11/29/2022 0 Comments O captin my captinrising actions![]() ![]() “Well, I’ll take you to a noo place, most selectest place I know. “Ho! is that it, sir?” said the cabman, with a grin. “We want to go to one of those saloons where you pay a shilling to go in. “We’re not expecting to drop into a ballroom without being asked, thank you,” said Gordon. “There ain’t no parties tonight, sir it’s too ’ot.” ![]() “Nearest darncin’ saloon,” said the cabman. “Nearest dancing saloon,” said Gordon, briefly. Stepping into the street they called a cab. So, after many jeers from the Bo’sun, and promises to come back and and tell them all about it, Carew and Gordon sallied forth, a pair of men as capable of looking after themselves as one would meet in a day’s march. “I don’t suppose we need get into a fight.” “Oh, yes I’d like to,” said the Englishman. I never start fighting till I’m done running. I’m like a rat if I’m cornered, but it takes a man with a stockwhip to corner me. “I’d sooner run a mile than fight, any time. “There’d certainly be a fight if they did. “I don’t suppose their women would dance with you if you paid ’em five shillings a step,” he said. ![]() The Bo’sun, who knew nothing about it, assumed the Sir Oracle at once. “It’s years since I was at that sort of place myself.” “If you dance with any of their women, you get her particular fancy-man on to you, don’t you?” asked Gordon. You’ll gape at them, and they’ll gape at you, and you’ll feel rather a pair of fools, and you’ll come away. “There’s nothing to be seen-just a lot of flash young rowdies dancing. Pinnock said he had to go back to his office the globe-trotter didn’t care about going out at night: and the Bo’sun tried to laugh the thing off. “But we might go and see the dancing-no harm in that.” “Rather roughish sort of Johnnies, eh?” said the Englishman. They jump on a man if they get him down, too. “If they have to wait a year to get you, they’ll wait, and get you alone some night or other and set on to you. They go in gangs, and if you hit one of the gang, all the rest will ‘deal with you’, as they call it. “Pretty much the same as a basher,” he said, “but with a lot more science and dog-cunning about him. The Bo’sun rang for cigars and liqueurs, and then answered the question. What they call a basher in England, isn’t it? Eh, what? Sort of rough that lays for you with a pal and robs you, eh?” “I’ve heard such a lot about the Australian larrikin. “I’d like it awfully,” said one Englishman. “What do you say,” he drawled, “if we go and have a look at a dancing saloon-one of these larrikin dancing saloons?” There were no supporters for a proposal to stop in the smoking-room and drink, and gambling in the cardrooms had no attractions on such a night. It was unanimously voted too hot for the theatres, ditto for billiards. They meant to have some sort of fun, and the various amusements of Sydney were canvassed. The quests have all said their best things during the meal, and nothing is left but to smoke moodily and look at the clock. Many a good dinner, enlivened with wine and made brilliant with repartee, has died out in gloom. ![]() THE PASSING of the evening afterwards is the only true test of a dinner’s success. This is chapter III, "In Push Society", from An Outback Marriage by Andrew Barton ‘Banjo’ Paterson The Pushes were Sydney gangs of the 19th century after whom the Sydney Libertarians ("The Old Push" or "The Sydney Push") of The Royal George were named. There were fantastic exhibition openings/parties/concerts there: once Jeannie Lewis, whom I knew as a friend and folksinger from The George, completed the blowing of my already well-blown mind by singing at a Yellow House opening one of the sexiest, most amazing riffs I have ever heard. Richard Neville visited The Royal George I'm not sure if Martin Sharp did, but I well remember The Yellow House at Kings Cross about 1970: it was in Macleay Street, just round the corner from Frank's Cafe (in Challis Avenue), the leather shop run by many from The George's Young Push and others. The Yellow House and other Cross Currents - SMH 'He's part social commentator, part shaman' - SMH "Most of the things come with humour and a sting," he says. "His work is loaded with levels of meaning, says artist Peter Kingston, who worked with Sharp on Oz in Sydney, at Luna Park and at the Yellow House artists' mecca at Kings Cross in the 1970s. ![]()
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