TOTAL ABSTINENCE SOCIETY'S INAUGURAL SOIREE. TOTAL ABSTINENCE SOCIETY'S INAUGURAL SOIREE.

Western Star, Issue 4, 6 December 1873, Page 5

TOTAL ABSTINENCE SOCIETY'S INAUGURAL SOIREE. TOTAL ABSTINENCE SOCIETY'S INAUGURAL SOIREE.

j-ne soiree to inaugurate the Kiverton Total Abstinence Society, held at the Oddfellows’ Hall on Tuesday evening, was the most successful affair of the kind that has taken place in Riverton. The Hall was literally crammed. The tables presented a most attractive appeai’ance, being tastefully decorated,-and were well furnished with tempting edibles of various descriptions. Great praise is due to the ladies for the handsome manner they furnished ,the tables. The South Riverton ladies deserve special credit for the difficulties they had to overcome in conveying their contributions to the scene of action. p The following ladies presided over the tables : "“Mesdames John Wilson, Pattison, Hogg, and Young, and Misses Bailey, Frew, M'Donald, Robertson, Gumming, Rowles, Ireland, and E. and A. Daniel. The sub-committee, to which the arrangements were entrusted—Messrs. Schmidt, Young, and John Reid —performed their task in a manner that could not possibly have been improved upon. After the tea had been disposed of, the Rev. C. S. Ross, who occupied the chair, gave a telling address, touching pi’incipally on total ' abstinence, the benefits to be derived'therefrom, illustraitng his by personal experiences. The by appealing very strongly gupport the movement. Mr. by the “ Goldfinch ‘style by Mrs. M Donald > - Miss M. Pankhurst then" |Mf % we laid her” excellently. g from “ Sam Slick ” was well | “ Come home, father,” rendered by JSass^®' Daniel and Miss J. Ireland, was scarcely up Id those ladies’ usual style ; but the fact of one of them suffering from a cold will account for this, and perhaps she is entitled to extra praise for coming forward. A flute solo, played by Mr. E. Wilson, was good in its wayand Mr. Cuff’s reading of one of Mrs. Caudle’s curtain lectures was well given. The first part of the proceedings terminated by a number of the Band of Hope children singing, very sweetly, several musical selections, to the great delight of the audience. The secondpart was to have opened with instrumental music; but the young ladies who promised to perform, although present, for some reason or other, declined to redeem their pledge. This was a pity, as there were many who would have came forward had they been asked. Mr. Webb gave an excellent address, after which Miss M. Pankhurst sang magnificently “ Maggie’s Secret.” The Rev. Mr. Thomson, of Winton, then made some remarks on temperance, drawing illustrations from colonial experience. The Band of Hope children then sang very prettily some selections. Great credit is due to Messrs. Webb and Reid for their exertions and success in , bringing the children- on so well in their singing. Master Young’s recitation was exceedingly good, as also was the duet by Misses M. Pankhurst and J. Ireland. The “ National Anthem,” sung by the whole of those present, brought the ■ proceedings to a close. On Wednesday, the Band of Hope children and those attending the schools in Riverton were treated in the Oddfellows’ Hall. Two hundred representatives of the rising generation put in an appearance, and were liberally treated to pastry, confectionery, and other juvenile delicacies. All sorts of amusements were indulged in, and the , children were addressed by several gentlemen.