PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BAZAAR.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume X, Issue 168, 9 July 1875, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BAZAAR.

The bazaar last night was crowded to excess from the time the doors opeued until they were closed at ten o'clock. Indeed, in looking down upon the assemblage from the gallery one was reminded of a "scrummage" at a football match, or a swarm of bees, or a mob of sheep in a yard, or any other closely packed mass of living beings that might suggest itself to the mind. The stalls were surrounded by, let us hope, purchasers, two or three deep, but that did not much matter, for, if you only went with a view to spending a little loose cash, there were numerous opportunities of doing so without visiting headquarters, as skirmishers were thrown out in all directions, and thoroughly did they understand their work. Did any one want a doll's cradle, a footstool, a cushion, a work bag, a child's frock, a model of a ship, a photograph, an antimacassar, a counterpane, a pincushion, a painting, a pair of baby's shoes, a cigar case, a " tidy," a shaving case, a workbox, ay_, or eyea a wedding cake, his or her wants could be supplied in $ moment. Did you require to know what your weight was? There was a machine all ready, with a pair of such fair hauds manipulating the weights that you felt that even if the tell-tale did rise with 16 stone on it, you wouldn't care if a few more pounds, stones, or half-hundreds had to be added. Want to know your fortune? Cassandras were there possessing the gift of prophecy to any extent. Disposed for a little speculation? Lucky bags carried by the prettiest of pretty little girls were ready to ease you of a shilling at once, or if you felt inclined to tuck up your sleeves and dive into a "bran pie," there was nothing to prevent you from doing so. Or, did you want to enjoy a thorough bit of fun, all you had to do was to struggle through the crowd, and "take stock" of all that was to bp seen and heard, and you would have po occasion to grumble at the espejjditurp 0 f tfie shilling that gained you admittance. There were music, laughter, amusement, and splendid opportunities for devoting your spare pocket money to t^e further ance of an excellent object, and if a sense of faintness, arising from the want of sustenance, overcame you, ali yon had to do was to retire to the room

in which the solemn deliberations of the Grand Jury are carried on upon certain occasions, aad a bevy of the most delightful oi handmaidens were ready and willing to administer to your wants. Everything was well arranged, and nothing was wanting except room to move about, but this would most certainly not be regarded as a fault by the promoters of the bazaar who, we do not hesitate to say, well earned every penny that found its way into their cash boxes. Those who were present last night will, doubtless, put in an appearance again this evening; those who were not will do well to avail themselves of the opportunity of enjoying an hour or two's amusement. Yesterday's receipts amounted to within a few shillings of £200, including £25 taken at the doors.