The Portland daily press., 1891-07-04
The History Of the Drummers' Visit to
Their Canadian Cousins.


travelling men, landsmen as well as sail
Ors, are proyerbially superstitIous, and so 1t
Is not to be wondered at that when Fred
Harris picked up horseshoe as the pro-
cesslon -of Commercial Travellers neared
Union Station Tuesday morning, the find
was generally received as a token OF coed
luck, adopted at once as mascot and taken
In triumph to Montreal. Hereafter 1t will
hang la the cosy rooms of the association at
Brown Block.
However little importance may attach to
the finding Of the horse shoe this much Is
certain-good fortune attended the party
from start to return. The weather wore its
best smile. with the exception OF a little
poutlng fit 1t had Thursday morning Just as
the boys were about to take the boat on the
st. Lawrence; no accidents nor other awk-
ward things came to mar the long pleasure
OF the trip, and 1t seemed as though the
people Of the great Canadian town were
quite as glad to see their visitors as the
Yankees were to set foot on Dominion soil.
Apparently the good fortune was no ca
price, but something fairly achieved for the
Maine men, mostly young, set out with
determination to learn all possible Of the
Northern land and people with whose future
the destiny Of the United States cannot be
otherwise than closely linked. They realized
that the fortunes Of trade, of social inter
OIL government, are In the nanus svuof-
alton that is just beginning to enter upon the
stage OF action. and thought that the two
peoples brought by circumstances side to
side could get along far more comfortably II
better acquainted with each others virtues
and failings.
The Itinerary has been so closely followed
by the PRESS that there is no need to dwell
upon it at length. All day Tuesday the
train swept through fair and prosperous
country. The route chosen was more feasi-
BILE than that attempted through the North
ern woods in 1776. though the number of In
vaders, eighty-three, was about that which
followed Ethan Allen and Ike the Allen
party was completely captured. Bonaven-
ture station was reached in the early even
ing, where not only the Dominion travelling
men but the civic authorities OF Montreal
as well were 10 waiting. The little Indian
village OF HOchelaga, turned by the good
Catholic fathers into La Vile Marie has in
creased considerably since 1t has taken the
name 1t has now so long and so worthily
borne-increased perhaps beyond the ex-
pectations Of the visitors. 1t Is certainly
one Of the biggest things upon which the
eyes of some of the party were ever set At
st. Lawrence Hall where the Yankee drum.
mers were quaItered the freedom Of the city
was extended to its guests by MayorNIcShane
aud they speedily found that he meant what
he said. The keynote OF the occasion was
struck by Mr.. Fred Hughes, the President
of the Dominion Commercial Travellers As
soeiation, who spoke as follows:
Gentlemen,-We, the officers and members
of the Dominion Commercial Travellers AS
ISOLATION deem 1t great pleasure to welcome
our sister associations from the United States
to the commercial metropolis OF the Domin-
ion. We welcome you, not only as CONNER
cial travellers. but as citizens and represent
desire closer acquaintance aud whom we
would emulate In your many virtues that
tend to make you 80 great people.
1t was with pleasure and satisfaction we
learned some weeks ago OF your proposed ex-
cursion to our city, giving as II does an Op-
poItunity of fraternizng with our friends
across the bordeT,a privilege which Is seldom
enjoyed. and We have reason to hope that
your visit may stimulate more bIOtherly
feeling and result in closer bonds Of union
lers' associations Of America. You have, no
doubt, heard Of many OF our Industries and
manufacturing establishments that 60 TO
make this great city, and before you leave
we trust you will see something Of the
natural advantages that are placing 1t in the
front rank Of the cities Of the continent We
regret that the time chosen for your jaunt-
although when nature looks her loveliest-~
is not an opportune one for us. as tomor-
row being Dominion day and a general
holiday III t9 n time In qnaak- WhQn
ly all our people are out OF town, and the
barren appearance Of the city on that day
may somewhat detract from your enjoyment.
| We hope, however, you may find attractions
| enought TO pass the time pleasantly. In
| conclusion, We trust your visit TO Montreal
may be very pleasant one, long to be re-
membered by you and us. We cannot see
| why II should fail TO be otherwise, for we
notice many Of you have brought your fair
lady friends, and while some may. attribute
| your success to your efficient and energetic
| committee, we claim share for the ladies',
| who are necessary adjuncts to all successes.
Again, we bid you welcome.
Consul-General Knapp said that no words
wereneeded to convince the visitors that they
we're the right men and had come to the
i right place. IL was great pleasure for him,
| as American consul, to welcome them, the
representatives Of Americas trade. to
mlngle with their brethren In Canada, both
mighty factors in carrying the trade OF their
| countries wherever civilization had pene-
trated. Such visits taught them that ane
shock of battle would never divide tnese
two great countries.
| Mr., Peter Mitchell followed In a eharac-
teristic speech Of welcome, aud Lieut.. Gel.
Stavenson spoke in his own peculiarly hui
morous manner.
For the Maine Association. its president
| Mr. q. w. Tenant and its popular expires
Ident Mr.. J,H Dow. briefly and most felci-
tously responded, and for the New Hamr-
shire men, President Staniels Of the White
Mountain Association. Then, by common
consent, ranks were broker, and the hungry
men went in to dinner. After dining some
visits were paid about the city. but most OF
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