Australian Tales - Setis

come again, that they might be looking out “for lucky specs.” He met
with two or three light-hearted men too, (who were as inflated with civic
pride, as smoke-dried cockneys showing their country-cousins the
wonders of London from the top of St. Paul's), and he felt constrained to
reduce their jubilant boasting by gently reminding them that “after all, it
was a Sydney man who planned their grand city — except the
sewerage,” and he added “that if the Victorians were richer and more
influential than some of their neighbours, they should be thankful, and
remember that it would be very discreditable to them if it were otherwise
with their enormous revenue, and the million of spirited men and
women, whom the Victorian gold mines had attracted from all parts of
the world.”
On the whole, Mr. Moans is of opinion that Victoria is a great land, and
that it is destined to become still greater; and as modesty is a
concomitant of true greatness, he expects that quality to increase. While
congratulating that sister colony on her good fortune, and recognising her
claim to the respect of the world, he does not yield a jot of the honour
due to his own part of the continent; nor does his admiration for his
neighbour's excellences lessen his fealty to his own adopted colony, or
wean his affection from its old associations. Friendly emulation is
commendable, and he thinks a better acquaintance with each other will
tend to foster that feeling, and at the same time uproot or retard the
growth of envy, from which would eventually spring hatred and all
uncharitableness. With that desirable end in view, Mr. Moans would
recommend all the good folks in Melbourne to visit Sydney now and
then; the well-bred citizens of Sydney will return the calls, of course; and
if they all enjoy their visits as much as Mr. Moans enjoyed his, they will
heartily join him in the glad shout, “Advance, Victoria!” while the
Melbournites will stroke their beards, and smilingly reply, in their
Columbianized phraseology, “Go ahead, Sydney.”