SATURDAY NIGHT

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 79, 27 December 1907, Page 8

SATURDAY NIGHT

■ •. » ; ■ ■ .. --0, . WITH THE FESTIVE YOUTH. ■'.;. There is a period in the life of every man, if he bo a man at all, when the development of his animal spirits exceeds, and sometimes overshadows, that of his sense of responsibility. This period, the time of his' gay afld festive youth, is a trying ono for his elders, who never can prophesy what the subject of their anxiety will do noxt. Ho is at this time a' species of intermittent volcano. His regard for tho eternal fitness of things is '-a minus quality, as also is his sense of proportion. His humour is boisterous, .his valour heroic, and his capacity for keeping his neighbours on tenter-hooks tremendous. To study tho festive youth under the most favourable auspices, ono must chooso a time when, tho restraints of disciplined servitude having been relaxed, and tho pecuniary reward for such labour duly stowed hU his trousers' pockets, ho arrays himself in.purplo and fino linen, puts a flower in his buttonhole, and, after vaguely replying to the;in- : o'yit-ablo maternal inquiry as to tho hour of His return, ho slips tho crook of his stack over his arm and departs. . ./:'<■'■ His destination, from whatever part of-.Uie oii.tor darkness he may* sot out, is. the gay' , metropolis, with its crowds, its * brilliant"**shop window's, and its amusements. We see him! as ho alights from a suburban car, train, or ferry steamer. Then wo loso.him.* .Ho is. gone, swallowed up in the crowd. Now arid , then, as tho hours fly past, we-get arucx!casibnal glimpse.. of. him—in , the shootirig gallery ; smoking* a -.'.cigarette on . thq: -paye-, mont during tho .interval in the vaudeyilio theatre or tho Opora House; or leaiiing gracefully against a lamp-post, bis hat on tho back of his head, his thumb.in the armhole 6f his waistcoat, picking wihnors or.explaining losers with a group "of his follows. By and by,the streets beeoino clearer: pat6r : families and his string of " weans havo squeezed themselves-' into ■■homeward-bound cars and departed. About this time bur friend, tho festive one, brightens up and be : comes interesting. The glamour of the night' is upon;him, and ho expands under its influence. There may also bo indicated' tho glamour of something else. He addresses himself to his good friends: "What about supper?" "Right'-01" — aud they retiro unanimously and boisterously to a;supperrooni, whero they seat themselves noisily and discuss-the menu. A waitress appears. /'" "Hullo, Girlie!" says one. ■ , "Ain't sho a hummer; what?" admiringly exclaims another;-whereat " Girlie " gurgles cqquottishly and then assumes an air of ■ business; " What's your: order?" she inquires. '■- -'- A'pause follows—then a volley. , ... "Mine's, tripe-'n onions." '*,' "Whitebait for me —not too greasy, mind;"' "I'll have a savoury omelette'and coffee —good colfeo." , "Ham and eggs," says another, recklessly. ■.. .. •: y . . ... . ■, An interval of waiting ensues, .during which ono beats a tattoo on his .plate'.with .a couplo of knives. Another hums: "Thero was I—waiting at'• tho church." A third winks at passing waitresses. .The.fourth sits in solemn silenco, his brow . clothed .with thunder.- ";.•..•. .-■•.- " Gheor up, Bill;" urges his neighbour. Tho cloud deepens. ■ , '''..'.; "What's up with Bill?" inquires the mail opposite, with an air of solicitude. \ . .:.'. " Shikarred," observes his* neighbour briefly, his mouth full of savoury omelette; "Absolutely," this signifying- that ; - ; .,tlie " shikar " has reached the lowest depths. '" Bill was smarting from a series of insults which had been gratuitously conferred upon him during the evening. ; His enemy was also going over in the boat, and tho idea which dominated Bill's mind at the moment was tho question of putting this man's "pot" on. ' , . . ', Tho supper over, -they clatter downstairs, settle their obligations, and straggle out into tho street homeward-bound. . ■.'r'.;*'.