The Dorset County Express and Agricultural Gazette.
Dorchester, Dorset, England, 1881-12-27 00:00:00

" Ye inerrie Chr Wanes oheere,
Ye good .1.1 English beere."

After admirint the effect of the Japanese lamps
•nd wondering at the profusion of fans, you
obe.rve the Awata te•e-s-tete sets of choice china,
complete in tray, the vases ales at some fabulously low
price, and the boxes of eastern work. Mr. Pidgeon
has not only taken the hint of cert tie drapes. but has
bettered the ineructi is, for there are artistic chromn
pictnres, an I • case of brilliant electro-plated goo Is,
including automa:ic reticule. and vsses, with oxydised
silver ornaments, as if set with pesrls. Ile is also
o,e-nine an extensive show-room, leading to Maiden.
street, I .r domestic requisites.
Ihbbs, ~1 the Old li.use, St. Mary's-etreet and
Church-pmsag+, showed remarkably large turkeys and
g .ese. .lu,ks, fowls, and pheasants being a choice
telectio,l of the best poultry for Chri.tmas cheer.
Mr. Runt, at the ssoldeo Canister, had s catty and
varied stock of the choicest groceries, including a
mass of tinned preserves, savoury and sweet. ills
speciali• y is tea, which, having Audis I particularly, he
claims to understand so as to give value f.,r money,
ant his shop is better inside than out.

_
Mr. It ibirta's pretty cake and sweet oh us make. a
pleasing vssi-ty in that imrt of the street, where the
shop was formerly so dull.
Mn. Green has a mot superior stock of turkeys
and geese, and other poultry, and an extraordinary
It of pheasants. Here was also a good variety of
fruits, and the shop was tastefully decorated.
Mr. Wright's large double shop was one of the
places in front ,d which the masses of people gathered.
The proprietor evidently courted in.pection of his
goods, for his chop was lighted in the most brilliaot
manner with abundant gas light. so that the most dim
of eirht had the best chance of seeing the good quality
of what they bought. In the window an automatic
figure of • tight-ropo-clancer and party of musicians
went through their movements of musical notes, and
the groceries around were most abundant and of
excellent quality. Obrietmas fruits, fancy cakes, and
biscuits were enclosed in boxes attractive with fair
women, and dark,fn,m :4paio,and • good stock of hams
and cheese filled win.:ow the third.

Messrs. Taylor, in the midst of Christmas froit, &c.,
wished their customer' 'Merry Christmas" by • re.
volving lantern of coloured glass.
After going through what used to be the street of
the butchers, adjoit,ed at the other a, d by Messrs.
Robertson's task ful disolay of dresses,
We are glad to observe the enormous improvement
In Bridge-buildings' where at a former Christmas
there Was such a dismal scene. Mr. Jeffery presents
to the children a gay aspect with hie toys, and the
glees and china department can be reached without
the perils of Bridge Alley.
Trim, too, is radiant • his front filled with
beautiful bride and twelfth cakes, with silver
bouquet., and delicate confectionery, his own work.
Mr. Mills's, St. Tbomasetreet, was surrounded
with quite a shrubbery of firs and other hardy young
trees, delicate in the form of their foliage, but hardy
as to thriving in the sea air. Here are "flowers
always in bloom," heaths in pots, bouquets of dried
flowers and grafted, virgin cork for a iorninmts, besides
merry mistletoe, and the prettily varied winter cherry
plants. The shop is a vast improveineut on the old
one, where now the new Post Office stande.
If any of our promenaders should find the vi dent
wind too much for them, and wish prophylactics
against bronchitis, or relief from cold, one side .4 St.
Thomas-atm' is exceedingly well provided, Mr.
Targett, Mr. Stedman (late Mr. E. V. Williams), and
Mr. Gregory, being located at suitable distances, and
ready to assist with healing medicines, besides having,
appropriate for the season, all kinds of delicious
scents.

Mr. George, confectioner, wishes his numerous cus-
tomers the c nnplitn-nts f the sesvol on charming
Christmas an i twelfth cakes; here are also the delicio,s
almond-flavoured Genoa cakes, ornamented cakes of
Savoy, wedding, domed, iced, and mott cakes, and
abundance of beautiful bonbon and fancy box
designs.
In our perambulation we must not for :st t. Alban's-
street, which Is deserving of a 'ergs share ~f attetd s
and custom. . . . .

_
Mr. Humphrey's stock is quite c nnmenaurate with
the requirements of the season, and the ladle' there
are prompt to deliabt von with sight* of charming
pictures. Christmas presents richly boon i in coloured
plush ,• here are the prigs designs for Christmas cards
from the Dudley, and with oat beinv qui-As too utterly
titter, the Is ly or gentleman a.thetic illy inclined can
be gratified with true art. Prayer hooks and church
service* in the best of bindings, albums, tourist cases,
work cases, fitted reticules, and the new annuals
made the special showroom behind the shop quite a
necessity.
Mr. Tigwell's well known and old-established can-
fectionery and pantry c )ok shop scarcely needs special
attraction; but here are the cunning ph i tures from
sunny lands on bonbons arid boxes. Among the bride-
cakes, Mr. Tigwell's own work, is ne already
ordered to grace the breakfast table a her a
coming happy event, and with mincepies of all
prices*, and Jones's cdehrated patent-flour 0ak..., all
tastes may he gratified. afr. 'Dowell does not forget
to wish all " A Happy Christmas," and to repeat the
good oil promises—" On Earth Prace, Goodwill
wardsrnen."

By this time our friend Mr. Rogers, sot far off in
St. Nl:my-street, has got through his immense pre-
par alone, a me of which have to be completst outside
*h. shop. He has eleven very ban biome pigs, from
Mr. Loekham, of ITpw, y, 13 it. m Mr. Grover,
Merest.n, near Frampton, and two paqicol irly goo I
from Mr. Danford, Preston Dairy. His French and
others choice cheer,* are in good variety, and the
egiblishment seems to have Lot none of its previous
excellence. The decorations, by Lim Rogers, were
seasonable and pretty.
At the top of St. Mary-street, Mr. Joann has •
aspitall poultry and game show. giving quite • fresh
appearance to that portion of the street.
Holly and mistletoe are both well-berried this yea-,
and as a consequence they much assist in the adorn-
ruenta of the shops.
Mr. Hohns.ool, 25, St. Thomas-street, has a choice
stock of pudding fruit, also a variety of tinned fruits,
consisting of apricots, pears, peaches, ttc., and good
mfocotale, fig., and oranges, making a good *election
of dessert fruit, suitable for the festivities of the Ch riot-
mas Season ; also a variety of non-intexicating
beverages—vin sante, French liqueurs, lime juice, and
fruit syrups in all flavours. Mr. Holmworrd sells at
thl cheap prices of C )-operative Stores, and with the
most courteous attendenee.

THE BUTCHERS' SHOW.
In 'pits of the onsettled wrath r of late, at last
there we. a remarkahh fin. day for the Palo of the
giant thii rra. which the butchers with Ireat enterprise
had provaiie.i, either from Mir own greziay, or 133 el
tr,n,ht tLe c entry marltrte f r a long way r, nod,
while nt a f-3w weL.kn we awl cel,brated bree.lera
sett graziers hart to contrit tate t 3 the wawa f this
totem There are specimen' of remarkably well-fatted
meat tbis year, In tact some are quite ..fat se could be