The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1873-02-01 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

STOTTEMIDGE OBSFRVER.  class, stood towards the Venetian state. We cannot think Dr. Bodington parthnlarly fortunate in his selection of pieces. If the first had the disadvantage of being already too familiar to the auditory the second the "Last Confession," by Rosettr, laboured under a disadvantage of quite the contrary kind. This poem is not des. titnte of good points. It is full of rich though somewhat confused colouring, like the dreamy paintings of the author's gifted brother, Mr. Dante Rosetti. It tarns upon an Italian loveaffair which must be termed extra-matrimonial, though not beyond the sympathies of such beings as we are in such a world as this. If the I reader's introductory remarks had not been rather wanting in perspicuity, the listeners would have still better caught the drift of the composition. As it was, they were little less than enraptured by the atmosphere of Italy that was poured around the thrilling tale, and may have realised something of the definition of tragic poetry as delivered to us by Aristotle (De Ade Poetisa, cap. 6), as "through pity and fear effecting the puritivation of such emotions." Bonvning's vigorous and heart-stirring ballad of the gallop from Ghent to Aix was perhaps a more felicitous selection, and it was rendered by Dr. Borlington, as it seemed to us, with • very near approach to perfectness. On the whole, we thought his selection of pieces wanting in variety, and perhaps a little too sensational, turning, as they all did, upon stories of murder or violent death. English poetry has many arrows in its quiver, and an eye which sees " through all the Muses' walk " will be at no loss to intermix the graceful, the pleasing, the fantastic, nay, even the grotesque and humorous, in their fit proismtions, in an entertainment such as this. The tone, on Monday last, was, to our thinking, somewhat too prosaic and too pervad• ingly serious. The sengs of Mr. Owen Davis were applauded in a way which might suggest the cynical remark, that many persims thought them the more important portion of the programme. Yet such an imputation on a Stour. bridge audience would, we are sure, be little other than a calumny.  Inspection of the viaduct bad been made, and if so, asking the Board to favour the Commissioners with a copy of the report. On the motion of Mr. Bißingham seconded by Mr. Kelly, the report was adopted. The Chairman called the attention of the Board to the desirability of calling a public meeting in response to the proposed new line of railway. It was necessary to proceed in a proper way so as to give them a Incas standi, to give evidence in Parliament if necessary artainst the Bill of the Great Western Railway Company. After some discussion, it was proposed to advertise it according to the Act, and it was decided to hold a special meeting on Saturday the Bth day of February.  to prove the case. Mr. Clulow, for the defence, said that defendant married complainant, and b ,th had children from former marriages. The woman, it was true, upbraided with the defendant for coming home drunk, and no doubt very properly an, but the son, James, steppad in. Complainant first struck the defendant, and • genet al row took place. And in that row defendant was severely punished by complainant's son, and struck with a poker, and injured. He should offer no evidence, but defendant would throw himself on the mercy of the Bench, and hoped they would take into consideration that he had already been looked up for two days. Defendant was fined 30r and costs, £2 Be; in default one month. WOMEN QUARRlLll.—Elizabeth Hutt in. was charged with assaditing Elizabeth Cook, on the 29th alt. Deferdent pleaded guilty, and the case being proved ; dent was fined Is and costa.