SOCIAL TOPICS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1920, 4 December 1890, Page 38

SOCIAL TOPICS.

BY CIGABETTP.

"GADDING."

This is one of the most popular amusements of womankind. It consists of visiting, shopping, walking the streets, attending rehearsals of concerts, tableaux, or theatricals, going to picnics and tennis parties, or taking part in any entertainment which takes them away from their domestic duties. Even district visiting is a serions sort of "gadding," and quite as enjoyable to those whese tastes lie that way as an afternoon's skating would be to their more frivolous sisters.

Colonial women are particularly fond of " gadding," in fact there are some who would gladly gad about all day from luncheon party to afternoon tea, thence to tennis and afterwards to a dance in the evening. There is something exhilarating about the climate of Australasia that is very conducive to pleasure-seeking. On bright sunny days one naturally thinks of picnics and water parties ; and what is the use of having pretty summer frocks if one does not go out and show them ? But of all New Zealand towns, Dunedin takes its pleasures the sadde3t; and those who do "gad" about seem to do so under protest. The folks who daily walked through the avenues of the Exhibibition looked more as if they were attending a funeral than on pleasure bent. The theatre-goers are depressingly well-behaved, and even the approaching general election does not ruffle a hair of our solid, soberminded citizens. In Auckland the public have plenty of amusement, and enter into it with zest. Wellington is particularly gay. Little Napier has all sorts of frivolities continually on the tapis. Christchurch goes picnicking in shoals to Sumner ; rowing on the river or cricketing in the meadows. Oamaru parades the streets and listens to the band, and goes "calling" every day; but Dunedin, strait-laced, staid Dunedin, finds ample enjoyment in an Exhibition then subsides for a year, beguiles itself with Presbyterian and Anglican Synods, and reaches the summit of its ambition in the establishment of an art gallery. Some of the worthy citizens even exhibit a demure delight when told by the mayor how nice it will be when they are dead to know that their children have such a beautiful gallery I—though,1 — though, according to "Holy John," our street evangelist, the climate of the future will be such as to divert everyone's attention from art galleries or aught else. But what is it that makes Dunedin so dull — the religion, the climate, or the people ?

Goodness is always monotonous, and Dunedinites are very good as a whole ; then, too, the climate being colder than the Northern towns, there is not so much open air life, or so much padding about. Dunedin women dress well wh.sn they go " gadding,"

and bewitching toilets may be seen in Princes street about 5 o'clock, just when the young men come out. It is five, too, in Wellington when the Government buildings close, and Lambton quay is the scene of the charming frocks and the gratified meetings. Men cannot conceive what pleasure women can find in " gadding " ; they have no idea what a pleasure it is to a woman to look in shop windows, admire the bonnets, and wonder how each one would suit her. It is only women who can enter into it and enjoy it thoroughly. And then (for those who must have a lesson at the root of everything) think how much there is to learn from a stroll through the town I Some girls are so clever that they can copy anything they see in a draper's window, others learn something from looking at pictures ; book shops are very instructive, and the life of the streets themselves teaches one something. The difference between a country-bred and a town-bred child will show how instructive street and shops are.

So if we have nothing else to do, let us not call "gaddiDg about waste of time," but let those who enjoy it make the moat of it, remembering that Herrick says :—: — Gather your rosebuds while you may, Old Time is still aflying, And the same flowers that bloom to-day To morrow will be dying.