CAUSE OF DETERIORATION 73 



Side by side with Mr. Howard's sermon in 

 the newspaper — exactly side by side, in the next 

 column — appears the account of the Derby Day at 

 Flemington. In the one column holy and burning 

 denunciation of all concerned in the show ; in the 

 next column a list of the great ones of the earth who 

 patronized the show with their presence ! Was that 

 intended by the paper as an illustration of ' Lights 

 and Shadows ' of Melbourne life ? or was it with the 

 expectation that the names of the sinners enumerated 

 would be a rebuke to the reverend gentleman for his 

 denunciation, or that his denunciation would be a 

 rebuke to the great ones for their presence ? In the 

 one column a description of the fair form quivering 

 with unwomanly excitement under the influence of 

 the gambling demon's spell ; in the next column the 

 fair form beautifully dressed : cream crepe de chine, 

 black pleated chiffons, gray voiles, pink and white 

 roses, not to forget toques, and the luncheon and 

 afternoon tea-parties numerous ! What a treat 

 for the cynic in this juxtaposition ! I have cut 

 out the two parallel columns in order to have 

 them put in a frame. Then we are told that the 

 racing was ' a profitable day's racing to the racing 

 men ' ! 



It is not only in Australia that comment has been 

 made on the influence of fair forms and fair faces. 

 I have read that these have often had too much 

 influence on the War-Office, and through that on 

 war-horses. 



