vice to be, as it too often has been a palliative for other offences. Such a course would, doubtless, effect some improvement, but even that would be only to a limited extent, for, we can only to eradicate the evil after a long battle with ignorance, and by a persistent course in the general amelioration of the people. This brings us to the consideration of the means already in operation for so desirable a consummation, and towards which our Mechamic's Institutes, Workingmen's Institutes, Literary Societies, Evening Schools, &c. are rendering good services.
The Christmas Festival. We have heretofore shewn how greatly aided were the total abstainers of St. Leonards by ladies and gentlemen who were temperance people only; and at a time - to again quote the St. Leonards Gazette - when our aristocratic neighbours are showing their hospitality, who can wonder that those of a more humble, but, perhaps of an equally happy sphere should be devising means by which themselves and others of similar statues might have an evening or two of enjoyment during the
Christmas holidays? It was, probably, the idea embodied in the foregoing remark that induced the committee of the St. Leonards Workingmen's Institute to repeat the Christmas Tree and Festival of last year, and to invest it with some additional attractions. It was a pleasing sight to witness the numbers who paid a visit to this entertainment, on the 27th and 28th of December.<bt/>The building was most tastefully decorated, and numerous devices afforded a relief to the evergreens and banerets, around the room were numerous stalls of useful and ornamental articles which had been obtaind through the exertions of Mrs. Lucas Shadwell, Mrs Hale, Mrs. Penhall, Mrs. Mirlees, Mrs. Janson, Mrs. J. Reid, Mrs. Trollope, Mrs. Dunne, Miss Bleazly, Miss Pennington, Miss Kinder and Miss Rapsdell. To the right of the entrance and midway in the hall was the monster tree, brilliantly illuminated by a number of gas-jets and laden with prizes of every description which were distributed to all holders of tickets to the value of admission charge.
Master Butter’s model engine also was at work, and together with the dancing nigger was another means of swelling the funds. An excellent collection of Chinese and Indian curiosities was exhibited by Mrs. Dunne, the proceeds of which amounted to £1 10s 6d.
The money taken at the stalls, added to the entrance money of £18 4s. 6d. amounted to the large sum of £66 1s. 2 d. The so called Festival assumed the character of a promenade entertainment, an agreeable diversion being afforded by the singing of Messrs J Skinner, A. Burr, W. Hayward, S. Tichbon, the Misses Tichbon and Chenming, and the instrumental performance of Messrs. Giles, Thomson, Barnett, Elworthy and Macrae.
The Turkish Bath
On the 8th of August the St. Leonards Turkish Bath was opened, and the curative process which invalids had been long waiting for had its commencement. Elegance and substantiality of the building were prominent features of the building, both without and within, whilst the convenience and general completeness were spoken of in commendatory terms. It was regarded as a valuable acquisition to the town, and as a decided improvement on the Russian Bath, which -
