SKETCHES OF COLONIAL LIFE.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume VIII, Issue 691, 13 February 1879, Page 3

SKETCHES OF COLONIAL LIFE.

No. 1.-— The Cadger.

In nearly every colonial city there are a number of fairly-dressed and well-man-nered but utterly penniless and wholly' unprincipled youths, who have nothing to live upon, and are too lazy too work. For want of a better title we may as well call these gentlemen * c Cadgers," for, like a certain Biblical personage, "They go' about seeking whom they may devour." Luckily one can easily identify them, as they are nearly all remarkable for the same exceedingly objectionable peculiarities. In the first place the " Cadger "is extraordinarily cordial on introduction, and pressingly anxious that we should drink at his expense. He becomes familiar before we can clap our hands, and after half-an-hour's conversation uses our Christian name quite as if he had a right to 'do so. The next time we come across him he greets us as an old friend—" Well, old man, how are you?" Note, carefully, that " old man "is a favourite familiarity of the cadger — " How goes it old man ? Have a drink ? No, I'll pay. Confound it, left my purse at home. Lend us half-a-sovereign."—" Havn't got one !"•— " Oh well, half-a-crown will do. Thanks." The cadger always leaves his purse at home. The, well-worn excuse does everlasting duty for his shameless impecuiiibsity. He will borrow any sum you will lend' him, and' as long as there is a 6hance of getting another sixpence out of you he will be friendly,. almost brotherly, in 'his demeanour. .-When^ however, the long-suffering lender refuses further aid, the cadger usually finds a pretence to take offence and fix a quarrel on him. You cannot very well remind a man with whom you are quarrelling that he owes you money ; that is, of course, if you happen to be a gentleman. There is no limit to a cadger's meanness ; as a rule he reviles those people the most from whom he has received the. luost kindness. But where and how does the cadger live ? He neither receives nor earns money, and when his character gets known borrowing becomes a matter of difliculty. Yet he always seems to have a shilling in his pocket, and a house to return home to. There are many friendless ' widows and spinsters letting apartments in Auckland who could explain the mystery if they would. I know one well-known "cadger" who has lived several .months hi various boarding-houses, both at Auckland and the Thames, without paying a single sixpence. This high-mindod English gentleman has, in every instance, systematically chose unprotected women for his dupes. " Cadgers " really ought not to be treated as they are. We constantly find well known members of this genus admitted into respectable society on picas which should not be allowed for an instant. A. is an awful drunkard, but he is good company. B. is a rascal, of course, "but then look what excellent cricket he plays when sober. C. sings well, and so on, &c. , &c. People who weakly, or good-naturodly, allow those sort of men to associate with them, and impose upon them, even in trifles, arc guilty of a sin against the community which it is difficult to forgivo. The colonies are made far too comfortable for the " bad eggs " which England so freely exports. Jf our cities were made disagreeably hot for " cadgers" and all such gentry, we should have fewer of them, and honest youths really anxious to work would stand a better chance than they do now. Max.

THE PLOfiGING ROW

The following article on the flogging row has been handed to us for publication :—

One of the most prominent characteristics of the present ago is a want of reverence for things hitherto esteemed sacred. At the last meeting of the School Committee this was strongly exemplified. After some discussion upon the subject, ot the atrocious crime committed by the teacher in caning a small boy, that reckless criminal was requested to appear before the awful tribunal. So fer from advancing with " bated breath and whispered humbleness," the misguided man, apparently qtuto unconscious of the magnitude of his offence, took his seat, perfectly unembarassed. He hart the brazen hardihood to claim a right to administer the discipline of his school, and' declined to consider himself at all in fault. This was too much ; astonishment, horror, and rago.in turn strove, for mastery o'er the expressive features of the Secretary (Johnny). What next? What was a rise in the prico of flour to this? That a schoolmaster should venture to open his lips in the presence of liis lords and masters, these in solemn conclave assembled. This would never do. He would resign. This dreadful threat cast a gloom o'er the proceedings. He was entreated to reconsider. The luckless hidi magi&tcr had withdrawn, doubtless to weep in secret, .and prepare for the worst ; the meeting broke up, and as the members dispersed, a sound of laughter was heard. Could it have been any one so depraved as to "chaff" the Secretary— Johnny 1 That gentlemen has no doubt received a shock to his preconceived ideas of the correct demeanour of a school-teacher, which nothing will mitigate but the arrival at the District School of some one who "knows his place."