customs of health-drinking, &c., and argued that the halo of enchantment which poets and novelists had sought to throw around them was a poetic fiction and a philosophical error.
A Tea and Talk Meeting was held on Wednesday evening, Oct. 14th, the "great gun" at which was the Rev. W. Acworth, of Plumstead, who addressed the assembly in a very effective and amusing manner. The same gentleman addressed a similar meeting at the Hastings Temperance Hall in Castle Road, and whilst nearly 60 persons were all that could be got together, the tables at St. Leonards were surrounded by nearly 200, all of whom, judging from their happy appearance were "socialists" of the right sort. The greater number and more complete success of the St. Leonards party were frequently referred to by their Hastings fraternity with jealous but generous admiration.
Living Tableaux representing Cruickshanks "The Bottle" were presented at the Temperance Hall on Wednesday evening, Nov. 18th. It was an amateur performance got up by Mr. William Aldridge and eleven other other[sic] persons. The Hall was crowded, and the representation was so greatly appreciated that by request it was repeated on the following evenings.
"Self Culture" was a theme with which the attention of a large audience was instructed on the evening of Nov. 25th, by Mr. George Clements, a gentleman from Liverpool, and one who had lately been appointed by the Rev. W. N. Tilson Marsh as Town Missionary at St. Leonards.
The Temperance Festival. This annual Christmas Tree Festival was duly celebrated on the evenings of Tuesday and Wednesday, the 23rd and 24th of December. The Hall was gaily decorated with garlands, wreaths, bouquets, Chinese langers, mottoes, &c., the effect of which when lighted with gas jets and other means of illumination was very striking. On a scarlet ground, and suspended along the west wall was an arrangement of laurel leaves, forming in large letters the phrase "Happy New Year to you!" whilst at the head of the room, surmounting the platform were similar devices bearing the inscription "Farewell to 1863 and Welcome 1864." From the centre of the hall, at suitable distances, were also suspended coloured draperies, bearing, among other sentences "Glory to God in the highest; on earth peace, good will towards men." But the platform was the grand centre of attraction, not only because it was occupied by those who had undertaken to carry out the programme of amusements, but also on account of the brilliant display of the illuminated Christmas tree, with which were associated two other exhibitions of its class on a smaller scale. These were heavily laden with fruits of industry, the handiwork and contributions of a number of ladies manifesting a practical interest in the Temperance movement. The proceedings of the first evening commenced with devotional excercies, conducted by the Rev. W. N. Tilson-Marsh, as president, who afterwards gave a -
