Toiun and Country Delights 



In the last hours of the thirty-first of 

 December the firework habit produces its 

 fullest manifestations. The town, the suburbs, 

 the country houses, and the surrounding hills 

 are all ablaze with coloured lights, and, as the 

 hour of midnight approaches, showers of 

 rockets, of shells, of Roman candles, and what- 

 not rise in all directions. The climax is reached 

 at midnight, when the rain of fire redoubles, 

 the steamers in the port blow their hooters, 

 bells are rung, and a most unholy din prevails. 

 Then in a few minutes all is peace, save when 

 some roysterers wake the echoes, or a belated 

 bomb disturbs our slumbers. 



This watch-night display of fireworks Is 

 Indeed a splendid spectacle, its success being 

 largely due to the hilly nature of its area, and 

 its widespread extent. Though the individual 

 fireworks may be of comparatively inferior 

 quality, yet the whole far surpasses in glory set 

 displays at exhibitions and such places, and the 

 effect is much heightened by the fact that it is 

 the result of private and spontaneous effort. 



With the advent of the New Year, Madeira's 

 " season," from the hotel-keepers* point of view, 

 may be said to be well started. The Casino is 



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