Meetings and Amusements

The amusements which are popular amongst a people will always be found to be in accordance with the manner of thought of those by whom they are patronized.   No mode of entertaining can long remain before the public unless it be a reflex to some extent of their lives. The games of a nation are the result of certain traits in the national character.   This, again, is collectively the bringing together of the various and most prominent idiosyncrasies of the great mass of individuals.   If such be the case, the people whose most popular entertainment are of a high moral order must have moral order in their lives.

On these principles, the people of Blanshard and, indeed, the people of Canada in general, may be said to be highly moral.   The tea-meetings held in all sections of the country in aid of the Sabbath-schools, the church social, the concert in the schoolhouse and the entertainment in connection with the local literary society have had and still retain their popularity.  These entertainments are in their very nature elevating and purifying, and must have a refining effect on the great mass of people by whom they are so largely patronized.   To the residents of the country the tea-meetings in the woods in summer, the agricultural fair in the autumn, and the concert in the schoolhouse in the winter, afford their principal amusements.   These gatherings are of such a nature as to be enjoyed by the young and the old alike.   The pleasure of meeting together in the leafy woods after the arduous labor of sowing the seed in spring is not marred by rudeness or boisterous conduct.   Kindly salutations are exchanged as each for the other kindly speirs.

Her Majesty's birthday, the 24th of May, is usually selected for the first of these great reunions of the old and the young.   At this time the spring seeding has been completed and the fields are green with the soft verdure of early summer.   The woods in which these meetings are always held have arrayed themselves in their most beautiful garments.   The whole face of nature seems at this period of the year to assume a joyful aspect, and welcomes to her bosom the green grass, the blossoms, and the flowers.   The gloomy winter has passed with its snow, its clouds, and its storms, and all the earth rejoices to meet the ardent gaze of the sun as it climbs higher and higher in the bright and cloudless sky.

The grand event of the Sunday-school anniversary is announced by the minister a few Sabbaths previous.   From the time of this announcement the interest in the affair begins to increase, Committees are formed to carry out the various arrangements.   The choir must practice some new pieces, speakers have to be communicated with, and, most important of all, a "chairman" must be selected.   The chairman is usually some prominent public man in the township - if possible, the member for the county.   All these arrangements must be carried out before the printing committee can commence its duties.

Bills are at last printed and sent out through the surrounding district announcing the event.

In the meantime in a great number of the farm houses preparations are being made with all speed.   The ladies have procured their summer dresses, which have to be ready for the Sabbath anniversary service.  On that great day they hope to be the observed of all observers.   No young agriculturist will be able to look at those dresses and preserve his peace of mind.   But this is not all.   The millinery openings have yet to transpire.   These important events are crowding on.   The opening day does come in its course with other things.  In the principal shops in town, what splendor, what beauty, what chaste combination, what blending together of colors, what exquisite flowers and magnificent feathers!   All that skill could do and that human ingenuity could accomplish, all that time, labor and money might be said to be able to procure, has been resolved by the deft hand of the ingenious manipulator into a little indescribable something about the size of a saucer, or has, in the other extreme, been constructed into a combination like a milk an, which some of the profane amongst the sterner sex would call a hideous affair, but which the young ladies pronounce to be "just lovely."   At last a selection is made and the precious object consigned to the paper bag which the young lady carries in her hand for the rest of the day, until it is finally conveyed in safety to her home.   This is the new hat.

Meantime, things are rapidly progressing, for all want to make the 24th a grand success.   In all the houses in the district the ladies are making preparations with the good things for the tables.   In the pantry they can be found standing beside the baking- tray and flanked on all sides with paper bags, tins, mugs, cups, flour, cream, butter, sugar, spices, which they are mixing, kneading, and compounding into cakes of various forms and dimensions.   A friendly rivalry exists amongst the different families in the line of the best cooking. Besides, when the baskets are brought into the grounds and handed over to the committee appointed to receive them, if the contents are not up to a certain standard, woe betide the poor woman that sent it.   Better for her (at that time) she had never been born.

The morning of the eventful day has at last arrived, and the sun is shining bright and clear in a cloudless sky.   A glorious day it will be for the anniversary meeting.   At an early hour the children of the Sabbath school have taken to the woods.   The swings are kept steadily going, and the mere laughter that rings through the trees would bring light and sunshine and springs of joy and gladness into the heart of the most miserable misanthrope that ever brooded over the wretched condition of his fellowmen.

The teams sent out to gather the baskets are now coming in with their complement of good things prepared for the occasion.   The tables are set, and the platform erected for the speakers in a shady part of the grove.   The lady whose duty it is to make the tea is at her post, and preparing to outdo all her former efforts.   About twelve o'clock the visitors begin to pour into the woods, and in the shady nooks fasten their horses.   The member for the county, who has consented to act as chairman, at last appears on the scene, when handshaking and pleasant smiles are the order of the day.

The minister of the congregation at length calls the assembled hundreds to the tables, and announces the following verse in which all join and sing:

Be present at our table, Lord;
Be here and everywhere adored;
These creatures bless, and grant that we
May feast in Paradise with Thee.

All fall to! The voracious small boy eyes with satisfaction the ever increasing space as far as he is able to extend his devastating hand.   He reaches past the nice young lady in pink, with a bouquet on her bosom, who is primly nibbling like a rabbit at her first sandwich.   Her rosy cheeks and plump form indicate, however, that her performances on other occasions would be more vigorous.   The more mature matrons and their liege lords at the other parts of the table are already making terrible havoc in their surroundings.   Stacks of sandwiches are disappearing like snow in April.   Great massive cakes are having huge gashes made in them to their very heart's core.   The waiters are all busy replenishing the fast depleting teacups, and passing the cream and the sugar, and the spoons and the knives, and clean plates to new applicants.   Here and there the guests at the table are chaffing the waiters, and they in return are chaffing the guests and making jokes over mishaps, at which they all laugh, and they do have such fun.

All being at last satisfies, the chairman takes the platform with the speakers, and the visitors seat themselves in front.   The choir having sung the opening ode, the chairman gives his address.   He congratulates the people on the success of the day's proceedings, and announces the great pleasure it gives him to be present.  He regrets his inability to discharge the duties of chairman, but the audience must be satisfed with his good intentions.   He eulogizes the country and the well tilled farms, the splendid buildings, the intelligence of the people, whom he feels it is an honor to represent in parliament.   He tells some of his queerest stories, at which the audience laughs, and the speakers laugh, and they all laugh, and they have great fun.

Speaker after speaker is called forward to address the people, and they tell their funniest stories and crack jokes on the chairman, at which the chairman laughs, and the audience laughs, and they all laugh, and there is no end of fun.

The last speaker is brought forward; reverend and hoary, bending beneath the weight of years, who, with serious air, reminds the people that though joy may now fill their hearts, sorrow may come in the morning.  With his hands stretched out to heaven he bids them look away to another and a better life, that this earth is not their home, and never to forget that life is short but eternity is long.   In loving and affectionate tones he gives the audience his blessing, when, having sung "God Save the Queen," all disperse to their homes.

We trust that the people of Blanshard and the people of this country will long continue to make such meetings the places of their greatest enjoyment, and there need be no fear of the prosperity of this young nation.  From scenes like these shall Canada's greatness spring.