the common
cause of Canadian nationhood under the British flag.

"Serious difficulties and controversies must often arise, but I know
nothing can set Canada back except the failure of the different classes
and communities to look to the wider interests of the Dominion, as well
as their own immediate needs. I realize that scattered communities,
necessarily preoccupied with the absorbing task of making good, often
find the wider view difficult to keep. Yet I feel sure that it will be
kept steadily before the eyes of all the people of this great Western
country, whose very success in making the country what it is proves
their staying power and capacity."

Canada, he declared, had already won for herself a legitimate place in
the fraternity of nations, and the character and resources within her
Dominion must eventually place her influence equal to, if not greater
than, the influence of any other part of the Empire. Much depended
upon Canada's use of her power, and the greatness of her future was
wrapped up in her using it wisely and well.

The great gathering was impressed by the statesman-like quality of the
speech, the first of its kind he had made since his landing. He spoke
with ease, making very little use of his notes and showing a greater
freedom from nervousness. The sincerity of his manner carried
conviction, and there was a great demonstration when he sat down.

III

In the afternoon he left Calgary by train for the small "cow town" of
High River, from there going on by car over roads that were at times
cart ruts in the fields, to the Bar U Ranch, where he was to be the
guest of Mr. George Lane.

His host, "George Lane," as he is called everywhere, is known as far as
the States and England as one of the cattle kings. He is a Westerner
of the Westerners, and an individuality even among them. Tall and
loose-built, with an authentic Bret Harte quality in action and speech,
he can flash a glance of shrewdness or humour from the deep eyes under
their shaggy, pent-house brows. He is one of the biggest ranch owners
in the West (perhaps the biggest); his judgment on cattle or horses is
law, and he has no frills.

His attractive ranch on the plains, where the rolling lands meet the
foot-hills of the Rockies, has an air of splendid spaciousness. We did
not go to Bar U, but a friend took us out on a switchback automobile
run over what our driver called a "hellofer" road, to just such another
ranch near C