Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-28

Official life in Ottawa differs in many
ways from that at Washington The
climate is far different from that of the
District of Columbia. The NJ. P's do not
walk to parliament house. as a rule, and
there is nothing similar to the forenoon
parade down Pennsylvania avenue. They
come in sleighs, mufiied to the eyes IN furs
III Is not an uncommon thing during a
severe winter storm for the legislators to
be snowbound in parliament house for a
day or two at a time.
The Gay Social WhirI In Ottawa.
But in spite Of the severity of the wealth
or. Ottawa is fully as lively in winter as
Washington. When parliament opens and
the political pot begins to boil, the social
world begins to whirl. And rather giddy
whirl 1t is, too. Everything of a social ma
ture centers around Rideau Hail. which is
Canada.
The governor general may be a sort of
hgurehead, as far as things political go.
but in social affairs he and his wife are
real rulers. He gets an annual salary of
$4,000, with a good-sized palace, rent and
fuel free, while his duties of state are very
light, but he is expected to set the social
pace.
Rideau Hall is low. rambling. pictur-
esque old mansion, built of gray limestone.
1t is set in the heart of grove of Ar,
spruce and pine. short distance away Is
the Rideau river, in summer a noisy
stream, but which at this season of the
year glides quietly by under a thick blan-
ket of snow and ice.
The social ball always opens on the first
Saturday night after parliament comes in.
This is known as the governor generals
drawing room 1t is not held at Rideau
Hall, but in the big senate chamber 1t is
a public affair, and everybody is welcome
that is, every one in full dress. 1t is 4
brilliant affair, but not a very comfortable
one. Their eXcellencies stand on a dais
at the end of chamber, she in a magnif-
cent gown ana diamond tiara; he in full
court Dress with white knee breeches, and
shoes with diamond buckles. Around them
cluster the members of their suite all
a-glitter with gaudy uniforms, swords, jew
els and emblems of various orders
The senators, cabinet ministers and men,
bers of parliament, with their wives, are
first presented, and take up the places al
lotted to the m according to rank. They all
stand. In fact no one sits throughout the
evening.
Next come the minor officials and lastly
the general public. Each individual ad-
vances to the dais his her name is
announced. makes a how and passes on.
There Is no handshaking, such as our Pres
ident undergoes at the public reception in
the White House
The line advances slowly from the outer
doors step by step, keeping time to the
Iubadub of the drums of the governor gen.
erals foot guards. When the last one has
stepped onto the scarlet carpet and made
obeisancs the show is over
Exclusive Functions Mt Rideau Hall.
The official functions at Rideau Hall are
more exclusive. They begin with a big
reception, at which society is somewhat
"weeded out" mo one in trade" is the
motto. Officials. matter of how small.
caliber, are sure to get big square cards of
invitation.
The entertainment usually takes the form
OF skating and tobogganing parties. The
dark trees within the lodge gates are light
ed up by thousands of Chinese lanterns.
and the long, steep slopes of the toboggan
slides glisten under the electric lights and
flare of torches. Huge bonfires on which
are dumped half dozen cords of wood at
once roar on the shores of the skating
ponds, ard bands Of music mngle their
strains with the shouts of merrymakers.
Refreshments are served during the even
ing, and along about midnight the affair
closes with a banquet and burst Of fire.
works. No wonder the Ottawa people
strain every nerve and pull every wire to
get invitations to these jolly receptions.
The most exclusive of the gubernatorial
entertainments are the private theatricals.
These are given in the great dining room
at Rideau Hall. The actors are all ANA
tours, but the audiences are generally
lenient and enthusiastic.
The grand ball which is given at the
close of Lent is, however, the bright par
ticular event of the Ottawa season. Invi-
tatons to this are generally confined TO
the official set" and happy is the out
slider who manages TO get one.
In spite of the, fact that titles count for
3 great deal in Ottawa, the society there is
from an English standpoint, terribly
mixed" The Canadians are perfectly will
ing that the governor general and his aids
shall draw the lines which mark the social
boundaries, as long as their parliamentary
RI personalities are not excluded. They do
rot want a second court of st. James at
Ottawa. compromise is good enough for
them.
Thus it is that the whiskered farmer
frcm some northwestern province hobnobs
with the polished senator whose home is
in the capital. The farmers wife, too and
his red-cheeked daughters. dressed prob
ably in astounding style, sit side by side
with the wives and daughters of the sena-
tors when the governor general is lat
home" in Rideau Hail.
The Manitoba School Question.
The coming session of parliament is like
ly to be a lively one. The Manitoba school
question is to come up for settlement and
the outcome is being awaited with consid-
cradle anxiety throughout the federated
provinces.
The question is one of some years stand
irg. Previous to 1890 there were two kinds
of public schools in the prairie province
one class for Catholic children and another
for Protestant children. This system was
done away with by an act of the Manitoba
legislature The Catholic minority there
uron petitioned the privy council to restore
the separate school system. In a commune
ton from the governor general, sent a
year age. the a1anltOha legislature was or
dered to rescind its action and restore the
parochial schools. The Manitobians stout
" refused to DO any such thing Premier
Greenway and most of the executive coun-
ell of Manitoba declared that they would
resist the enforcement of the order to the
bitter erd. There has been wild talk of a
revolution and secession. The Catholics, on
the other hand, pressed their demand with
renewed vigor.
The disruption of the Canadian cabinet
was threatened. ]. c. Patterson, minister
of the militia, at once resigned after the
order had been issued. Sir Charles Upper,
minister of Justice, also sent in his resigna-
ton.
A bill has been prepared which will be
presented TO parliament soon after the
Sc ssion begins 1t provides for the restora-
ton of the paTochial schools in Manitoba,
with full permission for the holding of re-
fgious exercises in the same, but the
schools must be up to the required standard
of efficiency before they can receive any
money from the public funds.
This compromise is certain to be rejected
by Manitoba. The members of the cabinet
are still at Odds and If the government in
ssts on forcing the bill 1t is predicted that
defeat will follow. Premier Bowel finds
himself in hot water all around.
1t is the general opinion that during the
first few days of the session little business