lye issapecticn.

TRADESMEN'S ADDRESS.

A DELIGHTFUL FLAVOUR. CRAOROFTIB ARECA-NUT
TOOTH PASTE.-By using this delicious Aromatic Denti-
fri..,e, the enamel of the teeth becomes white, sound, and
polished like ivory. It is exceedingly fragrant, and
specially useful for removing incrustations of tartar on
neglected teeth. Sold by all Chemists. Pots, is and
d each. (Get Cracroft's.)
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-12-24

DUDLEY.

DUDLEY Gs.aurcir CLUB.—rhe members of %kis
amateur dramatic club have sustained a guaat
loss by the performance of "London Assuranee,”
recently given in the Public Hall. Tnis is the
more regrettable as the players appeared with the
intention that some of the poor of the town should
have been provide i with a Christmas dinner.
A BLIND MAN DEOWNED AT DUDLEY. -- On
Wednesday Mr. R. J. Watts (Borough Coroner)
held an inquest at • the Saracen's Jl+ ad "Hotel,
Dudley, on the body of John Albert Clarke (20),
the son of John Clarke, miner, Angel Street. The
evidence adduced showed tnat the deceased had
been blind from boyhood. He did not work at a
trade, but sometimes played a violin about the
lecality. For the last few weeks he had appeared
strange in his manner, and on Saturday night. he
was splken to by hi.; father about having stayed
out late that night. On Sunday afternoon he went
out in apparently a good humour, and later the
same evening he was seen at the Hearty Good
Fellow public house in Charlotte-street. He then
appeared to be in a depressed state, and on being
-asked by a woman if he intended playing his
fiddle at Christmas replied, " I shall nut play it
again." He left the house in company with a
friend who parLd with h in at the aid of the entry
leading to his father's house. The next morning a
hat and handkErebief belonging to deceased were
found byathe side of a pool in Farthing's Lane.
which is about 600 yards distant from his father's
Polic.!-constable Staines dragged the pool
and recovered the dead body of the deceased. The
jury returned an open verdict of " Found drowned."
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-12-24

TIMOTHY JONES & GO,

WHOLESALE AND MANUFACTURING PLAIN
AND FANCY STATIONERS, &c. Arc.
The Largest and most Complete Stock of
STOVE ORNAMENTS, STOVE SHIELDS, CUT
TISSUES, &c. &c., in the Midland Counties.

PHOTO and SCRAP ALBUMS, PURSES, BIBLES,
PRAYER BOOKS, CHURCH SERVICES, dec., dec.
THE TRADE MOST LIBERALLY DEALT WITH.

11 & 12, EDGBASTON STRLIT
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-12-24

CRADLEY HEATH.

FATAL PIT ACCIDANT.—OLI Wednesday evening
an inquest was held before the District Coroner
(W. H. Phillips, Esq.), at the Church Tavern,
Quarry Bank, on the body of Joseph Barnbrook (38)
miner, Quarry Bink. Deceased was employed at
the Timber Tree Colliery, Crad ey Heath, belonging
to the New British Company, Limited, end on the
morning of the 19th inst. he was engaged setting
timber in the pit when a piece of rock, weighing
about two tons, fell from the side of the roof, and
so severely crushed him that he died atout two
hours later of internal injuries. It was shown in
evidence, with reference to the timbering of the pit
that it was deceased's place to set the timber and
make the place safe for the men to work in. Mr.
W. B. Scott (As-istantGovernment Inspector of
Mines) had examined the scene of the occurrence,
and had no fault to find with any of the arrange-
molts. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental
Death." Deceased leaves a widow and four
children.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-12-24

HALESOIVEN.

MINORIAL TO THE L&TE ARCHDEACON HONE.—
On Monday a meeting of the local committee, at
the invitation of the Hon and Rev. G. Pelham, was
held at the rect,ry, Halesowen. The following
gentlemen were present :—Messrs. E. Ball, A.
Burt, E. Gem, J. Grove, A. G. Hayes, B. Hingley,
G. Hiugley, Jeston Homfray, J. P. Hunt, H. R.
Ker, H. Moore, F. D. Nutt, D. W. Phillips, J. G.
Remy, W. Rose, J. Siveter, W. Somers, R. Trewolla
and Lieutentant Lynn Smith, Mr. F. D. Lea
Smith sent a note apologising for hts alseoce. A
general wish was expressed that at least the south
side of the church should be restored as a memorial
to the late Archdeacon Hone, and that steps should
I be taken at once to make this decision known to
' the whole of the parishioners so that all should
have an opportunity of showing their appreciation
of the services of their late rector. It was an-
nounced that the subscriptions already amounted
to Xl,lOO, and it is hoped that there will be no
difficulty in making up the amount to £2,0.'0,
which is the sum required for the work proposed.
A meeting of the Dioeesan Committee is likely to
be held at Hartlehury early in the year in ac-
cordance with the wish of the Bishop, at which
arrangements will probably be made for the com-
pletion of the work, for which Mr. J. Oldred Scott
is preparing the plans.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-12-24

THE LUICIEST

WEDDING AND FUNERAL CARRIAGE ESTABLISHMENT

114 THE MIDLAND COUNTIES

GEORGF 11101?1?IS, PROPRIETOR,

NAG'S HEAD INN,

KING STREET (Late • Stone Street), AND BAIT AND LIVERY STARLETS, DUDLEY ARDIS R.T.

DUDLEY.

DANKS. St. Thomas-street,Netherton.
GOULD, Undertaker. Cradley Heath.
and FERRER, Undeitakers,Kingswinford
'MALL. Market-street, do.
ELD do. Brierley Hill
do. do.
io. do.

Marrs:—

A Large and Well-seleete(F,Stock ot
CHRISTMAS & NEWYEAUGIFT S

MEE RSCH-AUM PIPE S 1
CIGAR HOLDERS

MOOR_
G. WOO. .
WHITFU"
DORREL,
EMERY
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-12-24

THE FIRE IN VIENNA.

VIENNA, Dec. 18.

Great difficulty is experienced by the authorities
in arriving at a true estimate of the number of persons
who lost their lives in the catastrophe at the Rine.
Theatre. The police have today published two
different lists of missing. The earliest gives the num-
ber of victims at 794, of whom 144 have been legally
identifiel, while the later, and presumably the more
correct estimate, placed the figure at 620 only.

VIENNA, Monday Night.

The Emperor busies himself exclusively with the
burning of the Ring Theatre, which has caused him
great grief. To-day he visited all parts of the Opera
House, and urdered several arrangements to be carried
out. The iron curtain was lowered in his presence,
the gas turned off, and every part of the house was
visited by the light of oil lamps. The Emperor
crdered that the danger exits should be always open,
and the doors of the galleries be made wider. It is
said that the Emperor will visit every theatre in the
city.

VIENNA, Dec. 19.
Among the staff of the theatre who perished in the
flames were seven box;keepers and cloak-room attend-
ants, three members of the orchestra, three stage
carpenters, and the leader of the Claque. The special
sub-committee entrusted with the duty of assisting the
people employed at the theatre to-day distributed
40,000 florins among 180 persons. It is announced
that the Archduchess Maria Valerie, the Emperor's
youngest daughter, who is aged 13, has asked to be
allowed, by way of a Christmas present, to bring up
one of the children who lost their parents in the fire.
No more human remains were discovered to-day, but
a quantity of articles of property were brought to light.
Yesterday 20 and to-day 30 more persons who were
put down as missing reported themselves, thus reduc-
ing the number of supposed victims to 570.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-12-24

THE OUTRAGE AT DUNECHT.

The 2'imes has published the following letters :

Sir,—l venture to request that you will be so good
as to allow me space for the following letter, which I
have just received from my mother.
Those who know us will well understand that, laying
aside all private feeling, we act on a strict sense of
duty to the community at large; and they will not
need to be reminded of the intimate and undying love
and reverence by which we were all bound together.
1 have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant,
CRAWFORD AND BALCARRES.
Haigh-hall, Wigan, Dec. 17.

'Florence, Dec. 13.

"I have been informed by those who know best,
that if, in order to recover the beloved remains that
have been so cruelly stolen away from their resting-
place, we yield to the natural desire of offering a
ransom for their discovery and restoration, we shall
be creating a precedent that may lead to repetition of
this cruel and almost unheard-of crime, and that
success in this case in obtaining (what could be the
only object of those who committed the crime) a large
sum of money would encourage them to carry out in
other cases the same horrible and sacrilegious work.
"I should, indeed, be unwilling, by any action of
mine, to expose any one to the horror and grief and
exceeding pain that this outrage has caused to myself
and my family. I have, therefore, made up my mind,
with what reluctance and difficulty I will not say, to
refuse to offer any ransom as far asmyself is con-
cerned, and to request my son equally to do the same.
In acting thus I am only carrying out what I know
would have been my husband's wish, for with him
duty was a paramount obligation.

"No one who knows as could far a moment doubt
the love and reverence we both felt for him that is
gone, or the readiness on the part of each to make
any sacrifice, of whatever kind, for the comfort of once
more restoring the body, so precious to us, to its last
earthly resting-place; but wherever it may be laid,
God has it in his own good keeping, and some day I
humbly trust it will be restored to me, Meanwhile I
leave my cause in Goa's hands.

"If, perchance, at some future time a feeling of
regret or remorse should enter the heart of one of those
who have so cruelly torn from his resting-place the
body of one who passed his life in doing good, and
whose kind heart would never have willingly injured
a living soul, he may be induced to give such informa-
tion as may enable us to restore once more our beloved
dead to his resting-place, awaiting that day when no
secret shall be hid.

"The tender and kindly sympathy manifested by
high and low throughout the length and breadth of
the land, and which I gratefully acknowledge, will
enable each and all to appreciate the motives which
have overruled my wishes and have induced me to
come to this determination.

"MARGARET CRAWFORD AND BALCARRES.'
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-12-24

THE MARKETS.

3IAItK-LANE.—MoNDAT.

There was no feature in the grain trade at Mark-lane
Business is quiet, and is likely to remain so until after the
holidays. There are fair supplies of foreign grain, but
limited of English. English wheat moved off slowly at about
late rates. In foreign wheat, business was very quiet, and
prices were unaltered. Flour was dull, on fornier terms.
The barley trade was quiet for all descriptions, but fine
malting piodnce was firm. Oats were in moderate demand,
and were without change. Old maize was the turn dearer
on the wcck, but other kinds sold slowly. Beans and peas
were quiet, and without alteration.

METROPOLITAN CATTLE MARKET.—Morin-tr.
Ilia cattle trade is quiet. Supplies are, as usual, short,
after the Christmas market, but are sufficient. A fair num-
ber ot beasts came forward from our own grazing districts,
and there was a mcderate show from Scotland and Ireland.
The demand lacked activity, but late prices were main-
tained. The best Scots and crosses realised 6s to 6s 2(1
per 81b. From Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex we received
20, from the Midland and Home oounties 300, from Scot-
land 102, and from Ireland 300. The foreign side of
the mai ket was sparingly supplied with beasts, chiefly
Danish, which moved off slowly, on former terms.
prevailed and prices ruled firm. The' best Downs and half-
In the sheep pens the supply; was short. A better demand,
['reds sold at 7s "1 to 7s 4d per 81b. Calves and pigs
realised previous prices. At Deptford there were about
500 beast* and 3,000 sheep. Coarse and inferior beasts,
1
Od
4$ to 4s 6.1 ; second quality, 4s ed to 58 Od ; prime Urge oxen.
5s Od to 58 led ; prime Scots, bs 10d to 6s 2d ; coarse and
inferior sheep o
a 5s to 58 ed ; second quality, 5s 6,1 to 6s ; prime
05(124:6d471t to 45 s ; prime Southdown, 76 to 7s 44
largeo 0G3048d ; prime small ditto, 6s
o 4e(l w ;
neat small porkers
c a: or
large
re
calves,
e s
hogs, 1,
413 8d
to 5s per 81b. to sink the offal.
METROPO LITAN MEAT MARRET.—MoNDAY.
There was a large supply and trade was very slow. The
market will be entirely closed on Monday next. The follow-
ing prices were realised :—lnterior beef, Cs to 3s 6d ; mid-
dlinglargepork,
prime ditto, Si 8d to 4s 4(1 ; prime large ditto, 4s 65 to Cs;
s 3
ds 4t so to 320 d 8;
prime small ditto, 4s 8d to 5s 2d; veal, 5s to 5s 8e1; inferrer
mi
ut
ditto, n 6
small pork,
4s 4d to 4s 8d per 81b by the
carcase.

110 P.
The hop market has been quieter, but there is a fair
business dcing for the time of year, and prices are steady.
East Kent goldings, £7 7s to £9 Pa; Mid Kent ditto, £6 6s
to £8 Se; Weald of Kent, £4 its to £7 7s ; Sussex, £4 43 to
a 15s ; Farnham, £6 its t ) 108; country ditto, a lOs to
£Bss; Bavarian, £7 to £8 15a ; Alsace, £7 7s to £8; yearling,
4:3 108 to £7 7s per cwt.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-12-24

THE GALE IN BELGIUM.

A violent hurricane passed over Brussels on Sun-
day morning, causing considerable damage throughout
Belgium and the northern departments of France. In
Brussels, circulation was at one time dangerous,
owing to the tiles and fragments of broken window
panes that were flying about. At the new Palais de
Justice a scaffolding wag thrown down. In the Rue
Montoyer a portion of a roof fell on a passing cart.
In the faubourgs several houses in course of con-
struction were thrown down. At Cureghem a
chimney stack fell on the adjoining workshop,
which was almost entirely destroyed. Along the
Grand Luxemburg line travellers by the early trains
'could tee trees, roofs, and chimneys falling in every
direction, and a great number of telegraph posts were
thrown cbwn, obliging the trains to stop while guards
and passengers set to work to raise them off the rails.
Telegraphic communication was suspended both in
Belgium and in France. Off Antwerp a river craft
went down, but fortunately all on board were
saved. In the town great havoc was done, and similar
accounts have come in from a number of railway
stations, but as far as is yet known there has been no
loss of life.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-12-24

FATAL COLLIERY EXPLOSION

NEAR WIGAN.

A disastrous explosion took place on Monday at the .No
4 pit of the Abram Coal Company, in which it is feared that
forty persons lost their lives, while as many more were
Injured, some very seriously. The following particulars have
been given :
LEIGH (LANCASHIRE), Dec. 19.

Shortly after noon to-day a colliery explosion hap-
pened at Abram, two miles from this town, with
serious loss of life. It occurred in the No. 4 Pit of
the Abram Coal Company, in which there are worked
the Arley Mine, at a depth of 650 yards, and the
Orrell Mine, at about 500 yards from the surface.
The report of the explosion was heard at a consider-
able distance from the pit, and was accompanied by a
great rush of dense black smoke up the up and down
cast shafts.

It was two hours before any descent could be made
owing to the disarrangement of the winding gearing.
The first explorer was Mr. Taylor, the certificated
manager of the colliery, who was accompanied by
another manager. It is estimated that over 200 men
were at work in the two mines. On his return Mr.
Taylor was able to report that the explosion had been
in Orrell Mine, and that those in the Arley, although
imprisoned, were perfectly safe, some men at the
bottom having shouted up Ihe shaft to that effect.
Messengers were despatched fcr Medical aid to Leigh
and liindley. The proprietors, Messrs. J. Johnson,
William Johnson, and William Hayes, were early on
the pit brow, directing operations, and the neighbour-
ing colliery managers were soon on the spot. At
twenty minutes past two o'clock two men were
brought out uninjured, and the large crowd of women
around the pit received them with a cheer, their belief
being that many if not all would be saved. Volunteers
crowded round the pit in scores.
The following were the first body of men to descend
the mine as an exploring party :—George Plas, Hugh
Darwell, John Newton, William Westhead, John
Barton, Daniel Eckersley, Joseph Taylor, William
Twist, James Barton, Arthur Gregory, Giles West.
head, Joseph Guest, and John Darwell. By three
o'clock eight men had been sent up more or less in-
jured, and were at once attended by the doctors in a
cabin where every preparation had been made for
their reception. 'They were mostly burned about the
head and body; two of them had the hair of their
heads burned off. As soon as possible they were con-
veyed in carts to their homes. -

Altogether the injured recovered up to the hour of
writing number 28, and there were known to be 75 in
the Orrell Mine. Several of the explorers were over-
come with afterdamp and had to be brought to bank
and at one time the search was seriously interrupted
by the lights of the party being extinguished. Mr.
Hall, Government Inspector for the district, who had
been telegraphed for to Rainhill, arrived at four
o'clock and at mace went down the pit.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-12-24

SALES BY AUCTION

. , TUSSDAY,

TO LET.

HAGLEY STOCK SALE,

MONDAY, DECMBEER 26th, at eleven.
150 t- HEEP
30 /I ead ef CAITLE
The Usual Entry of CALVES and PIGS.
OATES, PERRENS Sz WOOLDRIDGE.

STOURBRIDGE STOCK SALE.

.TAICUARI 3rd. Mt.
H. KING, Auctioneer.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-12-24

THE TRIAL OF GUITEAU.

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 18.

In the course of yesterday's proceedings, Dr. Loring,
of Washington, oculist, testified that he had examined
Guiteau's eyes twice, and found no evidence of a
diseased
Dr. Allen Hamilton, New York, said he had
made three examinations of the prisoner and had
found no apparent physical deformity and nothing
indicating congenital defect. He had not dis-
covered any of the usual signs of imbecility or
insanity in the contour of the head, the lines of
the face, the teeth, the roof of the mouth, the skin,
the nails, or the tongue. The head was slightly
irregular, but that was common. The witness said
Guiteau's manner during the examination was quick
and self-possessed ; different from his conduct in court,
where his behaviour made the witness think he was
playing a part. The witness continued :—" I believe
him sane, though eccentric ; able to distinguish be-
tween right and wrong, and to know the consequences
of any act he may commit."

Gu-iteau remained quiet during this testimony.

The trial will probably be protracted until the New
Year, though everyone is anxious for the credit of the
country that it should soon close. Enough testimony
remains to occupy the Court at least another week.

PHILADELPHIA. Dec. 19.
Guiteau on Sunday permitted a plaster cast to be
made of his head, his beard being clean shaven. At
first he opposed this, but a little judicious flattery
made him tractable. His appearance was entirely
changed by the shaving, showing that the lower part
of his face was decidedly bettersthan the upper. His
jaws are massive, and the chin firm and square.
The Guiteau case was adjourned till Wednesday
in consequence of the death of the wife of a juror.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-12-24

THE LABOUR, MARKET.

Trade continues to improve, work is more evenly
distributed, wages in many industries have increased,
and the close of the year finds the labour market on
the whole in a satisfactory-condition. Owing to this the
majority of workers are much better off than was the
case this time last year. During the week the iron and
steel industries have exhibited considerable signs of
improvement, and prices have been higher. On the
Tees the engine w3rks and the ship yards are well
occupied, and there is a large and increasing demand.
The coal trade has not been quite so active. .
There is very little change in the cotton trade ' • on
the whole, al the branches are fairly well employed.
At Leeds, Bradford, and Glasgow the cloth trade
continues good, and prices are not likely to be easier
at present. Manufacturers ?re full of orders, and the
workpeople are making gold time; The wool and
flannel industries have a cheerful tone. The demand
for home goods is active, and prices are fairly main-
toined. The improvement in the linen trade is
making gradual progress, and prices are tending
upward. The lace trade remains healthy, and in
most branches a good business is being done. The
hosiery, carpet, and other textile industries are fairly
active.

The dispute in the pottery trade is becoming very
serious, and although the distress amongst the

40,000 workpeople increases every week there is no
sign of the men giving way. In the West of England
the close of the year finds the staple industries
generally in a far more satisfactory condition than
they have been for three or four years. In the cloth-
ing industries, also, there are very few workpeople
disengaged.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-12-24

THE CHANNEL TUNNEL.

The works in connection with the Channel Tunnel
experiments at the new heading at Shakespeare Cliff,
Dover, have been so successful that the first quarter of '
a mile is now completed. What looks especially
encouraging is that the engineers are able to gradually
increase the rate of progress. It has attained the
excellent average of 36ft. per day, and in addition to
this the soil is now quite dry, there being a total
absence of springs, the presence of which proved a
source of much delay in the Abbot's Cliff heading.
There are about eighty men engaged on the works.
They are employed in two night and day shifts, but
it is proposed shortly to have an extra shift working
eight hours each to expedite the work. No boring
is done on Sunday, the men being chiefly employed on
that day in lengthening the double line of metals in
which the trollies carrying the output travel. The
tunnel has advanced several yards tinder the sea in the
direction of the Admiralty Pier.

The Pall Mall Gazette remarks :—An agitation is
being prepared in this country against a submarine
tnnnel between Dover and Calais, and it is based upon
military considerations. The opponents to the tunnel,
among whom Sir Garnet Wolseley is said to have
enrolled himself, say that in case of a war between
France and England the tunnel would be a source of
danger, not because the French would do anything so
mad as to attempt to march an army through it, but
because, if they once succeeded in landing ,upon the
English coast, they might make use of the
tunnel for reinforcement,. ..‘nr.rn.,.. Tho
first answer is that if we bad reason to
fear invasion the tunnel could easily be de-
stroyed by the explosion of mines. The objectors in
their turn answer that the French might possibly
repair It. That would, of course, depend upon the
extent of the destruction, and we should imagine that
there would be little difficulty in letting the sea into
it. The best argument in favour of the tunnel is,
however, this : It is impossible to base the arrange-
ments of a great country like England upon the idea
of wars and invasions. To do so would necessitate at
once, not only a curtailment of our mercantile activity,
and therefore of the population, but even an abolition
of free trade in corn.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-12-24

POWELL'S BALSAM OF ANISEED •
Sold by all Chemists & Moine Yendors throughout the World at t/li & 218.

DUDLEY ARMS HOTEL, DUDLEY
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-12-24

THE IRON TRADE.
BIRMINGHAM, Thursday.

An active and buoyant tone characterised the
market this afternoon, a very exceptional state
of things for the meeting prior to Christmas.
During the last week extensive contracts have
been distributed for bar iron, sheets plain and
galvanised. and also girder iron. One-second-
class finished iron firm in the district has re-
ceived an order for 500 tons of bar iron, while
one or two of the leading constructive ironwork
firms have obtained contracts for the supply of
girder iron and gasometers for South America
amounting in the aggregate to over £40,000.
Unbraded bars of good medium quality realised
an average of 4.6 15s a ton this afternoon, no
iron even of an inferior character being obtain-
able under £6 10s. Some firms refuse to take
less than .X 6 17s 6d, and have obtained in some
instances se. a ton advance on these quotations.
They even demand £7 58. a ton for long-delivery
contracts. These priets are fully lOs a ton
higher than at the last quarterday. Marked
nu though steady shows but little tendency to


rl.ry

moving upwards owing to a want of thorough
combination among the list houses. Common
branded bars, however, form but a small pro-
pprtion. of the manufactures of list houses, who
for their best brands and specialities receive
more remunerative prices than the ordieary
quotation of .t 7 10s per ton. Pig iron was very
strong, local makers of cinder iron requiring
from 458 to 47s 61 per ton, while Nortivimpton
and Derbyshire makers quoted up to 55s a ton,
and were unable to contract for immediate de-
livery owing to their heavy engagements.
Makers of all-mine hot-air asked for 75s a ton,
and declined to accept contracts under 70s. The
coal trade is buoyant, and a large amount of fuel
is going into consumption in the district.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-05-07

POTATO.

There are fair supplies of potatoes on offer. The inquiry
Is limited, at late rates :—Sootch champion?, 70s. to 80e.;
regents, 80s. to 90s. ; Victorias, 90s. to 110 s. ; Essex champiops,
70s. ; Kent champions, 905.; Kent regents, 100 s, per tot;
German reds, Is. ed. to 4s. 6d.; Belgian kidneys, 3s. 13d per
bag.

HOPS.
The position of the hop market has not appreciably varied_
There is still a good inquiry for some hops, both of home
and continental growth, and values of such are well main-
tained. Other sorts sell quietly. Kent, 1880, £4 to £7 ;
Sussex, 1880, £3 18s. to £6; Farnham, 1880, £7 to £7 15s. ;
ditto country, 1880, £6 128. to £7 10s. ' • American, 1880,
£4 10s. to £6 10s. • Belgian, 1880, £2 14s. to £2 18a. ;
1879, £2 108. to ; foreign, 1879, 10e. to £3; old, all kinds,
10s. to £2.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-05-07

"AT HOME" TO THE POOR.

Why should not the well-to-do be occasionally "at
home" to the poor? Such is the question which Mrs.
Barnett, the wife of the indefatigable vicar of St.
Jude's in the east end of London, discusses in an
animated and interesting paper in the new number
of the Cornhill. For some years past people with
gardens in the suburbs have been in the habit of
giving garden parties to denizens of the overcrowded
slums of London, and Mrs. Barnett is enthusiastic
in her descl,iption of the good results which have
followed the extension of a cordial hospitality to the
costermonger and the washerwoman. The cost is not
great. Two shillings a head is Mrs. Barnett's esti-
mate of the total expenditure necessary for an enter-
tainment which for one bright day in the year will
wipe away all thought of the overcrowding press of
troubles that darkens the lives of so many of the
poor. Mrs. Barnett's acoount of the wonder and
amazement of some of the town-bred visitors at the
commonest sights and scenes of country life is full of
touches of tender pathos. "Law, here's strawa, grow-
ing !" was an exclamation which greeteda cornfield from
one who had never seen straw before but in trusses;
and a fir wood was hailed with the cry,
"Why, here's hundreds of Christmas trees all
together." How significant, too, of life spent in
densely-peopled tenements was the remarks of a girl
of fifteen as she entered the bedroom of her hostess—
." Look, mother, here's a bed with a room all to
itself." Mrs. Barnett's paper, which is full of infor-
mation of the most practical kind for all who care to
be "at home" to the poor in the coming summer,
should be read by all who care to assist in making
"the way of friendship through the wall of gold now
dividing the rich and poor."—Pall Mali Gazette.

Mdlle. Sarah Bernhardt's six New York perform-
ances last week produced 19,616 dole.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-05-07

ALSO A FINE STOC OF

CIGA ''''S

10F THE BEST BRANDS

TOBACCOS OF EVERY RESCRIPTIO.A7

To GET RID OF WORMS IN CHILDREN.
—Procure a tin oi

" KEATING'S WORM TABLETS."
This unique medicine is certain to cure, and may be
taken ani,h bioime safety by the youngest child.
Price ls. lid.. (4 all Chemists. (by post 11 6tatnp,.)
KIATINO, St. Paul's, London.

INRIEEIISITR HAIR lIRSTORMR. LOCKTEIticI SULPHUR
HAIR itEfiTOYER will darker. gir.y. be.ir, in a few days
briuging back the colour. The effect is superior o
that produced by a direct dys, and does not irjure the
skis. Lockyer's is equsl to the most expensive. It is.
the best for restoring !.;rey hair to its firsier colour.
Pr:lances a perfectly natural shade. Valuable for des-
troyirg scurf and encosraging growth of new hair.
Sulphur being highly priced for its stimulant, cleansing
healthful action on the hair glands, Lockyer's Restorer
is strongly ecommended. It is most agreeable in ace,
and never fails in its action. No ether hair dressing is
requisite. Large Bottles, h 6d. Sold by Chemists,
Hairdressers, and Perfumers everywhere.

That Complexion has always been held to be the most
lovely in wt.ich the rose and lily .lontend for mastery
el in which their beauty $ blended. Great sacrifices at
made to produce an appearance correspondiug with the
combination, but they never auct!eed. It cannot appro
ash Nature. The only arrangement that can bo made to
render man or woman inckpeudent of all expedients to
freely Nee lIAIIAN'A MAGNOLIA IiALY. It preserve the
akin from premature wrinkles and furrows—renders it
smooth and supple, and restores the hue whioh may hays
faded through illness, exposure to a noxious atmosphere
the heat of summer or the frosts of winter. To be ob-
tained of all Chemists and Perfumers throughout the
world. Price 3s. 6d7 European Dent 114 aid 115

lloax t-cstais Or BuoNculan Artn Cnusr Disonionita
EY DZ. LOCOCICB POLMONIC WAFERS. I MI convinced
that if Ministers of Veligion aud other charitable per-
sons would dispense Dn. Lococx's Pt:rotor:lc WAFELtiiin
all .Bronchial and Chest Cases, amongst the poor, it
might prevent xnaay going to an Early grave." From Mr.
A6ll, M P.S., 7, Holloway Head, Birmiugbarn. Dr.
Lococes WAFXXV instantly relieve and rapidly cure
Asthma, Consumption, Bronchitis, Conchs, Cold
Shortness olßreatn, Phlegm, Pains in the ( bet
Rheumatism, and taste pleasantly. Sold at is. lid.,
. 6d. and Ili, per box by all Dragged'.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-05-07

it >'
an)

1;:•:(iULATION OF CLENT HILLS.

A meeting of :he Clent IIU Comon Conservatirg
was held at the Lyttelton Arms H tel, tiagl!y, on
-,atirday afternoon last, with refeence t , the draf
of b;se-laws proposel to bi adopted for the reAttla-
tion of Clent Hills. Mr. J. Amp!'lett (representa-
tive of the Cleat Hill Commone.fs) presided and
there were also presPnt Mr. W. Mathews (Lord
Lytteh,m•s I.q,du i nee), Mr. Wahl wright ( D udley),
Mr. Henry Martin (representing tho parishioners
of Clent), Mr. W J. Tnrney (Chairman of the
stonrbridge Commissioners), M.,jor
(Hagler'.., Mr. Jilin Skit-It-next) (Britr:ey Hill) and
Mr. NV. Certwric,rbt (Quarry Bank). BlieChairnian
said that before they proceeded to business they
had hexer de,ide wlagber tiere rrwetiogs were to he
public or not. He did not see any objection to
r.p,rters being prescnt when their arrangements
wire completed, but at present they wer, only
tting their house in order. Mr. W. J'. Turney
said he did not see why reporters should not be
present, as they had nothing to keep secret. The
Chairman said ho was entirely in the hands of the
meeting in the matter. As the majority of the
,neeting were against the r porters being present,
they retired and the meeting was conducted in
private.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-05-07

-30SiTIV._RtMEDIESI

111ISATIS by post, on rpeeipt Two Btsmps to pay
Postage.

MHE BOOK OF POSITIVE REYEDIES
.1_ for the CIII:E of all DISEASES. dives a LIST
of all the PO3ITIVII MriDICINES usod )ey retired
Physicisi in his PIi.A.CtICE FOR OVER THIRTY
TI A.RS.

lIIVIIS THE NAAS in ENGLISH et EACH
MEDICINE east the Disease for which it is a POSI-
TIVE CURE.

It is the INVALIDS ISUIDE-ROOK of POSITIVE
REMIDIES and SELF-TRrMENT.
Alines Address to Invalids. ADVANTAGES of SELI-
TREATMENT, Instructions for Self-Treatment,
idyls* to invallis. Peet* to be remembored, Diseases
Remelting from frees Residence in Hot Climates, Con-
siitttal et aereditery Consumption, Chnirtsand
glee, City Life, Less of Nerve Power, Diseases of 014
Ate, Direst of Notate, Dieeases of Modern Life..,Sofnen-
tag of the Srein, ire. Dieeases of Men. Women, and
Children, Winter Congh Broncnitis. Achnia, Skin Die-
and Pieper. Blood Pimples have tl...needy given.
Diseases mf the Neurone System, tiravel, Pain. is this
Reek, Tl.o'lloll*, Gnat, Consumption. All Pietism,
for whieli Mersetry east Coped)* ars given. to o.ls Rain
of the Is.valid's Health, are eared by the Botanic
Remedies. A Positive Remedy is given for Nervous
Exhatetten. the effeet of Overtaxed Energies.
SO CONgULTATION FEES. le Personal Visits
mil:tired. This Work is a GUIDE and to all
these who suffer from Nervous and Debilitating D:a.
eases. SIXTY THOU;-; 4.ND INVALID i have been
Aired by the MEDICINES. 'THREE
TROUSIND FIVE HUNDD WRITTEN TESTI-
IitONIAL4 have been zivsn IsT Patients who have l+eiss
mired.

INIULID3 SHOULD SV,TD FOR THIS BOOK
417 POSJITITE RiEDIXS BEFORE MAKING
EI'ATEMENT OF TITEIE CASE TO ANYONE.
,at Creet from the PAbliihers.

H. & H. SMITH is CO.,
Positive Remedy Laboratory,

IS, SOUTHAMPTON KOMI', LONDON, W.C.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-05-07

NEW POSTAL SYSTEM IN FRANCE.

An extension of the postal system in France has
been commenced in virtue of a law passed on the 3rd
of March last and of a convention made in November,
1880, between the State and the railway companies.
The new service may be described as a parcel-post
on a large scale, enabling goods of all description,
except such as are explosive or dangerous, to be sent
in moderate quantities under the guarantee of
the Post Office. No coils postal is to. exceed in
bulk about three-quarters of a cubic foot ; its
sides must not exceed 21 inches in length, height,
or width; and its weight is not to be greater than
61b. The package may be sent off from any sta-
tion in France to any other: and the charge,
which must be prepaid, is 6d., with an additional 20.
if it is also to be sent on from the arrival station to the
house of the consignee. A receipt is given by the rail-
ways on delivery of the package to them, and the
holder of this receipt is entitled, in case of loss or
damage to the goods, to an indemnity not exceeding
fifteen francs. This experiment is in advance of our
own arrangements—according to which the largest
parcel that can be sent, except in the case of news-
Rapers, is one measuring 18 inches in length, nine in
width, and sixth in depth ; not more than one-tenth
the size of the French packages now transmissible;
while the cost would amount in England, at the estab-
lished rate of a penny an ounce, to a comparatively
considerable sum.

The Duke of Sutherland and the North-Western
Railway d:rectors in Washingon were on Monday presented
to the President of the United States by the Secretary of
State. They afterwards visited the Senate, and then went on
board a United States steamer down the Potomac to Mount
Vernon. They visited George Washington's tomb, returning
In the evening.

SIR GARNET WOLSELEY ON
TEMPERANCE.

Sir Garnet Wolseley has forwarded the following commu-
nication to the Grantham Temperance Association in reply
to a letter congratulating him on the occasion of his visit to
that borough :

"Dear Sir,—Allow me to thank you most sincerely
for your kind letter' which I have this moment
received. The cause of temperance is the cause of social
advancement. Temperance means less crime and more
thrift, and more of comfort and prosperity for the people.
Nearly all the crime in our army can be traced to intoxica-
tion, and I have always found that when with any
army or body of troops in the field there was no issue
of spirits, and where their use was prohibited, the
health as well as the conduct of the men were all that
could be wished for. No one can wish the cause you
have at heart success more earnestly than I do. Again
thanking you and the members of your Temperance
Association for your kind words of welcome, I remain,
dear Sir, very faithfully yours,
"G. J. Wor,suLEv, Lieutenant-General

"John Bailey, Esq., President of the Grantham
Temperance Association."
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-05-07

1 IL).‘ 1, NAY 7.

' the .ou o'clock on Saturday night
4-1 i thc Bell Inn. She then
aPp,ired to be t.s/. li„t was able to walk. she
aa supplid. win not.im.; there, and left the house
witness as-isting with three others to carry her
home from a certain point where she had fallen
down. Deceased when taken hAne, was placed on
the ilior with wn. apron under her head. he was
then unabe to :Talk.
Eliza Webb tie, wife of the landlord of

the Britannia Inn, Delph. said deceased
came to her house on Saturday morning with milk,
and she then appeared ill, and complained of a
pain in her side She had nothing to drink there
except a cup of tea. She left witnes4's house tit
11 o'clock, and witness saw no more of her.
Police-superintendent Wollaston, in reply to the
Coroner, sai Ihe ha.l been unable to trace where
deceased spent the dly between 11 o'clock in the
ruoiniNg and 10 at night.
James Holland, t',e h'

, c;,e husband of the deceased
said on Saturday morning deceased went her milk
round with one can containing abut six quarts of
milk. She did not return during tee day that
witness knew of, and he saw nothing of her until
she was brong,t home by the witness Hobson and
others at about 11 o'cl, ck at night. He locked the
k i 00/* and went to bed about midnight, leaving the
deceased sitting in the chair downstairs. She was
then partly undressed, but refused to go to bed.
I
About halfpast one on Sunday morning he called p
to deceased and requested her to go to bed. She :
however, remained downstairs. , About three
o'clock on Sunday morning witness was awoke by
his dog, which he had left downstairs, and upon
going down he discovered his wife dead in the
chair where he had lett her when he retired.
In reply to the coroNer, the witness se.id deceased
did not tell him where she had been during the day
he thought it was no use to ask her. She appeared
well when she left home about eight o'clock in the
morning. She had never complained of illness,
except when suffering from the effects of drink.
She was a woman of drunken habits, and had often
returned home intoxicated. When she returned
home on Saturday night witness had no reason to
believe that she was suffering from Anything but
intoxication. She generally drank spirits, and;
witness often found the rum bottles in her pocket
and even under her pillow. Very frequently, alo
when he returned home he found her drunk.
MIS :veral of the Jurors also bore testimony to the
drunken habits of the deceased.

The Coroner vatted out that it was possible
that the deceased's drunken habits might have
brought about her death, but there was no evidence
of it, nor direct evidenco that she had been drinking
on the day in questn.n. He thought for the crecht
of the husband, and in the interests of the public,
that the exact cam e of death hiuld be ascertained..
and suggested that a post-mortem examination ef
her body should be made.
The Jury concurred in the Coroner's view, and
the inquiry was adjourned to allow theexaminatiou
to take place.