The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-01-11 00:00:00

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HOME, FOREIGN, AND GCLUNIAL

EXCHANOE OF BUTTER.—We rejoice to Fee,
from the Irish agricultural returns, that the Green Isle
sent rut 116,501 firkins of butter last year, against
48,592 the year before. Let us rot off the butter of her
farmers against the bitterntsi of her "National"
editors, agitators, and home-rulers. On the other
hand, after reading Froude's Englielt in Ireland, one
cannot say that England has this year sent Ireland any
extra quantity of butter—in that consignment, at all
events.—Punch.

GUN ACCIDENTS.—On Saturday evening a
young man named William Williams, living with his
parents in Middlesbrough, was cleaning a double-
barrelled gun which had recently been used. He was
not aware that it was loaded. One of the hammers
accidentally fell, and the gun was discharged. A little
boy 12 years of age, a brother of Williams, was aitting
in a corner of the room, and he was shot dead on the
spot.—Anotber fatal gun accident has also happened
at Herbain. Edward Eaamerson, son of Mr. Erumer-
son, boot and shoemaker, together with his companion,
Anthony Cowens, son of Mr. Anthony Cowens, plate-
layer, employed on the North London Railway, took
a stroll on Sunday morning to Kingsland-green, about
a mile east of Ilexham, to some propivty ocupie I
by Mr. Hunter, gardener. When they arrived there
they found Mr. Hunter dressing his pony, and as
it did not stand quietly, Emmerson was asked to hold
it, which he did. Cowens went inside the stables
and storehouse, behind the door of which a gun,
somewhat ru,ty and kept for shooting rats, was bung.
Cowens, unobserved by his companions, and without
op-airing to either ef them, took the gun down and
took aim with it at ids companion Emmeraon. It was
loaded, MA the result was that the contents of the gun
were discharged into the forehead of Emmerson, who
died instantly. The lad Cowens was taken into
custody. He informed the police that he took aim
at his companion, not thinking there was any charge
in the gun.
THE SMALL 800 NDISANCE.—The Pall Mall
Gazette remarks :

Among the many miseries of human life there are few
more trying than to dine with a valued friend who has a
valued pet dog of a snappish diapoeitta. The moment you
enter the room your troubles commence—the beset declares
war by barking furiously, civility prevents your taking up
the poker as a weapon of aslf-detence, and when at iut your
asoallant I. induced by threats or entreaties to retire under
the table, he amuses hi molt by periodically making snaps
at your legs, and keeps your nerves on edge the whole even•
ins by his interesting ferocity The painful part of the affair
Is that if the dog is small your host ridicule, the idea of your
really objecting to be bitten by him. Yet small dugs can not
only give disagreeable bites, but are often almost demoniacal In
the tenacity with which they cling to their victims, as is showu
by the conduct of • fox-terrier one day last week, who ac-
cording to the Sporting Gazette. fastened himself on to the
head of a fox hanging to the saodle of • whipper-in, causing
the horse to run away, and was only dislodged by the jerk
occasioned by the leap of the animal over a five-barred gate:
and even then the dog followed the horse with the evident
Intention of ranking another dash at Its prey. This terrier
would no doubt equally cling to the leg of • live guest as to
the head of a dead fox, and the incident Is worthy of note as
allowing that only weak minded and foolish dogs are fit for
admission to family circles. Strong-minded dogs, be they
large or small, however faithful to their owners, are often
dangerous nuisances to those who are not honoured with
their friendship,

THE YEAR'S LAND SALES IN MANCHESTER.
The Manchester City News states that the sales by auc-
tion of real propeny—land, houses, chief rents, and
works—in Manchester and its neighbourhood during
the pest year amounted to a total f £728,897, showing
an increase on 1871 of £292 620. Among the noteworthy
prices per square yard obtained were the following :—ln
Great Ancoats-street, £l2 10s. 6d.—a remarkable rate
for land in that locality; in Mosley-street, a residence,
£29. 10s. ; in Chancery-lane, £33; at the corner of
Mark-lane and Withy-grove, £34; in Fountsin.street,
£4l 15a. 64. •, and at the corner of St. Aun's•street and
Cross street, £64 lie. 61 per square yard. The last is
beleved to be the bignest price of the year, and the
site was subsequently sold by private treaty to A
limited company at an enhanced figure.

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FESTIVE FANCIES.—The elegance and taste
conspicious in the decorations which the raw materials
of Chriitmas fare were this year as canal embellieherl
withal, must have commanded the admiration of all
observers. But another time, perhaps, the Grocers
will give their Australian meat tins their merit—orna-
ments of say rosettes. The turkeys, tfmmed with
bows of pink azure, looked, as young ladied generally
remarked, 'sweetly pretty." It is said that an ec-
centric poulterer ince, when& public mourning oc-
curred about Christmas time, decked out his turkeys
with black ribbon.—Punch.

°HANGING A NOTE. —An American paper
states that the United States' Treasurer has received
what purports to be a 500 dolls. legal tender note, but
which really is a very neat combination of many
pieces of smaller notes, split up and cut apart, and so
arranged and pastel together 1%9 even to deceive one
of the Chicago banl tellers. Only a short time since a
note, passed off by some adroit manipulator as a 200
dole, note, was sent to the Treasury, and on inspect-
tion it was ascertained that a 200 dole, note and a 20
dole, note was split, and the back of each substituted
for the other, after which one was passed off face up-
wards and the other back upwards.

THE LAB!. LaAcE.—the following advertise-
ment appeared recently in one of the Chneinnati
papers : Personal.—Wanted.—The undersigned, a
healthy young man, unable to pr :cure other employ-
ment at which he can make an honest living, desires
to inform Professors of Medicine and Surgery that he
will submit himself to experimental operatiorm of al.
most any desciiption fir reasonable compensation.
Address ' Vivisection,'" &c.

NEW MITMOD Or PAINTING. —A Mr. T.
Yemmer, of New Jersey, has taken out a patent for a
method of painting, which consists in the application
of " freeeo paint " to a surface of muslin in
the form of a thick film, which may be easily removed
and then cemented to the ceiling or wall. The film is
composed of six cuttings of paint. The advantages
claimed for the system are— that decorations may he
worked out at • manufactory, without causing incon-
venience in houses; that the film is elastic and does
not crack; and, above all, that as the priecese can be
conducted in cold weather, when in America good
workmen are without employment, it becomes very
economical,

THE MUTINY Ac r AND THE RATEPAYERS.._.
An effort is being made in a number of the towns
most immedtately connected with the army and navy,
to obtain a repeal of the 40th section of the Mutiny
Act, by which any soldier or marine is exempted from
legal process for any original debt not amounting to
k.:30, for not supporting or maintaining his wife and
family, or for leaving any relation chargeable to any
parish. The Militia and volunteers may also, by order
of the Secretary of State, be rebeved from all legal ob-
ligations for the support of their wives or children, legi.
timate or illegitimate, as the regular troeps are at the
present time by the section above referred to. As an
instance of the serious burden which this immunity
sometimes entails on the ratepayers, it may be men-
tioned that at the last meeting of the guardians of the
parish of Alverstoke (in which the town of Goeport is
situate), it was stated that the ra'epayers were main.
taming 34 wives and 101 children of soldiers, some of
whom were actually the wives and children of men on
full pay. It is announced that Mr. Cardwell iv about
to propose a radical change in the legal position of tool.
diem and marines in relation to Qom dependent upon
them.

MURDER, OF AN ENGLISHMAN He BELGIUM.—
The Indlpendance Berge gives an account of a murder
committed last week at Loth. The victim was Mx.
Thomas Madman, the manager of a anis:min; mill at
that Owe. On n nay last he Lcharged one of the
workmen for AI-treating A woman employed at the
worka On Wednezday evening the man, who is
named Bie..mans, went to Mr. Robinson's home and
sated to speak with him. Mr. Robinson w.is sitting
in his parlour reading a newspaper, and hist wife was
slseph.g in an arm-chair. 13 esmans, kaivinz been ad-
mitted. immenist-ly presented a gnn, which he had
until then concealed, and fired at Mr. Robinson, who
fell deal. The SlPAifkill immediately fled, but WM cap.
tared on the following day at Assche.
Fitom THE FRENCH.—A Radical, but hand-
some M. P., was observed, the other night, tailtifili
volubly than exc ediagly obese lady. Remark thereon
being made to a French Gentleman, he said, "0 yes, -
he is accustomed to address the malses."— Punch.
. _ _ . _

A BIG Rgevirr. The Jouriut/ Official
annonwev that the French Government has given its
acceptance for two hundre • millions of franiali
000,000, which completes the third milliard of the
war indemnity. So lei ge an amount must, especially
under the eireumvtaneem, be beyond the gra,p of any
single or aggregate revenue stamps.
THE STRIKE IN El 0117TH WALES.— The Times
of Toes 'ay in their Money Article remarks
The sink.; of the colliers lii douth Wales, and, consequently,
also of the iron workers, has now been about ten days in
operation, and the nun] .er of men and boys in Idleness is
about 70.000. The Ir .nmasters of the district have al-
ways refused to admit the expediency of the arbitration
syftem, on the economical ground that the price of labour la
no more a subject for that form of Interference than
the price of nay other article ; but In tha' Present
instance, looking at the magnitude of the interests concerned
and the misery likely to be occasioned, they have gene 10 tar
as to offer to °olivine° their workmen that the pro-
posed reduction of wages is only equal to the reduction In
terms they have found it necessary to accept in r,cent con-
tracts, but the men, an immense majority of whom it is
believed would willingly return to work on the masters' con-
dition., are Incited to continued resistance on the pretext
that they could not depend upon the proofs su,reltted lathe
shape of the matters' ha km. Thus plea, how, vcr. might be
met by a step which would at once demonstrato ita hollow-
ness Nearly all the great iron contracts are nice through
brokers in London, Liverpool, and elsewhere, I these per-
sons, if appealed to, eonld instantly verify the r t awments of
the masters beyond all pos;ibility of cavil.
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OUT OP PLACE ALTOORTHEIL—A 1 ,og on A
Toadstool —Punch. _

SUDDEN DEATH OF A CLERGYM N. —Very
great and general regret has ben occakioned in the
town and neighbourhood of Ramsgate by the death of
the Rev. Thomas Hart Davis M.A., vicar of Christ
Church, which occurred suddenly at midnight on
Sunday. The rev, gentleman had preached with more
than his usual animation at his church in the morning,
selecting as his theme the well-known and solacing
passage of Scripture, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday,
to day, alai for ever;" afterwards a 'ministering the
Holy Comratudon. He ba I held the incumbency
about twenty years, and was indefatigable in the
fulfilment of the duties of his sacred office, in which he
had had coneiderable experience, having been formerly
a mi.e-ionary in Austraqa. Mr. Davis was advanced
in years, and the cause of death is mid to be heart
disease. He had not been in rolmat health for a
lengthened period. In opinion and practice he Ina
foremost among the Evangelical party in the Church..
• • • •

A Cuatons Cass.—Amotig other curious trials
whish will soon be called on (says a Paris Newspaper
Correspondent) is a demand for damages on the part
of three widows. It appears that during the late war
a German moldier Wai shot near the village of Vans,
and immediately a Prussian column swept down upon
the place and seized twenty-eight peasants, who were
shut up in the church, with orders to select three
victims, who were to be shot in revenge for the death
of the invader. The unfortunate men remained in the
church for seventy•five hours, and then announced that
the three victims had been selected by a majority.
Upon what principle this vote was conducted is not
mentioned. The Prussians wished the peasants to
draw lots, and even offered a pickelhanbe for the pur-
pose of an urn, but this was natur.lly refused by the
majority, and in the end the three unfortunate men
who found themselves in a minority were led out And
executed. The widows of the victims demand damages
from the twenty-five survivors of this tragedy, on the
ground that the three should have been selected by lot.

nix BOOKS eft 1872.—The Publishers' Cir-
cular lax issued its usual anal3sis of book, published
during the plot year. The total numbers for the year
are as follow : Theology, Straione, Biblical, &c.—
New books, 570 • new eoitions, 182; American ins
portations, 30. Educational, classical, and Philologis
caL— New books, 148; new editions, 81; American
importations, 10. Juvenile Works and Tales.—New
books, 186; new cditions, 43; American impor-
tations, 7. Novels: and other works of
fiction.—New works, 468; new editions, 240; Ame-
rican importation., 36 Law Jurisprudence, &c.
—New books, ; new editions, 33; American
importations, 25. Political and Social Economy,
Trade and Commerec.—New books, 113; new edi-
tions, 41; Amiri,•ar hu--s,rtations, 14. Art; Science,
and illustrated works.--New books, 373; new edi-
tions, 114; American importations. 46. Voyage.,
Travels, and Geographical Research.—New books,
172; new editions, 52; American importations. 27.
History, Biography, &c.—New book., 235; new
editi ins, 83; American importations, 45. Poetry and
the Drama—New took., 272; new editions, 99;
American importations, 13. Year Books and Serials,
in volurnes.—New books. 269; new editions, 6; Ameri-
can importations, 12. Medicine Surgery, Ica.—New
books, 96; new editions, 41; American importations, 13.
Iselles Lettres, Essays, Monograph; &c.—New books,
132; new ediiione, 53; American importation; IL
Miscellaneous I including pamphlets, not sermons).—
New books, 104 • new editions. 24 • American importa-
tions, 9. The wl:ole number of books published during
the year was 4,814, of which 3,424 were new book.,
1,100 new editions, and 290 American importations.
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. . -
A RsrLscrios.—Most men wish to stand
we'l with the world, yet in these days of heavy assess-
menta, how few of IN there are who would not much
rather be under rated than over-rated !—Punch,

THE STEEL MANUFACTURERS AND THE HIGH
PRICE OF FUEL—A meeting of the Sheffield steel
manufacturers was held on Monday for the purpose of
considering the high price of fuel, and of taking steps
with the object of reducing the demand, and thus
bringing down the price. At a previous meeting it
was suggested that the steel works in Sheffield should
either be altogether cl 'tied for two months or that the
steel 'Leiters be only employed three days a week, and
the meeting was adjourned till Monday, in order that
both these courses might be thoroughly «insidered.
Between the two meetings, however, there had been a
further increase in the price of coal, and in that °Mame
descriptions of coke, and under these circumstances
manufacturers considered it would be almost hopeless
to attempt to obtain a reduction by any united action
on their part. The meeting was therefore again ad-
journed. A very strong opinion was enressed that
the state of trade did not warrant the enormous prices
now charged for coal and coke, and had all the steel
manufacturers been unanimous, no doubt some steps
would have been taken to make the demand almost
nil for several weeks, but several firms helibdtogether
aloaf from the movement, a course which they said
they were bound to pursue, in consequence of the
necessity they were under to complete orders.

FIUME DECLINING.—It certainly seems a
etrange thing for a great European nation to find itself
decreasing, instead of increasing, in population. In
France, that phenomenon her for a time been visible.
The official report of the French Censmi. which has
just been issued, shows a diminution of 367,000
inhabi-
taut,. since the year 18613, when the last census wan
taken. The report mentions a number of probable
causes for this falling off—the smalbpos epidemic in
1870-1, the decline in the number of marriages, and
the preponderance of deaths over birth.; but takes
care to add that these causes are independent of the
war. It in to the war. however, and its results that
most people will look for the true origin of this decline
in populati in. The tension of Alsace and Lorraine,
the number of men actually killed in battle, the con-
siderable emigration that took place on the advance of
the Prussian. and during the Communist disturbance
in Paris—all three come in to tell upon the official
returns.

QPAKgIt MaRRIAO PS.— On the let of January
an Act of Parliamsnt 05 Vic., cap. 10) to amend the
Marriage Law is Et gland and Ireland according to
the usages among the Sosiety of Friends (Quakers)
came into force. By this statute the Act of the aird
and 24th Vitt , cap. 18, is amended, in order that the
relief intended to be given may he made fully effective.
From and after the let of January, 1873, it is enacted
that the recited Act shall be construed ar if tie words
"provided always that the party or parties who shall
not be a member or members of the said Society shall
Profess with or be of the persuasion of the said Society"
were omitted. It in now pro,ided that o marriage
shall be valid under this Act unless, when notice of the
intention to solemnizii such marriage is given to the
Snserintendeot Registrar, as tequired by law, a cer-
tificate small be produced, purporting to be sizned by
some registering officer of the Society, to the effect that
the party by whom or on whose behalf such notice is
given or ea, h such party is autbro izsd thereto, under
or in pursuance of some general rule of the S.tciety,
and such ertificate shall be for all purposes conclusive
evidence that the party by whom or on whose behalf
such notice is given or each such party its duly author-
ized to proceed to the accomplishment of such marriage,
or a copy thereof, duly certified sccor ling to law, shall
be conclusive evidence of the due broduction of such
cer ificate ; but no such certificate shall be required in
cases where the party giving Fll h notice shall declare
either verbally or in writing, if thereuoto required, that
both the parties to the intended marriage are either
members of the Society or in profession with o: of the
persuasion thereof.

A YEAR'S EMIGRATION FROM LIVERP 5')L.—
Last week the Government officers of Liverpool issued
their usual annual returruof the credos f r 301 the M ersey.
It appears that the total number of ships whic sailed
"under the Act" was 447, with 185,743 pa-sengers.
The Dumber of short shit s was 340, with 10,033 passen-
gers, making a total of 787 ships, and 195.776 passengers.
This shown an increase, as compared with 1871, of 43
ships and 29,891 passengers under the Act • and of
ships not under the Act, an increase of 74 sf.ips and
a decrease of 301 passengers. The total emigre .1 or for
the year was 98 follows :—To the United Sta. cs, 395
ships, with 15,134 cabin passengers, and 118,444
steerage. The Deli 'milkier' were as follows :—E:
75,545 ; Scotch, 2,537 ; Irish, 24,620 ; other c. u tries,
60,876. To (2 ,nada there were 42 ships, with 1,773
cabin and 16,263 steerage ; the nationalities of the
Passengers heing—Eaglish, 11,212; Scotch, 36; Irish,
22; and other countries, 6,766. To Nova Scot is, direct
from Liverpool, the numbers of passengers were
821 cabin and 993 steerage ; of these 1,740 were
English, 5 Scotch, 7 Irish, and 69 other coun-
tries. To Newfoundland there sailed 3.5 cabin pas-
sengers, and 12 steerage, all of whom were English.
009 ship left the Mersey for Vancouver's leland,-with
53 cabin and 275 steerage passengers ; of these 1.12 were
English, 40 Scotch, 70 Irish, and 26 foreigners-total,
328. To South America there railed 8 ships, with 428
cabin and 1,505 steerage passengers ; of these 1,517
were English, 108 Scotoh, 119 Irish, and 189 foreigners,
making a total of 1,933. The total number of pas-
sengersow stated above, 185,743; and the nationalities.
90,253 Engliah, 2,726 Scotch, 24,838 Irish, and 67,926
foreigners,

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