THE BARRACKER.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 2677, 7 September 1889, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE BARRACKER.

One of the most distinctive outgrowths of colonial life is the barracker. Climatic influence and room to yell, in co-operating with the capacious lungs of the oarly settler and his disposition to howl ■violently on the slightest provocation, have led to the evolution of the modern " barracker " as wo see him to-day with his head open and all his reserve forces of expression and expletive called into active operation. This interesting physiological study is of comparatively recent growth. He made his nppearanco in Australian history contemporaneously with the acceptance of football as a national pastime, and has been screaming on and off ever since. The barracker fascinates me ; he exerts an influence over one, and when he 6eta his face ajar, arches liis back, and throws his whole soul into an undertaking, I stand entranced in silent esctatio admiration and wonder how it's done. He is impervious to criticism. His facc is never in repo.-e, because ho has got a lot of tobacco to chew, and wauts to get through it before ho dies. Ho is seen at his calmest during a lull, when the game goes smoothly. Presently the interest intensifies, the ball is working towards a goal ; his oyes began to hang out, his neck stretches, his jaw slows down to six beats a minute. The goal is in danger j his jaw drops dead—he's wound up and ready. A scrummage right before the posts. Now he feels he's wanted on the job ; his country calls him, his face unfolds and his jaws roll back, and his eyes hang on the brink of that red chasm, ho climbs half-way up himself, and hangs in the atmosphere whilst evolving frenzied howls of mingled rage and pain, spiced with wounded pride and dire apprehension. His view from the front is like a walk into a butcher's shop. He is pregnant with emotion ; for a time he is nothing but one giga.itic lung and a great gaping aperture, out of which come hoarse bellows, war whoops,fearful imprecations, and inarticulate threats. Presently he begins to subside ; the ravine between his features shows a perceptible diminution, his nose rises over the hill, his observations become spasmodic and lets incoherent, his forehead creeps into view, his cars step out of his mouth, there's a snap as the lid shuts down, a pint and a half of tobacco juice is squirted aimlessly into vacancy, and the jaw resumes its " demnition " grind ; the barracker settles back into his boots, his eyes take on their old critical reserve—the roar of the tempest is stilled, the crisis is past— his duty is done and tho nation's saved. I have watched the riso and progress of the barracker with great interest. I have noted the development of his lungs, and seen tho corner of his mouth drive his ears back till they noarly meet and tie behind. I have kept an eye on him, and watched tho break in his faeo spread in his restless endeavour to keep abreast of the exigencies of his position and howl upon modern rjquirements, and I foresee the time when his mouth will run down his hips and he'll split apart like a clothes horse when ho desires to express the warmth of his feelings at a future match. I won't be thero then, but perhaps somebody equally philanthropic will seizo tho opportunity to drop a package of "Rough on Rats " into tho slit.—Melbourne Punch.