The LARRIKIN ELEMENT AT CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1824, 15 March 1884, Page 2

The LARRIKIN ELEMENT AT CAMBRIDGE.

L YiißiKixisM is a complaint supposed to be characteristic of huge towns only, and a community must aiiive at a ceicain stage before it can expect to bo blessed with the piesence and constant concomitant blessings of such an entertaining constituent in its population. We arc constantly reading <>t the feats of manly activity, pristine bravery, heroic conduct and unparalleled cleverness which now and then indicate the piesence of the genus lairikin in Sydney, Chnstchuich, Auckland, and other metropolitan centres, and we lead and speak of these enteitaining incidents with the air of people who had not yet foimed the acquaintance of the bipfd.il monster. But late e\peuencps in Waikato — Hamilton and Cambndge — have taught us the utter absurdity of going so far afield for samples of pure huiikinism, when at our veiy door we aie brought immediately in contact with that mostfoi midable aitist and hideous toi mentor, the "whistliiiggod/'tobefoimdinlaige number-, atom-entertainments and amusement^. Let us take for instance the Presbyterian Church concert given at Cambridge on Wednesday evening last. A good programme of music was . rranged, and a large number of people went for the purpose of .spending a pleasant evening, and enjoying the musical tieat piomised them. Scarcily had the hrstitem < n the programme transpired than a hideous deafening noise, compared to which the bellowing*, of a menagerie were but a trifle, issued forth from the recesses of the youthful multitude at the back. Nor can we call it a youthful multitude, for among the number we noticed the bearded countenances of a few choice spiiits, whoso length of yeais has far outrun the development of their rational faculties. These people should know how to behave themselves at a public entertaiument, and if they do not learn how to do so before the next occasion of tho kind, we shall be under the painful necessity of recording their names with their performances. It would seem as if these people go to public entertainments with one defined object — to enjoy themselves at the expense and to the great annoyance of everybody else. If a song is deserving an encore, they will in the sublimity of their isrnorance hiss the performance and insult the pei former ; while on the other hand when the respectable, and, we might say, respectful portion of the audience find they have had enough of «. performer, who has succeeded not only in making himself ridiculous, but also those who aie obliged to look at him, and are therefore desirous of getting rid of him at any price, so surely will the element at the back persist in encoring him ; not, remember, because he has succeeded in pleasing them any more than those in front, but simply "We will bring him out again for the tun of it." One matter which came under our notice on Wednesday evening, we cannot allow to pass unnoticed. A few gentlemen, evidently the promoters of rhe concert, had taken upon themselves the conduct of the proceedings, with which we may include the preservation of order among the audience, and in the ostensible execution of their duties took their stand in the very place where their services were most needed. An item of the programme was about to be rendered which tickled the fancy of the youthful multitude behind, and they did not hesitate to give vent to their feelings. These extemporised pi'eservers of order stood like the stuffed tiguies in a clothier's window smiling on the bed of rowdiness befoie them, and treating the whole with the greatest possible indifference, and the chairman was obliged to interfere to restore order, and secure a quiet hearing for the singers. If these gentlemen fee] disinclined to discharge the duties of their simple office, it is easy for them to stand aside in favour of others who will not scruple to box a boy's earn, or remove an overgrown specimen forcibly from the building. To ensure peace on occasions of this nature an example must be made, and the earlier in the evening the better. If people are to be tormented like this when they go to entertainment* they will cease going altogether, and considering that no pleasure can be derived where such a nuisance is tolerated, we think those who would remain at home would find absence the more preferable. If private individuals cannot be got to undertake the duties ri keeping order at public entertainments, we have every reason to believe that the police would accept the task if representations were made to them on the matter.

Mr Aidridge will conduct the usual services at Le Quesne's Hall, Hamilton, to-morrow. The subject for the evening lecture is :— " BaptUm, and its relation to the Kingdom of God." All rates duo the Newcastle Road Board n,ot p*i4 l>7 [ho mi inft, will to r«w<| fo?i