Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-05-21
ITO be eontinued.)
LIFE IN AUSTRALIA.
Sports and Pastimes Play an Important
Part in that Country
50

Part in that Country.
Harpers Weekly.
Sports play an enormous part in Austria
liam existence. People live virtually out
of-doors most of the year. 1t is not land
Of fire-side; there is little crowding about
the hearth-stone. There is therefore
something more than independence than
is seen in colder lands, perhaps less tense
ness to domestic bonds. From year end
to years end the tide of recreation flows.
If it is not rowing race, it is cycling
tournament; If not a yachting regatta, it
is running match: if not trott;ng event,
ed we have the dearly loved sport of the
Australian. What would be thought of
the eovernor-gener9l of Canada if he at
tended a trotting match? In what favor
would the president of the United States
stand if he were seen every day for week
at Sheepshead Bay, alternating between the
saddlIng paddock and members stand,
and responded in due season to the call of
a to l on the field, or '6 to |, bar one {?
And what would be thought if the ruler
at the white house carried the point still
further and entered horse of his own for
the sweepstakes? It is all a matter of
custom. What would be thought of the
governor of Victoria who did not appear
at the cup meeting in November? Or the
the governor of New South Wales who did
not attend the spring and autumn meet
ings of the Redwick ra- e-cOurse In Sgd
ney? He would fall just as far for leav-
ing undone what the president of the Uni
ted States or the governor general of
Canada would be execrated for having
done
But the rules under both conditions do
what is expected of them; and at the Mel
bourne club meeting, where $780, 900 peo-
pie assemble year after year, not only the
governor of the COLONY may be seen, but
four and Eve of her majesty's representa-
tives from different parts of the continent.
Pennington is to the Australian what
Handy is to the Buddhist He may get
excited over a Chinese bill. he may be-
come heated, aid cripple trade at the
time of a strike, he may become nervous
enough to stone his political prophets, he
may venture a short sum of savings on
Beach and Hanlan rowing race; but his
affections, bis spirited emotions, his gen.
Jus for risk and investment PROSTATE
themselves In eager devotion before the
Melbourne cup The average Austral
ian may not know the estimated value of
the public works of the colony, the amount
per head of population I'D the savings
banks, the names of past statemen of note,
the date Of time Of the passing of the re-
sponsible government act, but ne can tell
you how much was paid for the flying
pieman, and the time to a second in
which Arsenal or Sheet Anchor won the
cups and of all governors, he looks back to
the days of Governor Sir Hercules Robin
son, whose presence, In the grave words
of great newspaper of Australia. gave
the turf great impetus, did much to
foster breeding: and raised the tone of
sport generally"
1t is almost impossible to conjecture the
ultimate effect of his love of exciting
sports upon Australian national life. The
elementary investment and risk In it is
part of the general commercial action and
existence. The great saving clause seems
to lie in the fact that these racing and
other events are not attended with vicious
ness, Drawing, or lawlessness of any sort.
A race meeting is as orderly as tennis
tournament, and among 10000 people
the police have little or nothing to do in
the preservation of order. The sense of
reserve and personal pride is high in the
character of the people. To them racing
is recreation, not dissipation 1t is
as much a part of the life as fair or
wake was in Ireland twenty-five years
app