Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1882-02-04 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

THI COURT.—A short time since a juror appeared before one of the judges of this county (says the Detroit Free Press) who is celebrated for diepatchine business, and using no unnecessary words in giving his orders, and asked to be excused.—The Court: "Swear him, Mr. Clerk."—The Court: "What Is your excuse? "—The Juror: "I have got the itch—l am itching now."—The Court: "Mr. Clerk, scratch him." Whereupon the clerk scratched his name from the list. When the juror returned to his store he said he never spoke trner in his life than when he said he was itching, "for," said he, was Itching, but it was to get back to my business." EvzsiNa PARTIES IN liCeuroarma.—" Cheap and beam " parties is the expressive Californian title for entertainments where only slight refreshments are given. (By the bye, perhaps some people are not aware that the Oxford germ for them is "perpendiculars.") "Nine o' Clock Teas " have been attempted by San Franciscians of limited incomes, mid have proved utter failures; " Cafds Noire," which last from ilght to ten p.m., are more favoured; but the most eaccessful gatherings for Transatlantic young people this winter have been "Mother Goose Parties," at wilia each guest appeared as some well-known character Of nursery rhyme. Taz DUTY ON Corrzz.—The Globe remarks that the Chancellor of the Exchequer will have enough to do to choose among the claimants to benefit by the surplus which he expects in April. Meanwhile, there is something to be said for the demand put forth on behalf of coffee. lJnlike tea, most of the coffee which comes into this country is not consumed here, but only passes through; and to collect the duty on 14,000 tons, the amount of our own consumption, the Government has to .deal with an average annual Import of 70,000 tons. This, it is alleged, entails ,* expense out of proportion to the results. Tax ,A,xxuAL TRMEZRANOR Szsmor4.—The mans Temperance sermon was preached on Sunday afternoon, in Church-street Chapel, Edgware-road, London, by the Rev. Dawson Burns, to a crowded congregation. It may be stated that this sermon is almost se old as thi Temperance movement itself. The Jubilee of that movement was celebrated last year, and it was the forty-second annual discourse which was preached on Sunday. POPULATION or hissiirrr.r.lB.—To the dew Increase of population in France generally Marseilles ts, a remarkable exception. The total number its, habitants recorded by the recent denims is just stated to be 354,334. In the preceding oenans, taken only four years previously, the number was W,OB only, showhig an increase of 35,47 ft. _ A " 33tairemo Sirems.-1-17dtig eau- fer-faele—  o t  excess  Sflicme Ilasonna Drurrodtiigaier dr —ln Lonaon, on Monday, at the Coionarie 'l3oldenlane, Mr. W. J. Pie, held in inquest on thebody of George Dennis Fo er, aged 25.—Mr. J. R. Foulger, Inspector in the City Police Force, identified the deceased ea his son, who had been a grocer, and lodged with witness at the Moor-lane Polioostation, Forestreet. The deceased had good bodily health, but had suffered from fits of despondency, particularly of late. The young man had a very strong attachment for a young lady, a ward in Chancery, and she and her guardians told him that his proposals could not be entertabied as she was already engaged. He, however, eonthuied to follow her oboist, but she did her ixat to keep out of his way' as she was afraid. lost week die young man left home for a day or two. and witness had since heard that he had been away to see the young lady married. Upon returning witness found his son in very low spirits. Shortly after eight o'clock en Friday morning witness went into his private apartment, and there found him sitting in a chair with the top of his head nearly blown off. By his side, on the floor, was an old pistol, a box of bullets, and percussion caps. The only cause witness could assign for his son destroying himself was his disappointment in love. A paper was found in which it is stated that Foulger left all his money to the young lady referred to.—Mr. Fendlok, surgeon, said he was called to see the deceased. Feulger had placed the pistol in the corner of his right eye and dia. charged it, and had blown the front and top of the skull completely off.—A verdict of "Suicide whilst of unsound mind" was returned. "Tux Quzirs's Emmett " (on Scoicn).—Minister : "Weal, John, an boo did ye like ma son's diecoorse ?" —John : "eel,- meenister, ah mann admeet he 'a were soond, but, oh man! he's no deep! His pronoonelation 's no vera gweed ; but ah 're nae doobt he 'll impruv' I"—Puneh. Tux Mssta.