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SOURCE:
THE LANTERN January 1879.
Published Adelaide. TUNE: Guy Fawkes THE KEROSENE CAPERI'll sing a doleful yarn, my boys, of Sam, the Hebrew sinister,Who manage once to Adelaide a fell blow to administer; For tired of his incessant jaw - this rowdy flame to spoil, sirs, The Council put the set on gas, and lit the town with oil, sirs. chorus Bow, wow, wow, the fearful things caused by this change, I'll tell just now. The very night the kerosene was first bought into action. Old Paddy Coglin, in Light-square, paraded all his faction; At Boddington he loudly railed, swore nothing would delight him, In honour of the shamrock, than the pleasure just to fight him. In front of Read's Imperial the Dean was dancing, While opposite, old Tomkey in a highland reel was prancing; Upon the curb Noltenius and Trew, in Sunday clothes, sirs, For drinks all round were shaping for the first hit on the nose , sirs. Bold Peterswald and Beddome, all position from them pinching, In bobbies rig, in search of cooks, sneaked down North-terrace kitchen; The head of the Good Templar crowd, half-tight, did Blackler knock-up; And David Blair, disguised in rum, they ran into the lock-up. As dark as pitch each street appeared, save where each pub was lit up, For half the kerosene required they hadn't tried to fit up. Can any dodge like this be shown more foolish or absurder, To hold a premium to thieves, to outrage, and to murder? SITE SOURCE: Sydney Folklore Project - Section 14: CITY LIFE |