Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 May 1893 — A HOLIDAY – LOVING PEOPLE. [ARTICLE]

A HOLIDAY - LOVING PEOPLE.

The Colonist* of New Zealand I’roler to Take Life Hal her Kuslly. Tho colonists of New Zealand arc a holiday-making people, says Pearson’s Weekly. There Is almost an average of one recognised holiday in a month, and it is a common practice for all working people to take two or more days at Christmas, the New Year, and Easter, so as to make an unbroken playtime of three or four days, including Sunday. Then the great mass of tho people give themselves up to amusement. Ilorse races, athletic sports, boat races, and excursions are carried on In every available spot, and are attended by large and well-behaved crowds. Tho commonest of all holiday amusements, howevor, is the picnic. The several trades, sects, and societies havo picnics of their own, to which tho public are cordially welcome on tho payment of a small sum toward the expense of the entertuinmont. It is amusing to tho railway traveler to note, as he passes through some pleasant countryside, not phe or two but perhaps fifty different picnics in full swing, each numbering scores or hundreds of guests. It has been said with much moro truth than is usually to bo found in epigrams of this kind that: “In New Zealand people are like cattle. You need only turn a number of them Into a pasture and leave them aloae, und they will be perfectly happy." On a warm and tempting New Year’s Day an enterprising burglar might walk through a New Zealand city and help himself undisturbed to tho contents of most of the houses. Dwellings and streets are alike deserted, and tho casual sojourner who does not understand the ways of the place seeks in vain for some one to speak to. By 6or 7 o'clock in the evening *ho streets are lively with returning crowds.