The Lone Prairee
SIR,—This note is inspired by Mr. EThvid Mitchell's letter in the Spectator of June 5th, 1953, commenting on " The Lone Prairee" of Mr. Desmond Henn, but I had previously considered tendering my congratulations on your bravery in publishing another article from the forthright pen of Mr. Henn. Just what unfortunate experiences have befallen Mr. Mitchell during his sojourn in Oxford I cannot know, but he must have suffered some grievous wound to be so aroused by the humour of Mr. Henn as to state that he feels " little affection " for the people of Great Britain. As one of Mr. Mitchell's " fellow- countrymen " (the phrase is his) who recently spent three very pleasant years in Cambridge, I deny his right to speak for " the majority " of Canadians privileged to study in England.
The recent Coronation surely demonstrates that the "Dominion of the North " (the phrase is not Mr. Mitchell's) has many enduring links which bind it to the vigorous, friendly island which gives life and order to the viable, freedom-loving Commonwealth. Wars and peace also prove this contention.
Perhaps Mr. Mitchell's contact with Canada has not been extensive Onough for him to know that not all of our ten Provinces are subjected to the rigours of the " severe environment " which he claims for his prairie home (which,, in a number of respects, such as political and climatic, is rather untypical of our national life). That many of his fellow-provincials have discovered the attractions of life else- where is evidenced by the emigration from Saskatchewan which con- tinues -from year to year. Some Saskatchewancrs, it is said, have even taken refuge in Wisconsin, and Mr. Mitchell might very possibly feel more at home there than in Oxford.—Yours faithfully,
OVERSEAS SCHOLAR. [The writer was an I.O.D.E. (Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire) Overseas Scholar for Ontario at Cambridge University, 1949-52]
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