New-York tribune., 1906-07-06
4 cANADIAN cATECHISM.

Across the border TO the north our people
have neighbors who naturally do not value the
traditions OF the Fourth OF July as we do. But
circumstances in their political history have
given them a day about which legends will yet
grow and gather lustre with the years. DOmin-
ION Day is yet too recent in it's origin and too
plainly prosaic and businesslike in its purposes
TO appeal very strongly. even to Canadian i'm
agination. but IL is a nucleus that will serve,
and it's Importance in the future development Of
the Land Of the Maple Leaf cannot readily be
overestmated. For one thing. it has given our
neighbors on the north common rallying point,
and though not. like our Fourth of July. born
in the throes of revolution and the imminence
of battle. but moulded by the not less important
agencies of progress and peace. it will serve
well the purposes of those who are so much like
u.s. yet with notable differences
The frecracker naturally is not a fit emblem
for the spirit of Dominion Day. and TO that
extent Canadians are 10 be congratulated Their
patriotism need not take on the explosive form,
with its tetanus contingencies. but it must have
an outlet and it is not surprising that in at
least one Canadian paper, The Montreal Daily
Herald" Il assumes this year the form of "a
Catechism on Canada This catechism like
some others, is notable for the size of it's an
swers to the questions it propounds The ques-
tons number twenty-five in all, while the an
swers are so many and varied as to suggest that
one day in the year will scarcely be sufficient
for setting them forth The Canadian. also. who
should commit this catechism to memory and
have it's answers at hand might not be persona
grata in other lands. Such a walking encyclo-
psedia Of facts and figures would be portentous
and solemn enough at home but abroad we
should trembe for his dignity Even Ameri-
cans at their most famboyant stage contented
themselves with a few general remarks con
cerning the size of their country as compared
with the rest Of creation" In the Canadian
catechism this idea Of magnitude is not left to
be expressed in vague. terms but is reduced to
figures and, we fear. rather misleading facts,
Here for instance. is the answer TO the cate
chist's question. How large is Canada ?"
Canada is larger than the United States by
250, 900 square miles.
Canada contains one-tfird Of the area Of the
British Empire
Canada extends over 90 degrees of latitude
from Rome to North Pole
Canada is large as thirty United Kingdoms
eighteen Germanys, thirty-three Italys.
the size of British India
Canada has a boundary line of 5000 miles be-
tween il and the United States.
Canadas seacoast equals half the earths cir
cumference
Canada is $500 miles wide and 1.4oO from
north 20 south
II the idea of the catechist is to Ill the Cana
dian youth with ideas to the mere physical
DlgneSS or llS country, tne uguFeS and com
parisons are admirable. though as Macaulay
would have said. every schoolboy can give very
important and diminishing qualifications TO
those statements. Some of these are in fact,
furnished in the answers TO the question What
is Canada's population" From these we learn
that Canada's population is now estimated
at 6.o00oo0. AS that is only about 2e00OOO
more than the population of New York CITY. II
would seem that where a census could so easily
be taken ii might be well to have the exact fig
ures Even in replying 90 so simple question
; as that of population the catechist does not
confine himself merely 20 the estimated popu-
lation, but goes off in n dozen different direc-
tons 20 tell US how large the population will
or ought 10 be- compared with other countries.
though as Canada's first census was taken in
1855 il might readily be inferred it will be
several hundred years before facts will be ot
hand 20 prove or disprOve bis estimates.
On the whole, however. Americans are not
sorry 70 have their northern neighbOrs magnify
their land, their opportunities and their posi-
bilities. The greater Canada becomes the bet
ter Americans will like II. and on Dominion
DAYS I'm the future Uncle Sam. If for no other
reason than 10 prepare himself for fitting cele-
bration of his own Glorious Fourth, will be
glad 20 see Canada realizing some OF the big