The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1883-10-09 00:00:00

THR DORCHESTER "SATURNALIA."
To the Editor.

Bir —lt occurs to me that the folka to whom the
expression Saturnalia seems so familiar would find it
a troublesome business to show why they describe by
such a word these aelebrations on the glorious fifth."
As all readies of the Latin writers know, for one point
of resemblance there area bun irei points of diff,rence
between these later follies and the ancient Roman
festivals. Indeed. it must be Plainly sad I that the
latter were characterised by nothing so much as by the
most unbridled debauchery among all elamsa of the
people. But what are we to think of your audacious
correspondent erh, goes farther, and doz.' not even
heeit it to adopt the peendony at of Saturn himself? It
would be interesting to know in what be considers
himself like the go I. Ws used to marvel at the jest
that fell from the dying lips of Vospaolac "Ui puto
DOLS A° "—an Incident singular enongh to b 4 remarked
on by Bac min one of his ...are. But the Kospersa is
now at length altorether "out-Vespasianed."
My object In writing, however, lon .t to li.orl your
oorreep 'adept. I 'inanely hope we hove a n the lost
of these hideous celebration, in Dorchester. It can.
not be doubted that there are many respectable
',Bisons who disapprove of them; and, alOough these
may form the minority—Ea circumstance, by the way,
which I venture to say the large oollection • do n t
prove to be • factj—l cannot gee why, even than, they
should be subjected Loan the eulphureous horrors of this
annual demonstration. Ti say nothing of the money
of which It directly snootiness the reckless west% an i
which might undoubtedly be better employ.l, there
seems te we to be something positively bar .arous and
Inhuman in the outrage which year after year is
p rpetrated in our public streets, in utter want of
sympathy for the sick and suffering, and even (*sit at
least ones happened in this town) for thaw wh may be
enduring the ag-niee of death Resit
Disclaiming all right, sir, to interfere with ~ther
people in the spending of their money, I submit that,
if they are bent on having the t wchlignt procession, it
ought tot tits place out of the town. If people would
not got >see it, that would at once prove the wtimation
in which it is bald. If it be sal I that many c I not
do so, I ask, first of all, who such persons woul
generally be, and whether they would be pore.na likely
Li feel they last much? I ask, geoondly, would such
persons in any mis outnumber tbore who, like myoelf,
are compelled Li leave their home., or suffer what we
feel to be terrible discomfort.? . .

More .Iv,r, these demoniacal ongoing.. ar, t Mtt wided
with c mei lerable dancer, • fact which, l het ours,
mane who, like myself, hare bithert . been silent,
would add their testimouy t mine to prove.
I expect to be vilified as • Roman Catholic, a
mlliantps, &nervous, fidgety old bachelor,' childless
husbarvi, and I know not what besides. lint lam
none of thee.; and I Imes only to add that I am not
the gentleman by whom, I have reason to believe, many
will suppose We letter has been written.
Corm Lorzans.
Dorcticeter, October 4th, 1883.

WITWOUTIL
Wnmourrw Ovate? CLUB. —With the motel, v. the
Chaottel fleet the season of this club asme to a close.
The club has bees more than ordinarily suooeseful this
year. Out of 25 matches played ly have been won,
and only six lost. The matches VIM One v. Inoogniti,
one v. University Rovers, two v. Queen'. Regiment,
one v. Kingston Park, one v. Channel Pleat, one V.
B mroemouth. on. v. Wimborne, two v. Blaodford,
one!. Lalworth Lobsters, two T. Weymouth College,
two v. Dorset County School, two v. Idelcomb• Regis
School; and those lost were one v. Sloth Hants, one
T. QUOU'II Regiment, nee v. Kingston Park, one v.
Boarsemouth, on* v. Dorchester, and one v. Wks.
bone. Mr. W. FL llaolleld hoe bees the mod pee-