usiness。 Let me tell you something。 I went across to Oregon a little while ago and saw something that opened my eyes。 In a little school in the ranching country in a settlement of mixed foreignersSwedes； Italians； Germans； Jews they had a great show they called 'saluting the flag。' Being Scotch you despise the whole thing as a lot of rotten slushy sentimentality； and a lot of Canadians agree with you。 But let me tell you how they got me。 I watched those kids with their foreign faces； foreign speechyou ought to hear them readGreat Scott； you'd have to guess at the language。 Then came this flag…saluting business。 A kid with Yiddish written all over his face was chosen to carry in the flag； attended by a bodyguard for the colours； and believe me they appeared as proud as Punch of the honour。 They placed the flag in position； sang a hymn； had a prayer； then every kid at a signal shot out his right hand toward the flag held aloft by the Yiddish colour bearer and pledged himself； heart； and soul； and body； to his flag and to his country。 The ceremony closed with the singing of the national hymn； mighty poor poetry and mighty hard to sing； but do you know listening to those kids and watching their foreign faces I found myself with tears in my eyes and swallowing like a darn fool。 Ever since that day I believe in flag…flapping。〃
〃Maybe you are right；〃 replied Ross。 〃You know we British folk are so fearfully afraid of showing our feelings。 We go along like graven images； the more really stirred up； the more graven we appear。 But suppose we move over to the platform where the speechifying is to be done。〃
In front of the school building a platform had been erected； and before the stage； preparations had been made for seating the spectators as far as the school benches and chairs from neighbours' houses would go。 The programme consisted of patriotic songs and choruses with contributions from the minstrel company。 The main events of the evening； however； were to be the addresses； the principal speech being by the local member for the Dominion Parliament； Mr。 J。 H。 Gilchrist； who was to be followed by a local orator； Mr。 Alvin P。 Jones； a former resident of the United States； but now an enthusiastic； energetic and most successful farmer and business man； possessing one of the best appointed ranches in Alberta。 The chairman was； of course； Reverend Evans Rhye。 The parson was a little Welshman； fat and fussy and fiery of temper； but his heart was warmly human； and in his ministry he manifested a religion of such simplicity and devotion； of such complete unselfishness as drew to him the loyal affection of the whole community。 Even such sturdy Presbyterians as McTavish； the Rosses； Angus Frazer and his mother； while holding tenaciously and without compromise to their own particular form of doctrine and worship； yielded Mr。 Rhye； in the absence of a church and minister of their own denomination； a support and esteem unsurpassed even among his own folk。 Their attitude was considered to be stated with sufficient clearness by Angus Frazer in McTavish's store one day。 〃I am not that sure about the doctrine； but he has the right kind of religion for me。〃 And McTavish's reply was characteristic： 〃Doctrine！ He has as gude as you can expec' frae thae Episcopawlian buddies。 But he's a Godly man and he aye pays his debts whatever；〃 which from McTavish was as high praise as could reasonably be expected。
The audience comprised the total population of Wolf Willow and its vicinity； as well as visitors from the country within a radius of ten or fifteen miles。
Mr。 J。 H。 Gilchrist； M。 P。； possessed the initial advantages of Scotch parentage and of early Scotch training； and besides these he was a farmer and knew the farmer's mind。 To these advantages he added those of a course of training in Toronto University in the departments of metaphysics and economics； and an additional advantage of five years' pedagogical experience。 He possessed； moreover； the gift of lucid and forceful speech。 With such equipment small wonder that he was in demand for just such occasions as a Dominion Day celebration and in just such a community as Wolf Willow。 The theme of his address was Canadian Citizenship； Its Duties and Its Responsibilities； a theme somewhat worn but possessing the special advantage of being removed from the scope of party politics while at the same time affording opportunity for the elucidation of the political principles of that party which Mr。 Gilchrist represented； and above all for a fervid patriotic appeal。 With Scotch disdain of all that savoured of flattery or idle compliment； Mr。 Gilchrist plunged at once into the heart of his subject。
〃First； the area of Canada。 Forty…six years ago； when Canada became a nation； the Dominion possessed an area of 662；148 square miles； to…day her area covers 3；729；665 square miles； one…third the total size of the British Empire； as large as the continent of Europe without Russia； larger by over one hundred thousand square miles than the United States。〃
〃Hear； hear；〃 cried an enthusiastic voice from the rear。
〃Aye； water and snow；〃 in a rasping voice from old McTavish。
〃Water and snow；〃 replied Mr。 Gilchrist。 〃Yes； plenty of water； 125；000 square miles of it； and a good thing it is too for Canada。 Some people sniff at water；〃 continued the speaker with a humorous glance at McTavish； 〃but even a Scotchman may with advantage acknowledge the value of a little water。〃 The crowd went off into a roar of laughter at the little Scotchman who was supposed to be averse to the custom of mixing too much water with his drink。
〃My friend； Mr。 McTavish；〃 continued the speaker； 〃has all a Scotchman's hatred of bounce and brag。 I am not indulging in foolish brag； but I maintain that no Canadian can rightly prize the worth of his citizenship who does not know something of his country； something of the wealth of meaning lying behind that word 'Canada；' and I purpose to tell you this evening something of some of Canada's big things。 I shall speak of them with gratitude and with pride； but chiefly with a solemnising sense of responsibility。
〃As for the 'water and the snow' question： Let me settle that now。 Water for a great inland continental country like ours is one of its most valuable assets for it means three things。 First； cheap transportation。 We have the longest continuous waterway in the world； and with two small cuttings Canada can bring ocean…going ships into the very heart of the continent。 Second； water means climate rainfall； and there need be no fear of snow and frost while great bodies of open water lie about。 And third； water power。 Do you know that Canada stands first in the world in its water power？ It possesses twice the water power of the United States （we like to get something in which we can excel our American cousins）； and lying near the great centres of population too。 Let me give you three examples。 Within easy reach of Vancouver on the west coast there is at least 350；000 horse power； of which 75；000 is now in use。 Winnipeg； the metropolitan centre of Canada； where more than in any place else can be heard the heart beat of the Dominion； has 400；000 horse power available； of which she now uses 50；000。 Toronto lies within reach of the great Niagara； whose power no one can estimate； while along the course of the mighty St。 Lawrence towns and cities lie within touch of water power that is beyond all calculation as yet。 And do you Alberta people realise that right here in your own province the big Bassano Dam made possible by a tiny stream taken from the Bow River furnishes irrigation power for over a million acres？ Perhaps that will do about the water。〃
〃Oo aye；〃 said McTavish； with profound resignation in his voice。 〃Ye'll dae wi' that。〃
〃And snow；〃 cried the speaker。 〃We would not willingly be without our snow in Canada。 Snow means winter transport； better business； lumbering； and above all； wheat。 Where you have no snow and frost you cannot get the No。 1 hard wheat。 Don't quarrel with the snow。 It is Canada's snow and frost that gives her the first place in the world in wheat production。 So much for the water and the snow。〃
McTavish hitched about uneasily。 He wanted to have the speaker get done with this part of his theme。
From Canada's area Mr。 Gilchrist passed on to deal with Canada's resources； warning his audience that the greater part of these resources was as yet undeveloped and that he should have to indulge in loud…sounding phrases； but he promised them that whatever words he might employ he would still be unable to adequately picture to their imagination the magnitude of Canada's undeveloped wealth。 Then in a perfect torrent he poured forth upon the people statistics setting forth Canada's possessions in mines and forests； in fisheries； in furs； in agricultural products； and especially in wheat。 At the word 〃wheat〃 he pulled up abruptly。
〃Wheat；〃 he exclaimed； 〃the world's great food for men。 And Canada holds the greatest wheat farm in all the world。 Not long ago Jim Hill told the Minneapolis millers that three…fourths of the wheat lands on the American continent were north of the boundary line and that Canada could feed every mouth in Europe。 Our wheat crop this year will go nearly 250；000；000 bushels； and this； remember； without fertilisation and with very poor farming； for we Western Canadians are poor farmers。 We owe something to our American settlers who are teaching us something of the science and art of agriculture。 Remember； too； that our crop comes from only one… seventh of our wheat lands。 Had the other six…sevenths been cropped； our wheat yield would be over three and a half billion bushelsjust about the world's supply。 We should never be content till Canada does her full duty to the world； till Canada gives to the world all that is in her power to give。 I make no apology for dwelling at such length upon Canada's extent and resources。
〃Now let me speak to you about our privileges and responsibilities as citizens of this Dominion。 Our possessions and material things will be our destruction unless we use them not only for our own good； but for the good of the world。 And these possessions we can never properly use