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

CHRISTMAS AT THE CHURCHES.

The epiecpll sanctuaries of the locality are clothed
once more in their Christmas garb, and much Mite
has agsin ben evince by the tasteful meaner in
which the I*l.-Jur has been expended. Of worse there
I. a great scarcity of flowers at this !mean, but pre-
served epociu,en. and artificial blossoms and berries
are brought into nee, render-lug the heavy greenery
light and effective.
. . . . . .

Msry's (parish) chinch looked as becoming as
usual %rider the care of Mis• G cd, Mime Grave
Whttham, Miss Turner (charnel), Mir Brown, Mir
Vivian (font), Miss M. Newberry, Miss Neal (oullit).
Mrs. James (realms-ark and lectern). In toe east
window was • scarlet crow, beavol; iarge bunches of
Cape daisies, and Its sill bordering wag of laurel and
yew, having bouquets of Cape daisies, ac. The
niches on either side were iramed with Gothic arches
of evergreen—laurel, yew, holly, eitompstua terror,
with derie• in bunches. The communion rails were
wreathed in ivy. holly, Itc., and the ostoir stalls In
holly and yew. Toe ;apt was exceedingly pretty;
on the stone panels ware red and crystalised crosses,
the summit hsviog a ridge of yew. bully bay, ltc ; a
similar adornment around the centre and • bed of
cotton wool and greenery at the base. lhe lectern
front was bordered with crystallised ivy leases, mixed
with holly and yew, tr., and tt the top err • hand.
worked &won, illuminated, bearing the words " Unto
us • Son is born." At the base was cotton-wool
trailed with ivy, and edged with holly. TOE reading.
desk looked bright and cheerful with its illsminated
tent' Nor unto us • child is born," being a cross and
crown. Tel, was bordered with crystal work and
edged with greenery ; the base was of wool, edged with
Ivy, yew, holly, and berries. The font, with its spire
of frosted wool, surmounted by a cross, the whole
stringed with ivy, looked chaste and elegant. The
rim i.f the basin was bordered with wool, on which
were holy and amber chrysanthemums. The
interstic..s were fille in with white mottoes and
designs on a daTk graen ground. The whole of the
gas standards inn the church bore a wreath of
evergreen, and the window sills chaplets of various
shrubs.

St. Andrew's church (13radpole-road), exhibited
much pairotaking. In the eaet window was • scarlet
cross hearing bloseodui of white and red camellia,
uuderneeth being a ridge of laurel, pampas grate,
water rush, yew, &c. The communion rails were
crowned with laurustines, holly, &c., and all the
gas standards were trailed a:th ivj and belly. The
citeic end lectern were each eet off by variegated
body and other greenery. The front of the pr'pit
war covered with yew, the initials of Alpha and
Omega being placed on either side a St. Andrew's
cross, closely worked in scarlet ber:ies of the holly.
Intersect Al triangles were fixed north and south of
the chancel arch, which was wreathed in evergreen.
The whole of the window bills be beds of scarlet,
Lid with moos and other greenery, including the
euonymus flora. The font was exuaieitily designed—
indeed, far the beet artirement in the church. The
baae we. a deep bed of mono, enriched by eight primula
plants—white bl-aroms. The shaft of the font was
banded with variegated holly leavaa and bunches of
berries, a similar arrangement appearing at the top,
which was wreathed in ivy, lanrustinus, &a The
whole was cspped by a lovely cram of white eatable
white!. theaSieg 10 the hhein was a erect ot Otaleetttlat;
fern, and anow•white blossoms. The panels of the
stricture were filled in with moss, Ivy, &c. in charm-
ing teed°. Tile following la lies did the work :—Font,
Mr:. Montagu; end window, Mires Hanley; pulpit,
Misses Lonnie ; Iretern and reading dark, Miss Joy;
wool,,ers, Mica 11. Templer; gas rt tedarde, Misses
Whethare ; devices, &c., servant' at Downs Hall, and
Blountfielde.

fiwithM's church (Allington), wars (with the
exception of four Matures of saints near the com-
niunion table) prettily and consistently decorated by
Nliss lidhilecombe, Mrs. Kiddie, Mrs. Turner, Miss
Legg. Mies Holston, blies Pearce, and others. A
Cf.l7 of white, with fifth-coloured chrysanthemums,
app-aced over the communion table. ondlr which
were the words "Glory to God in the Highest" in
gold I tters on a red ground, with illuminated borders,
and tipped with a gift star. The pulpit and reading-
dedc were similar in adornment ; at each corner wore
bunches of variegated laurel, fox-tail and feather
grarsee, water rush, pampas, and chrysanthemums.
The panels were bre dared with silvered leaves, set off
by scarlet everlasting", at the base were, worked in
straw, designs of the /leer-dr./is lined with silver
leaves', bordered with greenery. The walls nssr the
tsblo were hung with texts, illuminated and neatly
bordered, whilst crosses composed of Cape everlasting,
were placed nen the communion table. 'rile foul we.
neat and compact with its top wr,sthings of moss,
bunch.' of scarlet and yeAorr holly berries, and
isimson evvrlastious, underneath was a dense wreath
of holly and Inurel, and in front a ernes of variegated
holly bares, having centres of carmine everlr itinss.
The body of the structure was panelled in meal,
prickly holly, and berries.
Several other churches wore decorated, but not on!)
extensive a scale a. those above mentioned.

GBAND CONCEI:T BY THE ITALIAN BAND.
The only Christenno attraction was the visit of the
R., al 1ta1..) Band, from Bournemouth, on W elneeday,
giving two gland concrete at the Drill Hall—morning anal
evening. The conductor was Signor Simpietro, and Mr.
J. Hoskin., ILA .)L. the vocalist.
The in it aing peat/1111.12C —commencing at three o'clock
—woo attended only by the elite of the neighbourhood,
and it is much to be regretted that the audience ores so
small an it was, for such amide as that discoursed by our
talented Italian brothers was of that order rarely heard in
&Upon. The " time was marvellously correct, and the
vaitous elections of the programme were rendered with
that beauty of finish and euphonious harmony for which
!idly and Germeny ere so distinguished.
The nreurarume in the morning wee no follows ;—Over-
tore, " William Tell •," selection., "Cinque Mars solo(cornet), " Fao trod& ill CO, certo, Signor Liceen-ra ; new
ecru. " The Hand is Mine," Mr. lames Hopkinn. It. A M.
duetto, "Aida " Italian Flower; 'sago (ol ir meet),
Garlb•ldi ; selection, " Itellsario solo (eortiett.
Some Day."
The overture gave promise of what was to follow, and
" Cinque M.irt the second item, was loudly applauded.
A "Fantasia di Concerto" (solo, cornet). wad • splendid
accomplishment. Blurnetithal's "Thy Hand is Mine "
wee well sung by Mr. Hopkins, but, by result of • violent
cold, he was not at his best. A duster-, "Aide" (Verdi),
was a peculiarly sweet selection, and won the hearty
Plandits it deserved. A wale, " Italian Flower"
(Dardani), was scarcely equal to the redo (els' lottel),
played by Signor fluibildl, and assisted by the whole
band at intern, la: indeed, the whole company shared in
It. performance. 0 esti( Donisettesselectone. "Iteliurior"
en. a ha.. 'election, and played with infinite taste and
feeling. 'Perhaps the favourite plus in the morning was
a solo (cornea • s.,me Day the choruses were taken up
In finished style, but eepeci;liebeautiful wag the mousey
manipulation of the cornet
The following was the programme in the evening, when
the attendance was much larger :—Overture, " Fra
Disvolo selection, "II Barbieri di fieviglia ;" sok)
(euphonium), "Tireless." Signor Giros, ; new s tic. "Th.
Outpet," Mr. Janies Hopkins ; selection, "Ls Propitiate,"
including the Grant March; wale, "Napoli;' solo
(clarion,'), Signor Tarantino • Kong, 'A Life that Lives
for You, Mr. James Hopkins; solo (cornet), "Grand
Concerto," Signor Guardino I selection, " Ernemt"
The anxiety of the conductor—at times very palpahle—
to keep his corps well together wan, we thought, almost
...owary with go good • body of performers. The over-
ture was • grand outourst of melody. brilliant an execution
and meriting the gentiles cheer which greeted it at its con.
clarion. Rossini%) well known opera, "II Barbieri di
Sevielia," woo the next ulection, and the piece proved
that all the instrumentalists wipe equal to their places. A
very difficult piece was a peculiar selection of Fillips,
•••yineese.^ solo. (euphonium) played by Signor Girona
There was • trifi. of "sameness" throughout this pleat
but this was neutralissd by thesperklieg style ins..adacia,
the whole strength of the party between the solos. A song
by Mr. Hopkins followed, " A Life that Lives for you "
(Sullivan). it was well sung, but OA previously stated, tit •
vocalist wee mesh ineonvenl,need I,s a cold. A brilliant
selection "L Prophet • "—including the grand march—by
kleyerleer followed. This one livened to with rant
attention, and concluded amidst much applause. A wits
" Napole," by D 41 Aquill, proved highly attractive —toe
wliol• troupe shared in it, and this selection wan sufficient
to prove the high ability of all. A solo (clarionet) played
by Signor Tarangno wee well sneered and equ .111, well
received. Mr. Hopkins then mug "The Outpost." hasp
and this was, without queation, hie best song. A "Grand
Concerto" solo (c. irnnt) by Signor Guudino, followed. This
att mot was most erann'y appreciated, and wan voted the
hest .t na on the programme. The Aiwa, was a charming
selection, " Brunt' one which wee not behind its
pretnememe in the way of taste and brilliancy of
. execution. Miss Champ presided at the piano in the
evening. and Mr. F. Stone in the morning.
The strength of the band is that of aixteen performers,
and it la scarcely necessary to say more of the individual
ebility 01 this charming bead. They have now long been
known as successful caterers for the public taste of Bourne-
mouth, and other fashionable roe arts where they bur
favourable comparison—individual and collective—with
, any at present before the music-loving people of Zeeland.

The mein why so many are unable to take C woe it
that the varirties comment, sold are mined *ph stercb,
uuder the plea of rendering them soluble; while really
umkjug them thick, hoary, and indigestible. This rosy be
eaeily detected, for if Cocoa thickens in the coo It proves
the addition of starch. (.44lini7s Ceuta Essence is
rennin*: it is therefor* throe times the slrength 01 these
t:ocoes, sods retraeblos bevenge like Me or ham.