The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-05-31
NOVEL READING IN THE BUSH.
Dickens the Favorite Among the Aus
tralian Gold Diggers.
From Sala's Journal.

From Sala's Journal
1t is rare thing in an Australian camp
that cards are not in evidence, though they
are by no means a sine qua non where men
are so handy that dominoes, checkers,
fox and geese, chessmen, and other gam
ing apparatus are soon manufactured by
the all-around tools, the bushman's pocket
knife, Now, leaving out such things as
refining influences, instruction, or what
ever good there may be in the ordi-
nary novel, there is always the in
terest attached to the plot. What will
be the reward of the virtuous hero and
heroine and the end of the villain' and it
must be poor novel indeed that does not
contain within its yellow covers a spark
of humor or wit. So that at this par
ticular juncture the yellow back is a
perfect godsend. 1t passes away the
time, If nothing else. 1t does more
it diverts mems minds from that
which too frequently leads to
wrangling and even serious ruptures, be-
tween men who have been friends for
years. There is no pleasanter sight to be
seen on a gold field than the nightly
trally situated hut or tent is selected
the larger the better-and the reading
goes on night after night, first by
one, then by another, until the tale
ends. No matter whether the PASSAGE
be grave or gay, there are always at
tentive listeners. Much depends upon the
reader, of course and if a particularly
good one comes to the front he is unani-
mOusly elected the reader of the camp,
relieved only as occasion may require by
some other of lesser degree. | have seen
men holding their sides with laughter,
and the next moment all would be as still
as the tomb, save the well-modulated
tones of the reader; and not infrequently
tears would be seen rolling down sun
burned faces which, but a few minutes
before We're wreathed in broad grins
Charles Dickens is always a favorite-
just as Bret Hafte tells us he was away
back on the placers of California In all
classes ofssociety in Australia the name
of Charles Dickens is honored above all
Others. have heard him read every
where; in the miners camp, in the wood
shed, in the sawyers' and splitters' gun
YAH at the temperance readings, in
the bush township, at the weekly
penny reading, at schools of art in larger
centers of population; by Anglican par
sons, Wesleyan ministers, Roman Catholic
priests-they all love Dickens. and the PEG
pie generally never tire of Little Nell, Tiny
Tim, Newman NOggs, Dick Swiveller
Jack Bunsby, Florence Dombey. Micaw-
Der, Little Dorritt, PiclSwick 4 Co.; in
deed, 1t is surprising hOwwell Dickens is
known. There are, however, exceptions
A friend of mine was once travelling from
one gold field to another, and had occasion
to call at a roadside accommodation house
to which was attached a small store.
While the proprietress was serving him
he took up some loose papers
papers lying on the counter,
and, finding them of quite recent date,
he looked over them until he came to a
paragraph referring to the death of
Dickens My friend had been ION the
wallaby'' for long time, and had seen no
English news for many months. He
dropped the papers and exclaimed,
What! Dickens dead good dear
Charles Dickens gone! Is it possiblew
The woman was quite amused at my
friends trouble, and quite coolly asked,
who the dickens was he2"
"And do you mean to tell me, my good
woman, that you don't know who Charles
Dickens was?"
Not from Adam" said she
My friend took up his purchases and,
beyond Offering shilling for the wrap
ping papers on the counter. passed out
without further. comment, being, as he
said, about full up" My friend was
rough, uncUltred cockney, but his heart
was big with love for the creator of 10.