One's capacity for receiving bounteous acts of hospitality may be
never so unconfined; one's pleasure in accepting them may be never
so untrammelled by thoughts of unworthiness or of the hopelessness of
ever making an adequate return for all this charming thoughtfulness and
lavish entertainment; yet there comes a time when one's vocabulary of
appreciative acknowledgments merely and abjectly fails from overwork,
and collapses with nothing more articulate than a gasp left to signify
an impotent desire to do justice to the occasion. With many of the
librarians this unhappy condition became acute in the course of the
day at Montreal. Leaving Ottawa on Wednesday morning, July 3rd, by
special train, a goodly company--comprising the Post-Conference party,
reenforced by numerous "trippers" whose return passage made Montreal
the point of departure--was received, on arriving at the latter city,
by a local committee, headed by the librarian of McGill University,
and was promptly transferred to a long line of comfortable vehicles
which were soon moving up town through the broad streets and past the
stately buildings of Canada's largest city. To the traveller from the
western plains the upward direction of the journey was especially
noticeable and much sympathy and some solicitude was expressed for
the stocky horses in their long pull through the warmth of the midday
sun. But they plodded sturdily on, conscious of the pitiless grade of
those rock-ribbed streets only as part of the day's work. And soon
they came to the shady drives and beautiful banks of Mount Royal
Park and so onward and upward to the summit, whence the unparalleled
outlook over the city, the majestic St. Lawrence and the country beyond
unrolled before the admiring eyes of the visitors. After an all too
brief enjoyment of this superb spectacle, the party re-entered the
waiting carriages and was quickly conveyed down hill and deposited on
the beautiful campus of McGill University, where, to the accompaniment
of noonday whistles and bells, luncheon was served under the trees.
These Canadian garden affairs, how they impress the visitors from over
the line! The dignified beauty of the setting rendered complete by the
invariably benevolent co-operation of the weather; the profusion and
variety of appetizing and daintily served viands, and the unobtrusive
yet efficient service--truly the stoutest jingo was led to exclaim with
unfeigned heartiness: "They do these things so much better in Canada!"
After luncheon a brief inspection was made of several of the college
buildings, notably of the charming library, with its delightful reading
room, which was visited by some in order to study its architecture or
its administration, but by many more for the purpose of paying their
respects to the official home of the librarian of the University, their
cordial host and the ubiquitous chairman of the committee to whom the
entertainment at Montreal was due. Mr. Gould won the hearts of his
guests completely and earned their lasting gratitude and perpetual
wonderment, the former through the generous hospitality he provided
for them; the latter through the calm, simple, self-effacing yet
all pervading way in which he dominated the situation and acquitted
himself of his arduous task. And still there was more to come, for on
reassembling on the lawn the visitors found a long and inviting line of
motor cars in waiting, and in these a tour of the city was made, ending
at the pretty new public library in the suburb of Westmount, where they
met with a pleasant welcome by Miss Saxe, the librarian, and--with more
refreshments! From here the guests dispersed and made their way back
to town in small groups at their own convenience. An invitation from
the White Star Line to join in the festivities on the new steamship
Megantic to mark its impending maiden voyage, attracted some of the
librarians during the evening. The Post-Conference party reassembled
on board the steamer Saguenay and left for its pleasure trip at nine
o'clock, while the others went each his own way, some homeward, some
by circuitous routes prolonging their holiday, but all with regret
that the delightful Canadian days had come to an end, and with deep
gratitude and appreciation of the cordial hospitality and gracious
good-fellowship of their Canadian brethren and indefatigable hosts.