NEWTON TOTAL ABSTINENCE SOIREE.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIII, Issue 3222, 13 November 1867, Page 3

NEWTON TOTAL ABSTINENCE SOIREE.

A SOIREE in connection with the Newton Total Abstinence Society was held last evening in the Newton Hall, and largely attended. The hall was gaily decorated with evergreens, appropriate mottoes, and banners, and presented a very pleasing appearance. After tea, the chair was taken by the Bey. P. H. Cornford. The Chairmak said that, while total abstinence was gradually progressing, it was also true that intempsrance was making rapid strides in Auckland. They could not look upon the work which had been accomplished without also seeing a greater amount of work which had yet to be done. A great many had argued against total abstinence, on the ground that there was no law or commandment in the Bible that demanded such a sacrifice. They could not show a commandment which required them to abstain, but they could produce a reason, and that reason was in accordance with the laws of humanity. They abstained from using a thing which had proved the ruin of many of their fellow creatures. They were trying to stem the flood that was flowing in upon them, and which, if allowed to proceed unchecked, would produce universal ruin. Drink had prored the great destroyer of man's happiness j and left many homes desolate, which might otherwise have been in comfort, if not luxury. God had bestowed upon his creatures comfort for all, but man had brought upon himself misery. If drink had caused such misery, surely there was much need for total abstinence. "What better reason could they have than that ? Formerly man lived for a thousand years ; now the average of man's life was only thirty, and that was caused to a great extent by drink. Many had been led to be total abstainers from different causes. Some were led to be abstainers by the dictates of common sense ; others because they had an influence in the world, and therefore God would make them answer for the way in which they had used that influence. Some, from experience, had taken to total abstinence ; and others from the dictates of conscience. A song was then given entitled, ' ( Never forget the daar ones," which was followed by a recitation by Mr. Redfern, entitled " Hodge and the Vicar. The Rev. P. Mason next addressed the meeting. He said that that meeting argured well for the energy of those connected with the Newton lotal Abstinence Society, and it showed that they had succeeded well in their undertaking. It was true that total abstinence was in its infancy, but a bright day was coming, when it would be received more favourably. There were many persons who always ioined the strong side of everything, and of course they could not be expected to take the side of total abstinence, but the day was coming when total abstinence would prove afcrongesfc, and those very persons would come over to swell their ranks. Mr. Morris aud several other gentlemen also .delivered appropriate addresses, which were interspersed with music and recitations ; and the meeting separatee, after having spent a very pleasant evening. __________ _— —

When did the word chignon come into French and into English ? The article itself y»s used in much earlier days than our own, but had a aiSnent name. " Mundus Muliebria "in 1690 describes the affair exactly : — " Behind the noddle every baggage Wears bundle choux, in English, cabbage. It would be monstrous to cay that all the young ladies who stick knobs behind their noddles are baggages : but vre submit that clvoux is the very -word for the said knobs. Only if the re-introducer of headcabbages had called them cJioux, what girl would have worn them? None Therefore, let those who want to send chignons after eriuolmes, regularly call theso bundles cabbages, and they'll succeed Mr Fairholt's deßnifciou ofthec7tOMa; is "the great round bosa, or bundle of hair, worn at the back of the head, and resembling a cabbage, from .wuence the French gave it that name." Cotgrave, in lbll, translates "chignon" "the chyne or chyne-peece of the. neoke ; also, a knot or knnrre m a peace o! wood or timber."— PoXL Mall Gazette*