The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-07-25 00:00:00

THE TEMPERANCE FETE AT THE

CRYSTAL PALACE.
(From The Ti,”e&)

The annual festival of the Temperance world, a
circle in which exist as many different phases of
opinion and thought as in religious and political life
was celebrated at the Crystal Palace on Tuesday, and
for the day there were gathered on the Sylieuham
hills the advocates of temperance as a principle in
those who desire to adopt moral sua.sion ;the advocates
of '' Thorough" or those who desire to see all alcoholic
traffic stopped; and, besides numerous others, those
whose views are explained by whatis known &Stile " Per-
missive" prin !irk. For the day, and under the influ-
ences of the charming place and beautiful weather the
thousands who had travelled by excursions from all
part of the country made a most harmonious assembly,
and enjoyed to the full the amusements spread out for
them. The Palace and grounds were again dedicated
to temperance principles, in that nothing of an in-
taxicating character was sold at the bars, and foun-
taMs were plentifully spread everywhere; but this
limitation did not extend to the dining rooms, where
the wealthier visitors of non-teetotal principles could
partake of those refreshments, the sight of which was
I denied by the regulations id the day to the outer and
1 popular world. The people began to arrive very early,
I so early, indeed, that the doors were open soon after
eight o'clock in the morning, and the first business of
the day was the inevitable temuerance meeting, in the
I way of a "conference." At this papers were read
by the Rev. Canon Babington, of Brighton, Dr.
Robert Martin, Mr. Thomas Knox, of Edinburgh, Mr.
H. Cossham, of Pristol, and 2,tr. Downing, of
Penzance. There were amusements in the grounds,
and an instrumental concert in the concert-room shortly
after, and the fountains of eloquence were again turned
on at a "great meeting" held in the centre transept,
at which there were never-tiring speakers. The great
Ittnendeif ehelsatyraw, u"nade concert
the folios of Mr. }'rederick
Smith, organized by the Band of Hope Union, and the
well-arranged performance, the effective singing, and
the pretty sight of the gaily dressed and lively children
come to the rescue to restore the spirits after the
wearisome flood of speech. The people who had
stayed in the Palace then floCked into the grounds to
enjoy the spectacle of the fountains playing, and the
occasion was seized for another open-air meetnig, and
, various independent advocates and preachers, men and
women, occupied the recesses on the terrace and there
indulged in oratory to their heart's content, discon-
certed in some slight degree only by the playing of
bands and by little amateur concerts got up by this
children who had sung in the Handel orchestra, and
who carried their harmony over the palace and
grounds. The great crowds, however, gave up the
" shop " for the day, and an immense concourse
waited, if not with patience, at least with fortitude,
for the ascent of two balloons, the " Stanley " and
"Prince Arthur," a delay of about two hours oc-
curring owing to the high wind in the afternoon; but
the waiting time was pleasantly beguiled with the
band of the Greenwich School, whose boys were pre-
sent in large numbers. Tea in plenty was supplied
by Mr. Sawyer, the caterer, at a liberal tariff, and
great was the consumption.
In the evening a great treat was given in an instru-
mental and choral concert by the Vs elth Choral Union
under Mr. John Thomas, the Royal harpist, the chief
instrument being, of course, the harp. Some of the
Famous Welsh poems, set to tine stirring airs, were
chanted by the Union, and solo parts by Mm's Roby,
Mr. b. Evans, MIPS Mary Davies, Miss Gertrude Brad
wyn, Miss Marian and Miss NI. J. Williams, Mr. En.
derry, and Mr. Ap Herbert were warmly applauded, as,
. indeed, they deserved to be. This concert, as a whole,
I was of a high character, and the audience was loth to
believe the programme ended when the last chorus was
sung. A night meeting was on the programme; but
, the people seemed to enjoy more the performance on
the ,grand organ by Mr. Coward, and they paraded
the illuminated Palace until a late hour.
It was noticeable that the numbers had fallen off
very greatly from the last two years. In 1572 the
numbers were over 132.000 and the terrace was tilled
with the societiee which were then marshalled by Mr.
Nicholson, the district secretary of the Middlesex
Good Templars. In 1873 the numbers fell to 53000,.
and on Tuesday there was no such dLplay Crood
Templars, and other societies, requiring the
services of the marshal, for the numbers admitted
by payment were only 31,001, making, with 7,779
season-ticket holdors, only 38,760. The falling of is
attributed by many to the ali,ence of the "general
, public " holiday-makers, who resent the closing of the
, bar, by absenting themeelves, and the experiment of
making the "temperancv day '.' a teetotal day by form
will not, it is believed, be repeated at the I'alace.

Mr. Samuel Morley, M.p.. ha, intimated his will.
bigness to reopen negotiations with the fari....era for the tar-
:sleet= oi the dispute with agricultural lalinvirs, %len-
ever so spportnary occurs.