Although ostensibly a "stag party," several ladies graced the proceedings with their presence, several members being deputed to attend to their on tertainment in the club brary, the sterner Sex, for the most part, romaining in the bar and the billiard room, 'Towards the close of the proceed ings, the President of the lub, in a few well-chosen words called' upon all present to raise thelr~glasses and drink to the. prosperity of the Merchant Sorviec, coupling with It the Senior Service, of which today many men of the Merchant Service form a part, others "proceciding. on their lawful occasions" in the various national auxiliary. services Ho was mure, hho added, that, al-hough s0 many members of the Club Jrvera absent on service, each and all would be with them in spirit as this gathering was one of the trade tions of the old. club, which had existed under various names, for over seventy years, The" toast was drunk with enthusiasm and marked the termina tion of an extremely enjoyable altair.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.