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CHAP. XXII.

THE DRAMA.

365

F. Marsden, Charles Gaylor, Leonard Grover, and John Habberston. Humanity is the same all the world over, but writers are naturally happier in their attempts to reproduce the life and scenery with which they are most familiar. Obedience to this self-evident truth enables French and English authors to bring upon the stage representations of character which have a lifelike reality. In spite of all that is urged about the "decline" and "degeneracy" of the drama, it has seldom appealed more strongly to a healthy public sentiment than it does to-day in both countries, and the profession certainly never contained so many men and women entitled to respect for private virtues and graces, as well as genuine dramatic talent. We cannot afford to ignore such a source of public enlightenment as the stage. There was a time when religious people turned away from all literature in the form of a novel; now they have begun to discriminate between the wheat and the chaff, and to acknowledge that good novels instruct as well as have a distinct sphere and value of their own. coming when it will be more widely realised than it is at present, that the theatre is an influence for good or evil which demands the gravest consideration and sympathy, and that there is a power which cannot be despised in the play which sets forth the value of living up to one's ideal, represents the highest form of love, portrays the redemption which comes from self-sacrifice and repentance, and the Nemesis which always follows wrong-doing, before great masses of people, dead to other influences, who can be reached in no other way.

amuse, and

The day is

CHAPTER XXIII.

Canada-Sleighing-Miss Rye's and Miss Macpherson's homes for English waifs and strays-Occupations for women-Report of the Montreal Protective Immigration Society-Educated women versus fine ladies wanted in all our colonies-Agricultural prospects-The Marquis of Lorne on the Canadian climate-Lady Gordon Cathcart's settlement at Wappella-A day at Niagara Falls-American homes-Dr. Charles Phelps-Departure from America.

OF Canada I saw far too little. A pleasant visit to some old friends in Montreal gave me my chief insight into Canadian ways and society. Although the ground was covered with many feet of snow, the atmosphere was dry and bracing, and never have I seen brighter winter skies or more brilliant moonlight. In spite of asthma, I enjoyed the great feature of life in this snow-clad region. Nestled in buffalo robes, with face and ears protected by a fur cap and woollen cloud, I ventured to sleigh, and made the acquaintance of the hills from the top of which Montreal looks so picturesque. The rapid, silent motion, as you glide through the electric air, in a well-appointed sleigh, drawn by a pair of handsome horses with silver-mounted harness and tinkling bells, is a novel sensation to the Londoner accustomed to the noise of commonplace wheels! Edgar Poe's lines assume a new meaning as you hear with your own ears along the crisp Canadian snow-bound roads

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What a world of merriment their melody foretells!
How they tinkle, tinkle, tinkle

In the icy air of night!"

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There are many kinds of sleighs-the modest cutter hired from the livery stables, the sportsman's "sulky," family sleighs, the tradesman's “democrat," "bob sleighs "—in short, you find all kinds of vehicles on runners, but one and all fill the air with the cheerful sound

"Of the tintinnabulation that so musically swells

From the jingling and the tinkling of the bells."

Canada offers many pleasures in the form of toboganning, skating, ice-yachting, running in snow-shoes, and also to the sportsman who appreciates the pursuit of moose, antelope, and buffalo elk; there is plenty of game-prairie chickens and ducks, pheasants and partridges, as well as snipes, cranes, and plovers. The river and lakes abound in sturgeon, white fish, bass, pike, perch, and many other varieties. Frogcatching has assumed the aspect of an industry for boys in Ontario. The marshes at Holland Landing, near Barrie, abound with these little animals, which are regarded as great delicacies in the States. There is a great demand for them in the hotels and restaurants, consequently many boys find occupation in catching and skinning them, after which they are forwarded to New York, Detroit, Chicago, and elsewhere.

I was much disappointed in being unable, owing to illness, to visit the homes provided for the English waifs and strays which are transported by Miss Rye and Miss Macpherson to Quebec and Ontario. But I heard quite enough to assure me that the children are well cared for in the homes opened

for their reception, wisely distributed in respectable families, and placed in positions where they may establish themselves for life. The labour in a Canadian household compels industry, and admits of but little idleness at any season of the year. There is a great dearth of domestic servants, but a general feeling prevails that the emigration of ladies in search of places as governesses and companions is a very great mistake. Several who had been sent out by philanthropists at home called on me personally and said they found the chances of employment there scarcer than in the old country, and heartily wished themselves in England again. It is quite absurd for ladies to emigrate unless they are prepared to accept the exigencies of life abroad; they must be willing to abandon all fine-ladyism for practical work; they must be ready to turn their hand to anything and everything. There is room in Canada and America, still more in Australia and New Zealand, for educated women who are ready to "rough it" as their brothers have done before them, but none for those who look for positions which are the outgrowths of an older civilisation.

The Women's Protective Immigration Society of Montreal has just published its second annual report, from which it appears that 236 persons have been received into the home for various periods of time, varying from one day to a fortnight's duration, in the past year. Those of a superior class who went were all provided with suitable employment, and the managers state that no such persons need be under any apprehension in proceeding to the Dominion, for at each season openings occur for sensible, capable persons, who will quickly and cheerfully suit themselves to the unavoidable change of circumstances in a new country. Free board and

CHAP. XXIII.

MANITOBA.

369

lodging are given to female immigrants for twenty-four hours after arrival. A charge of 10s. per week or 1s. 10d. per day is made when they remain for a longer period. It is stated that domestic servants find ready employment at from £1, 5s. to £2 monthly, according to capability. Good cooks obtain from £2, 10s. to £4 per month. Women who understand farm work can be placed with country people. Girls who wish to enter service for the first time, though without experience, are much in demand, and can at once earn £1 per month.

Women are largely employed in telephone and telegraph offices, and the manager of the Toronto Institute considers that they excel men in skilfulness of manipulation. Strawhat making, from the wide-spreading "Palmetto" to the aristocratic leghorn and tuscan, keep many female operatives at work. The packing of cheese and butter, and dairy work generally, affords plenty of employment for women as well as the furrier's trade in buffalo robes, caps, muffs, and mitts, bookbinding, boot and leather work, and the fabrication of woollen, flax, and cotton goods. For dressmakers and milliners there is a great demand, and a fair needlewoman and good fitter can insure constant work and liberal pay in the large cities.

In the great prairie farms there is room for a large accession of labour; the province of Manitoba alone contains seventy-eight million acres of land! Most of this land must as yet be described as pure prairie, but a very large portion is suitable for the growth of wheat and other cereals, barley, potatoes, and grasses, and has sufficient timber for ordinary purposes. The great track of prairie stretching from Winnipeg to the foot of the Rocky Mountains, offers

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