CANADA AND THE MOTHER-COUNTRY.
[To TIM EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:] SIE,—By last week's mail I received a letter—written on July 28th last—from a young relative of mine, who went out two years ago to Canada to seek his fortune, which is such an interesting commentary upon your article in the issue of August 13th, entitled "The Dangers of Self-Depreciation," that I venture to send you a somewhat lengthy extract from it. He writes as follows :— "From a social or any other point of view, I cannot say I would choose this town as my home. It is very much enclosed by hills, which limit one's chances of exercise to a very small circuit, though there are plenty of chances for the physically strenuous. Being lazy and fond of books, I would willingly exchange two of our mountain ranges for a good library, which is not available, and other amenities which are found in larger centres. I did not come here for that, however, and the train de vivre' is eminently satisfactory as long as we are making money. That is really all there is to it. It is not materialism, but the only true reason for one's presence here. Things are in a transient stage, and what is desired is in the future, and the way to that is a clean life and business success in the present. Other things are pleasant when business is good. They are the frills, but unless business is good they have no flavour. With some this attitude may easily become dollar worship. With many it is the realisation of effort, the winning in the race that counts, with dollars as a necessary appendage, but not for the sake of the dollar. It is certainly a stimulating atmosphere, but very much along the one groove of effort after material prosperity. This, I think, is almost inevitable. It is not as in England, where most men remain, with very gradual advance, in the position, or rather line, where they started. That is, speaking of the great average mass. There are, of course, plenty of exceptions. Here, the air is vibrant with growth and possibilities. If you are anything but a dead one' you must feel it. There is something to show for efforts made. You cannot do real work without reward. And that is why there is such buoyant optimism. It is youth. In a period of expansion optimism is essentiaL Much otherwise would not be undertaken. One would be frightened to move if failure were expected. The whole position is practically summed up in the Canadian idea that if you cannot say something good about a thing it is your business to keep your mouth shut. 'Knockers' are not to be tolerated_ The whole Press of the country is in seeming conspiracy to keep up the enthusiasm. 'Smile' is the motto, under all circumstances ; otherwise withdraw. And that is why there is this anxiety about national development. This is no dependency of England, it is part of the Empire. The loyalty is there, but the feeling is that Canada is no longer in tutelage ; she is ready to co-operate. East and West may give each other sundry jolts, but they can stand together against a third. That is what I can make of the situation as I find it in personal inter- course, in the Press and magazines of the country. Of the annexation by the States bogey I find no trace. Greedy of praise and fractious under criticism, Canadians are out after records. whether in bank clearings, totals of building permits issued, bushels of wheat raised, amount of lumber cut, or anything else. There are bad places in the structure, but the intentions are good and the movement is forward, through the stage of youth, which wants to see its efforts materialise to the full growth of an exulting nation in Imperial partnership. The influence of Great Britain, rightly exerted, will prevent the fall to the dollar-hunting, sensa- tion-mongering level of the States."
—I am, Sir, tic., ENGLISHMAN.
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