" Nor is it less adapted for the sons O f lusty toil, who, hastening from the bush, (Leaving their (locks and herds on distant runs), T h e n into the town impatient push ; Intent, for once at least, to have a fling, A n d in ' true bushman style' to drink and sing " There may they quaff their draughts secure from harm, N o noxious drugs within the goblet lurk, For ' Baker's' spirits, howe'er strong their charm, Deal not in any hocus pocus work ; A n d he disdains to carry on a trade, W h i c h is not on an honest basis laid."
Like the P.S. of a lady's letter, there is an addendum far outweighing in importance the body of the communication. Towards the end, the Parnassian stilts are kicked off, the writer regains the terra firma of plain unadulterated prose, and winds up with this alluring and matter-of-fact intimation:— SCALE OF ACCOMMODATION. A A A A A
hearty breakfast at 9 o'clock, charge substantial dinner, at 2 comfortable tea or supper, at 7 ... good bed in a cleanly room good tea, bed, and breakfast £3T Board and lodging, 12s. per week, payable in advance.
s. 1 1 I I
d. o o o o
2 6
Henry Baker subsequently transferred the Lmperial to other hands, and in 1848 became the founder of the hotel at Heidelberg to this day favourably k n o w n as the Old England. William H o w e commenced the dyeing business " next to M r . Gregory's iron store in Collins Street, where ladies' cloaks and riding habits, doe and buckskin breeches, & c , were cleaned andfinishedup in true fashion. Centlemen coming from the bush could also have their clothes cleaned, repaired, dressed, and pressed in a few hours." His success was tolerable, but when the following farrago appeared over his name in the newspaper in November, 1846, his business so increased that opposition shops were started in such numbers as to terminate disastrously to the whole lot : " Respectfully the undersigned Soilcits all to bear in mind, That he crape shawls, veils, and silk dresses, Most beautifully dyes and presses ; A n d renders clothes whate'er their hue, Grey, drab, or brown, or dusky blue, A matchless black or perfect sable, By process quite inimitable. A n d 'ere the sun has twice gone down, His 'first-ratefinish' can be found, His ' unique' flag is n o w unfurl'd— ' Without a fraud I cheat the world.' FOR
I am a dyer—a dyer of blue; I can dye an old coat, and make it look new ;— And when it is done, I'll wager a crown It surpasses thefinestn e w cloth in town. M y liquor is pure, as m y customers k n o w ; A n d to strangers I sing out—Attention ! ! H o ! ! ! "
Howe next shifted his quarters to Queen Street, where ladies' cloaks, riding habits, shawls, and gent e m e n s raiment of all qualities, were cleaned, dressed, and pressed on a principle unrivalled L in the colonies.
