Random Notes

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 20, 12 August 1893, Page 9

Random Notes

It seems ancient history to speak of the depression in New South Wales, but it is curious to note how far depression prevades the various calling's and trades in the premier colony. Few, perhaps, are aware that the prevailing stagnation of business has reached the vocations of the undertakers and monumental masons, and fewer will be disposed to grieve at the intelligence. An irate correspondent of the Sydney Herald complains of the hard-heartedness of those whose motto is “ Vita e Morte.” He deprecates the practice of the shapers of tombstones, who are ever on the watch at the cemetery gates to button hole the relatives of the dead, and thus endeavour to secure an order for a marble column or some such memorial of the virtues of the dear departed. The correspondent evidently forgets that this suing for custom at the gates of the necropolis on the part of the monumental masons is quite as legitimate as the solicitations for patronage by the “knights of thewhip ” —the drivers of wheeled conveyances, who congregate in the neighbourhood of our colonia railway stations, and hail every incoming ;r h veller with that everlasting and decidedly monotonous greeting “Keb, ser.” Such proceedings too, on the part of the vendors of tombstones can well be put down as pure philanthropy —the desire to perpetuate the memory of those good qualities (so common in N.S.W.) which otherwise would fade from the memory _ of forgetful man.

My readers have long ere this came to the conclusion that I am a man of retiring disposition, and little inclined to descant upon my own merits, such as they are, as the Irishman would say. My modesty, therefore, is almost a bar to the admission of the accompanying letter in which Levite administers a dose of compliments which, if anything, tends to excess. I will not, however, permit my bashfulness to deprive my readers of his important contribution, so, heedless of my own blushes, I submit his communication for their edification; —•

Dear Yox, —I was pleased indeed to hail your advent in the columns of the Southern Cross a few weeks ago, and give you my congratulations on your laudable desire to emulate Southland’s Censor in reprehending our many little peccadilloes, and you have my best wishes for success in your noble efforts. Permit me, however, to suggest that, from your lofty elevation, you should occasionally glance at our daily broadsheets, and keep an eye especially upon their leaders, for therein will you find much material to meditate upon. Such, you will find in a recent leader of your morning contemporary, which journal, from its age, its experience, and its opinions, richly merits that venerable appellation not infrequently applied to it. Theology has ever been a strong point with the journal in question, as your readers well know, and consequently we have a slight eruption of the odium theologicum in reference to a measure at present on its way through the Lower House. After many years of patient effort, philanthropic legislators secured the passing of the Deceased Wife’s Sister Act, which, so far as observation of its operation has been carried, has certainly not proved, as was prophesied, destructive of the moral sense of colonial communities, while in special cases it has proved a boon. A like relief is proposed in the Bill above referred to, the Deceased Husband’s Brother’s Marriage Bill,

Why should the absurd restriction not be removed? and why, if so desirious, should not a man marry his widowed sister-in-law ? “ Because,” says your contemporary over the way, “Levitcus forbids!!!” Our editorial friend is certainly not to be be complimented upon his knowledge of Scripture history, nor yet upon his acquaintance with the science of Biblical criticism, else he would certainly know something of the time when the Levitical legislation came into existence (vide Canon Driver’s recent important work, and many others) and would know, too, that Jewish custom was in utter defiance of the law he instances as a sufficient bar against the action of our colonial legislature. What does he make of the case of Judah’s sons? What of Euth ? What, too, of the supposed case put in Matthew 22 ? This latter refers to a Deuteronomic law in which a man is enjoined to wed the widow of a deceased brother. Our editor has fixed himself upon the horns of a dilemma, I fear, in this particular case. For the advocates of this measure have actually a greater body of Scriptural argument (if such be needed) in favour of the proposed ameliorating law than he can possibly adduce against , it. Expediency and the requirements of modern life are surely of greater importance in the framing of laws for our control than the relics of what in many . respects may be discredited as an effete, if not obsolete, form of civilization. Thanking you, my dear Vox, in anticipation for giving this note room in your column, I am your well-wisher, Leyite. Levite, my good friend, you take the matter too seriously. The editorial comment above-mentioned was meant to be taken cum grano salts and the gramim you have neglected to auly consider. I must confess that Ido not feel so strongly on the matter as you seem to do, neither indeed does my better half (decidedly better, so she says) Mrs V. Her opinion is decidedly decided—“ No deceased husband’s brothers for me!” says she. Her next venture, when I go hence, will be of quite another colour. “Experience,” she says, “ teaches all—except fools,” and she is not classed among these latter. And it is quite possible that Mrs Y.’s opinion is the prevailing one. Many of my readers were doubtless to be found in the crowd that assembled at the post office on Monday last for its official opening, and their willing ears most probably drank in the stream of eloquence that descended from the balcony where were gathered the famed ones of Southland. The speech of our very own “ Honourable,” of whom we are so justly proud, was applauded to the echo. But the assembly below had not the same favourable opportunity as 1 of hearing what the Hon. J. G. said, or intended to say, so, for the information of the residents of the town who are so interested in postal affairs, I herewith supply the necessary material required to fill up the lacunae in the published reports of the proceedings. The Hon. Postmaster-General loquitur-. “ You all admire the architectural beauty of the additions, especially the tower, so noble in proportion and symmetrical in outline, while you cannot but admire the graceful terminal adornments of its summit. To prevent such a sad calamity overtaking those who seek to learn what’s o’clock, as overwhelmed the veracious Gulliver among the Brobdignagians, the tower, by careful and observant officials, was thoughtfully reduced to proportions suitable to the needs of the Lilliputian timeseekers of the vicinity, whose necks might otherwise have received an awkward twist during their horologieal investigations. The Liberal Government, of which I have the honour to be a member, claims the merit of planting many settlers on the soil, but in the case of the noble pile this day so auspiciously opened, we occupy the higher and noble position of having planted much soil upon the people. Invercargill is much in need of ornamental sheets of water, and that which has for months past adorned the space before me must have called forth your heartiest encomiums. We, as Liberals, believe that local industries should he protected, and fostered too, aud thus the brigade of shoeblacks for some time ought to” Cetera desunt, the applause at this point became deafening, and when the tumultuous outcry subsided the reporters of the dailies were able to take up the thread of the discourse. I don’t often indulge in conundrums, but one wafted to my ears during the past week. I may permit myself to fire off at the heads of my readers. —Why did the hat of the Hon. Postmaster-General on Monday last resemble the tower of the post office building ? Give it up, my gentle reader ? Like the tower, the hat was reduced in altitude by the weight of the official body which sat upon it. Vox.