THE VICTORIAN YOUTH.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume III, Issue 547, 30 January 1882, Page 2

THE VICTORIAN YOUTH.

The Melbourne correspondent of a Southland exchange writes as follows : —While our world generally looks bright enough, there is a gathering cloud which causes much apprehension. Larrikinism has increased to such an extent during the year, and become so intensified at its close, that it seems to have utterly broken down the police. The element of fun is altogether absent. The whole of our press teems with articles demanding the use of the lash. Without giving any particulars, the state of things may be guessed when the Age declared, in a leading article at Christmas time, that never since its first publication had it to chronicle such ruffianism. . . . .

The most lamentable feature is that our young people seem to be gradually becoming of the opinion that there is nothing in the world except cricketing, rowing, football, andj horseracing—in fact that these form ths whole business of life. This cannot be for good ; it will bring about a dhitastp for honest labor, and a failure to appreciate the proper ambitions of life. lam in the custom of being much in the company of our youth, and their conversation runs wholly and solely upon these matters. You may pass days in their company and never h ; ;ar a word about art, science, literature,' politics, or even the industrial arts in which they are employed. The doings of Bonnor and the Champion race, with diversion on cards and billiards, are the staple. The wisest of our people see the thing is being overdone, but they are unable to imagine any means of stopping the tide.