The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1880-12-28 00:00:00

BRIDPOILT.

Once more, Mr. Editor, to you and your readers,
A Merry Christmas, and • Happy and Prosperous New
Year. Old Father Time with his unremitting sickle
has mowed down some of the brightest human Agra
as he relentlessly 'talked through the year, which is
just about to leave us much too soon for myriads he
has left behind. Throughout Christendom he has seen
the last of many lives made beautiful by self-devotion,
self-denial, and help to fellow men. As the annual
carol of the Christmas bells break upon the ear it
awakes thought, meditative and retrospective. "All
that's bright must fade," said • poet, who doubtlessly
meant useful and ornamental lives, in addition to green
leaves and radiant blossoms. Even the most forgetful
of your readers, Mr. Editor, will scarcely need •
referenos in the sacred back numbers of the Megrim
(or those of any less reliable publication) to assist
reflection upon the eventful period through which we
have passed, and are passing yet. The pride, pomp,
and circumstance of gtorimis war, far abroad, and now
the semi-civil war in the Sister Land, excite at this
moment pity and natural sympathy in the breast of
every Englishman. Artists and dramatic geninses
have pawed to that bourne from which no traveller can
return ; some with trimmed sails have been watched
by tender friends as they went out with the ever-
ebbing tide, and as the frail and Mader bark
disappeared over that illimitable horizon, have left
sorrowing friends behind, but what is a more cheerful
reflection—" Footprints on the sands of Time." In
the sky of letters, too, several brilliant stars have set,
but their literary light remains to grace and beautify
the world and its favoured mortals, who are spared to
hail the arrival of 1881, and, although the favoured are
obliged to allow death his claims, they will not suffer
Oblivion to mill them his own. Although it is only
after long intervening periods that such master spirits
ariee, the few past dead years may have given birth to
genius none the less transcendent, and 1881 may, I
hope, fully mature it. The "North Polo" has
remained tolerably quiet in the unmolested possoision
of Polar bears, and coveted seals, but terrible news of
the regions of space above, happily unverified, startled
the credulous with gloomy outdooks at the dawn of
the fast-expiring year. During the comet year .4 IMO
wise astronomer* foretold that Neptune and Juipter
(forgive me, Mr. Editor, if I wander) were to fight a
duel, 'selecting Uranus and Mars as seconds. The
weapons were to be meteoric fire-balls, called from
the satellite . rho of Jove, and planet Earth was to be
a terrified spectator of the unseemly vagaries of these
celestial but hot-blooded combatants. Gravity was
going to make a fool .4 herself, and thrust all the
terrestial sinners into chaos and obscurity. The
inhabitanta of North-Western Europe were sentenced
to a pleasant subterranean descent through the bowels
of Mother Earth, and favoured with a sudden and
gratuitous view of the Sydney Exhibition at the other
end. From the date of this novel disaster we were to
experience the vengance of Vother planets in the shape
of Polar summers, tropical winters, volcanic eruptions,
floods, spontaneous combustion, a Tory Government,
failure of crops, flood, and other dread calamities.
But happily the false prophets are somewhat out of
reckoning, for the joyoue pealing of the Christmas
bells from the towers of a dozen neighbouring churches,
proclaim not only the merry season, but that gravity
has not been reasoned out of her duty, unlike too
many, she unwillingly keeps upon their feet. But
to observe • little more gravity myself, Mr. Editor,
let us hope that the bells of next Christmas (provided
Mother Shipton's "last" pr,we • myth) will bring to
us all even sweeter reflections, and more satisfying
recollections than they do to-day. Should this be so
there will be more golden notes, and lees idle show in
that formal greeting from mouth to mouth—A Merry
Christmas, and • Happy New Year.

Even in our limited spheres (Bridport) the same open
hands and willing hearts are engaged in their annual
benefactions. In many cases " left" hands are but
little aware in what objects of charity the "right'
ones are engaged in. Consignments of coal, joints of
meat, and .ther rarities in the homes of the necessitous
poor are biting freely bestowed. Miss Legge, of
Allingtonivillas, will, I heard, !wain open her soup
kitchen the first week in the New Year, thus commenc-
ing 188 l by • good work, which many other ladies of
mesas would do well to imitate. Surely there are
many, who whilst they are debarred from emulating
this kindness to their poorer brethren are yet favoured
with lesser means, which could bestow proportionate
blessings. Are therenot those whoforgetthia? Arethere
not Oise who forget that many a hovel, unworthy the
hallowed name of "Home," exists in the heart of their
town? Ask the Town Missionary whether the sight
of score, of such spots do not grieve him during his
errands of mercy, and sadden him with the thought
that him limited salary precludes his affording as much
help as he would! If you do not believe it, visit
those abodes of want yourselves, and I think that
before you tickle you palate with turbot and truffles,
you will be constrained to send your servant with a
more substantial diet to your suffering brethren. A
festive season should bring festivity in its train Yes,
hut will not your festivity be the more joyous, more
truly happy with the thought that the helpless and
suffering poor share it with us? Try it, and see. If
you do not find it a blessing, you will at least have
the blaming of those whom your experiment will
cheer and arid.
_ . . . .

Aye 'here in dens and garrets dwell
Bed, weary hewed wheels miseries few can tell.
The dyinliembers of the year, but a few short day
from its en is throwing up an expiring glare of light
The trade 0 the town, which has been anything but
brisk, is already fast looking up. I am glad to boor
that come of the principal firms are receiving
Incredibly large order.; may the dawn of the new
proclaim its continuance.

And my teat unworthy wiring of the old year (and
here allow me Mr. Editor to return you thanks for the
grant of so much valuable space for the past two yeare)
will be to chmnicle a scene which is reported to me
from Allington. Your readers will remember
perusing in the last issue an account of a horrible and
fatal accident at Powerstock, the mutilation of an
almost friendless widow of 77 years. The unfortunate
victim expired at the Bridport Cottage Hospital, and
In the ordinary course an inquest wag held. From the
evidence adduced, and from desultory facts stated, it
appeared the poor creature had been living in indigent
circumstances, with an invalid daughter, to sustain
out of a limited wage, and a paltry pittance from the
pariah. It warn fully and naturally understood by the
Coroner, upon being proposed by the foreman,
seconded by a juror, and no contrary sentiment Muting
from the jury, that the fees would be handed over to
the friends of the victim, who are a. poor as the
deceased herself was. The fees were therefore headed
by the coroner to the constable of the court with the
Idea that the friends would receive them. Will it be
believed that five out of the twelve jurors made
applications for their fees? My information tells me
so, and that one of the applicants did part with half
his fee and pocketed the remainder. Perhaps the
astonished gaze of the constable moved him to relent.
Be that as it may, the statement„ if true, is adiseaccto
the town and to the name of an English jug. I trust
with your permission, Mr. Editor, that my first"
Widng " of 1881, may be a Rat oontradiction to such
a report.

There is • carious contrast in dress which may be at
present noticed in Per's • many ladies, young. lively, and
good looking. have chisel to adopt • swim of monastic.
or ana-liks garb, entirely at variance with there
moo sad usual men Them costumes are sniViori
dark woollen have short skirts, round-waisted
ballots with • ward girdle. 'height sleeves, and dime caws.
Their eintelicitr is ef the most severe character, and forms
siirking contrast to the tick costumes in which satin.
=wand velvet, vie with each other, or me
isoebiaed to make drum out-door and visiting
toilettes.
Black satin drama are dill worn- an elegant kdist 01
this material is made with • long train, the lather being
covered with lace and jetted fringe. With this skirt is
worn • coat bodice of black velvet, ornamented with
embroidery in jet bugles • the embroidery forms
a border down the trona and round the opening
of the bemuse • and the pockets, permeate, f‘M
miler, are wroiatilit In the game way. A waistcoat of
black satin worked with bugle. shows between the
opening of the leagues ; and the oollarette, Jabot, and cuffs
are of One white lace.
Beffin and bromide are more used for evening toiletiles
than any other materials ; • dinner dress, fur instance, 15
of sky.fidee brewed, with • redingot, of caroubier lotto
se long as the skirt. The weistcom opens en chaAti and
ohms near the waist with two ter tins ; below this holism
=lL:owing the (rent of the skirt, which is covered with
of blue satin and white Mos. Another lovely
dress is of striped omoubier main, ornamented with
a plastron of pleated blue satin oovered with lam.
An cidalentse scarf el broom satin, the ends flubbed off
with rich heeded pesementerie and fringe, is loosely folded
round the hips and tied on the lift side.
Tsrisna and &sew% employed judiciously, make vere
ing but %hese materials are difficult
stylish walk
to , and their effect depends entirely upon the
meaner n which they are made up.
in mantles we still see endless varieties, ea that it is
among so many charming models to select one which
hii well as fashmeable. Tor uncertain and
rainy weather there are directoire redingotes with triple
collars them are generally male of dark chequered cloth,
or of navy blue or green cloth For walking or carriage
wear, and ia la• weather, there an, handsome seal or
light brows Plush mantles, trimmed with beaver: whits
for ladles who cannot afford such costly materiab, we me
pretty douillettes of [Ledo° cashmere, lined with some
biota oolong in plumb or satin. Indian shawls are also
converted into long Mimes bordered with fur.
Beal olueli mattes are very fashionable, sad are made
In smeller with • Nem do •n the centre of the back,
loose shoves, and the whole bordered with silk
impA lined with brown satin. A lovely half
length visite it of black satin duchess% with toe sleeves of
velvet brocade forming double notate. The mantle is lined
with coloured plush, and trimmed with rich chenille
fringe. A long visite of felt matelme4 boa the skirt raised
on one side and fastened up in fold, by • handsome
passerneatevie ornament; the IMO sleeve Ms a deep fur
garment aad fur collar encircles the neck; the fronts
. . . .

;re ornatnested and fastened with very handsome
Pasesramtorts wage., and the lng is of plush. •
shorter visite or similar felt matelaes4 has the paymaster
stseve formed of a deep band of pima, sod a Olean* of
the same- _

mantles are needs in more fanciful and areas-
hd shapes than during patriot's ettattooe—for instance, •
sealvlde visite Hoed with old gold coloured satin, is pointed
in frost, the long sleeves are also potnted, ones at the
edge to show a little ruling of the lining, and joined to
Use short back with • few pleats kept la oleos kr Palm
neeaterie ornaments, with gold and braise beads; tbekeig
sleeves have bands of similar bead embroidery ending in
bows of brown satin ribbon; a band of otter fur is placed
rotted the neck and edge of the estement Fur is in great
vogue; long pelisses are made of seal-skin and honeyed
with hosier or otter fur; theme Daft brown furs are resat
favourites, se they are found far more blooming than most
other kinds.
Muff, ere now some of the prettiest, and though small
ireporteat appendages of the toilette, there must be one
muff at least to correspond with each drew, and the muffs
are made of fur.of pluab, el the same to et, lila as the °patinae,
and of seal-akin for skating ; lovely little models are made
of drawn satin, embroidered satin, and painted satin,
trimmed with flounces of lat., bows of ribbon, Sower. or
birds. Some are pleated up like bags of bonbons, and
those used with evening toilette are rather Um', pleated
or gathered, and ornamented with swedes of mechlin
leas and rosettes of the same fastened with • bouquet of
Soaves. .

..7.;eal sad pretty way of ornausetitiag a toilette with
flowers la to arrange them u a jabot; for inatanok with •
toilette of white faille sad green velvet, the cons ia
trimmed with • jabot of real violets embedded between a
double coquille of lace: this pretty fancy Is 111111) to spread.
—From Mrs'. Jetuvesl.