GUSH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5159, 4 October 1877, Page 3

GUSH.

(From the Liverpool Porcupine.) Gush is not strictly peculiar to any stated period of life ; it shows itself alike in the manner of the sprightly damsel just freed from school, as well as in the more staid deportment of the more matured spinster who still clings fondly to some evanescent hope of matrimony. In the former it finds a ready outcome on such topics as works of poetry, marriages, and the latest thing in infants. The unblushing manner in which girls vehemently protest their adoration for Tennyson, and with uplifted eyes allude affectionately to some one specimen of his works, is “gush ” of a nature perhaps more amusing, in that their knowledge of the bard is tolerably certain, in the majority of such cases, to be limited to that single extract. Then, again, who that has ■ undergone the three hours of well-dressed serio-comic intercourse with one’s friends known as a wedding, can have overlooked the unnecessary demonstrations of affection evinced towards the bride by her officious maids ? The display of lace poekethandkerchiefs, plainly intended for exhibition, the application of the latter articles to stem an imaginary flood of tears, the frenzied eagerness when the ceremony is over to embrace their late companion in spinsterhood, accompanied by a defiant look round on those who cannot exactly sympathise with their sentimental ebullitions, all tend to show an indulgence in excess of feeling, manifestly injudicious. and totally unwarrantable by the surrounding circumstances. And now as to the amount of “ gush ” expended on infants. Here we have a fertile field for the cynic to revel in. A quondam bride becomes a mother, and the interesting event is at once the signal for a host of congratulatory admirers, chiefly unmarried, to gather round her, whose encomiums on the offspring vary in intensity according to their relative powers of " gushing.” The youthful class of maidens which we are at present considering, though mentally averse to the task, go with loving emphasis through the duty of kissing the baby, taking care, however, subsequently, and aside, to remove thoroughly from their lips the inevitable consequences of infantine osculation.

We could dwell at some length on another description of “gush” not alluded to before, and also peculiar to young girls, which is the professed friendship of one fair damsel for another of equally prepossessing appearance. The pair may usually be observed at any social festivity sitting together in a prominent position —for this thing is never done in a

corner —and taken it in turns to pass their respective armß sweetly' round "each other’s waist. If separated by some unfeeling youth, who may desire the company of either, they lose no opportunity of pointing each other out, and inquiring of their partners with empvessc.ment as to whether he does not “ think that girl awfully pretty,” thereby hoping to allay in his ,t inind any latent suspicion of jealousy as existing between the acknowledged belles. We shall only add that if this friendship stand the test of rivalry for a place in some male fascinator’s bosom, its sincerity cannot be questioned.

“ Gush ” in a more advanced period of life —the incipient old maid epoch, for instancefinds a channel for escape in the numerous projects which are sure to be on foot in every well-conducted parish. The chances of attracting mankind by personal appearance having failed, there remains nothing but the highly praiseworthy medium of soup and blankets whereby to bring oneself beneath the notice of the unmarried rector or curates, nay, even of a philanthropic churchwarden. Let us, however, not be misunderstood in making this suggestion. Far be it from us to aver that the above laudable projects are invariably availed of as a means to an end. There are thousands of well-meaning ladies, we are sure, who struggle by their individual exertions to alleviate suffering, yet are there also those who “gush” undeniably over the sorrows of the poor, and, for obvious reasons, make no secret of so doing.