Larrikinism.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 30, 5 February 1904, Page 4

Larrikinism.

A correspondent who has been investigating- the several noxious products of civilisation sends the following notes on the larrikin species to "Mercutio" in the Auckland Herald : The larrikin riset-h 'in the morning, and hatcheth mischief till the going down of the sun. He donneth the slouch hat, tieth on the neckerchief, and sallicth forth in -quest of adventure. He weareth a jaunty air, and cncircleth himself round about .vith a wreath of tobacco smoke. He meeteth sundry and divers other larrikins, and straitway raiselh Cain. He aLiandonet'h his mother iongue, and inventeth a vocabulary of his own. He tarrietli at the street corner', and trippeth up the unwarv passerby. He worrieth the concertina, and maketh night hideous with the screeching thereof. He frequent eth his neighbour's orchard in the season, and hath a keen appreciation of other people's apples. Ho loveth the melon patch, and doteth on the girl with the dress-im-prover. He jeereth at the Salvation Army, on-d turneth title concert hall into a pandemonium. He cutteth effigies on bridge railings, and the stranger and wayfarer marvolleth thereat. He hath his habitation in tho streets an'd at the public-house corners, and the home circle knoweth him not. Ihe difficulty is to know how to (leal with this vermin, but the following mixture is said to be a cure by those who have tried it :—Birch rod one part, clenched lingess live parts, and muscular wrist one part ; thoroughly mixed together in u strong solution of determination and freely applied night and morning while the insect is in the larva or pupa state.