~39— developed into a free-for-all which continued until one side or the other had had enough of it. Most of the time, it was concluded by shaking hands all around and passing the flask in a pledging toast. |

During the summer months, "lawn" and "tea" parties provided pleasurable opportunities for social intermingling as well as a means of adding to church revenues. The tea party was an institution of the Catholic parishes -- just why it was so-named was never quite clear. It was an all-day event, with bowling, tug-of-war, foot races, and other athletic exercises. For the youngsters there were ice-cream and refreshment booths, and sometimes a Punch and Judy show. For weeks the ladies of the parish had been preparing for this day. They had baked pies, cakes, bread, and bannocks. They had roasted geese, chickens and beef. They had boiled hams. They brought quantities of potatoes and vegetables to be cooked in a temporary kitchen staffed by the Women's Committee. When all was in readiness, they served a full course meal in the big tent where the guests sat down to a dinner for which they paid no more than a fifth of its actual value, but which represented clear profit for the church treasury. The Men's Committee provided the iateniars and erected the various structures on the grounds; they also dismantled everything and cleaned up the area when the festivities were ended. The tea party was 4@ once-a-year event.

The Protestant churches sponsored the lawn parties, which were usually held in the late afternoon and early evening. They were similar in plan to the tea parties but on a smaller scale. The attendance, too, was smaller, and consisted mainly of people from our own conmunity and church members eo lived in neighboring districts. They were greatly enjoyed and highly appreciated, ‘and always produced generous financial returns.

At most tea parties, fighting was an inescapable feature of the day.

Since the parish contained a half-dozen or more districta, all with a

. : a parties attracted @ much larger patronage than did the lawn parties,