St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-01-17
The .Pink-Tea Party"
WHAT SOME YOUNG LADIES IN PEACHAM
HAVE DONE.

New departures in all business,
social aud religious matters have be-
come so common that nothing less
than a genuine success should give
them prominence. But this the young
women of hilly little Peacham have
achieved. They have stepped out of
the beaten temperance path and done
work, creditable alike to themselves,
their town of sound morals, the tenn
perance county of Caledonia and the
prohibition state of Vermont. Through
their efforts Peacham has again be
come the "banner town" of this
vicinity. Such work surely deserves
notice and emulation.
The temperance history of Peacham
is much like that of other small towns.
1t has never been drinking place,
nor otherwise really bad. But about
two years ago the young men began to
drift toward intemperance. They
drank on the sly at first. Then be-
coming holder, they minded less about
concealment. Finally came a few ar
rests and fines. The people were sur
prised. When they looked into the
matter a little more and saw what
had been going on, they were shocked.
Something had to be done. The most
natural remedy was suggested and
tried. Temperance speakers were oh.
tained and large meetings were held.
Many young men, and more young
women, were brought by the eloquence
of the speakers and the pleadings of
their friends to sign the pledge. 1t
was iron clad, prohibiting the use of
beer, cider and tobacco in any form.
For Il time all went we'll. There were
But soon one young man smoked Il
cigar, and broke the pledge. Another
followed, and another, till probably
one-half of the Young men who had
signed, had dropped from the ranks.
Cases of beer began to come as fire.
quently as before, and the situation
was nearly as bad.
But the young women held firm.
They worked for temperance as much
as they could under the old arrange
ment. But those who had dropped
out and the many who had never come
in were not being benefited. The
need of a strong, organized effort be
came apparent. One evening last fall
| they met to talk over the situation.
Many plans were proposed and dis
cussed. They finally decided to form
a new society. And this was the
! pledge they agreed to ask their broth
ers, lovers and friends to sign: =
We solemnly promise, with the helT
of God, to abstain from all Intoxicating
liquors rs a beverage, and not to pro.
vide the same for entertainment.
The official name of the society wa,
the Young Women's Christian Ten
perance Union. But these serlsibl,
young women thought that title rathe
large for their little band, and won
dered what they would better cal
themselves informally. While the,
were cogitating, an unregenerate out
slider dubbed them the ''Pink-Te;
Party" The name has stuck Tn,
"Pink- Tea Party" it is and will be s.
long as the society exists.
No sooner was the organization per
fected by the election of an energetic
set of officers than the policy decide,
upon was adopted. A nominal fee o
twenty-five cents was fixed for mem
bership. One business meeting, an,
one reception, was to be held eacl
month. At the former, however, par
Tor entertainments were TO be in Orde
after the routine work had been dis
posed of, 81 that the "business meet
ing" might not be devoid of pleasure
The meetings and receptions were t,
be held ut the most convenient resi-
dences of members. Each outside
was to be invited to Il reception. |
he then refused to sign, he would no
receive another invitation. No rule
were made, but this was the under
standing.
The plan has been followed as far a
possible, and the result shows tn
efficacy of simple methods and earnes
work. The "Pink Tea" was sneere,
at awhile, and there was talk of
rival club, but this soon died out. Tn,
young men soon saw that their sister
meant business, and one by one hav,
been drawn in. Those standing OH
soon found themselves out of society
They were urged to sign, but were no
tOadied to. The result is that tn
"Pink-Tea Party" comprises abou
seventy members. Only five youn!
men in town have not Joined. One o
these declines to join because he brok,
the irOn-clad pledge, another because
he thinks it is ''foolish to he bossed by
"A pack of girls" and the rest becaus
they don't want to. These not yer,
serious objections are likely to b.
overcome. When the are, the yOun;
people of Peacham will stand rs on,
for sensible temperance.
What more can be done Much
There is he reason why similar soci
ETY. cannot be formed in each Caledonia
town. A county league would .joil
them. The young women of Othe
counties might follow this good eX