Chapter M: C. Baillairgé, Quebec (12)

=Macdonald, Charles De Wolf=, B.A., Barrister, Pictou, Nova Scotia, was born on the 23rd October, 1854, at Pictou, N.S. His father was the late Alexander Cameron Macdonald, Q.C., barrister, who, during his lifetime, represented the county of Pictou in the Nova Scotia legislature for eight years, and occupied the position of speaker in the House of Assembly, previous to the confederation of the provinces. His mother, who still survives, Sarah Amelia De Wolf, is a descendant of a well-known loyalist family, of German noble origin. Charles received his primary education at Pictou Academy; matriculated in 1869 at Dalhousie College, Halifax, when fifteen years of age, taking the first provincial scholarship, and, making the highest aggregate each year; graduated in 1873. He took first prizes throughout his course for Latin, Greek, French and German. Since leaving college he has made a special study of modern languages, and is now widely known as a linguist. He adopted law as a profession, and was admitted to the bar of Nova Scotia in 1875, when only twenty-one years of age. For the past twelve years he has practised in Pictou, and is now one of the leading barristers in the county. Mr. Macdonald has always taken a deep interest in military affairs, and is a lieutenant in the 78th Highlanders, Colchester, Hants and Pictou volunteers. He is a Liberal in politics, and is an active politician. From 1882 to 1885, in addition to his usual law practice, he edited the Pictou _News_, which was the first paper to advocate the repeal of the federal compact, and ranks among the best conducted weeklies in the Maritime provinces. He is a member of the Presbyterian church.

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=Bethune, John Lemuel=, M.D.C.M., M.P.P. for the county of Victoria, Baddeck, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, was born at Loch Lomond, Richmond county, N.S., in 1850. His parents were Roderick Bethune, postmaster, and Mary Bethune, who came from the Highlands of Scotland to Cape Breton about fifty years ago. The Rev. Thomas McLauchlin, F.S.A.S., in his “Celtic Gleanings,” says that the descendants of the Beatons, or Bethunes, or as they styled themselves, McVeaghs (McBeths), in a family tree contained in an old manuscript of theirs still in existence, trace themselves up to Nial of the Nine Hostages, King of Ireland. One Ferchar Bethune came into prominence by being the means of curing King Robert II. of Scotland of a painful and dangerous disease, and there is among the Scottish registers of charters a copy of a charter from that king conveying to Bethune, as an expression of his gratitude, possession of all the islands on the west coast of Scotland from the Point Store in Assynt to that of Armidale in Farr. How long Ferchar’s descendants were physicians is not known, but they can be traced back as such by means of existing documents for three hundred and fifty years from the middle of last century. However, the great progenitor of the race would seem to be a certain Fergus the Fair, probably the Fergus Bethune who lived in the year 1408, and was then physician to McDonald of the Isles of Islay. There are several MSS. belonging to this family in existence. One is a small quarto in vellum, now in possession of David Laing, of the Edinburgh Signet Library. It was written by John Beaton, who flourished in 1530. It is full of comments on the writings of Constantius and other medical continental writers of that period. It also contains a long treatise on astrology, and another on the phenomena of color as an indication of health or disease. This and other writings of theirs indicate an amount of cultivation in the Gaelic to qualify it for being the language of science from which it has sadly declined. Dr. Bethune, the subject of our sketch, was educated at the Normal School in Truro, and in Dalhousie University, where he took the degree of M.D.C.M. in 1875, and then began the practice of his profession. In 1881 he was appointed paymaster, with the honorary rank of captain, in the 94th battalion Argyll Highlanders, and the same year was made census commissioner. He is a justice of the peace, coroner, commissioner of schools, and is a commissioner for taking affidavits, etc., in the Supreme and County courts of Victoria county. He takes an interest in all movements for the good of his fellow men. He is a past master of St. Mark’s lodge of the Masonic brotherhood; and is also a member of the Grand Division of the Sons of Temperance of Nova Scotia. He occupied a seat in the municipal council from 1879 till 1886, when he resigned; and for three years from June, 1880, he was warden of the county. The doctor was for three years secretary of the Liberal-Conservative Association of Victoria county; and at the general election held in 1886 he was selected to represent his adopted county, as an Independent, in the House of Assembly of Nova Scotia. His religious views are in accordance with the teachings of the Presbyterian Church of Canada. He was married January 20th, 1885, to Mary C., only daughter of the late Robert A. Jones, registrar of deeds for Victoria county, who was a descendant of a Jones, a loyalist, who came to Cape Breton at the time of the American rebellion, and to whom was granted large tracts of land at Big Baddeck, Washabuck and other places in Cape Breton.

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=Hatt, Samuel Staunton=, Quebec, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, Legislative Council, province of Quebec, was born at Chambly, Quebec province, on the 18th February, 1844. He is the eldest son of the late Augustus Hatt, and of Charlotte Emelie de Salaberry, of Chambly. He is also a grandson of Colonel de Salaberry, the hero of Chateauguay, and of the Hon. Samuel Hatt, of Chambly. Mr. Hatt received his education at the High School of St. Johns, and at St. Hyacinthe College. He received his civil service certificate when only about sixteen years of age, and in 1861 entered the Militia department. He served on the frontier at St. Albans during the time of the Fenian raids, with the rank of captain and adjutant; and also commanded a detachment, at Huntingdon, of the 3rd Administration battalion, under command of Lieut.-Colonel Taylor. While Captain Hatt was stationed at Laprairie, he and the men under him rendered great service in subduing a fire which endangered the whole town, and were afterwards publicly thanked by the municipal council for the important service rendered on the occasion. Mr. Hatt was appointed under Royal commission Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod for the Province of Quebec, on the 23rd December, 1867, and still holds this office. He was married in 1883, to Mrs. N. F. Hoole, of Philadelphia, United States.

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=McMaster, Hon. William.=—Senator McMaster, who died in Toronto, on the morning of Friday, 23rd September, 1887, was a good representative of that class on whom we bestow the title of merchant princes. He was born in 1811, in the county of Tyrone, Ireland, and his father was the late William McMaster, a linen merchant, who did business for many years in the county where the subject of our sketch was born. His son’s early education was a very careful one, he having attended a private school, the best in the parish, presided over by Mr. Halcro, one of the most eminent teachers in the north of Ireland. In 1833, Mr. McMaster left Ireland, and on the 9th of August of the same year he came to Toronto. Since then the town of seven thousand people, with only two brick houses in it, has become the flourishing metropolis, with a population of over one hundred thousand, and the social and commercial centre of the leading province of a great dominion. In that time the young immigrant, with his capital of only brains, energy, and good habits, had become one of Canada’s most noted citizens, an object of emulation to all young men, and of gratitude to the many who have been benefited by his practical kindness. Landing in New York at the age of twenty-two, he was advised to proceed to Canada to enter into business with a son of the British consul, who had established himself in a trading business west of Toronto. Proceeding by the old-time flying express route along the canal, the young fortune-seeker found himself in Oswego, whence a trip across the lake in a steamer brought him to Toronto. Life in Canada West at that time was not altogether attractive to a young man conscious of his ability to fill a large sphere, and it did not take young McMaster long to decide that in Toronto, if anywhere in the province, he must look for success. He entered the service of Mr. Cathcart, who at that time kept a dry-goods establishment on King street, opposite the old Court-house, now York Chambers. Before two years had passed his assistant had grown so valuable to him, that Mr. Cathcart could not afford to run any risk of losing him, so offered him a partnership. This was accepted, and for ten years the firm went on prospering well. At the end of that time the senior partner retired, leaving the whole business in Mr. McMaster’s hands. The concern up to this time had been doing a wholesale and retail business, but shortly after assuming control, Mr. McMaster resolved to confine his attention solely to wholesale. New premises were opened on Yonge street, below King, and here the success which had attended the young merchant continued and increased. Subsequently a handsome building was erected, adjoining the Montreal Bank, on Yonge street. But other business connections which he had formed demanded his whole attention, and in 1865 he sold out his interest to his two nephews, who had been associated with him. These continued the business until the death of A. R. McMaster and the retirement of W. F. McMaster, when the firm was re-organised with the accession to its ranks of H. W. Darling, under the title of McMaster, Darling & Co. This was about eighteen months ago. The present firm occupy handsome warerooms on Front street near Yonge. The causes which contributed to the great success which Mr. McMaster met with in this business are those which characterize the career of almost every successful business man. Even during those times when there was the greatest temptation to “display” and to bid for a large business, Mr. McMaster steadily refused to allow his business to grow beyond the basis of his own capital. His caution in this respect enabled him to tide over the hard times of 1857 and other bad years, and even during the depth of the hard times to do a profitable trade. Rivals overtaken by the financial storm, with all canvas spread, were wrecked. Yet while pursuing this cautious policy he showed, by the way in which he enlarged his establishment, that there was nothing niggardly about his management. Whenever he deemed the circumstances favorable for the use of his capital he used it freely, and thus added yearly to the magnitude of his returns. He left commercial life in order that he might make the greater success of the financial operations in which he had become interested. He had been for some time director of the Montreal Bank and of the Ontario Bank, and now he purposed throwing himself, with all his customary energy, into the organization of a new concern. The charter was procured and the company organized on a sound basis, and Mr. McMaster was chosen the first president of the new Bank of Commerce, which was the title chosen. That was about twenty years ago, and the position of honor and trust which he then achieved he retained until about a year ago, when advancing years compelled him to relinquish the presidency and simply to give to the bank as a director the benefit of his immense business experience. He was succeeded in the presidency by Henry W. Darling above mentioned. During all the time of Mr. McMaster’s Canadian life, Toronto has been making, year by year, a strange history-record. Four years after Mr. McMaster’s arrival came the rebellion under William Lyon Mackenzie, which, with the tremendous agitation leading up to and following it, naturally interfered very much with the operations of peace-loving merchants. Immense political changes took place, changing the province from a mere crown colony, with practically no such thing as political freedom, to a self-governing country with representative institutions, and manhood suffrage in the near distance. The city itself had to expand north, east, west, and even south, for the Esplanade works redeemed in all a great tract of land from the bay, and made sites for some of the largest buildings in the city to-day. Railway communication, then unknown, had to be made to all parts of the province, and the city had to bear its share of the expense of the facilities thus afforded. Though never afraid to express his opinions in favor of a liberal policy, Mr. McMaster kept out of active political life long after his friends would have had him a representative of the people, had he agreed to put himself up for election. At length, however, the crisis came which brought him out. North York and South Simcoe were at that time united for the purpose of elections to the Legislative Council of the province. There was a vacancy in the constituency, and John D. Gamble became the Conservative candidate. He was a strong man, and although it was known that York would give a majority against him, it was fully believed that unless he was opposed by the very strongest man who could be put up against him, Tory South Simcoe would far more than neutralise this vote. In their dilemma the Liberals applied to Mr. McMaster to act as their standard-bearer. At first he strenuously opposed the idea, but seeing that it was to the interest of what he believed to be true that he should accede to their wishes, he finally did so. Though he prosecuted his canvass with his characteristic energy, the Liberal candidate set an example of moderation and forbearance in conducting the campaign utterly unknown in those days, and (more’s the pity) very little practised since. Though not pretending to any talent of oratory, Mr. McMaster conducted himself while on the platform with such transparent honesty that even the Tory stronghold was captured, and beside a majority of 1,100 in York, he came out with a majority of about 300 in Simcoe, giving him such a sweeping victory that even his friends were astonished and his opponents confounded. The elections for the Council then took place once every eight years, and Mr. McMaster would doubtless have stood for re-election, but that in the meantime confederation took place, and under the new order of things he was called upon to take his seat in the Senate. During the whole of his political life he gave close attention to the duties devolving upon him. He never sought to move the house by eloquence, but in committee, where measures are really elaborated, and where most of the work, except the talking, is done, he was found keenly alive to all that passed, and ever exerting an influence in favor of liberal and progressive measures. But however great his commercial success, Mr. McMaster’s name will be best remembered on account of the many generous acts which have been associated with it. For many years he has been the pillar and mainstay of the Baptist denomination in Toronto. His own congregation—that now worshipping in the beautiful building on the corner of Jarvis and Gerrard streets—owes much to his vigorous initiative and substantial pecuniary aid. Mr. McMaster and his present wife, contributed $50,000 toward the fund for building the church, and in addition to this, Mrs. McMaster paid for the organ, one of the finest instruments in the country; and about four years ago the worthy Senator surprised his co-trustees, at a meeting called for the purpose of considering the best means of providing for the church debt, by pulling out of his pocket a deed, showing that a few hours before the meeting he had discharged all the debt. The Baptist book-room and _The Canadian Baptist_ were purchased mainly with his money, and put in such a form that the enterprises now practically belong to the denomination. To his munificence is due the successful condition of the Superannuated Ministers’ Society of the Baptist Church. Upper Canada Bible Society, a non-sectarian institution, owes much to him. To add to all these instances there could be brought forward a long list of public and private benefactions, but the whole of them are overshadowed by the magnificent gift which he has presented to his fellow-Christians in the Baptist College, now one of the chief ornaments of Toronto. During the last years of his life Mr. McMaster devoted much attention to the development of his plans for the advancement of education. When he founded Toronto Baptist College, at a cost of $100,000 paid to the Toronto University authorities for the ground, and $90,000 for furnishing the building, he only thought of putting up a structure at his own expense, and endowing the presidency, looking to the denomination to provide the means, through annual collections, for the support of two other chairs. But with the development of the college and its increasing prosperity from year to year, he saw the necessity of adding two more professors to the staff, and subsequently two additional professors, making a staff of six besides the president. Seeing that the denomination was sufficiently burdened with its large home and foreign work, he relieved it of all responsibility for the support of the entire staff, whose aggregate salaries amount to $14,500 annually; and by his will it is provided that McMaster University will ultimately receive, subject to the payment to the Home Missionary Society of $2,000, about $800,000, in addition to what the testator gave for the same object during his lifetime. At the beginning of the discussion of the university confederation question, on the recommendation of some of the educational leaders in the Baptist denomination, Mr. McMaster proposed to found an arts college in Toronto, in affiliation with Toronto University, on condition that the denomination would raise the amount of $88,000 for the more thorough endowment and equipment of Woodstock college, which was to continue as a preparatory school. Of this sum he himself proposed to contribute $32,000. After considerable effort had been made to secure the sum proposed, it was found that the denomination was not in hearty sympathy with the scheme, for very little of the necessary amount was ever subscribed. However, in the spring of 1886, at a time when, to all appearances, the confederation scheme had failed through the refusal of several of the more prominent colleges of Ontario to enter confederation, it was proposed to Mr. McMaster that he should transfer to Woodstock college the amount which he had intended for the establishment of an arts college in Toronto. After mature consideration he cheerfully acceded to the proposal, believing that the preservation and enlargement of Woodstock college, with its traditions and associations, were of more importance to the welfare of his people than the establishment of the arts college in Toronto. Within a few weeks of the announcement of Mr. McMaster’s donation, nearly $50,000 was secured by the Rev. Drs. Rand and MacVicar for new buildings and equipment at Woodstock, from members of the denomination. It was then felt by the leaders of the denomination that Woodstock had the prospect of sufficient funds in the near future to warrant the development of its curriculum into a full university course. Accordingly a committee was appointed to obtain the charter, which was granted by the Ontario Legislature at its session in 1887, and in accordance with a universal feeling amongst the Baptists of the country, the name of McMaster University was given to the new institution. This charter embraces both Woodstock and Toronto Baptist colleges. The Hon. Mr. McMaster during his lifetime held several important financial and other offices. As well as being a director of the Bank of Commerce, he was a member of the University Senate, president of the Freehold Permanent Building and Savings Society, vice-president of the Confederation Life Association, director of the Toronto General Trusts Company; of the Wellington, Grey and Bruce Railway Company, etc. His whole estate is valued at $1,200,000. He had been twice married—first, in 1851, to Miss Henderson, of Hew York, who died in 1868; secondly, in 1871, to his present wife, Susan Molton, widow of James Fraser, of Newburgh-on-the-Hudson, N.Y. He had no children.

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=Rutherford, John=, Justice of the Peace for the County of Grey, Owen Sound, Ontario, was born at Toronto, on the 9th February, 1839. His parents were Peter Rutherford and Martha Henderson, who died when he was a mere lad—the mother in 1844 and the father in 1846. The late James Lesslie, who then published the Toronto _Examiner_, adopted the orphan and educated him in the Toronto Academy. In this benevolent gentleman’s family he remained until 1851. During this year he was bound out as an apprentice to Christie & Corbet to learn the trade of iron moulder at Owen Sound, and at this trade he worked for six years. In 1857, business becoming very depressed throughout the country, especially that in iron, Mr. Rutherford was forced to look for some other means to earn a livelihood. Having fortunately learned during his boyhood, in the _Examiner_ office, the art of setting type, he found temporary employment as a compositor on the old _Comet_ newspaper; and some time afterwards got on the staff of _The Times_. A few years later on, he, in conjunction with David Creighton, now M.P.P. for North Grey, bought out this paper, which was conducted by them, under the firm name of Rutherford & Creighton, until 1868, when the partnership was dissolved and the plant divided, Mr. Creighton retaining _The Times_ and Mr. Rutherford the job department. Since then his business has steadily grown, bookbinding has been added, and his office is now one of the institutions of the thriving town of Owen Sound. He was a member of the town council in 1875, ’76, ’77 and ’79; High School trustee in 1884, ’85, and ’86, and has been re-appointed to fill the office for another term. He was chosen by acclamation to fill the office of mayor for 1885 and 1886, and faithfully served the people during his term. In August, 1866, he joined the Masonic brotherhood, and is now a past master of St. George’s lodge. He is also second principal of Georgian Chapter, No. 56, R.A.M. He takes a deep interest in the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and is one of its past district deputy masters of the Georgian district. Mr. Rutherford is an adherent of the Methodist church; and in politics is a Liberal-Conservative. He has been twice married, and has had a family of ten children, nine sons and one daughter; two of his sons have died.

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=Kerr, William=, M.A., Q.C., LL.D., Barrister, Cobourg, Ontario, was born in the township of Ameliasburg, in the county of Prince Edward. He is a son of the late Francis Kerr, formerly of Enniskillen, in the county of Fermanagh, Ireland, who for some years taught school in Prince Edward, and afterwards removed to the county of Hastings. After the death of his father and mother, which occurred when he was a child, Mr. Kerr removed with his half-sister and her husband to the township of Clarke, where he worked on their farm and went to school. He prepared for college under Dr. William Ormiston, now of the Collegiate Reformed (Dutch) Church, New York, who at that time was the Presbyterian minister at Newtonville, and kept a private academy. He entered Victoria College at Cobourg as a senior matriculant in 1852, and graduated in the arts department in 1855. The class consisted of four, all now living, viz., Dr. Carman, senior superintendent of the Methodist church; Dr. Moses Aikins, the well-known physician in the county of Peel; Dr. E. B. Ryckman, ex-president of the London Conference; and the subject of this sketch. He studied law in the office of Smith and Armour at Cobourg, and began the practice of his profession in the town of Cobourg, September, 1858. His brother, John W. Kerr, who was appointed county attorney and clerk of the peace in 1877, on the elevation of Mr. Armour to the bench, joined him in 1860. They have the largest practice in the united counties of Northumberland and Durham. He entered the town council in 1862, and served as a councillor for five years. In 1867 he was elected mayor, and was elected five times in succession by acclamation to the same office. On presenting himself for the sixth time he was opposed, but, after a hot contest, in which he was supported by the leaders of both political parties, he was re-elected by 175 majority. Although frequently urged to enter into political life, it was not until 1874, on Mr. Armour’s (now Mr. Justice Armour) refusing the Liberal nomination for the House of Commons, that he consented to do so, when he entered the field about three weeks before the election, and defeated the Hon. James Cockburn, the Speaker of the House of Commons, by 231 majority. He was unseated, however, on petition, but was re-elected over the Hon. Sidney Smith, ex-postmaster-general, by 155 majority. He was an unsuccessful candidate in 1878, 1882, and 1885, being defeated by narrow majorities, owing to the influence of the so-called national policy and the opportune building of government works in his constituency, in the years 1882 and 1885. In politics he is a strong Liberal, and a warm admirer of the Hon. Edward Blake. For many years past he has been one of the most active Liberals in the united counties of Northumberland and Durham, taking part in all election contests in West Northumberland, and lending a helping hand whenever occasion required in the neighboring ridings. He was president of the Liberal Association of West Northumberland from 1878 to 1882, and is vice-chancellor of Victoria University, to which position he has been twice elected by the almost unanimous vote of the graduates. He married Myra, third daughter of the late John Field, a well known and highly respected merchant of Cobourg, and sister of John C. Field, ex-M.P.P., and C. C. Field, M.P.P. Has seven children, four sons and three daughters.

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=David, Laurent Olivier=, Barrister, Montreal, M.P.P. for Montreal East, was born at Sault-au-Récollet, county of Hochelaga, near Montreal, on the 24th of March, 1840. His father was Major Stanislas David, of Sault-au-Récollet. Young David was educated at the Seminary of Ste. Thérèse, in which institution he underwent a thorough course of classical studies. On his leaving college he entered the law office of Mousseau & Labelle, and was admitted to practice at the bar of the province of Quebec, in August, 1864. Like the majority of the French Canadian youths who leave college possessing high class and interesting lore, but totally unfit for the battle of life, Mr. David had to fight his way through the world without help. As he had a natural _penchant_ for writing, and a facile pen, he soon made his way to the press and was an able and welcome contributor to the daily newspapers and periodicals of the time. In 1870, when George E. Desbarats, a son of the Queen’s printer, founded _L’Opinion Publique_, a twelve-page pictorial weekly, he was chosen as chief editor of the publication, and a better choice could hardly be made. The paper was published until 1884, when it collapsed, owing to various causes, after having reached a subscription list of over fifteen thousand. It may be said that the newspaper failed on account of having received too much encouragement, because in the province of Quebec as elsewhere, a great number seem to think that when they have subscribed for a newspaper, it does not matter much to the publisher and editor whether the subscription is paid or not. Among the _collaborateurs_ to _L’Opinion Publique_ may be more especially mentioned the Hon. J. A. Chapleau, the late Hon. Justice Mousseau, A. C. DeCelles, the present chief librarian of parliament, C. A. Dansereau, the brilliant and gifted editor of _La Presse_, and many others. In 1874, Mr. David, in conjunction with Mr. Beausoleil, founded _Le Bien Public_, a daily paper published in the interests of the Liberal party, taking the place of _Le Pays_, the organ of the advanced liberals of the province of Quebec, which had been founded on the ruins of _L’Avenir_, the first Liberal paper of note in Canada, published by Messrs. Dorion, and having on its staff at different periods, N. Aubin, L. A. Dessaulles, Joseph Doutre, and a score of other Liberal writers. _Le Bien Public_ was in turn superseded by _Le National_, founded by the late Hon. M. Laframboise, who lost both his money and his health in the enterprise, and was finally rewarded by his party with an appointment to the bench a few years before his death. _La Patrie_ was the next journalistic Liberal venture, in 1879, and, for a wonder, it proved a financial success under the energetic and able management of Honoré Beaugrand. _Le Temps_ also came out as an exponent of liberal views in 1881, but the shareholders having fallen into the same error as their predecessors, placed a man totally unfit for the position at its head; and as a natural consequence the paper lived only a few months. A fearless exponent of the Liberal programme, _La Patrie_ probably did more to advance the cause of liberalism in the province of Quebec than any other newspaper. Mr. Beaugrand, who is not only an able financier, but also a judge of literary merits, grouped together the young writers of the new school, led by Buies and Fréchette. In their ranks were found Arthur Globensky, the graceful poet; the late T. H. Bienvenu, the profound political writer; Ernest Tremblay (now editor of _L’Union_, St. Hyacinthe); J. E. Robidoux, M.P.P. for Chateauguay, and a score of others. Mr. David, who is an uncompromising Liberal, and who never faltered in his political principles, was a more or less frequent contributor to most of these newspapers. Besides his contributions to the press he found time to publish a volume entitled “Biographies et Portraits de nos principaux Canadiens-Français,” and another entitled “Patriotes de 1837-38.” The mantle of the greatest and most popular tribune whom French Canada will forever honor and remember, Papineau, who contributed more than any other to preserve intact the rights and privileges guaranteed to the conquered race by the Treaty of Utrecht, may be said to have fallen on the shoulders of Mr. David; no national fête, no popular demonstration is complete without him; and since 1864 he has taken an active part in all the national movements. He is considered in the province of Quebec as the standard-bearer of national ideas; yet he is ever willing and ready to grant to other races the rights he asks for his own race. His pen and voice (he is a fluent and agreeable speaker) have always been employed in the defence of right and to elevate the standard of public opinion among his countrymen, and to convince them that true and effective patriotism, national and religious strength consist more of deeds than of words and noisy affirmations and declarations, and he often said boldly on public platforms that he would not encourage injustice towards other nationalities to please his countrymen, even should the madness of a few irresponsible penny-a-liners, who are paid to carry on their nefarious work, goad them to reprisals. In 1886, Mr. David presented himself to the suffrages of the voters of Montreal East, and carried the day against two formidable opponents, the Hon. L. O. Taillon, premier of the province, probably the most influential man the Conservatives could bring forward, and Adélard Gravel, the nominee of the Labor party, who polled the entire labor vote of the constituency. The Reformers, however, rallied around their standard-bearer, and by presenting a united front, succeeded in electing him by a handsome majority. Mr. David was a partner in the law firm of Longpré and David. Mr. Longpré was appointed September, 1887, prothonotary of the Superior Court for the district of Montreal by the Mercier administration. In religion he is a Roman Catholic of broad views. He married, in 1868, Albina Chenet, a daughter of Pierre Chenet. She died in August, 1887. He is the father of eleven children, one son and ten daughters.

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=Mountcastle, Clara H.= (“Caris Sima”), Clinton, Ontario, is the third surviving daughter, and seventh child of the late Sydney Harman Mountcastle, and Frances Laura, his wife, and was born in Clinton, Ontario, on the 26th of November, 1837. She is descended on her father’s side from James, eldest son of Lord Claude Hamilton, who was created Baron of Mountcastle and Kilpatrick on the 10th July, 1606; and on her mother’s side from an eminent civil engineer, who died in the year 1811, aged 92, and was buried at Preston, East Lothian, Scotland, where the following lines are inscribed on his tombstone:—“To the memory of Andrew Meikle, who steadily pursued the example of his ancestors, and by inventing and bringing to perfection a machine for separating corn from straw, constructed on the principle of velocity, rendered to the agriculturists of Britain and other nations a more beneficial service than any hitherto recorded in the annals of ancient or modern science.” Her maternal grandfather, James Meikle, held a prominent position in his Majesty’s Ordnance Department, with headquarters in the Tower of London, and was frequently consulted by the Duke of Wellington upon the defences of the country during the Peninsular campaign. And we can well imagine, from the massive intellect displayed in a portrait of this gentleman now in possession of Miss Mountcastle, that the “Iron Duke” had no mean adviser. Mr. Mountcastle, father of the subject of our sketch, was born in London, England, on the 12th of January, 1803, and came to Canada in 1832, bringing with him his wife, who still survives, and two children, who died shortly after his arrival. Having a small capital he purchased land on the Huron Road, county of Huron, Ontario, and erected two dwellings, at different periods, on the same. The latest of these is the childhood’s home of “Caris Sima,” a small picture of which, executed in oil, now hangs on the wall of her studio in Clinton, and represents a low hewn log dwelling, with gables to the road, as described in her poem, “Lost,” and literally embowered in trees and flowers. We clip the following from an obituary notice that appeared in a local paper at the time of her father’s death. Alluding to him, the writer says, “He made a good clearing on his land, and erected a comfortable dwelling, which in later years, as his young family grew up, became a seat of refined and cordial hospitality, the remembrance of which will be long retained by the many friends who were privileged to enjoy it.” Miss Mountcastle received the chief portion of her education at home, under the direct supervision of her parents. When a child she was dreamy and reflective, rarely rousing from a state of abstraction unless to defend anyone whom she thought injured or oppressed, or to comfort her pets when in pain or trouble. Her sympathy with the dumb creatures of the universe was intense. If she discovered a caterpillar on her clothes, she would try to think where it came from, and would walk a long distance to restore it to its “afflicted family.” Oftentimes would she carry tiny toads in her little pinafore, and would take them in her hands to warm them, saying “They were so cold, poor things.” And when a trap was set to catch mice, she would listen for the click, then silently release the little prisoner. In winter her chief pleasure seemed to be found in gazing at the glowing embers in the wide, open fireplace, and she seldom joined in the romps of the other children. She did not care for study in these days. At twelve years of age she knew little more than her letters, and was dubbed “the dunce of the family.” This roused in her a desire to excel, and from that time she acquired the rudiments of knowledge with remarkable rapidity. Long ere this she showed a decided talent for drawing, which was carefully fostered by her father and mother, both of whom possessed considerable artistic taste—her mother being a good amateur artist, and her father an excellent judge of a picture. Yet they were not qualified to bring forth the latent powers of their child, else her name had been known long before 1870, when she exhibited at the Provincial Exhibition at Toronto, carrying off five prizes for paintings in water colors. From this time she made art her profession, being utterly unconscious of a still greater talent yet to be developed, and which her devotion to art as a means of livelihood seems for a time to have entirely obscured. Though her father knew her ability, and tried to induce her to write, yet her natural diffidence prevented her, and it was not until 1879 that, through the urgent entreaties of her sister Ellen, she turned her attention to literature. Miss Mountcastle is, in every sense, what is termed “a late ripe.” Not only was she backward in her studies as a child, but she remained a child for an unprecedentedly long period of time. At the age of twenty she was an unformed girl, and continued growing in stature for some years afterwards. As an artist, we would say that her sketches are masterly, and embrace almost every conceivable subject, but she has not yet attained that high finish which only study under the best masters can give. It is in the field of letters where she excels. The power, the pathos, and passion of her writings bespeak for her a high place in the literature of this and the future ages. Her first work, “The Mission of Love,” published by Hunter, Rose and Co., Toronto, is well described by J. E. Collins, in “The Life and Times of Sir John A. Macdonald,” as “a garden in which there are several unseemly weeds growing side by side with a number of delightful flowers.” These weeds were an error in judgment. Many poets have erred in the same way, and afterwards tried to suppress their early work, but the flowers are imperishable. As in art, so also in literature, Miss Mountcastle’s genius is peculiarly versatile. No poet living or dead ever wrote in such varied style. Hear the music in “The Voice of the Waters.” Mark the light debonair tone in “See that he be virtuously brought up,” and yet how full of feeling and reverence; while the airy grace of her lyrics (valentines), combined with rare delicacy of feeling, is inimitable, and shows the writer entertains higher views of love than are likely ever to be realized in this mundane sphere. And what exquisite delicacy of thought is apparent in “Reflections on a Faded Rose,” “At the Falling of the Leaf,” “Day Dreaming,” “Art Thou Thinking of Me?” etc. While what depth of pathos is felt in the wailing of “Hope Deferred.” But it is in her unpublished work, some of which we have seen, that her genius becomes more apparent. Unsurpassed by modern poet is the verse wherein she reproaches the sea for causing the death of Sappho, the celebrated Greek poetess:

Oh, sea, had’st thou no power to save,
Could’st thou not raise that glorious face;
Nor let thy suffocating breath,
That heaven-born life of song erase;
Nor calm that wild heart unto death.

And grand enough for Milton are the concluding lines:

Oh, cold, cold wave, that pressed her cheek,
I hear thy murmuring undertone.
For ages wilt thou sob and moan,
In vain repentance o’er thy deed:
The howling winds shall lash thy breast,
And zephyrs mourn around thy shore,
And murmur all thy rocks along;
And thou, who stilled the voice of song,
Thy deep great heart shall know no rest—
Shall know no peace for evermore.

Of Miss Mountcastle’s prose writing, we would say, that her novelette, “A Mystery,” lately published by Hunter, Rose & Co., Toronto, shows, as a first work, great ability. It is written in a pleasing, vivacious style. We take the following extract from a local paper, which does it no more than justice: “The plot is good, the moral inculcated equally so. The characters are well sustained. There is much wit and dry humor in their development, and the sketches of character and scenes show a close observation of nature; and without being in any way sensational, the interest in the story is well sustained to the end.” We would here remark, that the beautiful lines that appear in this volume, under the title of “Only a Little While,” emanate from the pen of the author’s sister, Ellen, who has written several short poems of much merit. Miss Mountcastle has written three essays on questions of the day, showing great power and originality of thought, and is now engaged on a tale of Canadian life, entitled, “Crow’s Hollow,” which we hope soon to see in print. To sum up the whole, we feel assured that, though now comparatively unknown, “Caris Sima” will ere long be recognized as one of the greatest poets of her time, and likewise rank as one of the most brilliant writers of fiction, on account of the vivid life, and intense human feeling, that is evinced in all her writings, whether in prose or verse. “Carissima,” that well-known Italian term of endearment, from which she derives her _nom de plume_, was an appellation conferred upon her in early girlhood by her father’s friend, the late Henry William Cole, M.D., a physician of great ability, to whom she was much attached, and is well adapted to the sweet, tender, womanly style of her writings, which show that, though in childhood she dwelt in a wilderness, she was reared in the lap of refinement. As a girl, “Caris Sima” was peculiarly simple and unsophisticated, and these traits of character still cling to her, as she, even now, gives little attention to the conventionalities of life. In stature, she is tall and commanding. Her features, which are irregular, are marked, when in repose, by an expression that might be termed sad, severe or stern; but when she speaks or smiles, her whole face illuminates like the sun breaking through a cloud, and she keeps on illuminating with expressions as versatile as her genius. In conclusion, we may say Miss Mountcastle is one of a family of twelve children, seven of whom died in infancy and early childhood. Of her sisters, Ellen, the eldest surviving, is, as we have already mentioned, a clever writer of fugitive verse. Eliza, the second daughter, is an amateur artist, and we may likewise say an amateur physician, as she studied medicine for six years under the late Dr. Cole, and practises among her own family with great success. The youngest, Alice, is married, and has one child, a bright boy, who seems likely to follow in the footsteps of his mother’s race. While her only surviving brother, Edmund Mountcastle, is a practical engineer of rare abilities, and, as we have seen, a descendant of the Andrew Meikle before mentioned, who was the first inventor of the threshing machine now in use.

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=Williams, Rev. John Æthuruld=, D.D., Toronto, a General Superintendent of the Methodist church.—Dr. Williams is one of the most notable figures in the history of Canadian Methodism. For over forty years he has been intimately identified with its progress, and has deservedly, and with universal acceptance, attained the highest position in the gift of that church. Dr. Williams is a man who would anywhere command attention. He bears his seventy years with wonderful vigor. His fresh complexion, keen bright eyes, and remarkable alertness and energy, both of body and mind, seem to belong to a much younger man. He comes of sturdy Welsh stock, as his name—John Æthuruld Williams—indicates. He was born at Caermarthen, in South Wales, December 19th, 1817. He early lost his father, and was deprived of his only remaining parent at the age of twelve. He was thrown into the world of London, and there learned to develop that independence and energy of character by which he is marked. He received a good education at the Academy of Hoxton, near London. He came to Canada in his seventeenth year, and found a home in the town of Prescott, where the early years of his Canadian life were spent. He united with the Wesleyan Methodist church two years later, and for some time was engaged in secular business. His talents and religious zeal led to his entering the Methodist ministry in the year 1846, and to his ordination in 1850. He soon reached a leading position in the ministry, and in 1859 was elected chairman of the Owen Sound district. Such was the fitness which he evinced for that office that he has generally been elected chairman of the districts in which his pastoral charge has been situated. He has occupied several of the leading pulpits of the Methodist church: in Toronto, London, Port Hope, Brockville, Milton, Simcoe, St. Thomas, Goderich, St. Catharines, etc. When the London conference was organized in 1874, he was appointed its first president, in which office he was continued for a second term. He was a delegate to the general conference of the Methodist Episcopal church of the United States in 1876. In 1878 he received from Victoria University, in recognition of his wide reading, his general culture, and his distinguished ability, the degree of D.D. At the general conference of 1882 he was elected vice-president of that body; and at the united general conference of 1883, at which arrangements for the unification of Canadian Methodism were completed, he was unanimously elected president. The duties of this delicate and difficult position, at an important crisis in the history of the church, he discharged with such ability and impartiality as to command the admiration of the entire body. At the Centennial Conference of American Methodism, which met in Baltimore, in 1884, Rev. Dr. Williams and the Rev. Dr. Gardiner were the Canadian delegates. On that occasion Dr. Williams read an able paper, which commanded much attention, on the rise and progress of Canadian Methodism. On the lamented death of Rev. Dr. Rice, in 1885, it was the Rev. Dr. Williams whom the executive committee of the general conference selected as his successor in the office of general superintendent till the ensuing general conference. So ably did he discharge the important duties of that office that the general conference of 1886, by an almost unanimous vote, re-elected him to that position. In association with his colleague, the Rev. Dr. Carman, he has travelled with indefatigable energy throughout the length and breadth of the Dominion in promotion of the varied interests of the church of which he is a general superintendent.

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