In the County of Dorset, England
By Hugh S. Pierce
The county of Dorset has a population of 202,936. This is an average of 204 persons to the square mile—a number far below the average for the whole country. Dorset is essentially hilly; but though several hills approach, none exceed one thousand feet in height. Its surface falls into three well-marked areas, or bands, of country, running northeast and southwest. The central area is swelling uplands, bare of trees, often bleak, wild, and precipitous, and only partially under cultivation, but affording good sheep-runs. The coast is varied, and extremely picturesque, especially where the Chalk and Purbeck Cliffs approach the sea between Studland and Portland, Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door being localities noted for beautiful scenery. The county is almost wholly agricultural and pastoral, and is especially famous for its dairy products. The dairy and stock farms and the arable land lie principally in, though they are not confined to, the Vale of Blackmoor, while the upland districts afford grazing for large numbers of sheep. Besides the usual cereal crops, hemp and flax are raised for rope and for sail-making. The Lord has blessed Brother and Sister Yarrow, Brother Henry Yeates, and the writer, with about one thousand orders in Dorset for “Great Controversy,” besides quite a number of orders for smaller books. At Canford Manor, the country seat of Lady Wimborne, we took sixteen orders for “Great Controversy.” At Crichel, the seat of Lord Arlington, thirty copies were ordered. At Bryanston House, Lord Portman’s country seat, thirty-three of the books were ordered. In others of these great country seats, of which Dorset has many, we were enabled to place this book. We have been blessed in our work in the past, and thank our Heavenly Father for his goodness and care over us. And we desire the prayers of our brethren and sisters for our success in Wiltshire, the county which we are now to work.