Recollection of anOld= time Christmas

Otago Witness, Issue 3327, 19 December 1917, Page 65

Recollection of anOld= time Christmas

By Geo. M. ETasstng

_ln the old goMfielde days of tho early sixties Christmas Week was always set aside as a period for universal rejoicing and festivity.

With a plentiful supply of water, tha claims in_ the creek and on the lower flat were paying handsome dividends, and tha miners were just washing up for the holidays' relaxation, when written invitations were circulated throughout the camp announcing the opening of a new billiard room and a free ball and supper at the Empire Hotel on Christmas Eve. In those days it was the custom at Christmas to decorate both the exterior and interior of the hotels on the goldfielda with greenery of every description: to fly the flags of various' nations; and to display conspicuously above the main entrance the word "Welcome." All this gave the little township a gay holiday; appearance.

Now, at the Empire on this occasion, a new girl had just arrived, and as it -was rumoured that she had just come across from Ballarat it added, an additional at- i traction to the invitations issued. There- J fore, on this Christmas Eve, the weather conditions being lovely and the host andl hostess very popular, the minors, gaily dressed, cap-a-pie, in variously-coloured jumpers, red silk sashes, nugget-boots, and wide-awake hats, turned out en masse. All were heartily welcomed by tha hospitable "landlord and his smiling lady. The new billiard room was inspected, admired, and patronised; various games indulged in; then the band arrived and! took up their places in the large room. The band Iwas composed of Bob (the; fiddler), Mac (Avith his concertina), and the funny man with the banjo. Thera was also a harmonium to accompany contributors of vocal items. I

When the room was lit up and the \ M.C._, with his hair curled and oiled for I the occasion, clapped his hands and in- j vited all to engage partners'for a country i dance, the hoys, who were in fine form, made a i-ush for the ladies; but Lankey Jim, who was an expert in the terpsichorean art, and had his eye to business, captured the young lady from Ballarafc and took up a position at the head of the set.

The old-time goldminer and the ladies on the goldfields were noted for then? J graceful dancing: but Lankey Jim and Dinah utterly eclipsed any previous performance on the Creek. The swan-like grace with which they sailed down the ' centre brought forth an outburst of appre- j ciative exclamations such as "Red hot- ' you bet!" and "Ain't it sweet, though?' At the finish of each dance or set the M.C. would clap his hands and yell out, "Promenade the bar," whereupon _ each couple proceeded to the bar for liquid ra-i freshment.

All the ladies on the Creek were present. The schoolmistress, who was tha wife of the local constable, and also reckoned a prima donna of the Creek, waa called upon for the first song. To thisshe. kindly "responded with that beautiful and touching ballad "Tommy, make room for your uncle." and, as an encore num.-" ber, gave "Oh, listen to the mockingbird.' accompanied' by a warbling variation in imitation of the bird. This item, though i the imitation left a doubtful impression. on the mind, fairly brought down th« j house.

Things Were just humming when suppej was announced) and all took their_ places round improvised tables laden with alt the delicacies of the season, roast goosa and sucking pig being a special feature. After the repast speechifying and toasting became the order. The host, an IrishAmerican whom I had met years befora in California, where he drove the coachj from Sacramento to Mormon Island, mada a capital address, which was cheered to the echo.

On dancing being resumed, and just before 12 o'clock, the hostess announced that she and the married ladies on tha Creek were responsible for the ball j and she claimed the privilege of Inviting tha single young ladies present, before tha clock struck 12, each to engage and propose to the gentleman of their choice. When the M.C. made this announcement and reminded the ladies that it was leapyear, behold! the young lady from Bal* larat tripped gracefully aeross the floor, and', bending artfully ' down on her left knee, proposed in an audible whisper to Lankey Jim. All was now breathless suspense; but Jim, gallantly rising to tha occasion, stood up and, embracing tha sweet young thing, folded her to his manly bosom. The cheering and enthusiasm that ensued baffles all description. The ball was closed, a committee formed to deal with the business, and it was decided, with full consent of the parties interested, that the wedding should take place there and then. The local storekeeper, who waa also registrar, and lived close by, was aroused, and put in an appearance. The host and hostess acted as best man and bridesmaid respectively ; the ceremony was duly performed, cheers given and felicitous greetings showered on the happy couple, and the bar was again promenaded in earnest. Then the band took up a position outside the front door, followed: bv the bride and bridegroom, while tha whole company formed into procession and, furnished with empty kerosene and biscuit tins, brought im the rear. Amid the music and sons; of the jovial followers Lankey Jim and his lovely bride reached the snug little cabin on the lower flat, where prosperity attended them, and many happy, joyous days were spent amidst a band of prosperous and jolly miners.

And just here I cannot refrain from entering ft. word of comrpcndalion on those splendid men. the pioneers of the goidSclds of California, Australia, and Nave.

Zealand. They were composed of various nationalities, vet the word "alien" was unknown among them. The natural or arbitrary boundary lines dividing civilised peoples wc-e not deemed barriers separating the brotherhood of men. That idea is of a later creation, introduced and fostered by "Imperialism." An international brotherhood'with a cosmopolitan spirit was the brightest feature of the old brigade of goldminers. Let us pray to Gcd that, at the close of the present terrible world catastrophe, civilised man will have learned to think; to discard material for moral education ; to see to it that individualism shall, no longer i lord it over the welfare of the community; and that every child shall be given a real opportunity to develop bis highest faculties. When these things come to pass in the near future we may ihen entertain the hope of realising "Peace on earth and good-will among men."

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