Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-09-28
lFrom Our Regular Correspondent
Our RurOpean Letter.

Our European Letter.
LONDON. Eng. September IS. 1881.
The twenty-seventh annual fete Of the
Ancient Order of Foresters was celebrated
on Tuesday at the crystal palace. An at
trsctive programme was provided. The
weather in the morning was tolerably fine,
but rain fell during the afternoon and
evening. By O'Clock the number that
had passed the turnstiles was nineteen
thousand four hundred and fifty-seven.
two-thirds, probably, Of whom were con-
nected by membership or by family with
the Ancient Order. Before the close OF
the day some thirty thousand persons were
in the building. The grand procession in
the grounds was one of the features OF the
day. A circus performance was repeated
several times during the day. The lovers
of the wonderful had the opportunity Of
witnessing conjuring entertainment, and
feats with monster bicycle with its drv-
ing wheel of eight feet. A concert was
given at different hours in the center
transept by dytistes from a number Of
London music halls.
The value of British manufactures ex-
ported to foreign countries has declined in
the last ten years by some four millions
pounds. The value of British exports to
her colonies has increased in the same
period by over fourteen millions pounds.
There is no foreign country with which
England does business with which her
export trade is not declining; there is no
colony with which 1t is not increasing.
Already the trade with the colonies is
greater in value than that with the CONT
nent of Europe. Australia alone has a
trade with England almost equal to that
of France and Italy together.
A floral decorative exhibition and lily
show were among the special attractions
on Saturday last at the palace on Musevell-
hill. Several long stands covered with
spikes of gladiolus, mostly varieties of
recent introduction, exhibited by Messrs.
Kclway & Son of Longport, Somerset,
formed band of brilliant color across the
great hall. At right angles to these were
ranged dinner tables Set out with flowers
and fruit; while other competitors had
shown their taste in making bouquets for
brides and bridesmaids, or in arranging
buttonholes" and filling baskets for table
ornaments. The list of prize winners WAS
long one. A novelty introduced for the
first time was "musical tea, and. when
the arrangements have been matured,
this promises to be a very pleasant feature
of the afternoon round of entertainments.
1t took place in grove, tea being served
from the Swedish hut, and the company
sitting under the trees slipped their Bohea
while listening to the military band. The
open air concert by the three lakes in the
evening was one of the most successful of
the season. The illumination of the
triple lakes with festoons of Japanese
lanterns hanging across the water. the
thousands of small colored oil lamps hung
to the branches of the trees and shrubs
along the winding walks, and at intervals
he bright light of Brush electric lamp,
making the moonlight seem pale and
yellow by comparison, made altogether
one of the prettiest sights to be seen in
London.
Another channel of employment for
women has been just opened up by the
adoption of certain new rules and regula.
lions in connection with the working of
tie post Office savings bank. French
clerk hips are to be thrown open to com
petitlve examination in this department OF
he public service, and unmarried women
and widows, between tn j., ages of eighteen
and twenty, will henceforth be able to
enter themselves on their own merits for
clerkshp duties. The limit as to age
seems narrow. 1t may be well to draw
the entrance line at eighteen, but l should
imagine in the years beyond twenty and
up to twenty-five female is quite AS likely
TO have the making of diligent clerk in
her as between eighteen and twenty. Es.
pecially might the limit be extended, see.
ing female clerk isrequired to resign her
appointment on marriage. But even with
the conditions laid down there will, doubt
less, be a large number of applicants for
/ The first competitive examinations. which
are to be held in London during the ensu.
ing autumn. The examinations will no,
be severe. AUGUST.