The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-06-01

board consisting oil 0OVcrnOr, Deputy uON-
ernor, and committee Of Ave Directors all an
nunlly chosen by the stockholders at meeting
held in London. Their authority. however is del
egated to an officer resident in their American
Possessions. known as the Governorin-C Chief
OF Ruperts Land. whose commission extends
over the whole territory. and whose tenure OF
office Ia unlimited as regards timc. His ou-
thority Is supreme, except during the session OF
his council. which assemblies but once n year
and continues its formal sittings only two or
three days. This board is composed OF tho
highest rank of officers In the service, called
Chief Factors, but at times members OF tho Sec
ond rank OF commissioned officers. styled Chief
Traders arc invited 70 debate and vote. The
Chief Factors and Chief Traders together con-
stitute tho partnership in what termed the Fur
Trade. from which the profits OF the Hudsons
Bay Company are derived. Vacancies in tho
higher Of these two classes. az they occur from
tho death or retirement Of its me'Ibers. are
filed up by elections from the class OF Traders.
while tho candidates for vacant leadership are
found in tho ranks Of salaricd clerks. seldom OF
less than fourteen years standing In the SER
vice. Tho members OF tho Fur Trade. MISC
known rs "Wintering Partners" receive their
pay in a definite number OF shares OF stock. so
that their emoluments, equally with those OF
other shareholders. arc directly affected by tho
fluctuations OF the business. Upon the whole.
the relations of the Wintering Partners to the
English stockholders seem TO be remarkably
harmonious. and thoro is said to be no instance
OF a conflict between the Goyernor-in- Chief and
tho local Council.
1t il worth noting thnt. although the Hudson's
Bay Company il an English corporation its
servants In the Great Fur Land are nearly all
natives Of Scotland and the Orkneys. Success
full applicants for place are invariably enlisted
at an carly age-geperally from 10 to IS
having first passed rigid scrutiny as ro-
gurds educational attainmonts moral char
acter and physical build. With his departure
from Scotland for York Factory on the coast Of
Hudson's Bay. the salary Of the accepted candi-
date begins. During the first twcvcmonth he
will receive n hundred dollars together with
rations quarters. and personal clothing from
the company's shops at about cost Under
these circumstances. the bulk Of his yearly
stipend remains from year to year i'm the hands
Of his employer at compound interest
On his arrival at York Factory tho novice is
generally sent to pass the first five or six years
OF his apprenticeship in the extreme northern
districts Of Mackensie River and Athabaska. II
seems to be an established rule thus 10 train
the recruit in remote. isolated posts. bringing
him up finally in the great depot forts Of tho
borders Of civilization. His first occupation IS
that OF salesman behind the counter in tho train
ing shop. and. according to Mr.. Robinson. no
misrepresentations are permitted in the busl-
ness. though contrary impression obtains. VIC
believe. in the frontier towns on our own side
Of the border Tho next advancement brings
the young man TO the accountants office. whore
he usually remains until fourteen years Of
service have elapsed his salary meanwhile ris-
ing 10 five hundred dollars. By this time he
| has become part Of the trade machinery. and
| his ambition points but one way. 10 higher
! rank in the service he hns chosen. Now the
! clerk stops from the ranks Of salarled en-
ployees into the partnership Of the fur trade.
and assumes the title II chief trader whose
| duties are n general oversight Of some import
| ant post. his emouments now taking the form Of
n pro rata Of the annual profits. and the field
| opened before him is sufficiently wide for the
employment Of all his energies. By and by
death or retirement will admit him into the
ranks Of chief factors. when he will have at-
tanned the summit Of tho ladder. and can reign
/ supreme as the chief magistrate Of n princi-
pality
As man. the winternG partner. we nre told
| Is ominently social, and given 10 generous
! hospitality. He throws his doors open to tho
| congenial stranger. ordering an additions cover
at table. and setting apart a room and horse
| for his use. As n family man no Is exemplary,
II may have happened that. rendered lonesome
~ his isolated position, he has in tho days Of
his clerkship. petitoned tho Governor for the
privilege Of marriage. and has taken to wife a
daughter Of the land. II matrimonial desire.
however. has ovcrtaken him when moro al
/ yanced in rank and means. he has probably or
/ dcrcd wife from the house In London. and
| having secured hcr by return packet. has mar
ricd out Of hand. Mr. Robinson recalls n case Of
| This kind where. the party having received and
married his wife. acknowledged the consign-
ment after this STYLE " Received one wife in fair
condition hope she will prove good. though she
is undoubtedly rum one 10 look at" We may
| here state that the average income Of the two
ranks Of officers in the fur trade is for a trader.
s25Oo. and for n factor 5000. always includ-
ing in addition. the support OF himself and
family.
Tho author has n pleasant chapter on tho
mode of life in IIudson's Bay Company fort
This may be said to begin at the akfast hour.
which. with the lower class OF employees. is
about clock in the winter and in summer
At the officers mess. over which the trader or
factor in charge Of the post presides. break fast
takes place at half past or s o'clock. dinner ut
2. and supper at in the evening. At these
meals. tho limited budget OF news is discussed
but from the very nature OF the isolated situa-
ton. the conversation turns on trivial local
| matters connected more or less remotely with
thetradc. The arrival of traveller from tho
outer world is great episode and on such oc-
caSions small stores OF wine and spirits. hoard-
cd away from the neagro annual allowance.
make their appearance upon the board while
perhaps few cigars are produced ~ a rare
treat. Tho mess table. too has other at
fractions OF substantial sort. The viands
are OF necessity composed in great part
! of wild Nab hut