CATHOLIC BAZAAR.

Marlborough Express, Volume XXI, Issue 239, 29 October 1885, Page 2

CATHOLIC BAZAAR.

The first night of the All Nations Baziar m Ewart's Hall must be pronounced a great suocess. The Hall was densely paoked with visitors, the stalls were liberally patronised, raffles and art-unions filled up with astonishing rapidity, fair eyes beamed with killing glance?, brilliant costumes shone forth with money-extraoting fascinations, refreshments were served so oharmingly as to add a sweetness to tha most delicate dainties, and flower girls laid young and tender-hearted visitors nnder perpetual tribute. All was sentiment, pleasure— and hard oash. Tl&~ result must already be a considerable addition to the Convent lands. And all this was done yesterday without the complete roll of attractions being m force, for both the Post Office and Picture Gallery had not commenced operations, the Christmas Tree was not shedding its fruit, and Cheap John had not started on his amusing career, In other respects the_ Bazaar waa very bu3y, and, although tha indifferent light at some of the stalls, and' the somewhat high prices marked on the moie elaborate goods at others must have far from encouraged customers, the fair stallholders had nothing to complain of. It would be invidious to draw comparisons between the stalls, bnt last night Sirs Joseph Redwoo-l's Irish and- French Emporium, with Paddy's Cariosity Shop, ww decidedly the most popular, and to get a

feltac* at the wwtea, or at. the fair President •l/*t?els— vliifio costume was m charming tfisis— fc^ditsn a £tnidj pght tQ the front. An "Orchestioiiette :: ~hal' mv ical bos and half hand-organ -ground - out popular airs at this sfail, and its rendering of the " College Hornpipe," and "St Patrick's Dij m the moruing," so endeared it to visitors (.hit it mi; si hare beau raffled several times over. If his Sweetheart or half-colored meerschaum ftitfe.be left out cf the ranging, a "young h\m r i best Companion " j3 certainly an OVcheV.noatUr. At Sirs Joseph Ueiwood's sfa'il (here was also to he seen—gad purchased if one was I tick y eiiotsgh to ha»e,.the money— a watch presented by the Very Rev Father Seauzeau, and Sfi oil pairitiog by one of the Dominican Nuns at Dunadio. In front of Mrs T.. Redwood's stall, where the Spanish costumes of the ladies are prefty and becoming, we noticed a stand of ferns m a glai>s case, the purchaser of which will be a lucky man. At Mrs Ward's and Mrs Go.ulter's stall the merry Strains of a "Musette," another species of musical instrument qualified to bring joy to a household of Iretfal babies, sent forth its strains, alternately touching and lively, dm ing the evening. The centre of attraction at Mrs C. Redwood's refreshment stall, which is prettily arranged and decorated and well stocked with solids and liquid comforts for the inner man, is the reilly magnificent 200 Hh bride cake, Mr J. Scott is the artist, and the cake, which is valued at £40, and ia one of the finest ever made m the t'olony, la the subject of an "Art Union" afc a crown J meirlber. It would be really lob much joy to win it, for it Is eftid that the ornaments alone are worth seven or eight pounds. This is a warning to " persons abont to marry." At Mrs T. O'Sullivan'a and Miss. Weidman's stal's there is a heat of nseful as well as ornamental things, and we were glad to see the public flocking round. They cannot get to a better place* Mrs T. O'Sollivan and her assistants ate S. bonny army of Scottish lasses, and it needed only a stslw art Highlander m the " garb of old Gaul " with his horn BimfT bos to his nose, to transport us m spiiit " ayont the TweSd." Some of the lasses looked remarkably nice, And the appegrajlce et Alias Jeanie Ewart was sufficient to tecoficile the most prejudiced Englishman to the land 0! that young lady's extraction. Among the articles at Mrs T. O'Salliran'a stall which call for remark are a beautifully hand-painted cnßhicn, the work of Bey. Mother Cecilia of Blenheim Convent, and a patch work quilt, worked by Mi? 3 Field of Auckland, and much admired by everybody. Miss Weidman and her merry Swiss maids fflsde themselves as basy as they were fascinating, and the costumes— half Swiss and half Tyroless-were decidedly piquant. The Flower Stall is hardly m a position where fall justice can be done with it and it struck many old bazaar habitues that the floral department, usually one of the strongest departments, was last night one of the weakest. This can be easily reformed, and the pretty flower girls have a little more given them to do. Mr Rogers exhibited his lime-light views of the Sierra Nevadas, Yosetnite Valley, and Falls of Niagara, Mr Henderson officiating as showman. Although the great crowd m the Hall last night rendered instrumental music — except the tinkling strains from the stalls — difficult if not superfluous, the Orchestra of the Choral Society performed a few selections, and will appear again before the Bazaar is over. Mr Rogers will also exhibit more photographio views, and Cheap John and all the other attractions will be to the front to-day. The list of ladies at the stalls, which has already been published, has to be supplemented by the names of Miss Reardon at the SwibS, and Miss Ryan at the Italian stall. The last named young lady and Miss Augustas were the only two m full Italian costume, which becamo them admirably. Master Bernard Redwood officiated as a Moorish page boy, his ebon visage being a striking feature m the Hall. It was Mibb Brennan and not Mrs Brennan, as stated by our contemporary, who officiated m the Indian department. - The Refreshment Room, attached to Mrs C, Redwood's stall, is, perhaps, the most striking of all the departments m the Bazaar. A gas stove bas been erected, and Mrs C. Redwood herself presides over the cooking operations. Visitors can get an excellent and substantial tea for a moderate charge. Although we hare not heard the total takings mentioned, the sum must have been large. They reached close upon £46 at Mrs T. Redwood's, and within 4s as much at Mrs C. Redwood's, and the other stalls were not far behind. The kst Catholio Bazaar realised £500, when Blenheim was a comparatively small place. Our readers can amuse themselves by speculating on what the takings of this one will be.

We may add that amongst the prizewinners last night were :— Mr Andrew Casey, musical album ; Mr D. Murphy, cushion ; Mr J. Eayner, wool cushion ; Mr M. O'Neill, picture valued at £5 (out of " Paddy's box ") ; Mr Patrick O'Dwyer, handsome occasional table (a!so from Paddy's box ") ; Mr Jobberns, pair of leather brackets ; Mr Fred Redwood, mantel diape, valued at £5 ; iiev. Father Lane, fern stand ; Mra W. F. Terry, bride doll. The Bazaar will be opened to-night fiom 7 till 10; and to-morrow and Saturday from 10 to 12, 2 till 5*30, and 7 till 10.