The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1883-01-02 00:00:00

HOW THE GOOD TILIIPLARS SPENT BOITNO
NIGHT.

That was indeed a spirited specimen of entertain-
meats for the people which lodge "Flower of the
West" gave in the room above the Coffee Tavern.
High-street., on Tuesday evening. So timrly and well
appreciated were the efforts of the lodge that their
borders were all too small for them, and if ever one
felt the need of a room bigger and yet bigger still to
accommodate the large gatherings of neighbours in a
social kind of way, it wee then. That temp wanes
rlapies aro making their way haa got to be • truism
yttis time, for everybody keows it; but the
Mermaid acceptance 01 tie principles brings sew
responsibilities, sod if the people oars no more ti
meet at pieces that comnot be aPProwel, why they
moat have places of their own. ll'he little seed sown
when Mr. Carey Bawl, the Rev. Talbot Grimm's, ani
others, united to establish a temperance house right
in the midst of where the mischief was being done, I
hag borne halt, end the plant 'a now so great that, to
use a lamely simile, it Measles, to buret the Sower I
pot. So it was on Tuesday night, when shoot 90 of
the temperance friends of the Weymouth side had '
together the cup that °heart, and, miserable eis the
weather may have been outside, it wee by no means
cold within, for the fragrant aroma ascended warm
with fires that kept all from feeling the remotest touch
of winter, while the sociability wag excellently suitable
for Christmas time. So that lively lodge "Flower of
the West," which is decidedly of the people, kept its I
eighth anniversary by feast. There were great end I
numerous flap, hanging in all directions, wreaths and
legends, and pictures, and many other thing, to make
It look like 'home arid the end of the room had a
legend Met bore the lemon of the OCCilliOn —" j,, t,
thy lot with us."
But if the "Flower's' popularity was proved at
Ms Um, it was overwhelming a couple of boors
later, when the good folks swarmed to the entertain.
mint. Thom who got there five minutes after time ,
were told they should have come half.sa-tionr before,
for the room was densely packed front end to end,
finishing up remotest from the platform, a
swarm of merry pie, who had come to
enjoy themselves 'ardaSiJ7°lf Wight*, and fun go
for much. Neer the platform • numerous rod
atter Wye choir were seated, Sister Gifford played
the harmonium above, Brother' Baker just found
room to take tem chair, and the drseeing-room at the
aide was no spare that several of the performers
had to make their entry over the platform in full view
of fko audience, and were sainted with delight.
Some of the good wives seated theniseless on the
platform's edge, there was so room elsewhere, and
the &liken in lap, of which the supply to Wey.
math is not waged yet, contributed their aid to
the eved4s fun. Before they had time to " @hake
down," Wings canoe from below that another
andissen were then besieging the doors. They
conida't get is, or find room when in ruder they
had done as some of the young lady sinters did, sit
in their eider sister's laps. Brother. Fatima= and
Duffell did ell they could to make the folks comfort,
able, and those who got in seemed to be in their
*leanest Bro. Baker exhorted them not to stamp
"more than they could help," a good suggestion well
reosived, and not to encore becares there was a
long programme. 'Cheer. Boys, Cheer" was the
over.re by the choir, who rung it well within their
power, and with mach teoefoloires, not overpower-
ing us by a volume of sound, as is sometimes the case.
mp Mr. Chi bounced on the 'platform as "Lamy
O'Brien," with "pot" hat, cord knee breaks, red
decking*, km, kc., and welcomed cheerily, he sang
In lively style and pleased much. Mr. New under
took "The Four Jolly Smiths," sod gang it with
proper energy and tunefulness, only escaping an
encore by the cheirman's ruling. Mr. Meech gave us
"The Parcel Post," comically setting forth some of
passible strange multi, of Mr. Fawcett's lad plan, and
gum gang bores might come, an i surplus populations
be sent off by it, as well es p.ople whom roadies% like.
Mini Fowler recited "The Gluttonous Dock ;" did she
mean to be hard on us for Chrietnins feasting? Then
came • dialogue "The Prodigal Soo," on which • good
dm' of labour and stody had been bestowed; Memo.
Duffel'. New, Caddy, and Parsons took parts, which
Included those of the wasteful son and his ill-advising
' friend," the troubled father and his sympathket
It wee let•nded to show the evil remits of gambliog
and racing. but we fear there were a me menet who
are tainted with the common bail habit., for they
made fun of the performance. The flint Noe ends with
the prodigal Ong out with his share of the good' that
fall to him. 'Lim Gifford played • solo b-trien the
parts, and then the prodigal and his friend return in
pastcomical was their poverty that some of the
couldn't help hinehing, and it was imoosei-
ble to restore them to • due errs of what was fitting,
for when father and son embraced they shrleked with
instead of being affect ol se tipsy ought. ier.
ever—sympathy or larightar—their enjoyment 1.0003' d
to be intense. It was bettenel by Mr. Meech, who
IrTtlte: 4:7BVilem are 'rte,4l.7l7,feTe"eritebeer:Karee
seemed as if they knew how t make a jolly comnanino
of the deepest want Mr. New gave "Th. Muddle
Puddle Porter," which seemed to suit the taste of .he
boys tea sleety, for he was immensely pplanded. A
quartette. oceseisting of Mr. Marnballeay and his wife,
and the Meese Hale. 7, foe "Oh I Who will o'er the
Downs so ire.?" Mina Baker followed e .th—" Thy
Voice is near," only her voice didn't seem n-ar ; she
must face the audience, and not allow the flags to
Intervene, for few things take sway from the power of
a voice as loam bunting just in front of the singer.
Mr. Patterson, who seems to be one of the "Nominal
Nov.," of the lodge, was received with a shout of
spplatne, en he &premed dressed in the troe country.
seems beat codeine, with I mieer,
annolufrook, and loather gaiters, and be gave "The
Countrymen's RNA, to the Recruiting Seroant " in
the beat style of Hodge end his wisdom, and the
audience tried to encore. Bro. Duffel' rev." " Peddv
O'Rourke, the I-ish Schoolmester." caring much
isaghter, though the Conntant'oople I Mini was a
trifle too long. Then followed hu prone rouge by
maws," being, in fact, a ellti.tl.4 entend,i ',mint- and
not os the =AIM scale, Mr. New was excrucia-
till.gloomic, end he didn's spare hie labour. and Mr.
was irresistible, the serio-oomic song being song
wag% sad the charts • Toed's-wow " coming in With
the most droll off et ; laughable dances also were only
a pert of this entattainroent, end Mr. Meech fairly
a 'nought dome the hour." After all this rapturous
tea, It was almost soweraey to hare a change, and

this was agreeably gi• •scombe, who sang
the quaint ditty" 'ng, My Pretty
Maid" with soli it was with
all the mixture ot and " never
,o
core" e z pre' ofon ug. Mr. C.
It Before," and
Howard roguishly
was deservedly apt siwler sang "Lot
me Kiss Him for -:. C. Randall gave
" A Sound Affair, au au. ir and applause; the
quartette " The :ash Gro. • was rendered by Mr.
and Mrs. Marshals+, ; but the male singer MU by
far I.e best of the whole. Mr. Patterson stirred UP
the maly4diunent by his lively renderiag of " Paddy's
wedding, well imitating the light-hearted Irish,
enjoying Ilfe in the presoak without a thought of care;
his got-up was also good. About this time they hid
diverged pretty widely from the programme, being
determined to give plenty, and treat their visitors no
a. to get them all to come again. Mr. C. Kendall
, sang " The Fire in the Grate," by this time all had got
no fu I of the spirit of fun that we are not sure to
giving the things in proper order. Babies ran about
, where they oink' find room, the mothers laid aside
, trouble for the Um., the boys and guts bellied had
fraternised and sister-hoed, and were contrihnting a
decided under-swell of sound, so that it was not until
the sounds of "Ring the Bell, Watchman," pealed
out that singing again triumphed over the tendency to
fun. It was well sung, and made a capital closing
piece. By this time all had enjoyed themselves wet
warmly, and we left glad that the eighth anniversary
, of the •• Flower" had proved such a sumac

THE AOCIDENT TO MR. GROVES.
Young Mr. Sidney Groves, we are glad to say, was
much better by Monday, and though since then be lass
not been quite so well, it is hoped that no very serious
hurt has been received. He has been able to speak •
little quit int illigently, though it is not safe to do so
much. The lad, who was only 14 wears of age, was
remarkably plucky in the huouns.field, and had ut
Inn; before been in at the death and received the brush.
The accident happened near Coarminster, and Mr.
Groves's hurts were first stanched and dressed by Dr.
George, of Dort-heater, who saved the young man from
a dsngerous further lose of blood. He is now attended
by Dr. Lush.