The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-10
AUSTRALIAN HOSPITALITY.


AUSTRALIAN HOSPITALITY.
4 Glimpse OF Life In . Comfortable vfctoris
station Residence.
Having hitherto had somewhat full
experience OF station life in New Zea
land, | was quite prepared for features
here which might strike the stranger ss
remarkable, writes Melbourne CORE.
pondent OF the Boston Journal. For q
score OF miles in every direction extend
undulating plains of brown and scanty
grass, 80 sparse and thin that the land
can furnish to each acre nutriment 70,
only one sheep There are few trees
except along the dribbling water.
courses. and these are strangely gnarled
and contorted as if suffering from a
hard struggle for existence. In the
midst of this almost desert, the visitor
comes upon an oasis of plantations, a
great garden filled with every VARIETY
OF tree and flower, extensive orchards
and vineyards. Surrounded by the gar.
den is a substantial and spacious man.
sion, its walls of solid stone, five feet
thick, comfortably, even elegantly, fur.
nlshed, boasting a fine library, musical
instruments of all sorts-in short. every
necessity and luxury to be found in the
Disappointed houses of Melbourne.
This station residence, like others ]
have seen, had the ming ed appearance
OF home and caravansary. Outside
the quarters of the immediate family
was low rooted structure, divided into
small rooms for guests, who, eithe,
especially invited or otherwise, are in
the habit OF turning up at all times and
seasons. Australian hospitality, pro
fuse everywhere, makes it's apotheosis
on the stations. Come when you
can, do what you like. and stay as long
as you wish," is stand ng invitation
the latch-string is always out, and you
can never find your hosts unprepared.
The hospitality of English country
houses-the truest and finest in the
world-mainta:ns here. If you desire
to ride or drive there are horses, saddles
and traps" at the stable, and the SER
wants accept your orders as a matter OF
course. If you delight in fishing-there
Is room, one side of which is stored
with tackle, while on the other side are
well-oiled guns in racks and boxes OF
cartridges for such as wish to shoot.
You 60 and come as you like-you dc
not even need to make yourself agree
aDle-your host entertains you mot YOU
him), and he is happy if you enjoy your
sci. Naturally. the stations are rarely
untenanted by visitors; 1 know of one
which entertains over six hundred
guests annually.
Departure, like coming, is entirely at
the will OF the visitor. You are never
asked how long you are going to stay,
and your announcement of intention to
depart excites none of those hypocritical
regrets and insincere pressures to re.
main longer, which are characteristic of
the more artificial civilization of the
towns. You please yourself in coming;
you please yourself in going; you should
be the judge of your own affairs, and the
road is known-you can return at will
Most pleasant, natural and homelike is
thissystem. If you wear out your welcome
you never learn 1.-THE case is extreme
when your entertainers show that thew
have had enough of you-generally, in
deed, being glad enough to see fresh
faces from the outside world Abuses of
such hospitality are rare. At the very
station in question, however, gentle
man OF moderate circumstances once
came. surveyed the situation, and de-
cided that he was here very well of.
Coming originally for fortnight, he
stayed month; then two; finally six;
q year passed and still he remained. He
used the horses, dogs and guns, dis
played an excellent appetite-his host
did not complain. He smoked the to-
bacco of the master of the house, drank
his whisky, and his welcome did not
grow cold. After about nine months,
however, the station agent grew less
warm by degrees, then distant, and at
the end of the twelvemonth had ceased
to speak to his guest. The latter, how
ever, was pachydermatous, and did not
m nd, and for year longer fingered
quite unabashed, enjoying himself huge
ly. even though sitting at meat three
times a day, and smoking solemn pipe
in the evening, opposite silent and
glowering post. At the end of the Sec
ond year he went away to visit some
body else, without word being said
during all that period to the effect that
he was not wanted, and would do we'll
to leave. Such is Australian station hos
uitalitv