Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-08-09

| entertainments Nnen MS duties ulu not re
quire his presence on deck
The approach to Melbourne is not in the
least imposing, the land around the bay
shores being too low for anything like gran
deur but the light coloring and graceful
appearance Of the pavilions and the summer
hotels at Queens Cliff, and the hustle, ac
tivity and prosperous appearance Of the
shore surroundings in general, present
most attractive scene
la the city itself one at once notices the
genius everywhere displayed in the adop-
ton Of new ideas aud inventions, and the
universal recognition Of their practical ad
vantages the electric and iucandescent
| light is already in use in the theatres and in
many Of the hotels and public buildings.
! The suburbs of Melbourne are very attrac-
tive, even the workingmen having their
plots of flowers in the enclosures fronting
their comfortable homes, aud the neatness
with which all their surroundings are kept
is feature wonderful to behold in 81 warm
latitude. Formerly in America it was
said you could almost trace your progress
south step by step, as the thrift Of New
England, the tidy appearance Of its villages,
roads and railway stations, relapsed into
the shiftless untidiness Of the South-un-
tidiness begotten by the warm climate and
the needlessness Of that determined effort
and continued labor which a colder climate
absolutely requires Doubtless the climatic
influence has vet 10 show its full force ON
/ a. .
it has not robbed them of their industry,
but seems rather To have stimulated their
activity.
1t seems scarcely possible to realize the
age Of Melbourne. Fifty years takes in its
incipient settlement, yet nowhere in the
city do you meet with the roughness or
coolness Of manner that you would natu
rally expect. 1t claims with its suburbs
some 300 900 inhabitants, and is growing
rapidly.
In walking the streets and through the
suburbs of this, the most progressive Of
Australian cities, you are struck at once by
the absence of the hopeless poverty aud ir
reclaimable drunkenness of the large Am
erican cities, where great wealth and abject
poverty almost touch shoulders. | was,
however informed that, owing to the dread
Of lonely life and the great e1ertions re
quired by country occupations, many emi
grants remain in the town, and are likely
to constitute IA dangerous element Of lay
ruifianism even in this favored land. The
public buildings, government house, town
hall, post office, theatres and most business
houses are first rate in their appointments
Boxing aud wrestling matches, boating
contests and horse races are amusements
which are almost always largely attended
aud enthusiastically watched. The native
contestants in these athletic sports look
more like Americans than Englishmen and
strive 10 win more by nervous energy and
skill than by the dogged pluck and steady
persistence which 81 often crowns with
success the efforts Of the inhabitants of the
British Isles. Those eNcelling meet with
the fullest recognition and hearty praise
| The writer witnessed some Of the best races
in Melbourne during the season, and never
SAW anywhere more exciting struggle nor
more animated scene than the race for
the Melbourne cup. The race course, stu
ated II short distance from the city, is un-
exceptionally tne-a wide, perfectly level
plain, with gently sloping hill at the head.
On the sides of this beautifully terraced ele-
vaton are pavilons for Refreshments and
courts for promenading aud music. A
long walk leads around the hill and to its
summit, from which fine view of the en-
tire course can be obtained, and the progress
of the horses and their changing positions
from post IN finish correctly observed. On
the day in question the heat was intense.
| but il did not seem to abate the enthusiasm
or lessen the almost feverish eagerness with
| which each event was observed. The mu
sic was good. and the appearance of the
| governor of Victoria and staff uniformed
lent military air to the scene. The roads
leading to the course, before the race and
at its termination, were crowded with We
hicles of every description, and with per
fectly good natured, chatting lively crowd
| of all ages, sexes and conditions of life, but
| happily not with the drunken accompani
ments which mark the movements of the
lower classes at similar meetings in other
countries.
Our visit to Melbourne was in the latter
part Of January, and we found the heat
tempered with the steady sea breezts of the
afternoon, quite endurable, and moderate
pedestrian effort enjoyable. The dryness
of the air makes great heat easy of endur
ance The evenings at the gardens, where
frework displays are frequent, were always
cool and enjoyable, the desire for relaxa-
ton and the ability to purchase it being
emphaticaly demonstrated by the crowds
of noticeably well-dressed, well behaved
and fine featured citizens of the new world
The situation of Melbourne enables its in
habitants to easily obtain recreation by a
change TO the fresh air of the inland coun-
try, should the conditions make that pref
erahe to the seaside, Mount Macedon,
about three hours by rail from the city, is
one of its most attractive resorts. Here,
with trihing pedestrian effort, one can
reach an elevation over looking beautiful
expanse Of hill and dale and wooded plain,
and in addition to the elasticity of the air
the temperature ruling some 10 or 20 de-
grees lower than in Melbourne. Many of
her city merchants have here erected
charmingly secluded country homes, judic
iously free from any look of town influence,
where, as tired men of business, they can
find complete change, and restful respite
from the hurry and worry of city life,
These villas and country residences are
tastefully constructed the lawns and sur