The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, JULY 3, 1886. Colonists at Home

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 9, 3 July 1886, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, JULY 3, 1886. Colonists at Home

It must be very gratifying to the Colonists at Home, as well as their friends in the lands of their adoption, to note the distinguished consideration they are receiving at the hands of the giople in the mother country, from er Majesty the Queen, down to the ordinary burgess or ratepayer. Twenty years ago, when a man who had rendered himself independent by his industry south of the line, landed on the shores of the Old Country, he was —or imagined ho was, which amounted to the same thing — looked upon with no little suspicion, and his stay was riot encouraged by lavish hospitality being thrust upon him. On the contrary, many and bitter were the complaints made of the coldness of his reception, even from those to whom he believed ho had the most right to look for a welcome. Now, the whole picture is changed. The Colonist, whether rich or poor, but who has time and money enough to afford a run Home, is received by his countrymen with open arms. We can imagine the Mrs Leo Huxteb of every small English town or village, laying little snares to catch Colonists to attend her soirees, because these strange visitors are the fashion of the hour, and it would never do to be behind the fashion. Nevertheless, the change is one to be appreciated and encouraged. English visitors of distinction have invariably been received in the Colonies with a welcome that even surprised themselves, nor were they always grateful for the civility they received, for too often have we had to complain of " authors of repute" who have dealt out scanty justice to those who deserved better at their hands. Our only hope is that when any of our literary colonists give us the results of their experiences at Home, they will deal gently with the confused mass of ignorance which must have come under their notice in a land peopled entirely by " new chums" whose views of life and manners are necessarily seen as through a glass darkly. In this they will show a good example to future travellers and storytellers who may favor the Colonies with their visits.