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A Country of Paradoxes

           Theyallateheartily,buttalkedmorethantheyate,eagerlyaskingPaganelquestionsaboutthewondersofthecountrytheywerejustbeginningtotraverse.Theamiablegeographerneedednopressing,andtoldthemfirstthatthispartofitwascalledAustraliaFelix.

           "Wronglynamed!"hecontinued."Ithadbetterhavebeencalledrich,foritistrueofcountries,asindividuals,thatrichesdonotmakehappiness.Thankstohergoldmines,Australiahasbeenabandonedtowilddevastatingadventurers.Youwillcomeacrossthemwhenwereachthegoldfields."

           "IsnotthecolonyofVictoriaofbutarecentorigin?"askedLadyGlenarvan.

           "Yes,madam,itonlynumbersthirtyyearsofexistence.Itwasonthe6thofJune,1835,onaTuesday"

           "Ataquarterpastsevenintheevening,"putintheMajor,whodelightedinteasingtheFrenchmanabouthisprecisedates.

           "No,attenminutespastseven,"repliedthegeographer,gravely,"thatBatmanandFalcknerfirstbeganasettlementatPortPhillip,thebayonwhichthelargecityofMelbournenowstands.ForfifteenyearsthecolonywaspartofNewSouthWales,andrecognizedSydneyasthecapital;butin1851,shewasdeclaredindependent,andtookthenameofVictoria."

           "Andhasgreatlyincreasedinprosperitysincethen,Ibelieve,"saidGlenarvan.

           "Judgeforyourself,mynoblefriend,"repliedPaganel."Herearethenumbersgivenbythelaststatistics;andletMcNabbssayashelikes,Iknownothingmoreeloquentthanstatistics."

           "Goon,"saidtheMajor.

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