COLONIAL CASTE,

Observer, Volume 5, Issue 116, 2 December 1882, Page 179

COLONIAL CASTE,

The following incident shows what may happen to a Property Tax collector: — He was doing a suburban district, in which lived a highly esteemed and respected fellow-citizen subject to the tax. In the innocence of his heart he designated the tradesman as a " painter" in the schedule, and left it at his residence. Shortly afterwards the tradesman came home and the offending missive was handed to him. To pick up his hat and go for that collector was the work of a moment. At the interview between the two, the former asked what he meant by insulting him in that way, inserting the word " painter" when he knew he was an " oil and colour merchant" Considering that the collector had known .'MiSSio. the days gone by when carrying his p'afnt pot/^nrush, and hand ladder, he held to ;'Jj?lie axiom] | ," once a painter always a painter," and refused|tb furnish a new schedule, or alter the\de3ignatibn, though agreeable that the tradesman\,niight fjlo so if he chose. The delicate question as^%^.jfsiether the tradesman is a "painter" or an- w%iT and colour merchant," is likely to be carried on appeal to Mr Sperrey, the Commissioner. There is a good deal of this sort of thing in the world. The billsticker is an "extensive dealer in paper," the match vendor a " timber merchant." Home Tooke tells a good story of aristocratic snobbishness at Eton. Tooke's father was a poulterer, and when young Tooke went to Eton the college boys were anxious to know what was the social position of his governor. It was the palmy days of Eastern commerce and the Indian trade. "My father," said young Tooke, as his breast swelled with conscious pride, " is a TtwTcey merchant." The youthful snobs were satisfied, and Tooke was never bothered afterwar/ 1 - about his social status.