Australian Tales - Setis

eccentricities which often interfere with our serious reflections when
rambling through grave-yards. You are perhaps not aware, Mr. Titler,
that we have a general cemetery now, situate off the line of railway,
between Sydney and Paramatta.”
“I am glad to hear it, sir,” said Mr. Titler, “for crowding the dead
among the living is an evil which cannot be too carefully guarded
against. You have not yet seen our public parks and gardens, I suppose,
Mr. Moans? I should like to hear what you will say to them.”
“I have visited some of them, sir; and while I honestly tell you I have
not seen anything to equal our picturesque domain in Sydney, I must say
your government is very liberal in granting land for public purposes. You
Melbourne folks are admirably provided with recreation grounds; and
you apparently spare no labour in improving them. I very much approve
of your taste in rearing trees wherever there is room for them. The
advantages of their refreshing shade and fragrance in this warm climate
are inestimable, and grateful pedestrians will doubtless often bless the
men who planted those trees, which I have observed growing on the
sides of some of your suburban roads. We Sydneyites are certainly
behind you in exhibitions of taste in that way, though we are improving,
as anyone may observe, who will make an inspection of our public
grounds.”
* * * * *
I shall not further follow Mr. Moans and his communicative friend, Mr.
Titler, or detail his dialogues with other Victorian friends, upon moral,
social, sanitary, and political subjects; as the foregoing specimen will
show, that while candidly admitting the excellences and the grandeur of
the precocious city of Melbourne, he was not slow in defending his own
honoured capital from invidious comparisons or ungenerous
depreciation.
During his stay he enjoyed some pleasant rural drives in Mr. Titler's
carriage; and though he could not be persuaded that any scenery he saw
was comparable to that between Sydney and South Head, there was
much that was undoubtedly beautiful, and evidenced the highest artistic
skill and taste. While driving through some of the suburban towns, he
noted many things which he thought might with advantage be imitated
by the suburbanites of Sydney, more especially the wide streets and
roads, the extensive public reserves, and the prevailing disposition for
planting shrubs therein. Mr. Moans had also many agreeable saunters
through Melbourne proper, and noted many more things than I have
space to enumerate. Among other striking objects, he observed more men
walking about with their hands in their pockets, than he expected to have
seen, with the numerous avenues for steady labour in that busy