i?4 Australian Life 



they are quite at their worst in the atmosphere of 

 the court and ballroom. 



The social duties of an Australian Governor 

 are obviously of a very exacting nature, since in 

 his hands is placed the task of reconciling the 

 claims of so many social aspirants, and of keep- 

 ing Government House free from the invasions of 

 enterprising people whom those already within 

 the pale would consider impossible. The newly 

 arrived Governor accordingly provides a book in 

 which callers may write their names and ad- 

 dresses, and from this book is compiled the list 

 of those who are subsequently entertained by the 

 vice-royalty. I do not profess any ability to 

 indicate the lines upon which the selection is 

 made, but it is no secret that the path of the 

 Australian Governor who has not a well-posted 

 secretary and a staff of tactful aide-de-camps is by 

 no means a pleasant one. These Government 

 House entertainments are interesting. The cen- 

 tral figure is that of a tactful and courteous 

 gentleman, who, with the assistance of an alto- 

 gether charming wife, and a band of bored- 

 looking aides, is cordially receiving an immense 

 number of guests, some of whom regard his hos- 

 pitality as a right. As they arrive, the guests 

 fall naturally into sets: the political set, includ- 

 ing a number of the higher officials; the land- 

 owning set, descended from the Australian 

 wool-kings ; the professional and military set, 

 including many worthy gentlemen in expensive 



