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is　share　with　something　amounting　almost　to　enthusiasm。



CHAPTER　XI

THE　SHADOW　OF　WAR


It　was　finally　agreed　that　a　part　at　least　of　the　responsibility　for　the　disturbance　which　marred　the　harmony　of　the　Dominion　Day　celebration　at　Wolf　Willow　upon　this　occasion　must　rest　on　the　shoulders　of　Mr。　Alvin　P。　Jones。　　The　impressive　presentation　by　Mr。　Gilchrist　of　Canada's　greatness　and　the　splendour　of　her　future　appeared　to　stimulate　Mr。　Jones　to　unusual　flights　of　oratory。　Under　ordinary　circumstances　Mr。　Jones'　oratory　was　characterised　by　such　extraordinary　physical　vigour；　if　not　violence；　and　by　such　a　fluency　of　orotund　and　picturesque　speech；　that　with　the　multitude　sound　passed　for　eloquence　and　platitudes　on　his　lips　achieved　the　dignity　of　profound　wisdom。　　Building　upon　the　foundation　laid　by　the　previous　speaker；　Mr。　Jones　proceeded　to　extol　the　grandeur　of　the　Dominion；　the　wonders　of　her　possessions；　the　nobility　of　her　people；　the　splendour　of　her　institutions；　the　glory　of　her　future。　　He　himself　was　not　by　birth　a　Canadian；　but　so　powerful　a　spell　had　the　Dominion　cast　over　him　that　he　had　become　a　Canadian　by　adoption。　　Proud　of　his　American　birth　and　citizenship；　he　was　even　more　proud　of　his　Canadian　citizenship。　He　saw　before　him　a　large　number　of　American　citizens　who　had　come　to　throw　in　their　lot　with　the　Dominion　of　Canada。　　He　believed　they　had　done　a　wise　thing；　and　that　among　the　most　loyal　citizens　of　this　Dominion　none　would　be　found　more　devoted　to　the　material　welfare　and　the　spiritual　well…being　of　Canada　than　those　who　came　from　the　other　side　of　the　line。　　He　saw　a　number　of　those　who　were　sometimes　improperly　called　foreigners。　　He　said　〃improperly〃　because　whatever　their　origin；　whether　Ruthenian；　Swede；　French；　German；　or　whatever　their　race　might　be；　here　they　were　simply　Canadians　with　all　the　rights　of　Canadian　citizenship　assured　to　them。　　He　was　glad　to　see　so　many　of　his　German　friends　present。　They　represent　a　great　nation　whose　achievements　in　every　department　of　human　activity；　in　learning；　in　industrial　enterprise；　in　commerce；　were　the　envy　and　admiration　of　the　world　（excursus　here　in　glorification　of　the　great　German　people）：　　To　these；　his　German　fellow　citizens；　he　would　say　that　no　matter　how　deep　their　devotion　to　the　Vaterland　（Mr。　Jones　pronounced　it　with　a　〃v〃）　he　knew　they　would　be　loyal　citizens　of　Canada。　　The　German　Empire　had　its　differences　and　disagreements　with　Great　Britain；　the　American　Republic　has　had　the　same；　and　indeed　it　was　possible　that　there　were　a　number　present　who　might　not　cherish　any　very　passionate　regard　for　the　wealthy；　complaisant；　self…contained　somewhat　slow…going　old　gentleman；　John　Bull。　　But　here　in　Canada；　we　were　all　Canadians！　　First；　last　and　all　the　time；　Canadians　（great　applause）。　　Whatever　might　be　said　of　other　countries；　their　wealth；　their　power；　their　glory；　Canada　was　good　enough　for　him　（more　applause；　followed　by　a　further　elaboration　of　Canada's　vast　resources；　etc。；　etc。）。　　Canada's　future　was　unclouded　by　the　political　complications　and　entanglements　of　the　older　countries　in　Europe。　　For　one　hundred　years　they　had　been　at　peace　with　the　Republic　south　of　that　imaginary　line　which　delimited　the　boundaries；　but　which　did　not　divide　the　hearts　of　these　two　peoples　（great　applause）。　　For　his　part；　while　he　rejoiced　in　the　greatness　of　the　British　Empire　he　believed　that　Canada's　first　duty　was　to　herself；　to　the　developing　here　of　a　strong　and　sturdy　national　spirit。　Canada　for　Canadians；　Canada　first；　these　were　the　motives　that　had　guided　his　life　both　in　public　service　and　as　a　private　citizen　（loud　applause）。　　In　this　country　there　was　a　place　for　all；　no　matter　from　what　country　they　came；　a　place　for　the　Ruthenian　（enumeration　of　the　various　European　and　Asiatic　states　from　which　potential　citizens　of　Canada　had　come）。　　Let　us　join　hands　and　hearts　in　building　up　a　great　empire　where　our　children；　free　from　old…world　entanglements；　free　to　develop　in　our　own　way　our　own　institutions　（eloquent　passages　on　freedom）　in　obedience　to　laws　of　our　own　making；　defended　by　the　strong　arms　and　brave　hearts　of　our　own　sons；　aided　（here　the　speaker　permitted　himself　a　smile　of　gentle　humour）　by　the　mighty　wing　of　the　American　eagle　（references　to　the　Monroe　Doctrine　and　its　protection　of　Canada's　shores）　we　shall　abide　in　peace　and　security　from　all　aggression　and　all　alarm。　（Thunderous　and　continued　applause；　during　which　the　speaker　resumed　his　seat。）

It　was　old　McTavish　who　precipitated　the　trouble。　　The　old　Highlander　belonged　to　a　family　that　boasted　a　long　line　of　fighting　forbears。　Ever　since　The　Forty…five　when　the　German　king　for　the　time　occupying　the　English　throne　astutely　diverted　the　martial　spirit　of　the　Scottish　clans　from　the　business　of　waging　war　against　his　own　armies；　their　chief　occupation；　to　that　of　fighting　his　continental　foes；　The　McTavish　was　to　be　found　ever　in　the　foremost　ranks　of　British　men…of…war；　joyously　doing　battle　for　his　clan　and　for　his　king；　who；　if　the　truth　were　told；　he　regarded　with　scant　loyalty。　Like　so　many　of　the　old　timers　in　western　Canada；　this　particular　McTavish　had　been　at　one　time　a　servant　of　the　Hudson　Bay　Company　and　as　such　had　done　his　part　in　the　occupation；　peaceful　and　otherwise；　of　the　vast　territories　administered　by　that　great　trading　company。　　In　his　fiery　fighting　soul　there　burned　a　passionate　loyalty　to　the　name　and　fame　of　the　land　of　his　birth；　and　a　passionate　pride　in　the　Empire　under　whose　flag　the　Company's　ships　had　safely　sailed　the　northern　seas　and　had　safely　traded　in　these　vast　wild　lands　for　nearly　three　hundred　years。　　Deep　as　this　loyalty　and　pride　in　the　soul　of　him　there　lay　a　cold　suspicion　of　the　Yankee。　　He　had　met　him　in　those　old　days　of　trade　war；　had　suffered　and　had　seen　his　Company　suffer　from　his　wiles；　and　finally　had　been　compelled　to　witness　with　bitter　but　unavailing　hate　the　steady　encroachment　of　those　rival　traders　upon　the　ancient　prerogatives　and　preserves　of　his　own　Company；　once　the　sole　and　undisputed　lords　of　the　northern　half　of　the　American　continent。　　In　the　person　of　Mr。　Alvin　P。　Jones；　McTavish　saw　the　representative　of　those　ancient　enemies　of　his；　and　in　the　oration　to　which　he　had　just　listened　he　fancied　he　detected　a　note　of　disloyalty　to　the　flag；　a　suggestion　of　a　break　in　the　allegiance　of　Canada　to　the　Empire；　and　worst　of　all；　a　hint　that　Canada　might　safely　depend　for　protection　upon　something　other　than　the　naval　power　which　had　guarded　the　shores　of　his　country　these　many　years　from　enemy　invasion。　　These　things　wrought　in　old　McTavish　an　uncontrollable　anger；　and　no　sooner　had　the　tumultuous　applause　died　away　than　he　was　on　his　feet　and　in　a　high；　rasping　voice　demanding　audience。

〃Will　ye　per…r…rmit　me；　Mr。　Chair…r…rman；　a　few　words　in　regar…r…d　to　the　remarkable　address　to　which　we　haf　listened？〃　　Permission　was　graciously　granted　by　the　chairman；　surprise　and　complaisant　delight　mantling　the　steaming　face　of　Mr。　Alvin　P。　Jones；　albeit　at　his　heart　there　lurked　a　certain　uneasiness；　for　on　more　than　one　occasion　had　he　suffered　under　the　merciless　heckling　of　the　little　Scotchman。

〃'Tis　a　wonderful　address　we　haf　been　hearing；　an　eloquent　address。　Some　of　it　iss　true　an'　some　of　it　iss　lies　＇commotion　in　the　audiencethe　smile　on　Mr。　Alvin　P。　Jones's　face　slightly　less　expansive＇。　　The　speaker　has　told　us　about　Canada；　its　great　extent；　its　vast　r…r…resources。　　Some　of　us　haf　known　about　these　things　while　yet　his　mother　was　still　sucking　him　＇snickers　of　delight　from　the　younger　members　of　the　audience　and　cries　of；　'Go　to　it；　Mack＇。　　'Tis　a　great　Dominion　whatefer　and　will　be　a　gr…r…reater　Dominion　yet　so　lang　as　it　keeps　to　right　ways。　　He　has　told　us　of　the　mighty　achievements　of　Cher…r…rmany。　　I　will　jist　be　askin'　him　what　has　Cher…r…rmany　done　for　this　country　or　for　any　country　but　her　ainsel？　　She　has　cluttered　us　up　wi'　pot…metal；　cutlery　an'　such　things；　an'　cheap　cloth　that　ye　can　put　yer　finger　through；　an'　that　will　be　done　in　a　month's　wear…r…ring。　　Musick；　ye'll　be　sayin'！　　Musick！　　I　was　in　Calgary　not　long　since。　　They　took　me　to　what　they　will　be　callin'　a　music…kale　＇delighted　roars　of　laughter　from　the　audience＇。　　A　music…kale　indeed！　　I　haf　hear…r…rd　of　cauld　kale　an'　het　kale；　of　kale　porridge　an'　kale　brose；　but　nefer　haf　I　hear…r…rd　before　of　a　music…kale。　　Bless　me；　man；　I　cud　make　neither　head　nor　tail　o'　it；　and　they　wer…r…re　no　better　themsel's。　　They　had　printed　notes　about　it　an'　a　bit　man　makin'　a　speech　about　it；　but　not　one　of　them　knew　a　thing　about　the　hale　hypotheck。　　Musick；　quare　musick　I　call　it！　　If　it　is　musick　yer　wantin'；　gif　me　Angus　there　wi'　the　pipes　＇wild　cheers　testifying　to　Angus's　popularity＇　or　the　master…r…r　himsel'　an'　the　young　lady　here　＇this　with　a　courteous　bow　to　Miss　Switzer＇　wi'　their　feeddles。　　That's　what　I　will　be　callin'　musick。　　An'　lairnin'！　　Lairnin'　that　will　lay　sacraleegious　hands　upon　the　Sacred　Word；　an'　tear…r…r　it　to　bits。　　That　like　thing　the　Cher…r…rman　lairnin'　is　doin'；　and　ye　can　ask　Mr。　Rhye　yonder。　　An'　other　things　the　Cher…r…rmans　are　doin'　that　keep　us　all　from　restin'　quiet　in　our　beds。　　Let　them　come　her…