The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-01-04 00:00:00

MR. HENRY EDWARD'S DINNER TO

THE AGED POOR.

Seldom has • more favourable season being experienced
by the aged poor at the time they enjoyed the pleasure of
iavitations to Mr. Henry 13 iwards's New Year's dinner.
The weather was dry, sunshiny, and tolerably mildjmandi
es • result, nearly all the recipients a/ tickets were to
attend. Loes than al tickets were distributeil, end it is
believed that about 40 were present at the dinner, the
number of sick must therefore have bosomed. Yet those
wore not (mutton, for those unable to attend were pre-
emted with • groomy ticket for b. worth, and aim •
bushel of coal. A blanket is also given to those attending
the dinner who have not alma, rewired I=4:ind gms
In many way., our liberal member's is felt
warmly in the homes of those who need it mod, and when
It is matemberel that for eaves years the lion member
has taken upon himself thy whole cost of the New Seer's
dinner projected by Hr. Page, and that this but one of
the many ways Kr. Edwards -has of @howled hie bounty,
it will be conceived that he is very warmly thought of by
large numbers in Weymouth.
Hr. and Mn. Page have been masted this year by their
children in the arduous work of preparing for the feast,
and it added • • courteous attention to the enbetandal
beside, conferred, that the Named Schoolroom we.
nib, adorned by Mr. William Page and Miss Page, of
Linpton-oerritarnes. Festoons of evergreens made the
place look verdant, while "Welcome" awaited them on
the entrance gate, inside were mottoes and designs ; over
the Ham's chair being " Onr Friend. 11.K.' "SIM.
Mayor, 'Honour the Aged," ic., in coloured lettere on
ground of different hues. The wing at the west of the
main room wee of course required, and the end well bore
—'He 'teeth long who Hestia well," in white Litton on
green frosted ;. and In other parts were "Gad bless our
Aged Guests,' " Sven to Hoer Hairs will I carry you,"
'Never forget the Old Folks," "Happy New Year,"
'Honour the Aged," Ic., while • number of illuminated
testa added to the display. and it wee further improved
by coloured Numerate and Sags.
For the dinner were provided 470th.. of baked beet.
mutton, and pork, nine cwt. of potatoes, one out, of
parsnips, besides bread, and the second mune embraced
400th. of capital plum pudding, while 46 gallons of beer,
several domes of ginger•beer, and an orange for every
post, were alnu distributed,followed by tobacco and mug.

Carving for the garde was undertaken by many ef the
principal inhabitants of the town, the borough magis-
trates, town c•uncillore, ministers of all denominations,
• heillat invited.
Heihniir Chd the polr old folk. enjoy their eaormous
dinner, for which they bad t ilten care to bring two plates
each, and though about lib. to 61b. weight each had been
provided, very little wee returned to the commodioue
room behind the school which Miss Page and assistants
had turned into • large kitchen.
After dinner the Mayor pleasantly warned the ministers
against lenstlty sermons, sod the speech-making set in so
earnestly that whatever self •restraint each speaker may
have practised, the number of speakers was such that two
hoary were filled up with exhortations, congratulations,
and • few seseenable pleanuttriee, the Mayor reading •
Vary appropriate copy of Varlet, detailing how two old
people resolved to separate, but on the reeding of the
deed of separation made it up again.
Cheers the old folks were moat happy to 0111 for Mr.
iwards, Mr. Page, and the Mayor, sad they finally, led
by Mr. B. Parsons, sang "God Save the Quint."