THAT DREADFUL BAZAAR.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3583, 24 July 1912, Page 7

THAT DREADFUL BAZAAR.

SOME NOVEL IDEAS. A bazaar is a desperate undertaking, but it has to be faced when a substantial sum is required for local charities. Few individuals escape being drawn into the net at least once in their lives, so sundry hints are of general interest.

A “Charity Garments” stall is very successful. Purchasers can run two charitable deeds into one, buying things for poor people in whom they the interested, and helping the bazaar funds at the same time. A little let-tei-writing beforehand greatly assists sales.

Communicate with your friends, and solicit their patronage, mentioning that, you think they may belong to guilds—those many guilds to which we send “two garments” annually. Ask them to lay in their store at your stall. They wifi probably bo glad to spend their money so usefully. Clothes that are left over from the sale never go to waste. If some are on hand at the end of the sale tlicv

are gratefully accepted by the promoters of the next bazaar that conies to your notice.

A “Second-hand Stall” differs from its plebean relation, a “Jumble Stall!’ The latter lias no place at an aristocratic bazaar. The decent “secondhand” holds its own bravely. This stall is stocked with little niceties that are quite good, but perhaps show signs of some wear, so do not command top bazaar prices.

THE “SECOND-HAND” STALL. Many charming photograph frames, vases, ornaments, and good old workboxes and writing-desks of days gone by can lie gathered together. It is rather dodgy to beg for the secondhand stall. No one minds being asked if they have anything of the sort to spare, and it often leads to more valuable contributions.

Jt is quite easy to collect old books and magazines, and at a bazaar there are many willing purchasers for these. AY? all know the fascination of a second-hand bookshop, the owner of which displays his wares in the street, so the idea applied to the bazaar is worth trying.

A beautifully stocked stall results from a blouse competition. Circulars are sent out six or eight weeks before the sale to a largo circle of friends, with the request to pass them on snowball fashion. The pamphlet may read as follows :

BLOUSE COMPETITION. PRIZE, £l. (No entrance fee.)

This prize will be given for the best blouse, the materials of which must not cost more than 3s. An account to be sent with each blouse showing the value of materials used. Competitors to send their work to Airs Dash (giving address), by such and such a date. Blouses to he sold for the benefit of the bazaar. A postcard to above address from competitors who intend to enter would be greatly appreciated. Hie reason for requesting post-cards is to enable the anxious stall-holder to get -some idea how her stall wi 11 bo filled. Coat-hangers can be inserted in the blouses, thus avoiding a crushed and tumbled “sale” appearance. * * * A NOVEL WAY OF VOTING. A fancy big competition is run on the same lines. The blouses must be judged beforehand by competent judges, but the virtues of the bags are decided under novel circumstances.

The satchels are hung up openmouthed, and a canvasser goes round to draw in voters uho express their opinion by putting a penny in the bag they consider worthy of the greatest merit. Everyone gets a dip into a special 'bag laden with fortunes for their penny, so they receive some return; and the bag gaining the largest amount of pennies takes a prize. If theatricals or concerts take place sell some reserved seats beforehand. Many people would he glad to be saved going in early to these entertainments in order to obtain a seat- near tbo front.