Australian Tales - Setis

metropolis; and considering, too, the facilities for getting into the
interior, and the liberality of the Victorian land law: moreover, where
there was such a splendid free library, accessible to the humblest classes,
at all hours of the day, and till a late hour at night. But it was explained
by a lively friend, that hands in pockets was not regarded as an idle
symptom; for since “peg-top pantaloons” had become fashionable, the
practice was general; indeed it was considered the “correct thing” by all
grades and ages of Melbourne males. At the same time he admitted that
there were many men who had unfortunately no remunerative
employment for their hands; but he thought, in a majority of instances,
the causes might be traced to their own indiscretion, or incapacity; and
notwithstanding all that had been said and written by interested persons
and grumblers to the contrary, he believed there was still ample room in
the land for tens of thousands of honest industrious men and women, for
the resources of the country — apart from its gold — are almost
unlimited.
* * * * *
“If any man, who had the free range of a choice flowergarden, chose to
go sniffing among the African marigolds in preference to inhaling the
balmy fragrance of moss roses and violets, his taste might be justly
questioned.” Thus reasoned Mr. Moans to himself, as he quietly rambled
through some of the well-paved streets of Melbourne. “And instead of
choosing to look at the many beautiful objects around me,” he
soliloquised, “if I preferred to turn into some of the back lanes for the
express purpose of finding disagreeable subjects to talk about when I
returned home, I should be lacking in taste.” Mr. Moans preferred the
moss roses and violets, or, in other words, he chose to employ his limited
time in observing matters and things which are most pleasant and
profitable to contemplate, and to converse with men of corresponding
minds. Still he was not wholly unobservant of other things; and the
sombre walls of the Gaol, the Refuge, the Hospital, and other receptacles
for crime and suffering, and the haggard looks of many poor besotted
loungers at public-house doors, often reminded him that all was not
coleur de rose around him.
He met with much hospitality and kindness from old friends, and from
new friends too; and he left the monumental city of Melbourne, strongly
impressed with the indomitable spirit of advancement displayed by its
inhabitants in general. He had remarked, however, that there was rather
more commercial steam or gas introduced into private life than is
observable in Sydney society. He noticed, too, that a few of the
mercantile men looked fidgety on Sundays, and while they gazed round
at the clock in sermon time, he fancied they were longing for Monday to