Burke Manuscript

Burke Manuscript: Page 152

Transcript

Dear me, what one suffered. Why Christchurch existed without an evening paper until Johnny Hall, then in the full fling of Operatic management, started a sort of Entr Acte which drifted into an Evening Mail in which appeared many a racy little tit bit. That, it is probable, was the first evening paper, as was the Canterbury Standard the first morning. Unless you go back to a venture of I think Mr Thacker’s, the Guardian or summat similar, and some of the little boys who were then mischievous little Pilgrim larrikins learning the art and mystery of type and stick and form, are now fine grizzled old fellows; some of them like the old darkey gentleman, who had

“No hair on the top of his head,

In the place where the hair ought to grow”.

But then, what a glorious compensation. Instead of raven, curly, bewitching locks, they have got wisdom. In the place of the bloomy cheeks of happy youth, see how capable they now are, by age and experience, of giving the growing generation sound counsel, and passing unerring judgement. Maturity and age, most assuredly have their advantages, especially age. Look at Mr Gladstone. What prevents any promising young chap from making up his mind firmly to live to one and eighty, and for pastime cutting down the glorious oaks and elms and blue gums that will adorn, but encumber, Hagley park? What man has done, man can do – go in and win, young Kerlonials.