THE ENGLISH GIRL IN CANADA.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14702, 1 June 1920, Page 2

THE ENGLISH GIRL IN CANADA.

(By A. Beverley Baxter.) In a recent interview with a Daily Express correspondent Lady Rodney gave some interesting information about life in Canada. She said, among other things, that the English girl who marries over there almost invariably succeeds in the task of home-building. As I have lived most of my life in the Dominion, and was there- three months ago on a visit, I feel that the question is one that can hardly be handled in a- generalisation. In the first place, life in Canada differs tremendously with the locality. In the eastern provinces a mother rears her baby on infant food and politics (hence Sir Robert Borden, Mf Bonar Law, Sir Hamar Greenwood, and many others). In Montreal there is a real cosmopolitanism. A true Montrealer, 110 matter how well he behaves, always likes to think he has a nice instinct for indiscretion. Ottawa is pretty and silly; snobbery flourishes, and the social columns of the newspapers would delight the hearts of the most inveterate sycophants in England, Toronto is charming, but, being overwhelmingly Methodist in creed, a Torontonian always feels that no matter what he is doing he should be doing something else —an uncomfortable city for any one who does not take life seriously. And so on to the Last Great West. I am going to pass over the question of English girls on the farm or ranch where courage and faithfulness are the great necessities, and consider, instead the important superficialities of social . life in the. cities. Li that- sphere how does the visitor compare with the native-born girl As far as'beauty is concerned, the honors probably, go to the English girl. Her complexion and hair are historic, but in animation and the art of dress the Canadian damsel rivals the Parisienne. She'has more than a flair for dress —she has genius! ; * What, then, of the social arts? . In conversation, the 'English girl will charm with her voice (except when she says "topping" or "ripping"), but she must be careful that her rivaldoes not penetrate her guard with quickness of wit. Tilings move' faster over there. The extremes of climate, the buoyancy of the New World, the lack of precedent, the pressure of business competition are all reflected in the vicinity of ordinary social intercourse. . There is not so much "thought-sui-cide" in. Canada as over here.; As the builder of a home, the Canadian girl expects, more responsibility than is the case in England. The resident school is .very rare, so that the sons and daughters in almost all, cases live with tlieir parents throughout their schooling. I am not sure whether the English girl brings the same idealism to the task, the determination for the crea-, tion of character. Show me a successful Canadian and I will show you a successful home. Perhaps I am biased, but I believe that Canadian life holds the germs of a great workable democracy. Although it nas many faults (and far too often a Canadian-is a 4 provincial as a Londoner), there is no hereditary lower class in the Dominion. Canada is essentially a favorite of the future. The English girl not feel herself an exotic over there. Life is interpreted a little differently, but it still remains life, and beneath her white cloak Our Lady of the Snows has a heart.