Chapter C: H. French, District Manager of the Company's British Columbia fur

trade district, is a man whose experience in the service during 33 years, from Lake Winnipeg to the Pacific Coast and north to Alaska, has excellently fitted him to narrate countless stories of brave adventure and stern duty under the H.B.C. flag in the great Northwest.

Mr. French, though 53, carries his years lightly. True, his hair is grizzled; upon his face is delineated the tale of dangers met and hardships overcome. Yet one would not place his age at over 45, if even that. Seasoned as an oak, with hard and healthful living in a climate which eliminates all but the fittest, Mr. French, now in lovely Victoria, may know at least a measure of the relaxation and joy of living such as is seldom granted the fur trader. The "spring" in his step and the active interest he takes in the life and development of Vancouver Island identify in him a youthful spirit which well might be envied by many men under thirty.

Mr. French was born in Markham township, twelve miles north of Toronto, Ontario, on 23rd July, 1867.

He served a full apprenticeship at printing. Then he acquired a fair knowledge of bread-baking, fishing and sailing, which experience he says stood him in good stead after entering the service.

In 1887 Mr. French joined H.B.C. in the Lake Winnipeg District, doing work of various kinds, one job being the sailing of the boat "Beaver" under Mr. W. J. McLean at Lower Fort Garry, and afterwards Mr. Flett at Fort Alexander.

During this period he brought the body of Chief Factor Belanger in from the lake and delivered it at the Selkirk Roman Catholic Church. The Chief Factor was drowned at Norway House.

Fur Trade Commissioner Wrigley went out of office and while his successor, Mr. C. C. Chipman, was Commissioner, he had the able support of such men as William Clark. It was with William Clark that Mr. French engaged to go to New Caledonia District, British Columbia (March, 1894) to break up a ring that was pilfering merchandise from the Babine, B.C., warehouse. This was successfully accomplished, and Mr. French was given charge of Babine Post, remaining there until 1901, when installed as fur buyer at Victoria, under Mr. James Thomson. He was in charge of that work until February, 1914, when he was made District Manager for British Columbia.

SEND IT IN

If you have a bit of news, send it in.
Or a joke that will amuse, send it in.
A story that is true, an incident that's new,
"We want to hear from you," send it in.
Never mind about your style,
If it's only worth the while, send it in.
Will it make a paragraph? Send it in.
If some good your words can teach,
If some distant reader reach,
If you have a glowing speech, send it in.

MISS D. L. BENS,
_Winnipeg Retail_

How the Eskimo Hunts the Musk-Ox

_Description of Eskimo's method of hunting musk-oxen in the Arctic
regions as given by Capt. French, R.N.W.M.P., one of the patrol who
went north to investigate the killing of Messrs. Bradbury and
Street, sent out by Smithsonian Institute and National Museum at
Ottawa._

The Eskimo, sighting a small band of musk-oxen--usually a bull, cow and one or two calves--lets loose two or three husky dogs (part dog and part wolf) which encircle the animals. The bull and cow turn their heads towards the dogs, with the calf or calves in the centre, and prepare to give fight. Once the oxen are "anchored," the Eskimos turn loose all their dogs which serve to keep the oxen "anchored" instead of taking to their heels, and proceed themselves with bow and arrows and dispatch the animals.

These musk-oxen are very fierce and warlike animals, hence the necessity of the Eskimo protecting himself with dogs. In the case of a wounded bull charging an Eskimo, the dogs immediately rush to attack it and withdraw its attention from the Eskimo who may thereby find time to string another arrow to his bow and then dispatch it.--_W.E.A._

_There'll Be No More Slacker Contributors If They All Read This_

_Barriere Post, Ontario,

Editor, The "Beaver," Winnipeg._

_It is, I think, the duty of all of your readers to wish THE BEAVER a very happy New Year._

_You cannot realize what the magazine means to us who live in the silent places far removed from social intercourse with our fellow creatures._

_We who have access to such little reading material to interest us in our lonely lives will look forward eagerly to the arrival of THE BEAVER._

_And I can assure you that I wish it every success in the years to come, and I trust that all the readers will recognize the fact that it is their bounden duty to contribute either in writing or photographs from time to time._

_I think that it is not to our Commissioner alone that we should look for guidance nor to our District Managers, but to our friendly intercourse one with another, which can only be accomplished through the medium of THE BEAVER and I sincerely trust that this friendly intercourse will grow stronger and stronger as the years roll by, and so help to strengthen and firmly cement together the bonds of good fellowship._

_I have the honor to be, Sir,

Yours obediently,

(Signed) ASHTON ALSTON,

Post Manager._

_Issued Every Now and Then in the Interests of Those in the Service of the Hudson's Bay Company_

The Beaver

"_A Journal of Progress_"

Copyright, 1921, by The Hudson's Bay Company

Address all communications to Editor, "THE BEAVER," York and Main Streets, Winnipeg, Canada

Vol. I JANUARY, 1921 No. 4

Fortunate Canada!

The big war is all over but the paying. A whole "bale" of little wars, however, have been engaging the attention of the world until recent settlements were effected.

Famine in China. Russian chaos and Irish thunderclouds. Inoculation against the "Bolshevik bug" in every quarter of the globe.

Fortunate Canada!

Industrial depression, unemployment and foreboding grips the United States. Canada has had a tinge of this malady, too, during price convulsions--but Canada is sound. Canada--especially Western Canada--is busy, optimistic and possessed of a confidence unbounded. A happier or more prosperous Christmas and New Year's that just past in Canada, never has been.

For twelve months ending October, 1920, Canada's volume of trade was _up five hundred million dollars_ over the year previous. Canada is fortunate. To the sweet uses of Peace, she is applying herself assiduously.

The Yankee Balloonists

The Beaver refrains from elaborating upon current newspaper reports about the U.S. Navy balloonists who drifted from New York City to Moose Factory and were rescued by H.B.C. men at James Bay--until the report of our Associate Editor at Moose Factory and his photographs have been received. It is expected these will come out to Mattice by next packet, and _The Beaver_ will then be able to give authentic details.

Ambition

Ambitious men raise themselves like the tallest trees high above the shrub growth of somnolent spirits and so are "most in the power of the winds of fortune."

Your chance for Success is not lacking as long as the spark of Ambition is alive within you. With some men, Ambition dies between thirty and forty; with others it remains unquenched. Some men have made fortunes and lost them at forty-five, then have turned in and made other fortunes before retiring. Scores of great Successes have been recorded after the age of fifty; cases where Ambition, the "divine discontent," was never downed.

Without Ambition, the fire under the boilers of Industry would die and the pop-valves of Commerce would cease to reveal live power that drives the pistons of progress.

A Martian at the Rink

Picture a man from Mars, just descended, as he steps into an H.B.C. curling rink during the ninth "end"--when Scottish excitement is at its hottest. Try to comprehend his bewilderment as he hears frenzied shouts of "_SWEEP, SWEEP, SWEEP 'er up! GET IT across the hog!_" And again--"_out turn, Mac; draw-weight and a wick off this one. Just come TO it!_"

And sweatered, mufflered figures contort themselves in fantastic fox-trots on the ice as they swing mad brooms in the van of the skidding stones.

The grey rocks curl and thump--or twist uncannily to a berth behind guardian stones. "_WE LIE_," bursts in raucous chorus from steaming throats. "A marvelous confession thinks the man from Mars."

The roarin' game of Cur-r-r-lin' is in full fling at many of the Company's branches. Young and old all become _younger_ in a fast and furious "draw."

Buy a broom and a pair of "galoshes" and get on the ice. Forget business, bid dull care begone. Curl ten "ends" and then you'll say "where's that pack of worries that was hounding me this afternoon?"

Egotism

The large proportion of the human race which is afflicted with "Self Importance" can draw pointed conclusion from the facts that:

(1) Michelson the scientist has discovered an accurate method of measuring the distant stars, by which it is determined that one star in Orion is _twenty-seven trillion times as large as the earth_, and twenty-seven million times as large as the Sun. (It's no use trying to visualize this tremendous planet. Even a _billion_ is incomprehensible to the human mind; a _trillion_ simply cannot be embraced in our thought.)

(2) Latest available figures indicate that there are about _two billion people living on the Earth_, despite the slaughter of war. We are somewhere in that crowd.

If we ever feel ourselves getting "chesty in the head," let us repress even the faintest stirrings of Egotism, for we're only one in two billion (never would be missed!) riding to an unticketed destination on a "pin-point planet" that swirls every day a million miles nearer to that gigantic sun, _Alpha Orionus_ (see it any clear night in the heavens) which is so tremendous in dimension that our poor little earth at the instant of contact would sputter out like a tiny drop of grease on a big stove.

Our Reporters

The Beaver should be _all-seeing, all-knowing_--as far as H.B.C. events are concerned. If a single incident which affects the Company or its employees escapes being reported to this journal, we are not fulfilling our mission. If any other publication tells of an H.B.C. event or reports any H.B.C. employees' activities which do not reach _The Beaver_--_then we're_ "_scooped_," in the parlance of the press.

You faithful readers of _The Beaver_ who daily are giving your time and thought to H.B.C. affairs--_you_ are the eyes and ears of this journal. We have a good many "live-wire" reporters, but need more. Let every member of staff take a personal interest in forwarding to _The Beaver_ intelligence of every description that might interest H.B.C. people.

The Wanderers

The lure of exploration has not lost its power since the two main prizes--both Poles--were achieved. Recently it was announced that a considerable number of new expeditions would set out in 1921 to various remote quarters of the globe--one to Baffins Land, one to the north of Siberia, one to Central Africa and so on down the list. Amundsen is now trying to drift across the North Pole.

The Challenge of Discovery ever has greater power than strong drink to inflame the blood of daring men, particularly of the British and Scandinavian races. They will never tire until the last "back-lot" of the earth has been carefully scanned, mapped and staked for science and civilization.

Reputation

A man may live a lifetime of virtue and honesty; then by one false step destroy the delicate structure of Reputation which he has so painstakingly constructed.

The _Good Name_ of H.B.C. has taken two hundred and fifty years to build. Yet _one year's departure_ from H.B.C. ideals and H.B.C. standards would serve to corrode the foundations underlying this priceless Reputation.

When acting or speaking in the name of the Company, employees who appreciate the insecurity of Reputation _think twice before saying or doing anything_ that might be adjudged _un-Hudson's Bay_.

The Prize Contest

"How I Earned My First Dollar" Contest is stirring up much interest among "old timers" in the ranks. First letters are beginning to come in. Please do not delay in sending the facts about your early start. Two hundred words are enough to give the main details--and are soon written.

_Some People in the East and the West are Whimpering and Whining!_

Pessimistic over the outlook for spring business.

Some people think the bottom has fallen out of things, when the
fact is things are as good as ever they were. Only that with the
getting back into the condition that prevailed before the war
prices are falling, and many people have contracted a fever which
was very prevalent in the States a short time ago called
Pessimania.

_We've Got to Do Our Part to Create a Spirit of Optimism_, for if
we all join the army of pessimists, it's going to be bad for
ourselves, bad for the Company, and bad for the country too.
_Besides, we have every reason to be optimistic and here are the
reasons_--First, there is the good news of lower prices on nearly
all kinds of goods, and people who have been doing without can now
buy freely again. Second, the government has abolished the
undesirable luxury tax. Encourage your customers and friends to buy
now, for prices cannot jump down below what they are now for the
spring, and the more they buy the more it will add prosperity to
the country. No country's prosperity was ever built up on fear, but
faith. The low prices are here now. People have money for
necessities and we must do our part by talking and thinking
hopefully for the coming spring. That's it! Have you ever stopped
to think of the wonderful power of thought. Like the pebble dropped
in the lake, ever widening in circles, your tiny thought of
hopefulness and helpfulness will have an ever-widening effect.
Every word that you say with belief behind it stimulates other
people to be optimistic, and so your influence increases. This is
what makes _power_.

Every added sale that we make will not only increase our own record
but it will add its quota to the prosperity of Canada.

Let everybody think good times, talk good times, and buy for good
times' sake, then the ranks of the unemployed will melt before the
sunshine of prosperity!

Won't we make a resolution to start being _peptimists_ to-day?--_F.
S. Garner._

MOTTOE FOR YE NEWE YEARE

_Modernized by A. Seymour H.B.C. Post, D-14_

There arre noe Byrdes
In Nexte Yeare's Neste.
In Nexte Yeare's Creame
There arre no Flyes.
Noe Vaine Regrettes
Disturb my Breaste
For Aught yt in
Ye Futurre lyes
Ande Laste Yeare's Flyes
Ande Laste Yeare's Byrdes
Arre paste ye reache
Of Tearres ande Wordes.

? ? ? ?
--Chaucer.

START THE NEW YEAR WELL

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The Great-West Life Assurance Company
Dept. "D. 30" Head Office: WINNIPEG