THE GLOBE. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1881. A DISAPPOINTED ADVENTURER.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2187, 28 February 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1881. A DISAPPOINTED ADVENTURER.

Onb of the most amusing—if, at the same time slightly irritating—experiences of a young country like New Zealand, is the criticism to which it is invariably subjected, more or less in proportion to its position and importance, at the hands of a certain class of writers. These, our critics, generally perform a kind of flying survey through the country, not on the generous ticket by any means, but in the character of showmen, who very frequently manage to profit by the trip: and having duly fattened and regaled themselves at our expense, at once proceed to write of us, and our concerns, with the utmost freedom and confidence, albeit they may know very little about either, which is more often than not the case. Mr. Anthony Trollope skipped over the Australian colonies during a period of rest from the composition of what we presume to call very commonplace, though dreadfully prolific fiction, and with remarkable presumption wrote a book, purporting to give an accurate account of the Australias, but which in reality contained some of the most nonsensical rubbish over committed to paper, or swallowed (as a vast deal of literary rubbish is) by certain blind “ hero worshippers ” of society. Mr. Arthur Sketchley is another and a later specimen, a few rungs lower down the ladder of fame than Mr. Trollope. The latter made his trip remunerative ; Mr. Sketchley was less fortunate, so far as New Zealand was concerned. Ho came here as a lecturer, and went away an admitted member of that numerous brotherhood, “ the unappreciated.” Wherefore he proceeded in good round terms to abuse this colony and deride it. Mr. Sketchley is a gentleman who has succeeded in building up a small amount of fame by writing books, the humor and excellence of which depend solely upon an invasion of the English grammar, and the utter demoralisation of all its rules and regulations; and ho finds occasional admirers, whom wo take this opportunity of complimenting on their taste, whilst as a lecturer he is the most melancholy subject, perhaps, that over a newspaper critic was compelled to dissect and report upon. In view of these considerations, it is not unnatural that an intelligent community should refuse to fall down and worship that gentleman. At any rate the author of Mrs. Brown—an uninteresting and decidedly bad imitation of a class of character admirably pourtrayed by Charles Dickens—found very few admirers in New Zealand. But what does appear a little difficult to understand is that several papers in the colony should havo treated his remarks with serious attention, and expressed concern thereat. It is quite common with the actor who fails to “ draw ” in any particular town, to blacken the character of that town in the company of his chosen companions; but for prudence sake he seldom goes outside that charmed circle. Mr. Arthur Sketchley, author and actor, is, in the truest sense, a showman —a dis-

appointed one, and ho speaks ill of the colony becanso its people refused to bo imposed upon. But it happens that he does not contemplate a return to this part of the world, and therefore no prudential check is offered to the public expression of his sentiments, which he treats us to accordingly. A gentleman from Australia, who, we are informed by a southern contemporary, is making a tour of inspection through this colony with the object of publishing his impressions on his return, has been pleased to express gratified surprise at its resources and general attractiveness. Our cousin has, it appears on tho same authority, found it difficult to comprehend how Mr. Sketchley could have gone hence with such unfavourable impressions of this country. To those who have allowed themselves to be concerned about the unfavorable impressions made upon that individual, how sweetly soothing must be tho assurances of this late arrival. It should positively prove elating and joy inspiring—a very anchor of hope, a cross of faith, for this country in tho future. It is just possible, however, that New Zealand will be enabled to struggle along, and possibly enjoy a fair measure of prosperity, in full view of all such criticisms—even though, as time advances, tho colonies become a yet bettor field for all kinds of showmen and adventurers from the old world.