Such small-town-mindedness! Sir John

and Lady Franklin spared no pains

to rouse a taste for science, literature and art.

Her soirées in the conversazione style

were never popular. Avery general one-ness

prevailed as to the fad for dancing

among pretty Tasmanians with no feeling for

rooms crammed with pictures, books,

shells, stone — dust-gatherers! Nothing

to do but hear people talk lectures,

else sit mute as mice and listen to

what's called Good Music. Why, they moaned,

couldn't she engage a military band,

roll up the carpets and, instead of all

that scientific, philosophic guff, just dance?