While all might cheer the arrival of the Prince of Wales, attendance at many other social functions was restricted to a more select portion of Saint John's population. The city had endowed itself with a number of entertainment facilities, including Victoria Rink, pictured in this coloured engraving based on a sketch by Edward John Russell (1832-1906). While gala events, such as skating parties and costume balls, created a considerable stir, much social activity was centred in the home or in organizations such as the Mechanics' Institute, the Natural History Society and the various churches. For many, the taverns were social centres, and the problems which arose from this fact made temperance reform a pressing issue for some of the city's inhabitants.
