THEIR GOOD MANNERS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LVII, Issue 2543, 22 June 1895, Page 2 (Supplement)

THEIR GOOD MANNERS.

(From Illaek and White.) Persona chiefly concerned Misa Mary Graham, of Christchurch, New Zealand. Mr John Nhwcombu, of Welliwjton, on a eisit to Christchurch. Miss Granhkr, a IraveUiwj authoress —does not appear. Feme : A house at Christchurch,, New Zealand, PBOLOGUE. (Mr John Neweomhe, to his looking-glass.) 11 Late already, and, of course, this thing refuses to tie. I wonder what kind of evening wo shall have at cousin Bossy's; and if her travelling English girl has come. A frightfully clover English girl, Her last book, though, was really very good. And I am to take hor in to dinner. Ono must do one’s best, of course, for Bossy's lion, but I am colonial enough to feel a little bit afraid of entertaining Miss Granger." (Mm Mary Craham, wrilin/j to her sister.) “ Bessy wrote something about having ‘ a distinguished traveller ’ to meet us, ono of those book-writing people from England, of course, she moans. I do hope he may take mo in to dinner. I mean to bo as nice an possible, and talk about everything but Now Zealand. It is so very much bolter taste, I think, in colonials, than to do nothing but praise ourselves." (In the drawiny-rooin.) Hostess ; Ah, you are almost late, John, and all sorts ol things have gone wrong. But come this way. (InlrodmUaj. hurritdly, and, indistinctly) Mr Nowccmbo— Bliss Or —■ — (tarns to meet another yaest). How do you do, Mrs Westing? Miss Graham (to herself): How nice of Bessy 1 It is the tourist. I know every other person in the room. (A I dinner.)

Mr Nkwcomru : Not a bad representative gathering for a colonial dinner-party. Wo have a high school master, a bank manager, two merchants, and four lawyers. Miss Graham (archly): And a distinguished traveller ? Wo must not forget hat in our list. Mr Newoomiik: Oh, certainly not. (Aside.) Evidently net going to lot her honours bo obscured a moment. (Aloud) Without the distinguished traveller the gathering could scarcely have an excuse for existence. Miss Graham (aside): Well, that is taking his own claims for granted. I believe ho is making fun of our taste for strangers. (Aloud) Well, after all, do you see anything so very ridiculous in the admiring attitudo that colonials take up towards homo visitors ? At least, they have probably had opportunities for acquiring knowledge and experience which colonials can only envy from a distance. Mr Nkwcomuk (yalluntty): Indeed, I had intention of disputing it. In fact, when any worthy example of home culture comes this way, it is the true colonial’s duty both to admire and to profit by it. Miss Graham (aside): He is really serious. (Aloud) English education, of course, is immensely superior to any other.

Mu Newcomer : Undoubtedly, (Aside) And English culture lias, apparently, an immense taste for compliments. (Alow!) However, I can assure you that oven colonials appreciate its results. Still, oven in New Zealand there may bo one or two things worth malting acquaintance with. The public schools Miss Graham (sedately): Yes, I have heard people praise the schools. Mil Newcomde : The scenery— — Miss G uaiiam [carefully dispassionate) : Yos, I think thoro aro some little bits of scenery. Mr Newcomde : As for the society Miss Graham [rather fiercely) : 1 am sure the Now Zealand girls are as nice as anybody I Mr Newcomde (impetuously) : Of course, they are, and nicer ( recallin') himself) ; still —no doubt—thoro is a degree of womanly grace, of tact and elegance that one discovers only when ono meets an ■ English girl. Miss Graham ( shortly) : Oh, indeed. You are quite right to think so, of course. Mu Newcomde : And Englishwomen have set an admirable example by travelling about in the enterprising fashion they have lately. Vegetating in one small, town must dwarf the mind. No doubt your own experience will have shown you the truth of this ? Miss Graham (much offended) : I have hardly considered it in that way. But I should hope that books Mr Newcomde : Oh yes, books are invaluable. Books of travel, particularly Miss Graham (aside): I am sure I shall never look nt a line of his 1 Mu Newcomde : And the magazines, too, are a splendid remedy against provincialism. How well they keep one up now with what is going on in the homo world. While a mail comes within twenty miles of a station ono can manage to pick up a fair acquaintance with current literature. By the way, I want to thank you for the pleasure I have had in ono of your volumes. Miss Graham : My volumes ? Your own, I think you mean Mb Newcomde : My volumes ? Excuse me Hostess ( across the table) : Oh, Mary, I have not told you, I am so disappointed. Miss Granger, the distinguished traveller I promised you, has missed her boat and can't arrive till Thursday. Miss Graham : Miss Granger 1 Mr Newcomde : Missed bor boat 1 Miss Graham 1 ( together ): But are Mr Newcomde | not you ? Miss Graham : Me ! I'm Mary Graham, and I’ve never been further in my life than Dunedin. Mr Newcomde : And I’ve never been further in my life than Auckland. Miss Graham [after a pause) : How you must have always enjoyed the public schools and the scenery. Mr Newcomde ( reddening): And how sure you must be that Now Zealand girls are as nice ns anybody. I agreed with you there. Miss Graham : How about the womanly grace, and the tact and the elegance ? I shall tell Bessy, Mr Newcomde ; No, no ! please don’t. You see thoro was one Now Zealand girl I had not met.

Miss Graham : Please don’t. We had better talk about the magazines. Mr Newcomuk : The magazines—why? Miss Graham : They are such a splendid remedy against provincialism. Mr Newcomde : You see there are things which colonials can only envy from a distance —you said that—shall ! tell my cousin Bessy ? Miss Graham : Please (he turns ns if to address his hostess), please don’t; suppose I —suppose we—tell nobody. Mr Newcomuk : Suppose we don’t. I only wanted to be polite and—and—there was one New Zealand girl I had not met. Miss Graham ; You said that before. Mr Newcombe : Miss Graham ; Hush 1