ECHOES OF THE WEEK

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2147, 7 February 1880, Page 2

ECHOES OF THE WEEK

I like meeting old friends, and, therefore looked in at the waxworks the other night to pay my respects to Mr Oardener’s Wax “ Combination Company,” at present making the tour of New Zealand. There they all were! Queen Victoria and Pope Pins the Ninth, Princess Beatrice and the Tichborne Claimant, King John and the l!ev Mr Spurgeon, with others too numerous to particularise, as the advertisements say. And all no doubt engaged regardless of expense. Last time I had the pleasure of meeting these distinguished individuals was at Madame Tussaud’s, in Baker street, London. In fact they are old friends, for I have met them in all sorts of places. Once, indeed, I remember encountering them in the New Cut, Lambeth (by no means an ultra fashionable locality), where they were temporarily residing in a corner shop, at one time a cheap grocery establishment. The attractions of this exhibition were enhanced, if I remember rightly, by the strains of a barrel organ, very much out of tune, and a descriptive lecture, while the proprietor stood outside and hoarsely expatiated on the advantage of “ seeing all them nobs for tuppence,” that being the price of admission. But there are waxworks and waxworks, just the same as there arc theatres and theatres, and Mr Hardener's exhibition is worth a visit.

It really did ones eyesight good to see the way the youngsters enjoyed themselves at the school festival the other day. And the way those same juveniles walked into the edibles, to say nothing of the potables, was what our American friends would describe as a “ caution to snakes.” “And in this connection” I am reminded of a little incident that happened not long since at a school picnic held near Hobart Town. The festive gathering took place in a big paddock a few miles out of the city, and as each little boy or girl entered, he or she was presented with a big, rich, new currant bun. Now there was one little boy there who made uncommonly short work of his bun, and then, instead of being satislied like the others, he hungered for more like Oliver Twist, and more he determined to have. So quietly slipping over tiic hedge at the bottom of the paddock, this sinful little boy, who must have neglected his catechism sadly, returned to the entrance gate, and passing in with the crowd, received another bun which speedily followed the first. And not once but several times did this depraved little boy resort to the same nefarious method of obtaining buns to winch he was clearly nut entitled. But everything must have an end. Even currant buns will cloy at last; and when this little boy was satiated with bun he went and told all the other little boys, present, and filled them with envy. lam convinced that this little boy will be successful in after life.

_ Funny things occasionally crop up to lighten the tedium of the proceedings at the 11. M. Court. A most extraordinary set off was pleaded on Tuesday by

the defendant in a certain civil suit. The claim having been duly declared, the said set-off was handed up for the perusal of His Worship, who, amid a good deal of laughter, proceeded to read the items aloud, one of which was “To attending 39 fowls during your absence from home, and feeding same at Is per day—39s.” This recalls the famous Lawyers’ Bill, referred to by Theodore Hook, in which the following items occur : —■ “To your asking my advice with regard to the purchase of the yacht Psycho, 13s 4d ; to my telling you that I know nothing whatever ” about yachting, 13s 4d ; total, £1 6s Bd.

I know of few things more annoying than being short-sighted. I have been so from my youth up, and can therefore speak from experience. I don’t repine at failing to discern the beauties of landscape from a railway carriage ; or being unable to make out the time by the big clock on the Church tower, although being unable to do these things is sufficiently provoking, but what I do object to arc the thousand and one petty annoyances of another kind that arise from defective vision. The short-sighted mm is always offending people by catting them in the street, or giving them the cold shoulder at Church. I have even passed ray own brother on the footpath ; while I invariably fail to recognise people who may have “ little accounts ’’ against me, although I may run up against them in the street.

It is refreshing to meet with a really unsophisticated nature out here in these Colonial towns. The man who manages to preserve the freshness of his early youth intact, after even a very short colonial experience, is indeed a ram avis. And yet such a one was present at the 11. M. Court this week. This gentleman had been, it appeared, during the hearing of a certain case, requested to clear out of the boarding house at which he was stopping, on account of his being a “dry boarder ” which is, it seems, a technical name for one who is not addicted to liquor. Put into the box and pressed by Mr White, this gentleman actually did not know the meaning of the word “refreshment.” He must, I should say, have been a very “ dry boarder ” indeed. QUILP.