ANTICIPATIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume IV, Issue 1188, 12 November 1873, Page 2

ANTICIPATIONS.

Tirr. morning opened with a calm blue sky

the early sunshine rested on the mountain

sides ; the trees were tinged with golden hues

full of lively choristers, and all nature as far as the eve could reach seemed to bo in favour

of n people's holiday in honor of the elde v son of Queen Victoria, born on the 9th day o November, 1841. As the morning advanced, here and there in the suburbs the smoke from a score of chimneys curled up gracefully above the trees into the stilly atmosphere. The Volunteers, both young and old, were to lie seen at cottage doors polishing up their rifles and brushing up their jackets, some of which had lain by, for a month. We observed one young lady, beautiful as a fairy, tiiirming her new holiday hat with daisies and a moss-rose, in imitation of nature. We then heard sounds of music from the gathering volunteer Lauds

in and about the city, and the young wouldbe soldiers tripping hither and thither in a.]l the outer glories of citizen soldiers. The shops were all closed, with perhapsafew neces- j sary exceptions. The drapers were unani- { nious ill their early attachment to the early ■ closing movement, and were true to the letter. I Facilities for the enjoyment of the yji .nicely*■ holiday were amply afforded sufficient to satisfy every taste and please every mind. Those who felt disposed for passing a few hours in retirement over some favourite poet, while the little ones prattled and rolled on I the grass, could revel in such fanciful luxu- j ries in the quiet shades of the Domain ; and j those who preferred the companionship of \ birds and flowers could walk in the open gardens of the Acclimatization Society pud 1 luxuriate in the waim breath of the refulgent summer day. Those persons whore instincts lead them like ducks'co, the stream had opportunities of floating to the North Shore to the primitive locaTity of Stokes' Point, the canaan of strawberries md crerm. The Good Templars could he accommodated with ginger beer and lemonade to any extent, wholesale md reta^, with the privilege of basking on the green border of some lazy creek, ponderng over Lord Lytton's treatise on the water cure, and watching the reflection of the blue heavens in the gliding current. The gardens and surroundings of the city offered adequate opportunities for the real enjoyments of the first holiday of summer. There can be no doubt about the beneficence of an occasional holiday. Shakespeare in one of his memorable plays speaks of being in a holiday humour ; and Charles Lamb, the quaint humourist, testified to the existence of a holiday-rejoicing spirit. And we believe, from close observation, that the degradation of the lower classes of the old country, and the social miseries to which they arc reduced, are due in a great measure to perpetual bondage without the inte; mitting summer pause, when the heart can beat ?n unison with the freedom of Nature and the fresh breeze of health fan the cheek. Holidays are good in their physical and Locial influencea, pmol long may the people of the color'es cherish them as incentives to industrial enterprise, sobriety, and selfrespect ; and noAv for the birthday sports, etc.