An invitation dance, got up by Miss Lin dop, Miss A. Brown, Mrs Berrill, and some others, was given on Thursday last in the Assembly rooms, Carterton, when a very pleasant evening was spent, Mr Billows kindly helping both as M.C. and in the dance music, several others of those present also kindly assisting with the latter. The refreshments, which were both good and plentiful, were provided by the friends present, and dancing was kept up until the small hours of the morning, one and all hav ing thoroughly enjoyed themselves. I may mention that I heard hints of a Batchelors’ Ball to be got up before very long, but more of that later on.
During the present agitation for Prohibi tion it ma/ not be uninteresting to my rea lers to be reminded that Bonaparte took snuff when he wished to stimulate his intel lect. The Rev. William Bull, the noncon formist minister and scholar, was an inveter ate smoker ; Lord Byron took gin and water; Lork Erakine took large doses of opium ; Hobbs drank cold water ; Newton smoked ; Pope drank strong coffee ; Wedderburne (the first Lord Ashburton) placed a blister on his chest when he had to make a great speech. These are some of the things mentioned in the “ Pharmacologia,” and they could be multiplied largely.
