The Telegram. — 1899-01-03 (Weymouth, Dorset, England)

WAREHAM NOTES.  The rector and the Corpoiation members of Lady Holtord's and Michel's Coarities were busy just before Christnitut distributing a shilling each to 87 applicants. Formerly, sis•ut 200 people got sixpence each, "but things is changed."  They are changed bit out at Church Knowle, for the new rector is now baring evening instead of afternoon service on Sundays. The atrene -owes have, 1 her, iiicre..s.d as a consetruence. S one of you who desire to coin Line religious devotions and a good vralk on a cl,ar, crisp, frosty night, then recollect what I have just said.  Hove appropriate that Christmas Day should fall on a Sunday. This being the last one in the ytwr, it doesn't take one long to come to the conclusion that a Sunday will also witness the ushering in of the New Year. In the pulpits of local churches, as elsewhere, reference w:is mails to the great and auspicious event occurring centuries ago, and which has wondrous power still. Then, of course, snitable hymns were sung and carols and anthems contributed. At St. Mary's Church the sick and the poor were thought of in a very practical way, the moruing off,reorres taken on their behalf amounting to over £7.  Of course, you may rest assured that in connection with two pubic institutions (i.e. the railway. station and the post office), there has not beau much idling thiring the past week or so. On tile line ie has been rush and exciten,rut, but the trains kept really very fair time, which nolt.dy felt inclined to grumble at. Up Northport way they bare had plenty to du, including taking Wareham folk down to the show at Cork, but other Christmas traffic pales into insigniffi.auce when compared to what the inanteuvres meant This also applies to the post office, for here, although not one of the stall could say lie belonged ti the " waiting " class, everything was, under the supervision of Mr. J. B. Best, promptly and efficiently dealt with. This was made all She easmir by the fact that additional work was spread over four days, instead of about two days, as hitherto. The Swauage mail carts were duplicated and kept busy. The parcels, I hear, were more numerous this year, whilst the Christmas cards sent came to about an average number. Lot us hope that the a stomp " people will be able to get a little breathing time wow.  I believe a paragraph will be found in this issue detailing how the folk inhabiting the " house on the hill" fared at Christmas time, so that I need • not enlarge upon the subject. I have told you betore of the fondness Fairy Spritst has for children, and it grieve) her to discover that as far as Wareham residents are concerned, or aluostentirely so, there might be no bairns at all up at the workhouse. Not a single packet, of sweets nor a single t•iy did they think of sending to the little folk. Now I should have thought hit when Santa Claus began perambulating the place is few additional coppers might have found their way out of the purse to purchase an article for those who reside "up there." lint then, what do the guardians have to say on the subject? Methinks it probable that most of them are fathers, and Purely that should primpt them to do what the law distinctly permit., viz-, vote a sum which could be laid out in getting a little present the young folks could keep and admire long after the memories of something special to eat had faded. Dou't forget next time, please, and also recollect that it is not too late to make amends, even cow.  Before Christmas I spoke of the juyfnl anticipation, and now I have tu to record the realisation. When I WAS much younger and had no thoughts of "Mao about Town " I used to have a glorious tune of it, but I'm afraid there was a tendency to a too free acquaintance with plum podding and other "goodies." However, one learns by experience, and I hope my young friends in Wareham don't feel now as though a visit to the doctor ought to be paid, or some powder-hiding jam taken. The schools being closed for a time, I suppose there is more chance of juveniles who have fallen a victim to the tempting array recovering from any ill effects. GUPFS their parents won't be sorry when the day for lessons begins again. The ekler folk enjoyed Chriatmlui in their way, and it is satisfactory to learn that there were no disorderly Street scenes to mar the heti rity. At any rate, the only police case arii.ing had to do with "ructions" is a house, and that in the parish of Oorfe Castle. Wareham'tea were entertained (those who cared to hi, about) to a football match in the afternoon of Boxing Day, and the Salvation Army Band patrolled the town in the evening. The Town Band discoursed selections during the festival, and, tpayhap people will attach more than usual significance to one piece played, em., "Auld Lang Syne." I guess , shop assistants appreciated the holiday stretching from Saturday night to Wm-Mew:lay morning, but I ale° guess they earned it. And now it is "Exit leisure; enter work."  What a sad Christmas time it has been for many, owing either to the presence of sickness or to the meeting with the dark-robed messenger himself. Ile:1th has cane to several in thin part of the country in a very tragic manner. Terrible, indeed, was the blow falling upon the borough surveyor of Poole, whose wife was killed by an express train. Thin has been !nought still nearer Mune by the fact that the lady was sinter to a local official, Mr. Bridle. 'rhea in the owineneighbournoud another mourns the sodden loss of her sou, wit 30 years of age, and a young wife has been deprived of the bread winner. In the Wiuthorne district one of the first duties devol v. tog upon journalists was to turn aside front the Chrintelas: rejoicingn and attend an ingnent on the body of a farmer who died from injuries received owing to a fall front a waggon. The very next day Sourminater Mazithall was the scene of a " Crewner's quest" because a man, whose mind undoubtedly was partly unlitinme, had finished up Boxing I way's festivities by hanging himself. Away up new Blandford another IliaLll committed suicide, whilst a pacially demented woman, coming under the etre if the police, nearly succeeded in ending tier life by taking a dise of laudanum. I also came across particulars of aflutter 1:945.9 where a yiaine fellow who was gaily and thoughtlessly disporting himself on the Sims/ay, on the following Wednesday lay a mangled corpse on the railway line. ...Ww.A an ushering out of time into eternity is, indeed, awfuL