The Sun.
London, England, 1869-07-13 00:00:00

A BABY SHOW AT WOOLWICH.

Not without a protest, several of the metropolitan
dailies describe a baby show now open at North Wool-
wich. One paper describes these exhibitions as "mon-
strous violations of the proprieties," and reminds us that
it is twenty years since Barnum's example was feebly
copied in England, and babies were publicly shewn, like
pigs and pelargoniums, at the disastrous Surrey Music
Hall, in the Kennington-road. There have since been, at
the most, three baby shows—very minor affairs, in ob-
%cure parts of the country; till the Yankee showman's
idea was practically revived, on what he and his followers
would call a " big scale" on Monday, at the North
Woolwich Gardens. 'The day was signally fine, and those
same gardens are Trolly very pleasant, and would take
much vulgarity of the music-hall stamp to make them
otherwise. The Daily News says it has been found a
labour of considerable difficulty to popularise baby shovel
in England, and if not half converted by what one
saw on Monday, one would be disposed, notwith-
standing the strong expression in favour of absolute
free trade uttered on a recent occasion, to advocate a
prohibitory policy on the American " notion " of exhibit-
ing humanity in long clothes. It rather suggests the
custom of " baby-farming," and tends to the expansion of
Miss Topsy's idea, that she was "raised" and "glowed,"
without being born. We had, therefore, an d priori
objection to such exhibitions, on the ground that they.
were materialistic. We could also fancy the horror of
Malthusian economist at finding that a first-class'
prize of £lO was to be awarded for " the most healthy
and finest triplets under twelve months." We confess
to so much ignorance on the subject that the meaning.
of the word " triplet" in this connection was only
suggested to us by observing that, in the second class, a
prize of £5 was to be given " for the most healthy and
beautiful ' twins,' under twelve months." Oh shades Of
Malthus and James Mill ! what is the world coming
to when the mothers of England are provoke
to the production of " triplets " and " doublets"'
by prizes of .£lO and £5? It seems, however, that
there was no want of mothers to come forward with
their offspring, for we are told that some hundreds of
"mammas," who had taken their treasures down without'
having previously received any notice of their acceptance
as candidates for the prizes, had to undergo the mortifica-'
tion of being rejected. The feelings of the indignant'
females who thus found their fond hopes ruthlessly frutg",
trated were, as may be easily imagined, not of the'
mildest or most amiable character, and at one time;
matters looked rather threatening for the proprietor,
something very like a "demonstration" being hinted at..
This, however, failed, evidently not from lack of intense
emotion, but from want of organisation and leadership.
The exhibition itself was not so vulgar as might, perhaps,
be thought. There was little crying, and peace generally
prevailed. There was but one example of triplets, and
but four of twins. In the four other classes the prizes'
are for the respectable and economical number one, viz.,:
£lO and a silver cup for the most beautiful and healthy;
boy, under 12 months, with £3 and £2 for second and
third prizes ; £lO and a silver cup for the most healthyi
and beautiful girl, under 12 months ; £5 for the finest orl
heaviest child under 6 months, and £2 for a second prize::
£5 for the finest or heaviest child under 12 months, sea.
£2 for a second prize. There are also three prizes for the'
neatest and prettiest cradle or bassinet.

Two mobs came into collision on Sunday nigl33.
in Belfast, near the scene of the riot of 1861. Stone;
were thrown. The police interfered, and made one. ar";
rest. Great excitement prevailed for a time. All quiet At'
midnight.

On Sunday a large portion of an extensive juts
spinning mill, at Dundee, was destroyed by firo. The Pre-
paring, spinning, and weaving departments were totally;
destroyed, and the damage is estimated at £12,000. Four
thousand hands are also thrown out of employment by the'
disaster.

Her Majesty has graciously deputed her 110
Highness Princess Louise to lay, in her Majesty's name'(
the foundation stone of the second pair of buildings of al&
National Cottage Hospital for Consumption and DiEleagOi
of the Chest, Ventnor, Undercliff, Isle of Wight, on Wed',
nesday, the 28th of July.
WONDERFUL IF TRUE.—The prizes offered WI
Mr. Barkas, of Newcastle, to pit lads, in Durham and'
Northumberland, to induce them to search for fossil re-
mains, have been attended by the most unexpected results.
Not only have the lads found in the refuse shale large'
numbers of fish and reptile remains, but, what wil?
astonish palaeontologists, one of the lads has found Of ,
lower jaw of a true mammal. The effect of this discorerr
will be to reduce the comparative ages of all hitherto'
known mammalia, and carry back the mammalian life of
the world for millions of years.—Northern Daily Expres:".
THE NITRO-GLYCERINE EXPLOSION. Robert'
Humphreys, manager of the Enamelled Slate Works, C°l.'
narvon (of which Messrs. Webb and Cragg, agents I°ri
nitro-glycerine and proprietors of that which lately exPl°aetb
at Cwm-y-glo, are part owners), was summoned on Wu.:
day before the mayor (Mr. L. Turner) and Mr. Tholes'
Turner, charged with keeping on his premises, near the ra,
w station, Carnarvon, dangerous and explosive substac;
called ,:lvntunite, the premises not being duly licensed ft:
the purpose.-
.Mr. Orlando Webb, owner of the dyneulliteo;
and of the nitro -glycerine, gave evidence that dyneipp,..l
Vas not explosive' u;:less it had a percussion cap 0f troeu:
fulminate powder appliet",,to it. Sergeant-Major v_to„,;
described an experiment made on a cask of it in.lBGB,7oti
Mr. Webb and others were polsent. The cask Wes ,401
at, and on a second occasion 'it exploded with terrin
Lool°'
force, The chief constable prose,,uted, and B ; the,
Ruthin, defended. The magistrates,, in acquitt%
fiats
defendant on this occasion, declined gra:ding a cer
_toot:
prohibiting further investigation, which,it is un4-e'rs
the chief constable intends to proceed with.

The course of exchange at New York on London for bd at is
rate 9
days' sight was on the 3d inst. about 1 09i per cent. At this
vacd
there is no profit on thelnpOrtation of gold 49;21 tae

Caters.