Fix this text
VERSICAL VARIETIES.
Fix this textBITS FROM PRIZE POEMS.
Fix this textQuiz is sorry to hear that the poems sent in for
Fix this textthis year’s Literary Societies’ competition are not
Fix this textup to the usual standard. The following extracts
Fix this textwill show the highest level reached in the fir st
Fix this textand second efforts, the subject being “ Australian
Fix this textHeroes
Fix this textOut on tracks of sand and shingle, out on parched
Fix this textand panting plains,
Fix this textWhere the scanty grasses wither, waiting the
Fix this textreluctant rains;
Fix this textI, lands of awful stillness, in the plains of
Fix this textsolitude,
Fix this textWhere in fiery desolation summer’s fierce sirroccos
Fix this textbrood;
Fix this textFar from human habitation, out on slopes
Fix this textunknown, untrod,
Fix this textThere Australia’s hero bushmen, with their lives
Fix this textresigned to God,
Fix this textBravely fought their way and triumphed—pierced
Fix this textthe zone of thirst and flame,
Fix this textWon new countries for the nation, won them-
Fix this textselves undying fame.
Fix this text*****
Fix this textWatch them braving all the dangers of a thirsty
Fix this texthostile land,
Fix this textSee them parched and gasping, lying on a galling
Fix this textdesert sand ;
Fix this textSee them lost in mallee mazes, hear them voicing
Fix this texttheir despair,
Fix this textWhile their hopeless failing echoes start the
Fix this textdingo from his lair.
Fix this textLycid.
Fix this textTrue heroes have no country,
Fix this textAll nature calls them hers;
Fix this textShe claims a kindred spirit
Fix this textWherever honor stirs.
Fix this textAnd wild Australian desert,
Fix this textAnd pathless southern plain
Fix this textHave added to the rollcall
Fix this textOf gallant heroes slain.
Fix this text* * * * *
Fix this textWhen Ceres, golden Ceres,
Fix this textIs smiling on your plains,
Fix this textAnd rosy-cheeked Pomona
Fix this textIs gladdening rustic swains ;
Fix this textWhen ships are thickly thronging
Fix this textUpon your summer seas,
Fix this textAnd the banner of Australia
Fix this textFloats proudly in the breeze. ;
Fix this textThen is the time to honor
Fix this textThe heroes of the land.
Fix this textGraphic.
Fix this textJKE. FIREWOOD. Best New South Wales Household, Steam, or Smith COALS, COKE, and MALLEE FIREWOOD
Fix this textdelivered anywhere at Lowest Current Rates. HENRY SIMPSON & SONS, 27, Currie Street, Adelaide, and Maclaren Wharf, Port.
Fix this textTELEPHONE No. 250.
Fix this text“FACILIS DESCENSUS!”
Fix this textHe was a wild untutored youth,
Fix this textAnd rude,
Fix this textWhose dress and language were uncouth,
Fix this textAnd crude.
Fix this textSome oranges had been his meal,
Fix this textAnd on the path the bits of peel,
Fix this textTo trip up some unwary heel,
Fix this textHe strewed.
Fix this textShe was a girl to whom men kneel,
Fix this textA belle !
Fix this textShe trod upon a piece of peel,
Fix this textAnd fell!
Fix this textBut no one turned away his head,
Fix this textAnd all the lucky ones have said,
Fix this textThe clocks were black, the silk was red !
Fix this textDon’t tell !
Fix this textLETTERS TO PUBLIC MEN.
Fix this textMAJOR JOSEPH M. GORDON,
Fix this textPERMANENT ARTILLERY.
Fix this textMy dear Joseph—l have long been one of your
Fix this textsecret admirers. It is a confession of weakness,
Fix this textbut I have a passion for gold lace. And yet lam
Fix this texta non-combatant. Strange, isn’t it ? If it were
Fix this textnot for gold lace there would be scarcely anything
Fix this textto distinguish you from the common-place mortal
Fix this textwho drives a pen or measures off cloth for a liveli-
Fix this texthood. It is shocking, I know, to compare a repre-
Fix this textsentative of the army to a clerk or a counterjumper;
Fix this textbut, mind you, the comparison only holds good
Fix this textunder certain circumstances. When you have “ got
Fix this text’em all on” Solomon in all his glory must pale his
Fix this textineffectual fires before you.
Fix this textThe first time I ever met you, Joseph, was at a
Fix this textbanquet. You are fond of a good feed, and can
Fix this textpunish a bottle of champagne—or rather several
Fix this textbottles —with a persistency worthy of the Prize
Fix this textRing, an institution in which I believe you take
Fix this texta lively interest. On the particular occasion to
Fix this textwhich I have alluded, when you were not eating
Fix this textand drinking, which was seldom, you were engaged
Fix this textin conversation. If ever I felt inclined to bless
Fix this textthe gastronomical art it was then. You are not a
Fix this textmodest man at any time, Joseph, and when you
Fix this texttalk apparently desire that everybody shall have
Fix this textfull advantage of your eloquent words. You do
Fix this textnot consider it necessary to alter your barrack-
Fix this textroom voice for drawing-room purposes ; indeed, I
Fix this textdoubt your capacity to do so. There is an unmis-
Fix this texttakable, well-defined raspness about your tones
Fix this textwhich, once heard, is never forgotten.
Fix this textAt this banquet I remember (for I was unfor-
Fix this texttunately in your immediate vicinity) you were
Fix this textdilating upon the beauties of some castle in the
Fix this textHighlands of Scotland, and you were informing
Fix this textyour right hand neighbor that this castle had been
Fix this textfrom time immemorial in the possession of your
Fix this textfamily. You were seemingly anxious to impress
Fix this textupon him your remoteness, while he (in another
Fix this textsense of course) was earnestly desiring it. Ido
Fix this textnot blame you, Joseph, for so constantly urging
Fix this textyour claims to long descent. This is a stiff-necked
Fix this textand sceptical age, and if people had not your word
Fix this textfor it, they would probably and most unjustly
Fix this textascribe your origin to some very plebeian source.
Fix this textIf, for instance, you were to claim for one of your
Fix this textimmediate progenitors the title of Baron there
Fix this textwould be some persons rude enough to add “ Yes;
Fix this textBaron Munchausen.”
Fix this textThere is no doubt about your having been in the
Fix this textarmy of Great Britain, although there are different
Fix this textaccounts as to your position therein. I believe I
Fix this textam correct in stating that you were a Lieutenant
Fix this textin the Royal Artillery for a term of three years,
Fix this textafter which you retired. It was the failure of the
Fix this textGlasgow Bank, was it not, that caused your retire-
Fix this textment ? There has been a great deal of unnecessary
Fix this texttalk about the stiffness of certain examinations,
Fix this textbut it will serve no good purpose to enter into a
Fix this text! discussion of such matters here. What have we to
Fix this textdo with examinations in the army ? So long as
Fix this textyou consent to expose yourself to the public gaze
Fix this textoccasionally in your glittering uniform we can
Fix this textafford to be oblivious with regard to past
Fix this textrecords.
Fix this textWhen you made your swoop down upon South
Fix this textAustralia you were hardly in that condition of
Fix this textrefinement for which you have of late years been
Fix this textnoted. You were, to put it vulgarly, “ hard
Fix this textup.” Have you ever seen a swell who has
Fix this textbeen caught in a heavy shower of rain when he
Fix this textwas minus his umbrella ? Of course you have, and
Fix this texti you have sympathised with him. At any rate, you
Fix this textwanted something to do, and a position was found
Fix this textfor you in the Mounted Police Force. And yet
Fix this textyour soaring ambition was not satisfied. Just look
Fix this textat the number of our public men who have been in
Fix this textthe Police Force! Take for example, Hopkins,
Fix this textyour especial friend. One would have thought
Fix this textthat having become a copper, with the right to ride
Fix this texta showy horse, you would have longed for little else
Fix this texthere below.
Fix this textBut no. The associations were not aristocratic
Fix this textenough, and the uniform was not sufficiently
Fix this textattractive. A policeman, though he be a Gordon, is
Fix this textafter all only a policeman, and he is not given
Fix this textthe run of fashionable drawing-rooms, wherein he
Fix this textmay give evidences of the eccentricities of genius.
Fix this textYou loathed the connection. You longed to join
Fix this textin some of the Montefiore Hill charges of our
Fix this textgallant defenders, and come home covered with
Fix this textglory and mud. And so by-and-bye you slipped
Fix this textinto the Volunteer Force with the title of
Fix this textAdjutant. Your General had so profound a
Fix this textbelief in your efficiency that he considered it
Fix this textwould be pure selfishness to retain you as an
Fix this textAdjutant in order simply that he might have you
Fix this textalways near him, and so we find yon appointed to
Fix this textthe command of the Permanent Force, first with
Fix this textthe title of Captain and then with the more
Fix this textdignified prefix of Major. Were there any
Fix this textexaminations on these occasions, my dear
Fix this textJoseph ?
Fix this textWell, in the Permanent Force you are, and in the
Fix this textPermanent Force you will stay, unless—which
Fix this textheaven forfend—you are likely, as once reported,
Fix this textto go to England to enter into the wine and spirit
Fix this texttrade. I grant you that you are a connoisseur of
Fix this textwines, but pray bear in mind, my dear sir, that
Fix this textthere is a vast difference between sampling wines
Fix this textfor one’s own special edification and indulging in a
Fix this textsimilar occupation for the benefit of an unapprecia-
Fix this texttive clientele. Fancy having to carry round a
Fix this textlittle case of bottles ! You might as well be in the
Fix this textpatent medicine line at once ! Consider well your
Fix this textposition, my dear Joseph. Here you are the ; pet
Fix this textof society, and even if you were to go to a recep-
Fix this texttion in shooting costume you would be only the
Fix this textmore petted. Don’t throw over all these bril-
Fix this textliant advantages for a commission on Spanish
Fix this textwine !
Fix this textI have said that you are not a modest man.
Fix this textWhy should you be ? There is a class of individuals
Fix this textwho if not obtrusive would be absolutely wasted.
Fix this textWhen you are armed with a little brief authority
Fix this textyou naturally like the public to gain some know-
Fix this textledge of your power. Witness the little exhibition
Fix this textyou gave at the Mayor’s ball. It must have been
Fix this texthighly gratifying to the ladies to observe the
Fix this textalacrity with which the men under your command
Fix this textobeyed their orders, and any little temporary
Fix this textinconvenience they may have suffered in conse„
Fix this textquence of the too near approach of the Force was
Fix this textspeedily forgotten in the contemplation of your
Fix this textmany unquestionable charms. It was an honor
Fix this textto be in the neighborhood of so gilded a
Fix this textyouth.
Fix this textYou are a fair amateur actor; you are, I believe,
Fix this texta good card player, you can seemingly ingratiate
Fix this textyourself with the fair sex ; and you had a grand-
Fix this textfather ! I care not whether you be a soldier or
Fix this textno soldier. You have become a necessary part of
Fix this textmy existence. You help me to understand why
Fix this textpeople say “ Haw, haw,” when they have no other
Fix this textobservation to offer. I should regard any public
Fix this textfunction as incomplete without you, and while you
Fix this textremain with us you may always rest assured of the
Fix this textgood wishes of yours very faithfully,
Fix this textQUIZ.
Fix this textIt's easy and takes two shakes of a lamb's tail!
With your Trove account you can:
http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3482010336
(1890). Quiz and the lantern Retrieved August 19, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3482010336
Quiz and the lantern Adelaide: James Hutchison, Harry Craker, Alfred William Gresswell Smith for the Quiz Office, 1890. Web. 19 August 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3482010336>
1890, Quiz and the lantern James Hutchison, Harry Craker, Alfred William Gresswell Smith for the Quiz Office, Adelaide viewed 19 August 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3482010336
{{Citation
|
| title=Quiz and the lantern.
| year=1890
| section=v. : ill.
| issn=2203-7578
| issue=(19 September 1890)
| location=Adelaide
| publisher=James Hutchison, Harry Craker, Alfred William Gresswell Smith for the Quiz Office
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-3482010336
| id=nla.obj-3482010336
| access-date=19 August 2025
| via=Trove
}}
Citations are automatically generated and may require some modification to conform to exact standards.
Select the images you want to download, or the whole document.
You can order a copy of this work from Copies Direct.
Copies Direct supplies reproductions of collection material for a fee. This service is offered by the National Library of Australia
Copyright varies by issue and article
Copyright varies with each issue and article. You may have full rights to copy, or may be able to copy only under some circumstances, for example a portion for research or study. Order a copy where circumstances allow or Contact us for further information.
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply.
For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
Copy and paste one of these options to share this book elsewhere.