LOOKING BACKWARD.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 November 1923, Page 4

LOOKING BACKWARD.

(Sydney Paper.) Wiien J. A. Fronde visited Australia some forty years ago he was struck by the absence of an histoiic-al sense among Australians. The country had been colonised for close upon a century. The rough, pioneering work had been done. Australia’s annals must have teemed with romance, with epic tales of hardship and endurance in the continuous struggle against the forces of nature. Yet Australians in general took little interest in their land’s past. Their usual altitude was that it was something sordid, vulgar, crude, which had better be left alone. 'Die traditions Unit Australia celebrated were those of the Old Country. The literature that it produced, save for the novels of Marcus Clarke and “Rolfe Bold rewood,” derived little inspiration from the early days. To a later generation this iindjffcrenec may seem strange, hut the reason of it was not far to seek. The “past” was, after all. relatively close at hand; it had not been invested with glamour by the passage of time. The proportion of native-born in the population was considerably smaller than it is to-day. Many of our forbears cherished the associations and recollections of their birthplaces, and had not yet learned to think of Australia us their own land. And then there was the skeleton in the cupboard to which it was had form to allude. The past was identified with the convict regime. It was impossible, to recall A list i.'ilia's childhood without reviving memories of which Australians were*, quite unnecessarily, ashamed. \Ye us(‘d to ho ridiculously sensitive on that point. Because a few thousand convicts had been transported to Australia. many of them Ibr tiivial offences, wo imagined, or by our studious avoidance of the subject, behaved, is if we

imagined that a stigma attached io the whole nation. The Virginian is intense! v proud of being a Virginian, lie legards himself a sort of aristocrat: yet he is at no pains to conceal the fact that that State was for long a penal settlement. P,ut, to an Australian the word, “eonviel” was as a red rag to a hull. A Onvernot', who, unaware of our national idiosyncraey, heralded his arrival with a certain quotation from Kipling, found that all unwittingly he had stirred a hornet’s nest. If Fronde could visit us to-day he would he constrained to alter his opinion. He would he impressed hv the change, and would notice overywheie evidence of a very lively and widespread interest in the past. IT. for example, he went out to Yaucluso this afternoon, lie would witness an annual ceremony, a jiious celebration of the memory of William Charles Wentworth. patriot statesman, and exphnor. He would discover that Australian history hulks largo in ibe curricula of the Is. and that original research in this subject. is encouraged by the universities. In Adelaide, indeed, a special scholarship. the Tinlino. is awarded for a thesis of tin's nature. Ho would he given the freedom oi historical societies whose meetings and lectures are always well at ter,ded. He could join one of the parties which, under their auspices, make pilgrimages to places with historical associations. He would find the Mitchell Hibrary filled with students. He would observe til'd exhibitions of an historical character attract crowds, and that there is quite a cult of the antique in literary and a-tistie circle.-,. Tf lie went io the annual “shows" of either of the Art Societies, he would he surprised at the number of paintings, etchings, pen and ink drawings of ‘Old Sydney” or ‘Old New South Wales.” If he fared further afield to Pipispert or the Hawke.— bury, or the (W pasture-road. the diances arc that he would come aeioss several members of the emit hu-ily eti-

gaged in setting on canvas or paper -onie quaint old dwelling, some picturesque monumcn!. This awakening of interest in the past ruveals it-cit in ere of ways, m ihe crusade.*. I"r the piesenatimi "i some building upon uliiili time is laying its destroying hand, in the centenaries which country towns celebrate with such pomp and ciiViimstunee. in the prae-owoi ihv movement which is mi foot in many districts in compile local histories, in the vehement controveisies amused by stab questions as ‘‘Where did Governor l"'iilli|i l.'itdr" or '‘Where v.a> the Tits! religious servieo held in Sydney j" The vi lum.e of <o: n* -.pondcnee on toiiies such c.s tlie-e, which the “Herald" periodically receives would suggest Hint Sydney is positively swarming with enthusiastic alii iquarians at daggers drawn. Oddly enough, this quickening of inteiesl in the past Ims been girally stimulated by a very modern device, tin* motor-car. \Yha( may

lie termed the home enmities are redolent, with historical association:-. Within a comparatively .short distance from Sydney I here are sleepy old world town- v.lio-e atmosphere and appearance recall the days when (.!•.urge Ilf, was kind. Before' the advent- of the car, to visit them was quite an undertaking. I'm! now they van bo easily reached in a couple of hours inn. and many of our citizens lane discovered that we have at our v rv doors the Australian counterparts ( ,l an Kiigli-h village, uitspoiled by the march of

progress. The growth of this feeling tor the pasl is on all accounts an excellent. thing. We are still a young country. Bui \vc* have Ixhiiul up n history long enough to endow us with traditions and a sense of continuity. The old days produced men of remarkable ability and force of character, who budded well and wisely. Tf we know ihe past, appreciate their worlt. and honour their memory, il will suivlv help to make us worthy of tiie goodly I heritage which they have bequeathed ) to US.