OSTENTATION OF LIBERI.

Southland Times, Volume I, Issue 36, 13 March 1863, Page 2

OSTENTATION OF LIBERI.

In an article denouncing the growfc tion of libertinism" in English society ing Post refers to a flagrant ineidetf just occurred in the very heart of our districts : — " Who so conspicuous to London for the last three or four J nita? Whose horses so flashy? who' so dashing ? whose attire so resplendcolor under the sun P whose cheeks plied with two of them ? When she by the side of the ' Bow ; when she. on a ' stepper ;' or draws up a pon ' Flirtation-corner;' is there any one so much attention, or receives so r mage, as Cognita? What matteri yesterday the gay butterfly was a/ matters it for the present, that like"* a quagmire, Cognita has been boi solely by corruption to her present aft cares now that Cognita, first rising t in the chaste casinos, took a bolder raised groves of Cremorne, and then*: in an increasing blaze of ostentation races, parks, and the opera ? High' her there. What cares high rank' monds and satins of the box on tit have but just replaced the rags of t her attic? Still more, what m&ttifi mind at any rate remains incapable o' the manners of polish, and that botb ; native roughness ? It all matters v& nita is the fashionable Jezebel of the i nita is held to be a fitting compj ? noblest in the land ; and Cognita boj . in the open air of London, as pracß > sovereign of Europe in his capital. * i thing to be able to bow to her. G ccv admiringly on her as- slve to* head at them. Freshly caught cuP

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are far more proud of a recognition from her, especially if any other young noodles aro witness to it, than of an acknowledgment from the grandest of grandes dames. The last new depravity or blasphemy that falls from her lips is quoted like the bon mot of an established wit ; and Pylodes, tho fool, relates admiringly the precise amount which Orestes, the idiot, contributes to her establishment. But the flickering career of an ignis fatnus isproverbially short-lived, and Cognita, like all other noxious vapors, soan dies out. She is compelled to seek the shelter of other shores, and fires, as sheretreats, a Parthian shot af the community which she has done nothing but outrage from the ■ beginning, by carrying off with her a partner of , herguilfc and her flight, and accomplishing the misery of a hitherto happy family. But Cognita, though she contrives to escape with a good deal, cannot carry off every thing. The horses and the carriages, the snug little establishment, and the * furniture and effects' are not easily stowed away in portmanteaus. Consequently the latter aro for sale, and on view a day or two previous. What is to be said for the good tasto of the town, when it has been seen that there has been a perfect ' rush' to" secure 'catalogues,' and to obtain orders to view? that the wretched little residence, with its tawdry fittings and its gimcrack furniture has-been besieged by hundreds ; that on the ' last day* the attendance was overflowing, and that expectant visitors were compelled to wait outside until those within had gratified their prurient curiosity P This is no exaggeration of the truth. The excitement on the subject has been comically intense, and the rouge pots and scent bottles of the prostitute have commanded a far more careful scrutiny than would the treasures at South Kensington. The 'library' was singularly characteristic. It consisted of a few volumes of the Court Guide, an odd number or two of the Sporting Magazine, an Essay onequestrianism,and Burkes Peerage ! Quite a Kttlc stock in trade. Intellectual collection ! '1 he times are certainly degenerating, even in these matters. Aspasia is understood to have been of real political assistance to Pericles ; and even Nell Gwynne had soul enough to persuade Charles 11. into the erection of Chelsea Hospital. But your modern Hctaira, so that she be more lovely or more depraved thaan her fellows — 'either will do — may unite tho ignorance of a savage with the coarseness of a ■ pig. Is not the infatuation a marvel ? Is it not as disgraceful as it is marvellous ? But is it not manifest and undeniable ? Servabit odorem testudine : and such has been the influence of this personage on the pulse of society, flint those who can no longer offer their adoration in person throng to the scene of her iniquities as might devotees to the shrine of a deity. Doubtless tho sale of her 'relics' will reach fabulous prices." Elopers Overtaken and the Man Shot. — A striking verification of the much quoted proverb that " the course of true love never did run smooth" happened here rae day last week. As far as we have been able to glean, the facts are these : — iOn last Friday afternoon, a man, about 35 years of age, and a girl, about 17(the latter riding on a man's saddle ), arrived in town, and stayed for two or three hours at the Tenterfield Hotel for refreshments At dusk they were making preparations for resuming their journey towards Armidale, when they were asked to stop for the night, the landlord judging that a female ought not to travel in the night, and at the same time imagining she was either the wife or daughter of the man who accompanied her. No entreaty could prevail upon them toremain, and they stated their intention of camping about three miles out of town, while they mounted their heavily swagged horses and soon disappeared in the twilight. A few bystanders who witnessed their departure might have been observed in deep "cogitation on the circumstance, and one or two made free expression of the opinion that "all was not serene," although they dared not stop the travellers. The unhappy parent of the girl, accompanied by a black tracker, arrived in town at daylight the following morning, and having made some inquiries concerning the runaways, at the same time exhibiting a loaded pistol, with which he vowed to shoot the man, he was informed that they had passed through the town on the previous night, whereupon he went off in hot pursuit, and startled the guilty pair while breakfasting about four miles from town. "VVe are left in ignorance as to the scene that occurred between the ' parties, which must have been rather a striking one, for during the forenoon they returned into Tenterfield, the girl's father leading her wounded lover's horse. The man was shot in the knee, the ball having glided off the bone and made a passage round the knee-cap. As soon as the deed was done(which it has been given out by the parties waa accidental) the parent got a razor and extracted the ball, for this purpose cutting the flesh immediately below the knee-cap. Dr Mason was called to attend the sufferer, who is now progressing favourably, although likely to be confined for some time. The old man must have-re lented when he discovered the injury which he had caused, for he was making enquiries for a minister nest day to have the pair married. There not being such a functionary within 80 miles of Tenterfield the ceremony could not be performed, and the girl started for home (Darling Downs) with her father on Monday morning. — Tenterfield Chronicle. New Reef heah Beechworth —We have been gratified by an inspection of a specimen from a new reef discovered by Mr Newson, at the Nine Mile. The stone is very rich in the precious metal, and to all appearance will pay handsomely: The reef was accidentally disclosed by the falling of a tree, the roots of which tore up the ground and exposed the quartz: — Border Post. Good Times.— Fifteen men in a "happy state " were counted on Sunday evening between Deep Creek and Beechworth. There is yet some little trade to be done round the old town. — Border Post.