THE WISE Y.

White Ribbon, Volume 32, Issue 377, 18 December 1926, Page 16

THE WISE Y.

The Town Hall was beautifully decorated; one of the great social events of the season —The Racing Club Ball —was in full swing. The floor, the orchestra, the decorations, the caterings, the dresses were all of the very best. In a recess off the main hall, stood a bevy of laughing girls, who were taking in the beauty of the scene while waiting for the first dance. Among the group was Mollie Dawson, feeling very’ pleasantly excited, and looking eagerly forward to this her fir«t big dance. She had come from a small country hospital to finish her training at the city institution. Upon her beautiful flame-coloured silk dress gleamed a small white bow, i.varls set in gold, a gift from the Y.P C.T.U. of which she had been Secretary. Her partner claimed her, and soon she formed one of a merry group

upon the flood. (A pretty brunette, very attractive, with a fund of quiet humour, she had no lack of partners and all went merry as the proverbial marriage bell. “Why is there such a rush to the supper room so early in the evening?’’ she asked a girl friend. “A rush, do you call it,” replied Amy. “You should have been here a big Municipal Hall last month, they nearly broke in the doors o supper room.” “Whatever for.” asked the bewilded Mollie. “To get the claret cup. Where were you brought up not to know that?” “Claret cup? Why Amy, surely you don’t drink wine at dances.” “Of course, I do, you dear little greenhorn. All the girls do.” “Not all. Amy. I’m sure May Clarence does not join you there,” said Mollie. “Why are you so sure of that. Don’t bet on It or you’ll lose, my dear.” “Amy, her father is one of the chief officers of our Church, and he’s a great Temperance man. “Well, she’s not. I can assure you,” replied Amy. “No,” chimed in a bystander. “I’ll tell you a story. The minister preached a great sermon upon the evils of wine and dancing, and regretted that it had crept in among their own Church young people. Mr Clarence indignantly repudiated the statements and asked May did she ever see wine at the parties she went to. Well, she had to confess, and I can assure you her father was a very shocked man to hear that she did ‘as the other girls did ' Poor man, he was so busy with his Church and Temperance work, that he had no time to look at home.”

Mollie’s heart sank at this story. She saw stormy weather ahead of her. Later on, she and her partner formed the centre of a merry group in the supper room. Wine and claret-cup circulated freely, and Mollie was ridiculed for her refusal to partake, hut she could not disgrace the little White Messenger upon her breast. Bye-and-bye she noted the increasing hilarity of the group, the wit became poorer, the laughter noisier, there was a freedom of manner which brought a blush to the cheek of the carefully trained girl. She was glad to make her escape, and a partner claiming her for the next dance, they w’ere soon “tripping the light, fantastic toe.” At the conclusion of this dance, Mollie wandered into an ante-room opening into the supper room. Never will she forget the wild scene there. Her friend Ainy and several other girls were seated upon the knees of men, leading citizens of the town, older than their fathers. Cigarettes were alight, mirth was uproarious, there w T as an utter lack of all dignity and womanly selfrespect. And as she looked, Amf laughing and simpering, kissed the bald spot upon the head of her admirer.

Shocked and dazed she hurriedly turned to leave and collided with u gentleman just entering. It was the doctor from the hospital, and somethin*; in her strained, white face made him pause and ask. “What is the matter, Nurse?" , “I'octor, look in there, what is the matter with our girls.” “Claret-cup," briefly replied the doctor. Don’t you indulge in it. nurse?” “Oh, no, look at my White Bow.” “Then, nurse, you can thank whoever gave you that bow. A quiet dam e may not harm a girl occasionally, but dancing and wine are a rotten combination. Keep your pledge, nurse, and you’ll keep yourself from sinking into the depths. The descent into Avernus is easy, and tine floats many a craft down it." Just then the Doctor's wife approached, and was introduced to Mollie. A fine motherly woman, she pitied the girl's apparent weariness. “You look tired, my dear, can we take you home with us?” “Thank you, I’ll be so glad to get away.” Safe in her room, too excited to sleep, Mollie panned the account of her evening’s doings to Mrs Wilson, the Superintendent of her old Y. Union, and concluded with these words. “I’m so glad you got nie to sign the pledge, and wear the how. or 1 might have done as those other :irls were doing, and then I never could have faced my mother with a clear conscience.” And a day later the heart of a sorely discouraged worker was cheered, she thought the work was worth doing, and resolved to “Carry on.”