A Queer Gathering

At üirmingham, Eng., a tea party was reeently given to somo invited guests who werfl vil kiiown, nay, self-coDlesaod drtmkaids. At the time and place appointed 300 persons assembled. "Vith the exceptiou of two women, who came in cabs, and are said to have given prooi' that they had uot been invited by mistake, the drunkards beliaved in a most respcetable marnier, the very babies - admitted, we conelude, by favor of dninken mothets - joining, af ter tlieir marnier, in the fëmperance songs of the hosts of tliiK strnnge party. The inebríate guests even looked tolerably well, for thougli some wero raggod, a good niany appearcd to have waáhed tlieir faces and combed their hair. Their neat tíeeá was, however, ïiothing to their temper, -vhich seenis to have been perfect, for they sat drinking their tea and eating bread and butter while addressed by one of their entertainers on the subject of their degradad eoudition. " Outcast, beiotted, tanibly depraved, and almost hop.'less," were iho adjectives applied to their lallen, fcrat for the time being, comfortable selves, as they drank the harmless (Jongoii for a ohaiige; and not a few, lmving tnrned down their cups, signed the pledge, thus giving tho stamp of sucoess to one of the queerest social gatherings of the day.