There was ample provision
for play. But the young student from St Lin was little able to take
part in rough and ready sports. His health was extremely delicate, and
violent exertion was forbidden. His recreations took other forms. The
work of the course of study itself appealed to him, particularly the
glories of the literatures of Rome and France and England. While
somewhat reserved and retiring, he took delight in vying with his
companions in debate and in forming a circle of chosen spirits to
discuss, with all the courage and fervour of youth, the questions of
their little world, or the echoes that reached them of the political
tempests without. Occasionally the outer world came to the little
village. Assize courts were held twice a year, and more rarely
_assemblees contradictoires_ were held in which fiery politicians
roundly denounced each other. The appeal was strong to the boys of
keener mind and political yearnings; and well disciplined as he usually
was, young Laurier more than once broke bounds to hear the eloquence of
advocate or candidate, well content to bear the punishment that
followed. {9} Though reserved, he was not in the least afraid to
express strong convictions and to defend them when challenged. He
entered L'Assomption with the bias towards Liberalism which his
father's inclinations and his own training and reading had developed.
A youth of less sturdy temper would, however, soon have lost this bias.
The atmosphere of L'Assomption was intensely conservative, and both
priests and fellow-pupils were inclined to give short shrift to the
dangerous radicalism of the brilliant young student from St Lin. A
debating society had been formed, largely at his insistence. One of
the subjects debated was the audacious theme, 'Resolved, that in the
interests of Canada the French Kings should have permitted Huguenots to
settle here.' Wilfrid Laurier took the affirmative and urged his
points strongly, but the scandalized _prefet d'etudes_ intervened, and
there was no more debating at L'Assomption. The boy stuck to his
Liberal guns, and soon triumphed over prejudices, becoming easily the
most popular as he was the most distinguished student of his day, and
the recognized orator and writer of addresses for state occasions.

Of the twenty-six students who entered L'Assomption in his year, only
nine graduated. {10} Of these, five entered the priesthood.
Sympathetic as Wilfrid Laurier was in many ways wit