“A DANDY COUNTRY.”

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2719, 26 January 1910, Page 2

“A DANDY COUNTRY.”

AN AMERICAN BOY ON AUSTRALIA.

One of the American boys now visiting Australia, when asked his opinion of the place by a Melboure “Argus” representative, replied, “It’s a ‘dandy’ country, and Melbourne’s a ‘dandy’ city.” The hov, Charlie Norton by name, went on to express some refreshing opinions in contrasting Australian customs with those of his own country. He is, it appears, struck with the fact that an Australian hoy does not address his father as “Sir” and his mother as “Ma’am.” This would be regarded as rude in “Aniurka.” “Guess I’d have been cuffed if I didn’t- say it,” he said: ‘but the custom is different here, and it’s real good manners just to say ‘Yes’ and ‘No.’ Australian folks have better appetites than we have. W’e eat three meals a. day at home. Here the folks oat six sometimes. That’s because you drink such a heap of tea. We drink more coffee at home. You can make swell tea, but 1 calculate we can show you how to make coffee. Your table manners are funny, sure. You put the knives and forks in the wrong places on the table. You eat the pudding and what you call pies with a spoon and a fork. _ We use only a spoon. But a fork's very handy. I suppose we never thought or it at' home. And every time v ou tut a piece of meat you cat it. _ Vie don’t. AVe cut up all the me it into little hits, and then put the knife away, and eat it with the fork. Still, J think the knife’s handy, too. It- has been, awkward to learn the table manners. Then, at The .place, I’m, staying r ’ve been doing what 1 never did before—sitting at the table in shirt-sleeves. It’s a dandy place —I nearly said ‘boshter’ —and they’re very kind to me. I guess they told me to leave my coat off because the weather was hot.”