3-034-874 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Christmas Day in Australia - drawn by N. Chevalier, 1871. Illustration to a short story by G.S.P. '"Oh, stow such stuff!" cried young Tartboy, banging off a champagne bottle. "Who's for the first froth?" "But who," shouted handsome old Major Dubbs - "who will allow me to send them a slice of the roast beef of Young Australia, in commemoration of the favourite Christmas joint of Old England? Cold, of course; but here's plenty of mustard and hot pickles. Also plum-pudding - cold, too - but there's plenty of brandy in it." This group is but one of many groups...all seated, lolling, standing, or reclining...all over a sort of haylike grass, dried and tanned by the blazing heat of an Australian December; and beneath trees whose shadow...requires every assistance from little tents, umbrellas, parasols, and broad-brimmed hats...By this time the spirits of the collective group being elevated to that pitch when nothing but dancing seems capable, on these occasions, of serving as an adequate escape-valve, the whole company rose and divided themselves into parties for Scotch reels. These were instantly followed by Irish jigs. Then, without stopping to take breath, they all danced a polka, then a galop, and finally a waltz'. From "Illustrated London News", 1871.