The Washington times., 1914-02-17

oung Donald's case,
hese included car
FIANEIIp riage by dog teams
| across hundreds Of
miles Of desolate and icebound country.
Lord Strathcona was an ideally
healthy man. and his fine face, with
the complexion of a schoolboy, would
glow with pleasure as he dwelt effec-
tionately on the names Of the men who
were pioneers with him in the old days
he spent between Lake Superior and the
Pacific ocean on the west and the
Arctic circle on the north. He had q
marvellous memory for the minutest de-
tails of that most Interesting period OF
his life He conGdered the greatest
achievement OF his life the transfer IN
1870 to the Canadian government OF the
enormous Hudson Bay territory in the
Northwest that was involved In the
Riel rebellion. In those days 1t might
almost be said that 1t was a question as
to which was the sovereign power OF
western Canada. the Hudson Bay Com
pany or the British crown
Lord Strathcona's name. Is Intimately
associated with the projection and con-
struction Of the Canadian Pacific Rail-
way, which was, in his opinion, tho
most effective event In the history OF
industrial Canada. 1t seems strange
that some Of the pioneers Of that great
undertaking abandoned hope or It's fu-
ture and its shares were practically un-
salable. Lord Strathcona was the larg-
est shareholder in each of the mighty
trinity of financial progress-the Cana
dian Pacific Railway, the Hudson Bay
Company, and the Bank of Montreal.
He held onto everything he undertook.
and his tenacitv OF purpose was one oi
his leading characteristics. he. always
knew exactly what he wanted. went ior
| it and generally got 1t.
Although a Scotchman by birth, he
thought more of Canada than he did OF
Scotland. He loved his high commits
sionership. In spite Of his pride in his
! high office and in spite OF career that
seemed so fine in many mems eyes,
Lord Strathcona was quite unconscious
| OF the greatness OF his personality ana
of the high position he occupied in the
world. He looked upon his position as
| the representative in Great Britain OF
| Canada as the most useful and honor,
able that could have come 10 hlm- l<ofu
| Strathcona's great age ana the energy,
which never Neft him until ne was
stricken in part was due to his simple
life. Generally he took only two meals
| a dav. and these were OF the simplest
| description. He never smoked ana IN
the matter OF wine he was abStennous;
Lord Strathcona's generosity was well
known. He took pleasure in being a
generous host. and his house at Silver
| Heights. near Winnipeg. was o symbol
| of all that was best and genuine In
! Western welcome.
! His gifts to McGill University. VIC
toria Hospital. Montreal, and other in
stitutions were on a grand scaie.
| Though he himself had received only a
/ scanty education, he was q strong pc
lever in il. especially on the technlcal
religious. or class prejudice. In aool,
ton 10 the donations of which the world
knew, he has given thousanos yeeh1
in secret in the encouragement OF the
ambitions or in helping the deserving.
| Thc career Of Lord Strathcona ahu
, NJol1nt Royal reads like a romance
Born in 1870 not in a highland "b9thie;
but of good Morayshire stock, DoiiaIu I'
Smith had more s,rrad than i,m Gne Of 'o making ~
career. His father was business ilias J
ir Grantown, and his mother was
Stewart. VIZ. c,,,
ofs from Cusbcc by ZOO miles OF snow
ond tce covered country, ana II Is
matter Of legitimate speculation tia.
the very ir.mensity OF the county an an
the solitude in which he nVed-hf nio
lonIr = few subordinates as ccinpahiohs-
Ell him to Thinking about the necessIt!
NJ stead. means of transport. II Canaua
yrere to develop her natural resources
1t was his success as lur traucr an. az,
agent of His company that, IN u''
! cntlrSC OF uTe, leu W iii'
"chief trader and then. In MS lor'y
| sacOnd year to the coveted othce o.
chief factor. TO be followed, siE year:
later, by promotion 10 the positlon o.
chief executive officer OF the company
m North AEterca. III
lie mad been thirty years in the soil
tudes. BY tact, wisdom, sympathy:
; knowled-e of their ways of Thought
Donald Smith had won the connoenc'
, tout Tod
Land Donald Smith was chosen 10 ac
: ae nacotiator with the rebels. It wa
due to his advice that conclliItof
proclamation was issued. and CoIone
Sir Garnet (afterward l.ordD Woiseie;
said OF him: Ills word was law In a
that wide region" Pending the arTlva
, of the new Governor of the new settle
ment Sir Garnet Wols"ley aprcinte
Donald smith as administrator. Th
choice gave great satisfaction.
Rut he had bigger schemes in his mind
donald smith and his cousin. Georg
, S,enhcr Inow Lord Mount Stephen
v.re so convinced OF tn" necessity OF
railway across Canada and so conflden
e nr IT,, success that each pledged Il!
, rrivate fortune in order that the wor
n sho,IId proceed Many stories axe toll
az the board of directors discussing Wit
: hiark faces ways and means of con
tinuing the enterprise. Today tina
railway operates Il mileage nearly eGua
n TO all the railways or EngEhHi an
. Wales. owns feet Of steamers q
greater tonnage than the whole meI
d .antilr marine Of Belgium and has
revenue OF about cl2,GGp0n.
His habit or working hours becam
so we'll known that among the othe
colonial Offices that OF Canada wa
= called the lighthouse" because lisf
was 20 be- seen burning In his rooi
. lonr after Othcr offices we're shroude
. in darkness. IlOnOrs came to him
treat profusion and variety. anon
: iher, the honorary IL. y. degree {
IS thc leading universities OF Canada. III
IS United States and Great Britain. J
IS Iyn he was elected lord rector of Abe
$. deem University and in 1900 lord Chan
II CeIIor The barony, which gave hi
$. his title. was conferred upon him
e 1897 and in 1909 he received a grant of
L. remainder" by which the title Is pei
D. ,nittcd to descend to the female lin
= in default Of male hers. Among h
ytanch friends we're the late King T.,
ward and Queen Alexandra. who di
nenscd with all formality. calling hi
lUnclc Donald.
N Lady StrntIicona. whose death n fe
IA months ago hastened his illness, W:
IF Miss Isabella Sophia Hardisty. who.
lc father was one of the agents Of Il
in rr,,,Isnn J.aV COmDauy There Is on