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delivered in Olty. .00 pa your (in advance) mulled II

Prince ldwnrd Island. 00.50 not your (in advance) IIIIII to OIIICI Ill Ulltod Ihtfl.

TUESDAY. APRIL 28. 1980.

A Literary Enigma

Who wrote “The Canadian Boat Song”? Speculation on this subject has been revived in the Old Country by the publication of a book dealing with the many theories of authorship of this now famous poem. That question, however —in view of the total lack of evidence to sub- stantiate claims one \vay or the other—is of less interest than the comments of literary reviewers on the poem itself. For example, it is pointed out that “The Caiiailiaii Boat Song," is a song which is never sung, altliougli music has been fitted to it. It is a song which was published as a ti’ans- lation from the Gaelic, but for which there is no Gaelic. It was obviously never written by a. Higlilaiider. No less evidently, it could never be a. boat-song. because the rhythm of the oars is not in it. The song first appeared in Black- wood's Magazine in i829, in one of the “Nostes Ambrosianae,” written by LOCKHART, in which it is put into the mouth of CHRISTOPHER NORTH. But little attention was paid to it then. Dur- ing the subsequent half-century separate lines and stanzas of it were quoted on different occasions by NOR.\fAN .\lAcLi:on and R, L. STEVENSON. The song became magical one night in In- verness. Lluriiig a speech in 1885 in the course of his “Unauthorised Programme," JOSEPH CHAM- u2RLAIN recited the now celebrated stanza :- From the lone shleling of the misty island- Mountalns divide us. and the waste of sess- Yet still the blood 3 strong. the heart is Highland. And we in dreams behold the Hebrides: Fnirthese broad meads—the.se hoary woods are grand; But. we are exiles from our fathers‘ land The late Principal lll£RKl.l£SS of St. An- lrews, who heard “]oc" on the historic night at Inverness, related that the audience was electri- tied- and no one has since been found so dull and dultish as to fail to respond to the glamour of the song. We ne'er shall tread the fancy-haunted valley. Vvhere ‘tween the dark hills creeps the small, clear stream,

In arms around the patriarch banner rally. Nor see the moon on royal tombstones gleam.

There has never been anything quite like it in English poctry—t|ie strange dragging rhythm, the poignant nostalgia, the eerie picture of the Highland glen. Yet what Iliglilander would have dreamt of writing “creeps the small clear stream" if a rippling, rushing mountain burn?

After the vision, the mood changes :

3-

' \

the D0ml|1l0n Minister-‘of Agriculture, during the month of March. 1936. included 217 horses; 2.679 Cattle; 354 sheep; 526 swine; 2,777 foxes; 57: dogs; :61 poultgy, ;nd*4 goats—total 7,299.

Hope there is going to be no gambling in turnips as there was in potatoes some years ago. Let the shoemaker stick to his last.

9% iii‘ BIG

Discussing the disposition of British Colum- bia and Vancouver to raid isinking funds, the Financial News asks to whom sinking funds be- long. Among private corporations, it states, sink- in: funds are held to be the property of lenders. Is -not provision of a. sinking fund implied at least when a municipality borrows?

* * XE

Canada has the only cyanamide plant on the North American continent. It is also the largest plant of its kind in the world. Cyanamide is eni- ploycd in the manufacture of mixed fertilizers, and its use for single application alone as a com- petibr of nitrate of soda and sulphate of am- monia is making headway in the Dominion.

BE *6 if

It is estimated that there were 94,000 less egg-layiiig hens on farms in Canada in 1935 than in 1934 but 268,000 dozen more eggs were laid, and the total estimated value of eggs ($37.763-- ooo) shows an increase of $3,3o9,oco over the revised valuation of 1934.’ The average value of eggs in 1935 is estimated at I7 cents per (lozen against I 5 cents per dozen in 1934.

*6 BE BK

British Columbia having failed to get Fed- eral guarantee for its $3, 500,000 loan to cover one maturing May 15- has made arrangements with New York financiers to meet the situation. Of course, these financiers realize that the Federal Government cannot ultimately let B. C. down, so their principal and interest are both safe——- given time.

_ if ¥ 3|! In consequence of the predicament of Ethi- opia. the Black nations are lining up in self-de- fence. An empire envision by Arab patriots prob- ably would include Syria, the Lebanon republic, the Arabian Saudian Kingdom, formerly Hedjaz atid Nejd), the Kingdom of Iraq, the Imamate of Yemen, the Sultanate of Kuweit, the‘ Sultan- ate of Oman-and possibly Traiisjordania, man- dated to Britain and Aden, British protectorate. The inclusion of Palestine, also at present under British mandate, is regarded as less likely. 5K 9K

In the proceedings in the House of Com- mons at Ottawa, last week, Canadians were plac- ed in possession of two rather startling facts in connection with their country's economy. The first was the total cost of one year of Federal Government to the Dominion. It stands at $508,- 000,000. The second was the conibiiicd drain of the depression and railway sink-holes, likewise calculated for a twelve-month period only. It stands at $i'24,ooo»ooo. These two facts came to light when Iloii. CHARLES DUNNING, minister of finance, tabled emergency supplementary esti- mates totalling the last-mentioned $i24,00o.oo0

When the bald kindred, in the time long-vsn- ish'd

Conquered the soil and fortified the keep-

No sc-:r foretold the children would be banlsird, That a degenerate Lord might boast his sheep.

.\gziiii there is a poetic licence it is doubtful if .1 l'llglllilll(lL‘i‘ would have dated to use in “coit- qucr’d the soil." which has never been anything like true of the lliglilaiids.

As to the autliorsliip of the song, SCOTT, \ViLso:~:. LOL'l\'li.\l{‘l‘, llouu, the I2ll‘i liar] of Eg- linton, Dr. l)L‘.\’LAI‘, D. .\l.' i\lUlR (“l)clta") and othersare credited with the achievement. It does not greatly inattcr. All the possible authors are long since gone; only the song remains as an in- spiration to the reader who loves wild, weird beauty and the music of words. .

Britain's Recent Gains

Has Britain gained or lost in the recent ‘European flare up? This is a New York inter- national authority's summing up of the situation:

Britain has "gained 3. Franco-Belgian pledge to protect her shores in case oi German aggres- sion without making any material concessions under the new “1ocarno."

Itsllsn oceupirioii of the region oi Lake Tans has put a. decided damper on Egyptian in- gependence moves. Egypt now needs Britain-

Id .

Britain internal politics. which had been drifting into a vague benevolence of divers trends now has been galvanised into a steadfast desire to keep peace by sticking up the League of Nations.

French leadership oi the League of Nations has been lr:oken and British substituted. If it be argued that the League has gone to pieces under the strain, it, may he replied that the weakness, always was there, now has been demonstrated. and can be dealt with.

Britain has put matters with Germany on 1. held of real bargaining.

Changing Times

A news item from London announces that the King has ordered the conversion of-the wine cellars in St. James’ Palace into offices and

---‘workshops and the restoration of the palace kit- chens and lardcrs to the position of honour they originally enjoyed. It may seem a trivial piece of information, but it is, perhaps, suggests the .Vimcau-i/er Pr01'ill£t, of more significance than at first blush appeal-s.‘Are the spacious days of royal entertainment to return, with elaborate banquets for distinguished foreign guests? If so, they will evidently be feasts rather than carousea. _There will be plenty to eat, but not so mllCl1.t0 drink, under the reported plans. That is a sign of the times, and surely I very good sign. The days of the "three-bottle" men are gone, but not

die days of royal hospitality. .

Editorial Notes 'i ,t ‘ . . _II1<l.old, are ready for

. .

figure. I I if

A bill to lremonetize silver through the Bank of Canada was introduced in the House of Com- mons by Mr. THOMAS RI-‘.lD (Lib., New West- minster). Speaker CASGRAIN was doubtful if it came" within the competence of a private nieni- ber to introduce such a measure, and after taking time to look into the matter decided against him. Then Mr. REID had his comeback. Why then. he asked, did the Liberals support his bill when they

were in opposition? Under the Rain bill the bank

would be empowered to add silver to its currency reserve in the same way as gold. The bank then would issue silver certificates against the silver. In addition, the bank would have power to pur- chase newly-mined silver on instructions of the finance minister, 9K 3%

A threat in the House of Commons to trans- fer the grants given various health organizations to the nine provinces direct has raised strong opposition on the part of these voluntary bodies. Dr. GORDON B/mas, general director of the Health League, (previously the Social Hygiene Council), declared that “to one familiar with public health problems in Canada it is quite clear that such a suggestion could arise only from total ignorance of the conditions with which the work is confronted." To divide grants for public health education among the nine Provinces would actu- ally be about the worst possible way that could be devised for getting any tangible results from the money, Dr. BA'ri-:s claimed. It would mean over- head and administrative,*cos*t!s multiplied by nine.

Denouncing the "nauseating exhibition" of misleading and exaggerated news broadcast over the radio from Moose River The Eariam Chron- icle says :

“ Angus L. Incdcnald spoke of this outrage in die Home of Auanbly, and stated that he had protostod to the Canadian Radio Commission. The people was entitled to the news, but 3 plain statement of fact was all that was ,-. Invesflcation at the mine show- ed that the radioed detetb were largely enc- gonted in for too many instances. At the mine, Minister of Mines Dwyor also protested against the lurrowinc ll’-fut tlou being sent out. and instead sent out ‘clue and concise statements.

which were much appreciated."

It should be borne in mind that the receiving radio stations are in no way responsible for this state of afisirs, and are as anxious to have it remedied as is the mo|t*intelligent listener-in.

' I I

Commenting upon Alberta's default the Calgary Ilcrald declares: “While there may be some people in this province who applaud the de- faulting action of the Alberta Government, think- in: that the "Big Shots" in the East must be Isquii-min . they fail to realise that the Winnipeg School embers’ Pension Fund is afl‘eeted_as are the worlurietfs compensation boards in all four Western provinces. Among the larger cities in the West _wliicli hold these bonds are Winnipeg snnsmt, noose Jaw,-~Regim, Prince Albert, Sdnhtuon, -North Bsttlefofd, Calgary, Edmon- ton, , Vancouver and Victoria.” It lmqcdded that Prince Edward Island

'g_,,uIa_ii an unfortunate holder of

THE CHARLOTTE U

Notes by the Way

means the only disease ‘ one part oi the world to gnoum, Yellow fever and dengue fever are being spread by air in much the same way as smallpox, cholera. ma

bubonic Plasue have often been ‘

spread by sesborne traffic. It was this danger which led to the cat». llah-ment of the Far Elstem Health Bureau by the League of Nations I decade ago. About 160 ports around the Pacific and Indian oceans are now in constant communication, by means of wireless and the tele- graph. with this central station at Singapore. so that epidemics can be dealt with promptly.—The Hong- Kong Press.

Nothing effective can be achiev- ed without the ready and active co-operation of the trade unions, and they will certainly demand two assurances which the Government should have no difficulty in giving —thst no war will ever be engaged in by this country except in tw- oardsnce with the League covenant and the Poet of Paris, and that the most rigorous safeguards against profiteerlng out of armaments shall be imposed. The cause oi’ peace would not be served if this country bored itself to attack in the condi- tions that prevail; but the Gov- ernment can only be justified if it devotes even greater energy to changing the conditions than it does to arming against their con- sequences.-—'I’he spectator, Iondon.

We are told, again. that the Home Defence Air Force is too weak and its rate of expansion too slow. We know that the (7hanceL‘oi- of the Exchequer in this or any other Government has a dimcult task to balance the budget. No man can prophesy with confidence that the present minor boom in trade will continue. Money is scarce, and likely to be scaroer in the future. The Geneva Disarmament confer- ence has failed; the London Naval Con;'eivence has been abortive. The international situation is overcast. and even a worksb‘e sylztem of col- lective security through the Les- gue of Nations necessitates a suit-

lable and efficient contribution from

all three British Services. Before vast commitment; of new expendi- ture on the various forms of arms- ments are entered upon it would appear to be oiuy common-sense that some independent body with the necesary time and the neces- sary prestige should examine the whole problem as rapidly as pcsslble and present its series of reports.- Lord Strnbolgi in 19th Century.

Fifty m.p.h. (miles per hour) is '13 f.p.s. (feet per seccnd.) It is E31-Y to understand why motorists can- not csncelve of a car covering 292 feet within the four seconds it takes a driver to tum and speak to E rear-seat passenger. At the same speed, how many realize when they pass the famfiiar sign, “Railroad crcs mg 200 feet ahead," they will reach the tracks in less than three seconds? One way to drive home this lesson is to refaoe the speedo- meter to translate miles p:r hour into feet per second.——B:Js:on Chris- tian Science Monitor.

A university administrator may sometime; .lnd himself in the posi- tion oi defending the right of free speech on the part, of an individ- ual, although he may strongly dis- agree with the views expressed and consider the individusl's course of action lacking in wisdom and semiliness and regard for others. Chanceilor Chase of New York University tersely puts the report- sibilities of both university and iii- structor: "If the instructor has the right (as he has) to academic free- dom. the university has the right to exipect of him in its expression good taste, ,3 decent regard for his colleagues . . and that he will not de:oend to the plane of the propagandist.“—'I‘oronto Mail and Empire.

A motion picture film depicting the horrors of war from the sir has been banished by the British censor and an appeal against; his ruling will be taken to the House of Commons. At this range the ban- ning of such a fi‘.m appears to be inexplicable. because if there is one element which should be made aware of the hazards of war it is the civil population without whose influence there can be no assurance of peace. It is impossible to Hitler- iu the British people in this day and ueneration.——victorls Times.

"If you destroy the leisure old. you destroy civilisation," observed Mr. Morgan. This classical l«hD0l'¥ that a leisure class is the necessary bulwark oi en-‘ htenment and cul- ture evokes here and mute 2. skep- tical smirk in these days of leftist intollecvusllsm. Yet there is evi- dence from the slave-supported elgguioea of Greece and Rome to the nristocrstlcnlly patronized urt- ists oi recent times that lends to gupporh it. A great. civilimtion us- ually survive; by virtue of 1. nuc- leus oi votsries who cherish its cul- tin-sl and inspirational flame. But with the advance of democracy it unolongersoessysslt wlsto identify the leisun cl:ss.—chrlstun Science Monitor.

‘I'M muknt is actually a small beaver as far I; his winter habits In concerned. When it comes to something to out he probably pro- fm claim to anything else. Bil winter house is in the mnnhlsnd along the river. port below and part shove. the water. and only on rare occasion does he burrow for nhomsinshl.uk.I-Ichutoprotsct himself against. such animals ll mink and otter, and ti-upper; have told us that when the musknt is born and not much loner than I mouse, the bullfmc will eat him, and the water make: will do the same.-—-Wslksrtori Herald Times.

The ma. non delectable of -fish, will soon be extinct if something is

- PUBLIC FORUM

I'll: column In‘ upon but the dfuunhnlhi luau of question of fatten. Ila unrlotuuwu auudlu up not u undone the onlnlou

K

OLD AG! PENSIONS

8lr.—Your editorial In the issue of April 27th tint. under caption

Old A80 P01131011!» brlnn to remem- ' the circumstance of the debate which I listened to, when the legislation was being enacted by the Federal Government.

The spirit of the me uro wu not one of charity. but or "service rendered." This should be under- stood by many persons who.a.re sui- fering from economic pressum—for no fault of their own. and been of a silly false pride-—fsil to make application, for what, really is their ‘right. It is generauy conceded by

serious thought, that while the principle of the legislation is humane and economically sound. the age limit is faulty and the pur- chasing power toosmall. Two phases of the legislation which need re- ndtustment. I am. sir, etc., A, CAR/OLYN BAY!-YIELD. Charlottetown, P.E.I. April 27. 1938.

ROAD DEAGGING

Sir,—In driving over the main highway in West Prince Sunday af- ternoon, I observed and appreciated is very much needed governmental charitable act. or better termed, "a. work of charity," executed by the good people inhabiting that section of our fair province. This was in the line of road dragging. There were many miles on this famed highway dressed and it sure was a pleasure to drive on it. These people toc.‘.c the chance, irrespective of the outcome, despite the fact that the Press carries a very imperative no- ties to the contrary. How about the rest of the good people in the rural districts of the province, that is to say, outside the Borden, sum- merside and Charlottetown highway which seemingly is the only road on the Island worth recognition, fol- lowing the example of our western friends and smoothing out the old dirt thoroughfares which we have to travel, so as to eliminate, to some degree. that cart-like eflect given our different means of conveyance by the deplorable condition of our roads. Everybody knows lt.‘s high time it was done, or to say the least, some effort made tn this di- motion. This done, I have no hesit- stion in saying there will be com- pensstlon when your tax bill comes along. or your auto license may be waived altogether, who knows? Re- member charity covers a multitude. It's the greatest of all virtues.

I am. Sir, etc., AUTOIST.

CIVIC FINANCES

sir.—I have esteemed Mr. Hem- ming as above the -average ln in- tellect. rnd too honorable to know- ingly misrepresent. Thls makes it perplexing for me to interpret his muddling of my statements. which were in plain English that 3 child could understand. He says: “He calls those who are behind in their taxes "shlrkers", scarcely 8. fair term to be applied to taxpayers whom your correspondent describes as ‘honest and would pay if they could.” Mr. I-lemming will find nothing in my letter that even a strained imagination could thus in- terpret. one who is “honest and would pay if he could" is not by any means a shirker. The fact that he has no assessable property and is not eligible for the defaulters' list has escaped Mr. H's usual percep- tion.

It is hardly in good taste for his slighting reference to what he tries to belittle into "hard luck stories." Free from this luck himself he can be quite generous in advising the WWW in question to get on her knees and scrub harder to raise money to help pay the ahll'kel‘S' taxes. His advice has a still wider application. some hundreds of fam- ilies have been on relief for years. How many of them pay their rent? A very very few. Who pays the taxes, insurance and overhead on than tsnsntles? The landlord. Where does he get the money, he must dig it out from somewhere. He must also live, or will Mr. H. give him this privilege? And now he is asked to get out, work harder, and dig some more to make up the

,shlrker‘s defaults.

And those hundreds of property holders. many of them in the poor- est. circumstances, according to Mr. i-‘iernmln¢'s ideals, should pinch their living more, work and dig harder. to pay the ahlrkera taxes. and "gladly" enter the slsve’s sacri- fice that the slackers may go free. He also steered nloely away from my description of the "shirker" as the "sport", loitering around "fish- ing‘ pools". "auto driving," with money for every purpose but pgy. ment of taxes.