New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-25
SOCIETY IN CANADA.
HOW 1T CIRCLES ROUND THE GOVERNOR,
GENERAL

/
ters Canadian Spectators are always kesny inter.
ested In the successful solution Of the problem Of
prosperity We have been mainly the spectators anl
our cousins, directly interested in solving IL have
naturally not had great deal Of attention 70 bestow
upon
Americans who too Intelligent to believe that
still pay taxes to the Queen for the maintenance
OF her army and navy usually disposed 10 under.
rate the closencss Of de TO Great Britain, and
especially TO betns tho importance OF the ONCE heN
by Her Majesty's representative here. This mpres
sion the utterances Of the Liberal Journals fighting
the good fight OF unrestricted reciprocity calculated
to strengthen His Exceency Of Canada Is In many
quarters believed be the mercst figure hesd placed
here to remind any possibly disafected faction that
the maternity OF the mother country stu makes
discipline possible. "Otherwise, why not CANADIAN
tho highest occ' inquire friends the lns
"a whose understanding OF the country's needs
and nature would give him some influence upon hs
future?' This is . natural question In county
which every four years is convulsed in the struggle
for tho occupancy Of the White House. and III
origin simply to a slight msconcepuon Of the function
involved Our Governor does represent to US the
Power upon which arc compelled for the time
largely to depend. In the dignity OF his office and
the forms and ceremonies by which be IS surrounded,
no brings forcbly to the minds Of Canadian peoph
the history and customs and traditions OF that elder
nation from which have yet said that we would
separate ourselves Through his hos pitslity. which
Is greater and more gracious than any Canadian IN
dividuaPs, and has character unique through the
length and breadth Of the continent, he forms social
ccntre with IDEALS that not unimportant to
democracy that is growing, do all democracies, .
little too fast for careful attention points Of
education In his person, and his wifes, and bis
households. he brings historic and honorable
deeds and that subtle but potent element Of distinction
which Matthew Arnold has found . certain great
nation occupying level perilously near the common
place In being without But this usefulness, which
may be dubbed merely aesthetic and sentimental, 10
supplementary TO the alllmportant duty OF keeping
the relation well oiled between ourselves and Downing
ST. This Is a delicate and difficult task and requires
not only diplomatic ability Of no mean sort, but
thorough knowledge of men and affairs both English
and Canadian. Thus 1t is that the Canadian post Is
regarded very high and is filed with great
care and discretion. There is no doubt that the
proper qualifications not lacking among Canadian
public men, but the Office would be meaningless filed
by any but direct representative of the Queen, not
only by commission but by the circumstances Of
rank. wealth, personal excellence and achievement
Life at the Canadian capital has stronger contrast,
with life at Washington than one would expect Of a
centre nearly like 1t in practical democracy. though
not quite confessing to the ethical Sort The social
power exercised by Rideau Hall is out Of all com.
parison with the sway of the White House. II
positively omnipotent To write ones nane IN tho
visitors book, which is near gets IN paying
his respects to tho Vice Regal pair except on New
Years Day and at the formal drawing room once
year. and not to be invited to the next ball garden
party at Government House IS to endure slight
which is very scathng 10 the nervous organization
as IT IS developed here 1t is quite necessary to tbs
slightest social pretension TO appear at the mora
general gatherings at least occasionally while tho
big square card delivered by the relocated orderly,
bearing the inscription, The aide-de-camp In watt
Ing is commanded by Their Excellencies the Governor
General and Lady Stanley to invite' Mr.. and Mrs
Blank to a dinner. is a credenal which admits them
at once to the ranks Of the socalelect. The largest
affairs the balls and garden parties. next In
clusiveness Her Excellency's afternoon AT Homes
In the winter when skating. tobogganing. cake and
hot negus are the attractions Next come the private
theatricals, creditably put In the official dining
room; and Vice Regal favors eliminate In dinner
On famille, Treatment of guests at Governments
House varies very much with the Governor General
The Duferins chatted pleasantly with every ono
around them at a ball or AT Home" The Prin-
cess, too, contrary to the common idea. unben good
deal with her guests. The Lansdownes on the con-
trary, spoke only to those whose acquaintance they
had made In some special way This perhaps en-
HANGED the value Of Lady Lansdowne's sweet and
gracious recognition to those who received IT, guarded
the dignity Of Vice Royalty and saved the vlceRegal
pair good deal Of trouble but it entirely
satisfactory to the people who were not Senators
or Members chief clerks deputies. and had never
been asked to dinner.
Whatever the abstract significance Of tho Governor.
Generals office may be to the people OF Ottawa tho
duty Of hospitality is its most obviously impressive
phase and its performance is most keenly watched.
Sometimes blunders made the wrong people u.
vited and the right ones left out, whereupon there
Is Immediately great sensation. II is fact that
at the beginning of the Lorne regime a prominent
citizen of Ottawa engaged In wholesale trade-a man
OF culture and refnement-was invited, with his wife.
nfSi hall Of Cavap Housa hfs
but it did not again. aud the fortunes
of the family well wthstood tho shook that It is
now in good and regular standing among the elect
of Ottawa
The rules of Rldeau be a little tere also at
times. party of very fine people indeed from New
York came up from Montreal year or two ago with
the avowed intention of attending ball 10 be- given
by Their Excelencies They did their whole duty
In driving out to register but were invited. Tho
thing happened to similar party of Montrealers
equally gIIded and equally confident the very proper
principle being the denial of anybody's especial rgh,
TO invitation.
Apart from the Queens representatives. the q first
lady' in Canada Is the wife Of the Premier. LAZY
Macdonald will be remembered BY many in Washing.
ton whittier she accompanied Sir John at the time Of
The last commission to settle the fishery question
In appearance she has altered very little since them
except that her dark hair has turned a snowy white.
and this rolled back from her forehead gives look
of softness and gencness to face expressive Of
purely intellectual qualities. Lady Macdonald IS
woman. in this age OF remarkable
women. Her mind has the masculine qualities OF
breadth and grasp and accuracy and logic yet she IL
capable Of the tenderest expression of womaniy
the finest tact and the keenes. feminine
appreciation But for the service She has
rendered the country in being the stay and support
the Intelligent and capable companion of her husband
through many critical years Of his public nfe Lady
Macdonald would have had no province In Canada
Either In England or in the United States such per-
sonality hers would have found a moro interest
ing environment and wider appreciation. Here her
superiority in knowledge of public affairs and general
over every other woman whose hus
band is I'm Parliament is so marked that comparison
is out of the question.
The fOrmalitles of visiting during the Session, In