Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1911-09-20

walls and are highly decorative.
The two parliamentary chambers
are modelled after those in the i'm
perial parliament house in London
and are quite ornamental. The pre-
siding officers of both the senate and
the faithful commons" have hand
scmely furnished residences in the
buildings and are made very COM
Portable at the public expense. They
preside in full evening dress, like a
Frenchman at a funeral and there
are vacant thrones under canopies
of crimson velvet behind their chairs.
There is much more ceremony in
the proceedings of the Canadian par
lament than in the congress of the
united states, but corresponding
amount OF human nature and politi-
cal craftsmanship is developed. The
late parliament was sent home by the
governor general without passing
any of the appropriation bills or 9TH
er important legislation, because of
prolonged filibuster against the
ratification of the reciprocity ar
ransement with the United States.
The government is running on
bare ground, so to speak, and all
payments will have to be postponed
until the new parliament assemblies
the latter part of October.
The Canadian senator's are ap-
pointed for life by the crown that
happens to be in power. When the
liberal party came into control in
1896 nearly all of the senator's were
conservatives. Today 80 per cent of
them are liberals. They seldom in
terfere with the will OF the people
as expressed by the majority of the
house OF commons, but are a safe
guard to check reckless or revolu-
tionary tendencies.
The king of England Is represent
ed at Ottawa in the person of the
governor general, who is merely a
figurehead and never interferes with
the policy of the party that happens
to be in power. He is the only con-
Meeting link between the throne and
the colony, which is as independent
and free as the United States so far
as the exercise of the will of the
people is concerned.
The present governor general is
the Right Honorable Earl Grey, G. C.
M. G., G. c. V. o.. who has proved
to be exceedingly popular and useful.
There will be great regret when he
retires in October, but at the same
time the entire population feel fiat
tered at the selection of member of
the royal family, Field Marshal His
Royal Highness the Duke of Con-
naught and Strathern, K G.. K. r.,
X. p, G. NJ. B., G.. G.. s. L., G. c. NJ.
G. c. I. E., G. c. V. o.. p c., third
son of Queen Victoria and uncle of
the present King George.
His royal highness will be accom-
panied by the Duchess of Connaught,
who is very democratic and charm
ing German woman, and his daugh-
ter Patricia, who is considered the
greatest beauty among all of Queen
VictOria's many granddaughters, and
is perhaps the most popular young
woman at the British court. She has
been reported as engaged to various
kings and princes, but is still free
and happy.
The Duke of Connaught was born
in Buckingham palace in 1850, edu-
Gated in Woolwich Military academy,
received his first commission in the
Royal Engineers, and was transfer
red at intervals of two or three years
from one to another of all the diff
erent branches of the service. While
an officer of the rifles he served in
Canada during the Fenian excite
ment of 1870, and has since seen
active service in Egypt, India and
South Africa.
He showed great personal courage
and military skill at the battle Of Tel
el-Kebir in Egypt and was three
times mentioned in dispatches for
gallantry in that campaign. Since
1904 he has been field marshal.
with headquarters in London, and
has recently returned from South AZ
RIGA, where he represented the king
at the opening of the first parlia-
ment.
His royal highness was married in
1879 to the Princess Louise Margaret
of Prussia, cousin of the German
kaiser, and in commemoration of
that event the British parliament in
creased his annuity from $4,000 to
$4,000 a year.
The governor general has very lit
tie to do except to look pleasant and
to entertain his loyal subjects at
Radeau hall, an old-fashioned man.
sion surrounded by a park, just out
side the city limits of Ottawa. Dur
ing the winter season it is the center
of much social activity. The Earl
and Countess Grey have entertained
everybody in most hospitable and
democratic manner, but hereafter it
is expected that Radeau house will
be the scene of more stately cere-
monies, appropriate to a viceregal
court. The Canadians are looking
forward with much qualification TO
future social events.
Sir Wilfred Laurier, the actual
ruler of Canada during the last fif-
teen years lives simple life in a
modest mansion on an avenue that
was named after his honor, and Lady
Laurier, who is equally tactful and
graceful, is an unassuming and
charming hostess. Mr.. Laurier is a
poor man. He has been in politics
all his life and remarked the other
day that he had grown poorer every
year. His salary is only $4,000,
which is little enough to pay for the