The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-04-10
CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRALIA.
Christmas at the AntipOdes.-.A Mid
Summer FeStival---"Paddy,s Mar
kct.'-.- st. Andrews Cathedral -.
"HOXinS Day.

Christmas at the Antipods,s;;.::A Mid Mid
! kct'--- st. Andrews Cathedral : =.
! "BOXinS Day..
SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES, AUS
TRALIA, Dec. 81, 1888.
Dear NcighJor:
Ten nights ago the good ship "Lu,,
beck" of the Norddeutscher Lloyd
line, brought me safely into Sydney
harbor, after q pleasant run OF 1888
miles from the Samoan Islands.
We had scarcely reached the quar-
antine station in the outer harbor
when the "newspaper boats" as they
are called, came alongside with report
ers for the press, bringing lilies OF the
latest papers, and seeking the war
news from Samoa. After glancing
over our passenger list one enterpris-
ing scribe, desirous Of outstripplng his
rivals, requested an interview with
me; at the time I was just retiring for
the night, but when the message came
I thought that the gentleman in wait
ing might be the bearer of some inn
portant dispatches which I expected
to receive upon my arrival, so L slip
ped into something little less than
full dress, and went out to see him.
What was my surprise and disappoint-
ment to find in the person hanging on
TO the "Jacob's LADDER at the ships
side, q knight of the quill. IAN inter
viewer interviewed pa droll thought
enough, but when I remembered the
anxiety I used to experience in like
position, I concluded to gratify my
visitor-partially, at least. After Civ
ing him such information as l felt at
liberty to disclose, the reporter thank
ed me profusely, assuring me, the
while, that ] had secured myself q
prodigious "head-line" introduction
to the city. He was considerably TAX
ell aback when I told him that on no
account should he use my name IN
connection with the news he had OBJ
tanned that T cared for no publicity
in the papers beyond the ordinary pas
senger-list it printed, and that l
thought the letters I bore would be
sufficient introduction to the good peo-
pie of Sydney whom expected to
meet. Thus was his anticipated sem
sational report shorn of some of Its
possibilities of embellishments. The
next day was gratified by reading in
the A0,mi,W Herald a simple and cor
rect narration of the Samoan war
news, devoid of the customary, useless
and misleading interspcrsiOn OF per-
Sonal opinion by the party interview
ed.
But, of "Christmas in Australia, "
for, having transacted the business
that brought me to Syddcy,-I gave
myself over to the kind attentions Of
old friends and new acquaintances,
and entered into the spirit of the festI-
val season. Fancy Christmas in mid
summer! Yet so found it here; but,
owing to all exceptionally cool wave,
the temperature was m re like October
is in the States, hence l enjoyed the
novelty to the utmost.
Day before Christmas the streets and
the fancy stores were crowded with
anxious and eager shoppers; the Vic
toria and the Royal Arcades, almost
impenctrable. '[What useful and
beautiful blocks are these arcades,
where one can find everything he
wants in the numerous bazaars on
every side Big people and little peo-
pie, pretty girls and girls not pretty,
lords and ladies, paupers and pickpock.
ets,-all were in the lhrong, here and
there, red located soldier, "quite Eng
lish, you know.n Ladies' and children
in white, men in lightweight cloth
lug and straw hats everywhere. Such
was the scene III Sydney this year,
in what great contrast with my last
christmas, ,-blockaded by ice in the
Hudson River.
Christmas eve drew OH, and no per-
ceDtible diminution in the crowds.
Along with Il friend or two, visited
"Paddy's Market, "a large, barn-likc
old structure in one of the poorer dis:
,ric:s of the city. 1t is 4 wonderful
place, this market, where all sorts OF
stuff, mostly secondhand, are dispos'
ed of at auctions held on certain
nights. 1t was pandemonium. On
all sides little auctions were in pro-
gress, a horse or a hair-pin on the
blocks; here, "merry-go-round'
loaded with frolicking men and chill
dren there, Il magic medicine vendor
proclaming his nostrums, and per,
forming tricks of humbug for the
pleasure of his gaping audience. Ev,
crywhere commotiOn; everywhere
noisy traders trying to entertain theil
customers while they swindled them
In the hurry of the evening some Sc
cured bargains. and Others, Swell 9th
ers went away poorer, if not wlsel
men.
With all the noise and jollity, the
Christmas horns and fire-crackers, sc
usual in American cities ut this season
were conspicuous by their absence.
Vending our way along the crowded
thoroughiare we were attracted ny the
pitiful cry of Il forlorn little newspaper
Girl, begging the passers-by to take hei
/ papers. / shall never forget the glad
ness that glowed in her wan little face
when one of our party "bought hel
: outn and paid double the price of hel
, stock of Echoes. She seized his hanG
and kissed it, and said, "God bless
you, Mister; I'll pray to Santa Claus
for you tonight; merry Christmas te
you, too" Only a moment,-but the
incident set me a-thinking of Christ
mas and its real import and obliga
tons, and of the thousands whose
'! Christmas is always 4 sore reminder O
+ sadness and poverty than rather
than season of merry rejoicing.
Musing thus, there fell upon my ell
+, the sounds of Christmas chimes ring
ing out from the many belfries Owe
the CITY. And thus was my Christ
mas in Australia ushered in.
:: 1t seemed to me, next morning, tina
! all the walters, porters and chamber
maids i'm Sydney were crowded in the
l. "Crown. and Anchor Hotel" where
was stopping. Step as softly as ont
might, and glide alonga swiftly, the.