093reversechange, One of, the results is that once popu-
lar'volumes. are relegated to the back shelves
or store rooms of libraries. For .those. who
are not deterred by dust there are tron.sures
to be, found. One such -nugget Is the "Cana-
dian Journal of. Lady Dufferin. who s.hly filled
the position of vice -regal lady. at Ottawa from
1872 to 1878.
The. pages reveal. an educated woman of
.charm, tact, .humor and wide Interests. They
show none ofthe tendency to look downthe
nose at the .colonials that was the prevailing
attitude of so many visitors from Europe.
The author found Canadians "exceedingly
friendly and kind-hearted" slid appreciated
their"complete absence of pretence"
As they sailed tip the St. Lawrence, In
June, 1872, they began to make plans for their
arrival at. Quebec. Lady Dufferin's entry on
this oacesion reflects a' familiar, present-day
discussion,
"It has been -discovered that them Is no
Canadian flat on board; my main, Mrs. Dent
1s busily engaged Intrying to manufacture
one. Nobody Is quite sure what it is but All
anpprse that there must be a bell,, and a
maple leaf on It." We n.re left to wonder;- whether this un
Aimg Canadis.o RetsY Moss completed her em-
blem,and whst became of It.
By the eh'd of Joly,Lady Dufferin was
giving her first pubile. entertainment. ' Her
own- things had not yet arrived and the new
Government: House waa woefully lacking In
supplies; possessing "six plates and as ionry
cracked teacups." Unabashed, she did what
The 'party was a great success but 'the
neighbors werea hills too anxious. "The
'moment my party broke up and, In sight of
ninny of the visitors, my: nelghbor'a servants
came to fetch the things they hod lent, me and.
it was funny to see cups and Boar, yile.tea and
chairs being 'carried off to their rightful
owners."
From the first she was Indatatignble, With
her talented and popular husband she travelled
from one end of Canada. to the other, seeing
falls, shooting rapids, salmon fishing, crawl-.
Ing on her hands and knees to view caves
And visl6ng Innumerable institutions and In-
dustries. In those .days Canadians expected
as much a( royalty n-s they do todn.y.' In ore
week alone Lady Dufferin records attending
Sour balls, three monster picnics, three din-
ners, a concert a.nd a cricket match. For
:the most part she bore it all with the amaz-
Ing energy And good will that we easecinte
with, site own royal Nosily.
Western Ontario was not neglected. A
highlight of one visit was a trip on .the ('ca.rs",
that is the railway, from London to visit the
oil field +sof Petrglia. The town had decked
Itself but In the accepted custom of the day
with a triumphal arch which bore hiscrip-
tfons "Cod save the Queen" and"`Welcome to
Petro]in." Adjoining the arch agallery had
been built and here 200 children greeted them
with the national anthem; a band Played live-
ly -airs, the people chested, an address of wel-
come- was delivered and suitable words re-.
turned. Then the party, headed by the band,,
went to inspect the .oil fields.
In her ]adyship's own words —"We saw the
oil as It comes up through the pump, thick,,
shaft and sit the machinery used ....The r
leaves Petrolla free from water, but black an
1 thick; the refining In done. at London. TI
Oil district ls, of course,, ugly; the groan
black and. swn.nrpy. Stumps of trees so
wooden erections, .some. like' enormgila bnrre
cover the whole place but, It was very I,
teresting to see It... 1'
� a e
In .the following summer thev again visits
Western Ontario. Lady'Dufferin did not jet
her husband for -his visit to Chatham; bu
she .was with him for the visit to. Sarnia. R.
this time Sir John's government had falle,
s.nd the sober MacI4enzie visa prime minister
Since Sarnia was his home district he ar
cempanled the governor-general's party. "Mr
MacKenzie was evidently very anxious the
Sarniashould distinguish itself and Innkei
very much plensed when four steamerr
crammedwithpeople and covered with flag.,
and' green boughs, came,out to meet Its."
At the wharf, In a pink and vbite. pavilinn
.they received addresses from the chiefs of is
different Indian tribes. Then they proceeded
on a tour of, the area.
Their term of office covered an exciting
period of Canada's political history, years in
whichthe ever -resourceful John A., tried to
make confederation' something more than a
name. 1mrd-Dufferin was a gifted speaker
and, as he spoke to Canadians across the land,
he tried to lnstfl Into them a pride In their
heritage and their future. He must have
found his wife an able helpmate. There waa
sincere regret In the farewell which Canada
gave to the Dufferins when .they returned!
to England in 1878..-.