The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-11-07 00:00:00

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THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVER.

On the important subi,oct of industrial occupation,
the Directors state :—" The subject of the useful em-
ployment of prisoners has been constantly kept in view
with the object both of tringing to useful account the
labours of the prisoners for the benefit of the State, and
so obtaining some set-off mainst their cost, and also with
a view to the reformatory influences of industriallabour,
I and to providing prisorers with means of making a
honest livelihood on discharge." The Metropolitan
Police are now supplied with boots and gaiters
from the convict prisons, and a portion of ths
police clothing made by the female convicts had been
found better than the contract clothing. Hammocks
were made for the Admiralty, and baskets for the
dockyards; and other Government departments erre
to be supplied by convict labour. Mosaic flooring bail
bees manufactured by female convicts to surround
the tombs of IC climb and Wellington in the crypt
of St. Paul's, and would be shortly laid down. e
acquaintance with various means 'of earning a li The
which the directors endeavoured to momote
requires to be supplemented by passing convicts
on their discharge into the hands of employers who
-moult! eve them an opportunity of re-establishing
themselves in honest courses. The difficulty of dis-
charged prisoners obtaining employment was referred
to by the Royal Commiesion in 1863, and the Com-
missioners proposed. emigration or a penal cllony as
the only effective way of meeting its Aa these recourees
are nit available, the establishment of Discharged
Prisoners' Aid Societies and their efficient working was
of the highest importance to the community. The
, directors bear testimony to the valuable assistance
rendered by the Discharged Prisonerd' Aid Society at
Charing-cross, which society assisted last yeal. a large
number of male and female convicts on their dis-
charge.

Nansow Escaps or LFAMILY.At Gilberton,
a town about three miles from Shenandoah. in the
heart of the ltlahaney coal field. Pennsylvania, a
house was swallowed up on Michaelmas day. The
house stood over the outcrop of a vein, and when the
coal was taken away there was nothing left for its
support but so many feet of earth. A. heavy rain
loosened the earth, and on that day the inmates of the
house happened to notice their little garden patch
sinking in the depths below. They had just time to
snatch the nearest moveables and run for their lives,
before the house began to rock, then fell iiver and dis-
appeared, roof foremost, in the abyss, followed by an
avalanche of rock and earth which quickly buried it.
Had the accident happened at night, sonic, if not all,
of the family must certainly have perishe d.
TUtzeir.—There can be no eirtibt that of all I
bulbous flowers received from the Dutch growers the
hyacinth iii the most valuable, for with fins spikes of
delicately-coloured flowers it combines a most delicious
fragrance (says the ilardtlicr's Maga:bit). The
hyacinth should therefore be considered of prime
importonce, and in giving it tie flint rank we shall not
be doing wrong to place the early flowering tulips
second. Certainly no other class of sprmg flowering
bulbs is capable of making such a grand display of
colour in the conservatory and the flower garden for so
small an outlay; and notwithstanding the fact of the
flowers not remaining in perfection so long as could be
desired, that may with considerable advantage be
grown in the majority of gardens mom waiting% ely
than is generally the ease. They should—, as &rule, be
bought by the hundred where they are bought by the
dozen, and by the thousand where a hundred is
considered sufficient. The early-flowering kinds are
so brilliant in colouring, and so hardy in constitution,
that they require none of the labour and anxiety
incidental to the cultivatian of the show sorts. When
once planted they are able to tali care id themselves;
and when in bloom there is no necessity to go on the
handsiind knees to discover their beauties. The main
point is to select the sorts according to the purpose for
which they are revoked.
Plum:mat Baciittos !—" Eashionable trap-
pings " seem to be on the increase. So a fair Parisian,
writing from the gay city, informs us (Pictorial World.)
She says :—" Pouches, happily, seem to be 'going out;'
but, apparently, only to leave more room for the hang-
ing on of other things. Formerly a lady carried in her
: left hand her handkerchief, card-ease or purse; in her
right a parasol or a fan. As it was then customary to
to do no more than make an inclination of the head on
meeting one's acquaintances, no inconvenience was ex-
perienced on going out with th- hands thus
tilled and occupied. lint the English habit of shaking
hands has been generally adopted here of late, and now
lady hangs upon her person everything that she
wishes to take about with her. Not to speak pf the
chatelaine, which has been coming back of late into
favour, and which comprises about a score of articles,
it is now the fashion to hang to the waist-belt the
aumoniere (literally alms-beg) when s orn, the fan, the
card-case, portemennaie, the smail umbrella or parasol,
the little thick turnip watch (of various patterns) now
much in vogue, the pincushion, ivory tablets, little
mirror, &c., all of which dangle about the hips of
fashionable belle, making„ when she moves, a slight
clatter, which is considered agreeable and amusing.
When travelling, the personal baggage of a daughter
of fashion is increased by a leather bag carried OILI the
left arm, and an opera-glass slung over her shoulder,
a leather strap holding a waterproof cloak or a hawl,
with an anchor in her collar, a sword or an arrow
holding the feather of her hat, and perhaps a pair of
little bells in her ears. As the travelling dress iaoften
loaded with broad guipurcs that seem to meander in
every direction over the wearer's person, the vicious
addenda just enumerated are apt to get entangled
therein."

WESTERN ArSTßALlA.—Governor Weld, in
opening the present Session of the Legislative Council
of Western Australia, was able to state that there was
a reserve and surplus at their disposal far in excess of
that of any previous period in the history of the colony;
and he added that all the industries of the colony
were in an improved condition, and that land was
being taken up both for pastoral and agricultural pur-
poses. lie estimates the revenue for the year 1875 at
£132,829, to which must be added the balance from
1874 of £1113,5117, making togethertls6,396 ; the expen.
diture is estimated at only £lOO,OOO. It is proposed,
therefore, to spend £lO,OOO on immigration and
£lO,OOO on public wsrks. Important changes in the
convict department are contemplated; arrangements
are proposed by which, except as regards the convict
prison at Fremantle, the Imperial Government will
transfer the control of the department to the colony.
COOKIANA.—" And now, tell me why you
left your last place."—" I will tell you that, ma'am,
when you have told me why you parted with your last
cook.', —Puseh.

TAXING CHURCH PROPERTY IN CANADA.
The city of Montreal has imposed a tax of 4 per cent.
upon all Church property within the municipality
(says the Canadian Correspondent of The Timex). The
significance of this can only be appreciated by those
who know the use to which the exemption from taxa-
tion of Church property has been applied in Canada.
The Homan Catholic Church is by far the largest
ecclesiastical property-holder in Canada, but other
denominations do not scruple to take advantage of the
opportunity which the law affords of making rod
speculations in real estate. A block of lend in a ruing
city is purchased and a church placed upon it. In
many instances the "church" is only a wooden build-
ing erected at slight cost. Citytaxes make it hard for
an ordinary person to hold, a vacant lot as a specula-
tion in view of the rapidincrease which City property
in Canada makes; but in the case of Church proltartY,
where no taxes are paid, this can be done very
profitably. In-course of time the Church property
becomes so valuable that it is sold, and the " chunch"
removed to another and newer part of the city, where
the mum process ie repeated. Ido not mean to say
that the majority Of congregations or denominational
corporations practise this, but it has been the ease in
no many instances that It has grown to bravery serious
evil, both in Quebec and Ontario. It is very pro-
bable that, following, the example of Montreal, the
taxation of Church property will soon become universal
in this country.
A PICTURE BY COPLEY.—The Boston Tran-
script says :—" Another of Copley's portraits has been
recently rescued from oblivion. • It is that of Thomas
Fleet, printer, of Boston, who was born in 1732 and
(lied in 1797. He was son of Thoma,r Fleet and Eliza-
beth Goose, who were instrumental in the production
of the celebrated " Melodies,"-the first edition of which
was printed by Thomas Fleet in 1719. The portrait
has never been out of the family chive it Witil painted,
but has been sadly neglecteel, and needs to be tutu-
pletely renovated.'

APPARENT- PARADOX. Mrs. Malaprop is
;sizzled to understand the proposed substitute for
interment. She says she cannot see how a body can
be destroyed by creation—Punch.
DUFFLA WAlt PRATER.—According to the
DclAi Gacette, the Dufflas are in an uncomfortable state
of mind about our approaching expedition into their
country. A big-sounding war prayer has been drawn
up by the local Pope, who has enjoined all true Dufllas
to repeat it twice a day. Amoug other things they are
to pray : "Let their coast be ruled by no ! Let the
demons of their forts be given to those of ours ! Let
the soul of him who is the chief cause of this quarrel be
bound by that of our friend and chief, whom he has in-
jured ! Let the properties of their country be received
by ! Let their warriors be seized by us; for which
reason make strong all our warriors, that they may
bind the spirits of all their able men for us to destroy
them ! Give us such help that they may not stand
or hold, and that they be rendered insane and made
to tremble ! Come, our principal god, who art great,
and powerful, and old, and whose words are always
obeyed, destroy all or enemies, with all they possess,
even that which is upon their backs ! Let owls scream
on their houses! Let all venomous reptiles scramble
up the posts of their houses, and frighten them with
terrific noises! Let fierce dogs, wild elephants, and
ferocious tigers terrify them, so that they scratch each
other's faces and tear their own ha ! Let the rain-
bow drink up the water of their we..s,and tanks, and
rivers! Let a powerful tempest sweep them away!
Come, spirits of our warriors, of our ancestors, seize
the spirits of our enemies! Come, spirits of our greats
grandmothers, with the demons of this powerful
country, by WIIOIII we are governed, and whose eyes,
and ears, anti nostrils are ever open towards us !"

OCEAN Vi vas. —At the annual conrosazioite
of the Royar Society of Victoria, held at Melbourne
on the 27th of August, the president, Mr. Ellery, in
delivering the annual address, noticed the papers
which had been read during the year. lie ieferredrat
some length to Mr. R. S. Deverell's papers on ocean-
wave power machinety, and said that some months
ago Mr. Deverall devised apparatus by which the
'l:Myst:tents of a ship at sea could be registered; and
observations were made with it by his brother, who
went to England in the Norfolk. The duration of the
voyage. was 2,026 louts, awl in that time the ship
made 1,764,05 a bean oscillations or rolls, and 1,041,137
fore-and-aft oscillations l or pitches. 'rlie 4iverage
number of oscillations in both directions per nfinnte
was 14. The average of pindulum registering beam
movements was over 15 million degrees, while that of
the fore-and aft movements *as nearly five millkm
degrees. Mr. Des-moll considered that he had
elatablished That between ocean limits the swell
of the ocean is unceasing. 2. That the oscillation of a
veseel in an ocean fetch is unceasing. 3. That the
motion of an independent body within a ship on the
ocean is unceasing. Here, then, is an immense
amount of conservable energy. Can it be conserved
for use on board ship? Mr. Deverall said he believed
it could be made useful in auxiliary propulsion, and
that he hoped to be able soon to bring before the
Royal Society of Victoria a method of putting his
proposition into practice. Mr. Ellery stated that Mr.
Bessemer had purchased from Mr. Deverell the
instrument used ill the -V9rfolk voyage observations.

A "CONFEDERATED HOME!" An amusing
account has been circulated of' the failure of a recent
attempt to establish a "Confederated Home " in
London. Five families united in the establishment of
a common home. A large house riloS taken for the
purpose, and the arrangements for the regulation of
the household were made with the utmost care and
precision. There was to be a common dining-room, in
which all the meals of the household were to be taken,
and each family had a set of rooms which it was to
furnish and arrange as suited its own convenience.
The engagement was commenced, and for the first few
days matters went well enough. Before a week had
passed, however, it became evident that to live in a con-
federated home would be nearly tieditficult alto manage
an Irish Parliament.. 'the five families could vs.? agree
apon what they would eat or what they would drink.
The dinner, especially was a subject of constant dis-
pute. Then, the consequence WM that the kitehen
came the scene of ,swistant wrangling between the
unfie tunate m.ok and her five mistn.sses. The ether
scrvante ale -• found it impossible to meet the demands
of their associated mistresses. Five bells would fre-
quently be ringing at the same time, and one family
would complain that they were being neglected. Thon
the children of the different families would quarrel,
and, of course, every mamma W. sure that her darlings
were not the cause of the disturbance. In short, before
a few weeks had passed the confederated home be-
came as said the part y who told as the story. a "con-
federated discord, and had to be broken up:

TRUE ELOQUENCE Yankee eloquence con-
tinues still to improve. A lawyer in Milwaukee was
defending a handsome young woman accused of steal-
ing from a large unoccupied building in the night-time,
and thus he spoke in conclusion :—" Gentlemen of
the jury, lam dope. When I gaze with enraptured
eyes on the matchless beauty of this peerless virgin,
on whose resplendent charms suspicion never dewed to
breathe; when I behold her radient in the glorious
bloom of lustrous loveliness whieh angelic sweetness
might envy but could not eclipse; before which the
star on the brow of the IVA grows pale, and the
diamonds of Brazil are dim; led then reflect upon the
utter madness and folly of supposing that so much
twenty would expose itself to the terrors of as empty
building in the eold damp dead of night, when in-
nocence like hers is hiding itself among the abowy
pillows of repose, gentlemen of the jury, my feelings
are too overpowering for expression, and I throw her
into your arms for protection against this foul charge,
which the outrageous malice of a disappointed.scoundrel
has invented to blast the fair name of this lovely
maiden, whose smiles shall be the reward of the verdict
which I know you will give !" The jury acquitted
her without leaving their seats.
NOTHING NEW.—I am told that the bicycle,
which is a mania of young fellows in the present day,
may be found atnong the sculptures of the Eityptian
Pyramids. Many of us remember them, years 3.'0, in
a scientific f. -rm. Looking into an old comic ahuanack
I find the following,—' It often occasions me a hearty
laugh when I think of these velocipedes, and the im-
pudence of the fellow who claims the invention. I
saw them first in Jupiter, where they are as common
as possible, and on my return brought one of them
I with me, which unfortunately dropped from My
1 balloon as it was suspended over Germany, at the
height of about forty miles. The fellow who was so
lucky as to find it introduced it into notice in his own
country, and it has since been imported into this."
He proceeds to say that he hears the Prince Regent is
about "to raise • regiment of velocipedeans for the
defence of the country. I have lately seen, iii a
London morning paper, proposals to try military ex-
periments with the bicycle at Aldershot. Jokes of one
generation become serious ideas in another ! The
Press.
" Esomai OF IT."—ementry Spare. !! By
George ! Tom, you've gone and shot the Dog !"
Friend (from town). "0, I say, Old Fellow, let 's go
back and have a Game o' Billiards, or else I 'm quite
sure I shall shoot the other one ! They keep Getting
in the Way so ! "—Punch.
_

Ilaarrit IN CLASSIC, TIMES. —lt is probable
that a gradual and steady advance was made in the
knowledge of the laws of health up to the classical
period of history, for we find laid down in Hippocrates
and his successors excellent risks, which were doubt-
less the outcome of long previous human experience.
There is every reason to believe that the life of the
Egyptians, the Greeks, and even the more dissolute
Romans of the close of the Western Empire, was emi-
nently healthy, chiefly from the open-air life they led
and the constant habits of personal ablution. There
is one remarkable fact that, although we meet with
accounts of occasional plagues in those times, chiefly
the results of famines, sieges, and the like, we have but
few records of those terrible pestilences which swept
over Europe in the Middle Ages. The truth is, that,
with the break-up of the old society of the Roman
Empire, much of the good disappeared, while the worst
features of its corruption remained. Among other
things, the habits of personal ablution fell into disuse,
and even into discredit, under the influence of the
mistaken views of sanctity which had their 6rigin
among the hermits and ascetics of Egypt and the East.
—The Sanitary Record.

WIMBLEDON TROPHIEB.—Last Saturday after-
noon the trophies won by Scottish Volunteers at the
last meeting at Wimbledon, including the Eleho Chal-
lenge Shield, the International Snider Trophy, and
the Irish International Trophy, were received in Edin-
burgh. They were carried in procession by members
of the different Volunteer corps. The procession went
from the Music-hall by way of Frederick-street,
Prince's-street, Waverley-bridge, Cockburn-street,
Highditreet, George the Fourth-bridge, to the Museum
of Science and Art, where the trophi-s were deposited.
They were handed over amid much applause to the
keeping of the Lord Provost, as Lord-Lieutenant of
the city. The bands of the Volunteer regiments
played such tunes as "See the Conquering Hero
comes" and " The Sprig of Shillelagh," and con-
cluded with the National Anthem. In the course of
the proceedings in the museum appropriate addresses
were delivered by the Lord Provost, Colonel Mac-
gregor, M.P., Lieutenant-Colonel Davidson, Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Macdonald, captain of the Twenty,
Mr. Dunlop, c.a, captain of the Eight, and others.
The day was fine, and a large number of spectators
assembled in the streets and in the museum.

INCREASE OF THIRD-CLASS FARES.—TWO rail-
way companies have taken steps to recoup themselves
the duty demanded by government on third-chum
tickets by fast trains. The London and North-Wes-
tern Railway Company have given notice that, in
consequence of an intimation from the Board of Inland
Revenue, that they will no longer sanction the remis-
sion of duty on third-class trains, 5 per cent, will be
added to the ordinary third class fares by all trains
that do not conform to the requirements of the Board
of Inland Revenue. The Great Western Railway
have issued a similar notice, in which they state the
government duty will be added to all third-class
tickets, except by ordinary parliamentary trains. The
only parts of the system not mentioned in the notice
appears to be North of Wolverhampton, and some of
the Welsh branches and connections.

MR. BRIGHT AND VACCINATION.—A letter
was written a few days ago by Mr. W. H. Harris. of
Birmingham, to Mr. Bright, pointing out the danger
of the circulation of communications respecting vaccin-
ation, in which the lion. gentleman said he doubted the
wisdom of compulsion, and that the law that inflicted
penalty on a parent who was unwilling to have his
child vaccinated was monstrous, and should be repealed.
Mr. Harris asked Mr. 13ri:411t to consider his observa-
tions upcm the question, and to that received the
following reply—" Rochdale, Oct. 30, IB74.—Dear
Sir,—l thank you for your letter just received. The
subject is one which I am not wishful to discuss, but I
must adhere to the opinion expressed in the letter
which has caused you to write to me.—l am, respect-
fully yOUIII, JOHN BRIGHT.
ACCOMMODATING.—Officer (to Native Servant):
"What Caste are you, Rainjamine ?"—Orientui:
"Same Religion as Sahib. Drink Brandy, Sar ! !"
PuOch.

GrOLD PRODUUTN or Vii TORIA.—The reports
of the Government (of Victoria) mining surveyors and
reistrars for the quarter ending the 30th of June,
1871, have been published. They estimate that
271,8390 z. of gold were obtained during the quarter,
of which 106,9310 z. were alluvial gold and 164,9050 z.
quartz gold. The amount actually exported during
the quarter was, according to the Customs returns,
233,27,2 oz. The number of miners employed on the
goldfields during the quarter was estimated at 46,488,
of whom 18,467 were Europeans and 12,184 Chinese
engaged in alluvial mining, and 15,432 Europeans and
105 Chinese engaged in quartz milling. The approxi-
mate value of all the mining plant employed was
£2,074,972, the number of square miles of auriferous
ground actually worked upon 1,016, and the number
41 distinct quartz reefs actually proved to be auriferous
3,367. The miners were distributed over the seven
districts into which the colony in divided in the follow-
ing proportions: Ballarat, 10,294; Beechworth, 6,637;
Sandhurst, 7,463; Maryborough, 8,687; Castlemaine,
7,2; Ararat, 3,554; and GiPpsland, 2,580.
- -

EVANS Di THE MAN !—James L. Evans, of
Noblesville, the Republican candidate for the Con-
gress offithe eleventh Indiana district, ought certainly
to have a 'trial." Seemingly, he would make a model
senator. Of him it is that the Kokomo Tribune re-
marks : —"Five hundred democrats in Hamilton
county will vote for him because he is a good fellow.
He is a miller. He manufactures into flour about 500
bushels of wheat every day in the week, except Sunday.
He ships this flour direct to a manufacturing town in
New England, and sells it direct through a local agent,
thus avoiding middle-men. He is so well off that there
is no occasion for his stealing, and he wouldn't do it
anyhow; he is well balanced; he has no hobbies; he
don't use tobacco or whiskey; he don't even drink a
glass of beer; he works hard six days of each week;
he has freckles on the backs id his bawls, and horns on
the other side. If the people want a working man in
office, Evans ought to be their choice."—Pilurial
World.

URSA MAJOR.—The contusing flaneur of the
Court Circular tells a good story of a man "more
fainyus,fos his misers of sarcasm than for good breed-
ing,'"and who sat next a lady at dinner the other
evening in theeeuntry, to whom he has only just been
introduced. He amused, himself during dinner by
quizzing an individnal opposite with is very grotesque
face, a person moreover whose remarks weie by no
meant remarkable for wisdom. The lady listened and
seemed amused, hut just as she rose to go upstairs into
the drawing-ns on, she murmured blandly, " Una.
Major, ni you call him, lathy husixtud."' , The satirical
individual was, as may be imagased, counderably non.,
plussed, but after the, lady had gone he rallied, went
over to Ursa, Major, made himself so agreeable, praised
lilie wife, &e., that to that-lady's astonishment the two
entered the drawing-room togs tner, and the Ilear in-
&meal his wife that night (so he said) lie had never
met rueb a pleasant fellow SS the man who had been
making fun of him all <boner time. It is net known
tellether the lady enlightruesl oiw.—LscenoonillVi .5
Luellen' Guardian.