On Friday-afternoon:: the long-looked ~for Bazaar held-under-the- auspices'of the Union Church: was opened tothe publi It: was heldiin the-Town Hall, the: use-of ~: which building: during'the time necessary for preparation and forthe "dates on which the -Bazasr: is' held" was' kindly granted: by the: Municipal Council. 'The Object-of. the Bazaar was tocléar. off the debt of about Tls."15;000, which is all that remains to: be-paid out "of. a total'sum expended during the. last' few-years of about Tis: 75,000." This'includes the sum of: Tls..10;000 paid: for''the new organ' Hast year.
was a-happy inspiration that led the decoration and -arrangément committee to decide thatthe scheme: of decoration adopted should began sit tempt to give'the 'Town' Hall: the "appearance of- an" old English:: town of the sixteenth -and seventeenth centuries, when timbered: and plastered housos'lined'ths streets. "The "TownHall is'admirably adapted for this purpose, although the neeoiling robbed the designers'of thoheight that was formerly available to represent the old three-storey buildings. - In spite of this drawback; however, the plan was-admirably, carried out, ahd one'could' not bnt express one's "astonishment "att the' "wonderful transformation which: had:: taken "plice under-the #kilfal supervision' of those: who jeriaken the: work." There: were all, stich "of which was well stocked with articles; both useful. and the tastes' of everybody: present. thanks of. all interested in {tho success of-'the- Bazaar are dao to.' those" gentle-mon "who have worked so hard-to so happy 'a result. "Mr. Martins: and the "Rev.: Q.) Ev: Darwout! deserve: to" be: specially mentioned' in this connection,*as: does: also Mr. C. M. Bain who, as secretary, has'spared nei time nor trouble to make the undertalin, success. Mr. F. Griff, t illamson and Da ible for the: advertising, for the efficient work accomplished: in' this direction.
Macgregor helped very consi jorably to by the, 1 supply of flowers sent from his conservatories," whilst "Mr. Barns must: he congratulated: for the efficient service rendered in' the decoration of the place. 'Many of tho: stalls are housed in the old Hyuildings around the -Hall; the Flower, stall takes the place of the old: market Cross;-the Doll Stall makes the' realism' more complete in-its guise of a Gypsy Caravan, while the Manor House: will be found to have thrown open its gates to a Loundless hospitality.
On entering the beautifully decorated room one is confronted by " Yo Towne] Clerke and-Cryer," and from this point it' is a delightful experience to slowly pro-menado. through the village. © A. great variety of beautiful: and useful articles' meet the eye on every side and the charm-_ ingly: dressed young ladies who preside at the various stalls, while they are by no means Jacking in their: efforts to do business,.areat' the same ° tine nat too pressing in their: attentions. But how shall we -'attempt to" par cularise otto mention:.in' detail all that is to be: seen? "Here i to'suit the tastes of all.. The'little child-rei, oft whom there: were many -preseut, crowded round the. hugo. collection of "dolls of all shapes and sizes; at the Art. Stall-was to be seen one of the finest collections of oil and water colour paintings ever exhibited in Shanghai,. hand-painted Christmas cards, engravings in. steel, reproductions of master pieces by: modern: processes, black and: white.and.~ coloured~ engravings, splash, poker, gesso, pen and -ink and inlaid wood work; aud: then the Christmas cards and calendars at the—Paper Stall tainly not one of the least pretty of the displays. 'The Art Gallery also deserves a word of praise. ©" Ye/Market 'Booth'? where' merchandise from east and west was "on view makes 'a"*very' effective display. ' There-lore "curtains, 'cushions, -and'brass ware from "Egypt, pottery from Kiukiang, Bellagio blankets and Sorrento ware from Italy, enamel and pewter ware and" cocoanut carvings from 'Hainan, bamboo carvings" from Hwangyen' and many other unique and: beautiful articles. At the 'Rosary 'Fancy' stall' a' collection of. foreign ' and vistive'fancy articles is' exhibited. "The Flower Stall "in the "centre of "ithe - village has' a fsmattbut "choice - collection "of ' cut flowers, ' fowers-in' pots,''ferns, and -pot plants. Pho' Gypsy" Caravan was the raise of "children; for here ""was" to be found: a groat: variety "of. dolls' and toys, which had beer' made? by "the younger children of the Sunday School. hon there was the Neckwear and Handkerchief 'Stall, the Ladies' Club Stall, atiwhich plain n 'k; embroidery, fancy articles, wd drawn throud "work could-be purchased, the shooting gallery, the I. ©. U, R. Minstrels, the Fortune Teller, the Tableaux Vivants, and last-but not least the' Post Otlico.
But we have almost forgotten to mention the' Takenguick" Photographic Studio complete with apparatus with are light and where your picture can be taken while you wait. Ample arrangements had also boon made for the supply of refreshments, which can be -partakon of in' tastefully arranged nooks' on pretty Japanese tables embellished with flowers and ferns.
'Thoro are' various entertainments provided for the delectation of the' visitors, in' the-side-'sliows near the villag@; on—trancoto these can be obtained by the payment of a small sum. There is also a good supply' of instruments such' as pianolas, gramophones, and. pianos, whilst © the town band under Signor Valenza, gave: a selection of music both in the afternoon and during the evening.
'The opening ceremony took *placo' at half-past three o'clock. There was a largo attendance: when the Rev. C. E. Darwent with a few appropriate remarks introduced Mr. Anderson of the Municipal Council.
Mr. Anderson spoke as follows:—Ladies and gentlemen, I have much pleasure in aocepting the kind invitation with which the members of Union Church have honoured mo to open the Bazaar. The object of this Bazaar is to reduce or better still to oxtinguish the debt on the Church and building: "Sine 1885 about Tls. 75,000 have been expended, of which amount there romains a debt of about Tle. 15,000, of which Tis 10,000 were paid for the new organ. There is little doubt this large sum could eon raised in the same way as the main portion of the funds wassecured—by the voluntary offerings of the congregation, but if the more prosaic way of sending round a subscription list had: been adopted, the interest of but few people would have been aroused, whereas by' organising such a function as this, the interest and.co-operation' of everyone connected with the Church and of their friends havebeon enlisted. Com.
i 1g is @ powerful influence ciety, in the Church as State; co-operation everyone lending a helping hand in a good cause—tends to' promote greater friendship and closer union. The spirit engaged in such a work as this rises in proportion to the greatness of the task they undertake. "Many -who
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.