“TUSSOCK” ON “PLAINS” AFFAIRS.

Western Star, Issue 454, 18 June 1881, Page 3

“TUSSOCK” ON “PLAINS” AFFAIRS.

—■ —— . . Although. Mr Editor, you kindly expressed a wish to hear, from me often, still I feel somewhat ashamed to trouble you so so On again. B 1 I must express mV rtgret at my late mild °iul innocent comments having so ruffled “ Mister Barney's ” , frizzy onlci feathers. My shafts Were merely intended to reach that stratum of plehsant-drollery and national wit natural to tile character he assumed; but, unfortunately, T find I missed my mark, ami disturbed instead those unpleasant turbid humours that sometimes un;!rl.iie_too of en alas'.-the pretty hut thin crust, of pleasanfcrv characteristic of t ie Mile eiun order. So, “ ilisler Murphy,” since you have chosen to take your stand on sucli a disagreeable platform, you must really exyuse my declining to meet you there, as you polite y invited. You credit mo with occupying a « flowery ” elevation. It is cerlainly a more graceful and savoury position than that borderland of “ Billingsgafism ” Which you have seized for VoUrsrif; You must bear in mind ills not% fortune to be anyways related or shared in the sources of inspiration ct ulie celebrated h Biddy Moriartywho well nigh put the “ great Dan ” himself to flight. lam glad to flftd vod are going to settle down and give its pen and ihk sketches of “Ireland, past and fdIUWV’ Which I have to doubt will prove a most »7iigant and brilliant contribution to the literature of the age. And now, quid man, wo p&rt In a friendly spirit as far as 1 am concerned, attd fib “ moVC power to your elbow.” whenever it becomes less bumptious and is under betfceV cbntrol. And now, Mr Editor, 1 daresay you’d prefer a trifle in local matters. There is nothing re rv lively going, unless it be in some pleasant social reunions. Faith! Sir; i’ll just give yourself and bachelor readers a qdi'6t hint-, to the effect —

“ He that lovcb a rosy cheek; Or a coral lip admires,” let; him betake him to the Plains oft ally Of the occasions, ’tis there his eye will rest on “A sight to dream of; not to tell.' 4

Look you, Sir, I. may not be. a. com patent, judge or critic ih comparing the m.rits of; town v. country in such social arrangements, but it seems to me town has'decidedly the of; it. I haye-stood jand- WQte,bed \ the throng of 'fashion at some grand assembly “meet,” and witnessed .the . agonising punctiliousness of clique etiquette —the scorn with which Madame Wholesale gathers her satins from coming in too close contact with the humble silks'of Mrs ‘Retail, and so oh with lesser distinctions. Contrast all this.with the unhampered joyousness of unconventional country gatherings, where warin hearts heartily combine for tbe-nohce to - - hn*yW;v ■ >(t: “ Jiang sorrow! Care will kill a cat, ;■ ■ And therefor?,let’s. bo r meri’y,”.- , And those blooming cheeks I have alluded to—freshened by the robust embraces of those 1 savage old Southland breezes—what show would your whitewashed city-, belles have beside them ? * True, their waists might not be so “ waspish,” but oh! they’re trig winsome little forms to clasp: in the whirl of the reel! and their fingers mightened be'so begemmed and fragile, but their smews are full of life, and ready for 1 a 1 useful turn - and then their ■ hearts, man ! To feel- one cf those fresh sterling organs thumping, next.one’?.own—-in this age of adulteration and deceit —is to make the world, feel more wholesome and real, and worth the, living f . r . , „ ( r , |; Another little Xnattfei; 'that is Jeansing some stir amongst'us’is to' see how"these “big bugs ” tbe squatters are going to shape wit h the “ frozen mutton ” project. I fail to see muebinpcessity; for the outcome: at; alb when every ** lamb faced trotter.”, fetches close upon a sound note, and hard to get even at that price—in this, district anyway. However, I suppose ‘ these' bad times—for siVch aheaVy consumer as myself -won’t always last,.and,“its well to take time by the forelock.” Why didn’t they join heartily in furthering! the “ Farmer’s Co-operative Association, while there was some warmth in that project some'little time ago, and amalgamate' thoirSinterests ?/. Simply because their class jealousy, of the indefatigable enterprising “ cocky ” still,smoulders too hotly in their- breasts'; I They ace like their prototypes ip. other lands ; they , bate these human entTonohers,” for didn’t Providence intend tbe earth’s surface as -a sort of Llanos .for their flocks and grouse shootings? However, I’d advise the farmers to overlook these little foibles, aild-aid; and, abatyn :furthering their project, for they have m6Ve spare time, better'business capacity perhaps, and certainly greater facilities for getting the tiling fairly afloat. I sincerely hope they will succeed, fer then the Farmers’ Co-optative:-'Association will have but a; nariow platform tq choss'to,their object,.. _J, .• ' I Another liftie. item I Vnust" recitdj which I am sure ■wiU 'pleasß thbfife :: interested in onr ■well-being.’ t: I allude to llie:soUn l Cnftiiitidrt/ of our pioneer little churclv. here. . The, sSafs were Lt, the,.,other day, and tliere was a lively ■ demand for every one of them ( in fact many regrets were expressed that there Weren’t, a dozen’or.more to'lsutisfy' all demands; 7 Yon see we’re going to do OUr best to. k6eP Jt.be wild sorrel of disbelief ami indifference oiit of oUr souls’ bit of cultirution Us well as the material one Out Wbeitflelds. oi\ : lam sorry to, see,. Sir, that it’s likely Wo are in. for another era of nonsensical fripperv, I allude to-‘the late exhibition of “ tiiwdriuesS ’’nt Wellington, .jfia pur innate love for British soil and .loyalty tiwards that “bauble” its Crown to be enhanced by such displays of “man rtiillinery ” and'medievial pageantry ? J 'I ' trdw- riot; It might strike awe infd siich a sbtil as “ orild Barney’s *’ arid some of their frivolous.*, 1 petticoat ” onlookers, but I suspect bur shrewd practical colonists will view it with the quiet disclaim it warrants, land cups? them further to regret the absence 1 of that manly repfesentativo of Bri'ish worth and excellence —our late respected “administrator.”