The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1865-03-21 00:00:00

their chairs. Paper was platted under their feet,
and marked with a pencil in order to test whether
they moved or not. Darkness once more reigning
supreme, the "twanging" of guitars and the ringing
of bells commenced, after which the instruments
floated about the room, the wind caused by their
movements being very perceptible, and they
ultimately gently pitched upon the heads, shoulders,
and knees of persons. The instruments were after-
wards phosphorized, and could be seen floating rapidly
' about the room, at one time near the heads of the
audience, and then darting swiftly upwards, striking
the cabinet with great violence at times ; hut the
'spirits" dealt most kindly towirds the audience,
giving them only gentle taps with the instruments
On the candle being re-lighted, Mr. Fay and Mr.
Davenport were still diet:Atter' eineurely bound in
their Asire. As it was thought some accessory
might be in the cabinet, the audience demanded
that it ehould be opened; hilt on this being
done it was found to contain no occupant. Whilst
Mr. Fay was bound ti his chair, his coat came
from his beck, and whilst the candle was being
re-lighted was seen to dart • considerable diatance.
Dr. Coucher afterwards took off his coat and placed
it on a chair, it being intimated that it would be
found on Mr. Fay's back. Before this was done the
fastenings were again examined, and reported as
secure, when, as an additional security, the ropes
were sealed, and stamped with Dr. Coucher's signet
ring. About a second or two After the light was ex-
tinguished, when the noise as of a coat being put on
was perceptible, and on a light being obtained the
worthy doctor's garment was found upon Mr. Fay, '
. who still was fastened as secturely aa ever, and the
, seal had not been broken. This terminated the per-
formance, and the company separated as wise as they
had come, and were compelled to acknowledge that
the seances were beyond their comprehension.
LEOTURIL—On Monday evening Mr. James Kay
A.pplebee delivered a lecture at the Music Hall on
"The three graces of womanhopd:" There was • large
audience consisting nearly of 400 persens. The chair
was taken by Henry Harbin, Esq., who, in a few ap-
propriate remarks, introduced the lecturer. The
lecturer delivered his subject into three portions,
"Maidenhood, Wifehood, and Motherhood." It would
be impossible in • short paragraph to do justice to the
remarks of Mr. Applebee, soffice it to say that the
audience were enraptured with the masterly style in
which the subject was treated, and the audienee testified
their approval of It by repetted applause. At the con-
clusion • Tote of thank% on the proposition of the
, chairman, was awarded to Mr. Applebee. The lecture,
we should state, was in aid of the fund now being
raised in the town for the relief of the widows and
children of the Coa‘t-guard men who were drowned off .
Lulworth, and Captain Co-env, the proprietor of the
hall, most kindly granted the use of that building
gratuitously. We are informed that after payment of
ezpetees connected with the leeture, about .C 5 will he
at the disposal of Mr. W. Hallett to place in the hands
of the fund oointnittee.
Tea CALAMITY OPT LOLWORTH.—Up to the present
time none of the bodies of the unfortunate Coa4-guard
men have been found, and there is no foundation in the
report that the missing boat has been washed ashore on
Duddleotone Ledge. Through the medium of the London
aed daily press this disastrous calamity has be. n circu-
lated far sod wile, and the appeal to the public on
behalf of the five widowe and 19 fatherless children
bag been moat liberally resPoitded to. In our ownaown
not only has the sympathy of the public been enlisted
en their behalf, but the wzbecriptien lists dt the build
most unntistakeably prove Mut that syrilpathY ha been
shoed in • most tangible ftirm. Up to Wedneaday
about kliffti bad been received, and in addition to this,
there is he proceeds of the Amateur DramaticSociety'a
pe formancts, which are estimated to realize between
£3O and £4O. These entertainments took place at the
Royal Hotel Assembly Room, on the eypnings of
Monday and Tuesday. The..piewil riti the firdt night
were "The Charooel Metier," and tile eitiataganka of
" A Day after the Fair," and the second, "Angela, or
the Citstle Siitiotre,'' and the farce of "Doing Banting."
The pieces were, as usual!, well played, awl afforded the
greatest gratification. The following meet appropriate
prologue and epilogue, written specially for the occasion
by Mr. J. B. Kerridge, of this town, were read by Mr.
H. Gough :
PROLOGUIL
We come before you—noble is our aim,
, Your sympathy this night we humbly claim,
Not for ourselves de ask it—lto' mat be
'Among us some may claim your sympathy ;
Good at all times, but nobly good when wife
Comes sudden, striking with a heavy blow
Some loved one dolvn in his fell manhood'. prime,
When least apected, and hetet.) his tinsr.
night we ask It—Shall tee ask in tla T
r anall *a, what wh ask; ironer, Ind gain?
eel hemin nature is not grown so bad
' s to iiiithhold what will make poor hearts glad;
le
ne touch of nature makes the whole world kin,
A fellow feeling then we hope to win ;
For of ourselves we gladly strive to night,
44 selfish motives putting from our sight.
We give our efforts freely n• gladly sto
This night before us • gbehol audience we;
ctlit that habil heart might feel for the distress'd,
The wife forlorn—the infant at the breast l
Left in the world, to fight as best they may
The world's rough warfare each returning day—
Left! Heaven protect them, make your hearts to feel
A sense of fellow feeling o'er them steal;
Posture a mother, wife end children fele,
With flowing Hoke of glossy silken hair,
Sitting at home by their own fire-aide bright
The room lit up with love—s happy sight
The children prattling by their mother's side
On whom they look, in whom they all confide.
A pleasant picture—We'll another draw,
And hope thereby the hardest heart to thaw :
Fond women wait for those who in the morn
Left them, impressing on their lips a warm
Kiss of affection : gusty blowa the breete
011'br hill,and dale, and thrtugh the leallese tnsesj
Thone whom they love are on the ocraa wild,
They wait their coming, wives and many a child,
To greet thorn back. Night withers darkly too
But yet they come not, and the stars are few,
And still they wait I But in cold death behold,
Tossed by the rented waves, they float ice cold I
moo, soon alas I the sad, sad news they hear)
iII stridoers now I bereft 1 It centiot be ,
on will withheltd yodr genkirciui akinplithY.
i 4 brate then in the eigtur of their day,
rtim Out of life, passed from the gale away
Of thoise who loved them, and of those they too
Loved fondly—British sailers love and true. .
The lost well served thelt country end their Celli
Ah 4 kishok,e,h4 iiiili; in elfin, • bitttle eclint I, 1
Deft sleet and llama 4hen OUP greet country stood
In need of them, and for their country's good
Endured and suffered, when the war's notes rung
Ten years ago, and many a Russian gun
Pour'd shot and shell aerate the heaving deep I
Brave British sailors—loot in one fell swoop—
Men whom our country's greatness 10th uphold,
Noble in heart, and In hot battle bold,
Snatched out of life close by their seaside home.
These are the men whose sad fate We bemoan,
Per widows of such men We play to night,
TA not oitr cause I noble the end right f
Whst can replace the loss of those the see
Bath token? O'pe thy hand sweet charity,
Come succour those in sorrow, do thy bet
To aid and help them, lonely And distreiried j
Make friends, kind lieritan, he thott indeed their friend,
And timlY Succour them to their live's end.

EPILOGUE.
Soon will our acting end—we've done our best
To help the needy and the sore distress'd ;
If we have pleased you we are well repaid,
Our labour's bye 'twits !verily which bade
to Ds do Gilt beat, to raise a Mid for those
VefeaTori=allse ! vothpah ftit Hissiehllowl
And Heaton Medal. Teti, @soh and every one,
Have honor'd us: your pretence here hath done
A good tomight ; your coin shall find its way
To widow'd hands across yon crescent bay
Between the hills ; but lot us not stop there •
COMP forward all, the dead, the dead are des%
Give over and above :Mir gift tomfOti
Mitt Iftelven for OA deeds Make yolirtiatilwaye
Helti each one bring, each one waist the Muse,
And tho' our task is done why need you pause?
' Good deeds are noble, sympathy • gem,
Priced by the weakest, and the strongest men;
We each rine need it as we travel on
The World's sough way—the weakly as the strong;
Hearts broken ilkiwn bi sorrow, how it cheers,
Beneath a weight of raiiking beinfin eared ,
Helps them to battle in bereavement sore,
And makes them rich with gratitude, the poor
In this world's worth—Oh I for Ithuriel's spear,
To open hearts and pierce 84011 stolid ear.
We all are players upon a shifting scene,
And life itself is but a fitful dream,
A breath I no more es our's, and like a spark
We glisten and pile out, and all is dark.
Dark, did I say 1 Ab I no the Fare is bright
At yonder heaven with stars Hut #(l4 night j
. It opens up what now beyond we see
A brighter life—• great reality,
With thanks anon we lower the painted scene,
And aak your further Aid—God save the Queen I

PORTLAND.
ik+rfirilt Sole —This event
took place on Thursday, a the Natiotull übiol
Room. Fortune's Well, and wee attended with all
the success its promoters could possibly desire. A
tea was provided by the ladles of the island, each of
whom appeared to vie with their neighbours in
placing the beet spread upon the table, and the
repast was such as ie seldom to be met with at.publio
tea meetings. We must give the ledies of Portland
this credit, that when their sympathy is enlisted on
behalf of any public cause, they do not spare either
trouble or aspens° in order to make the result Duo.
cessittl, and their leboure on tile present occasion
were drowned with the moat ligtlSl sums.. The
following ladies and gentletnett gave tallest—Mrs.
Holland, Mrs Hindnuirshi Mrs. Greenwood, Mrs.
Cosset) Mrs I. 81tortl. Miss Wall% Aliss astisom,
Mrs. Russell, Mrs. Harvey, Mrs. Ratcliffe, Dr.
Brodribb, Miss Borlven, Mil' Ward, Mrs. R. Willis,
Mrs. 0. Mitchell, Mrs. Walborne, Mrs. Allen, Mr.
Collins, Mr. Gibson, and Mr. Ward. Captain
k/anuing, with hie usual generosity, contributed £3
towards the expenses of the soiree. More than 300
of "-- -
spars
most
• i 4

paztooli
which

persons
after ,r

sumptuous

repast
for t'

provided,

preparations

~ were
attractive
which --