tongue, common ties of blood, and common ideals, moral, social, and literary, had not already brought us so close. In Mr. Frederic Myers's phrase, the "Imperial force of Fate has linked our race in high emprise."

Mr. Root's speech would have been important wherever uttered, but the fact that it was uttered at a public function intended to do special honor to Canada through the chief representative of the Dominion, the GovernorGeneral, greatly enhances its effect. Pessimists in regard to good feeling between Britain and the United States have always pointed to Canada as the insuperable obstacle to a complete understanding. "What is the use," they have been wont to say, "of talking about an alliance with America while the Canadian Dominion is part of the British Empire? The Americans mean, and very possibly, from their point of view, rightly mean, to absorb the whole of the North American Continent. On the other hand, the British people, as long as the Canadians are loyal to the Imperial tie, will burn their last cartridge to prevent such forcible absorption.

Unless, then, the Canadianswhich is unthinkable-ask to be relieved of the Imperial tie, the British people mean never to consent to the gratification of an essential American ambition." In other words, the existence of Canada was held to forbid the banns of alliance. We were told, in effect, that it was impossible to be friends in the truest and most intimate sense with the United States as long as we retained our special relationship with Canada. We must choose between the Canadians and the people of the great Republic. We ourselves never believed in this political dilemma, but at the same time, we were forced to admit that a certain traditional attitude of the Americans towards their neighbor to the north might at any time create friction and difficulty which

would postpone the fruition of our hopes of a permanent good understanding with the United States.

Mr. Root's speech and the rest of the utterances of the speakers at the Pilgrims' dinner make it clear that the old grudging feeling in regard to the inclusion of Canada in the British Empire has practically passed away, and that not merely the men who guide American policy, but the better public opinion of the United States, are perfectly content that Canada should choose her own destiny. They recognize that in deciding to remain part of the British Empire Canada is doing nothing which need estrange her from the eighty millions of English-speaking people who live to the south of her boundary-line. There was no doubt a time when Lord Grey's proud, but not too proud, boast would have been resented in the United States:-"If the nineteenth century belonged to the United States, the twentieth century belongs to Canada. Yes, gentlemen, this is the stimulating faith of the people whom I represent. Any idea of the possible annexation of Canada by the United States is scouted by us as an impossibility, as great as you would regard the annexation of the United States by Canada." As it was, these words did not merely cause no resentment, but were cheered with genuine enthusiasm by those who heard them. With the strength and solidarity of the Union, and with the sense of the possession of wealth, numbers, and prestige possessed in the same degree by no other country in the world, has come also that tolerance and fairmindedness which belong to those who are not only great, but know and understand their greatness. While America was still raw and young she had in her a certain jealousy and intolerance of other peoples which sometimes seemed to make her resent their strength and patriotism as if they were

never gives the young, either in individuals or communities, the supreme touch of kindliness,-the complete respect for the rights of others. In the exulting splendor of youth there is too often a flourish of insolence. Since, however, the Union fought the greatest civil war of all time and tempered the steel of her manhood in the blood of her patriot sons, she has gradually acquired the benignity and the wisdom which belong to maturity. As her greatness and her responsibilities have increased she has come to understand that the world is big enough to hold others beside herself, and that it is a moral, and not a merely material, equality that makes nations respect each other. No one in the United States now desires to treat Canada as a "one-horse" nation, or to sneer at her because her wealth and her population seem so small compared with those of her great neighbor. America may, no doubt, quarrel with Canada in the future, as in the past, over boundary and other questions, and there may again be "a plentiful lack" of good feeling on either side. But we believe that the tone of contempt once entertained in America for Canada, and necessarily reciprocated by the Canadians, has gone for ever. Americans used to complain of Canadian insolence, but they were apt to forget that the remedy for this evil, if it existed, lay in their own hands. The bigger a man or a nation is, the more necessary is it to offer precedence in the battle of courtesy.

There are many forces at work today which, we believe, will tend to keep the relations of Canada and the United States on true lines. Of no small importance among these is the making of the Panama Canal, which whatever may be the momentary difficulties that are being encountered, is certain. to be completed by the United

States. Its creation as an American enterprise, and the development of American interests in Cuba and in the Philippines, will turn the attention of Americans south rather than north, and help to give a southward outlet for their more restless spirits. Destiny has decreed that for the next two or three generations, at any rate, America shall fix her gaze southward. Again, there is a growing feeling among thoughtful men in America-and thoughtful men influence the policy of America far more than might be supposed by those who judge of American politics by sensational debates in the House of Representatives or in the Sen. ate-that monopoly is good neither for men nor communities, and that the existence of a neighbor-State, which, though intensely democratic, is organized on very different lines from those of the Union, is good, not bad, for the American people. In Canada America may discover warnings and examples which may be of great use to her in shaping her own policy. The European nations find it useful to learn from their neighbors in regard to many of the details of administration. America absorbed the whole continent from the tropic to the pole, she would possess a monopoly that would leave her without that useful and generous competition in the arts of government which is good for every nation. She cannot expect to learn much from the Spanish-American Republics, for there her work must be that of a teacher rather than a learner. Europe, on the other hand, is too remote, and the physical conditions are too different, to encourage the competition we have described. What one wants Canadians to say of America, and Americans to say of Canada, when either has got hold of a good and effective instrument in the detail of government, is: "If they can do this, why cannot we?" By remaining distinct and apart, but yet

If

Dear Mr. Mister,-The wording of the dedication is very flattering, and I am so much honored by it that I hesitate to utter a syllable of criticism; but since you have been so kind I am emboldened to suggest that a more suitable predecessor than Oldbuck might be found. For two reasons: (1) he was a character not in real life but in fiction, in a novel by Sir Walter Scott; and Galen being a real man I would suggest, with all deference, that whatever antiquary you choose should be real too; and (2) if by any typographical disaster, such as are, unhappily, only too frequent in our local Press, a line of cleavage were to intervene between the first and second syllables of Oldbuck, the reference to me would become instantly not respectful as you so kindly desire, but grotesque. I trust I make myself clear. I would suggest the substitute of some such name as Aubrey or Leland. The singing in the ears has probably passed away by this time; but if it has not I should take a tonic. Weston's syrup might be useful, and it is easily obtained of any chemist.

Believe me,

Yours very truly,

W. Porter Roddy.

V.

Mr. Mister to Dr. Roddy.

Dear Dr. Roddy,-I am sorry that you take exception to my dedication, which was, I assure you not idly thrown off, but represents the work of some hours of thought. Your objection to Oldbuck illustrates once again the impossibility of reconciling science with poetry. I, a poet, wishing my dedication to be in keeping with my book, choose deliberately a figure of the imagination from the greatest of all modern novelists (whom you do not, I fear, sufficiently esteem). You, being a man of science, require me to substitute the name of some fusty old bookworm and tombstone-scraper from real life. Few people give way to criticism so readily as I, but in this case I really must be firm.

The singing in the head, which you treat so lightly, still continues to cause me the gravest concern. I have taken two doses of the syrup without any relief. Believe me, yours truly,

Launcelot Wyke Mister.

VI.

Dr. Roddy to Mr. Mister.

Dear Mr. Mister,-I am sorry that we cannot see eye to eye in this matter. I have taken the liberty of submitting your dedication to several of my friends, including the Vicar, an exceptionally gifted man, and the Curator of the Museum, whose memoir on bees is a standard work, and all agree with me that a suggestion of not precisely frivolity but want of the highest seriousness is imparted by the reference to Jonathan Oldbuck. The Vicar is also of opinion that it is, perhaps, understating the case to limit my reputation, as you do, to East Norfolk, since I have several times contributed to Notes

and Queries. I have, however, done with criticism, and beg to repeat my thanks to you for your kindness.

A tonic requires time to do its work. Two doses could not effect any material improvement. The singing is probably over by now. Believe me,

Yours very truly,

W. Porter Roddy.

VII.

Mr. Mister to Dr. Roddy.

Dear Dr. Roddy,-I am horrified to learn that you have committed the solecism-the unpardonable solecismof showing my dedication to strangers. Were you more conversant with the laws, written or unwritten, of authorship, you would know that this is never done; that everything is avoided that can take the fine edge of novelty from a new book. The incident has completely disheartened me, and I am quite incapable of attending any further to the dedication.

To add to it all, the singing in my ears increases. Believe me,

Yours faithfully,

Mr. Mister to the Bishop of Caster.

My Lord, I am just collecting together in one volume all my fugitive poetry of the past nine years,-since in fact, the publication of my Death of Noah, and other Poems,-and it would give me great pleasure and confer a high distinction upon the book, if I might be permitted to dedicate it to you, not only to mark your interest in poetry, but also from personal gratitude for benefits received from your Lenten sermons last year, which I attended with my wife, and which we still vividly remember.

Believe me, my Lord,

Your obedient servant,
Launcelot Wyke Mister.

X.

and produced with geometrical regularity by a large, red, beak-like nose, under which lie a stubby moustache and a chin that is hardly worth mentioning.