For five hundred years after Marathon the Athenians commemorated the glorious victory won against overwhelming odds. The Spartans never forgot the death of Leonidas and his three hundred brave, unflinching followers, who died for the honour of their country at Thermopylae. Pausanias the historian was able to read six hundred years after upon a column erected to their memory in Sparta, the names of the three hundred Spartans who had died with their king in that fight. In Russia also the same spirit of reverence for their great heroes has always shown itself. Dimitry saved Russia by a great victory over the Tartars in 1380. Over five hundred years have elapsed, but still the name of Dimitry Donskoi lives in the memory and the songs of the Russian people, and still on "Dimitry's Saturday," the anniversary of the battle, prayers are offered up in memory of the brave men who fell on that day in defence of their country. Switzerland is another example of the patriotism of a free people. They won their freedom by three great victories won against overwhelming odds at Morgarten, Sempach and Naefels. Naefels was the final victory, and every year the people commemorate the great event. In solemn procession the people revisit the battlefield and the Landamman tells the fine old story of their deliverance from foreign rule. The five hundredth anniversary was celebrated in 1888, and people from all parts of Switzerland flocked to participate in the patriotic and religious services. This national spirit has kept Switzerland free although surrounded by great powers. Her children are all trained as soldiers in their public schools, and compulsory training of all their youth is rigidly enforced. We could learn a lesson from them in this. [Illustration: Hon. R. A. Pyne, M.D., M.P.P., Minister of Education, Toronto. James L. Hughes, LL.D., Chief Inspector of Schools, Toronto. Colonel George T. Denison, Toronto. SPEAKERS OF THE DAY] Canada has shown the same virile spirit as other great nations, and we may take pride in the way in which our people have recognized what they owe to General Brock and the men who fought with him on this field one hundred years ago. This spot has seen several inspiring demonstrations. Brock and Macdonell had been buried in Fort George in 1812. In 1824 their remains were removed and buried again under the first monument here. In 1824 there were no railways, practically no steamers, and the population of the Province was very small, and yet in the funeral cortege there were 560 men on horseback, 285 carriages and wagons, and thousands of persons on foot, in all estimated at about ten thousand people, who followed the remains the seven miles from Niagara to this place. That was a remarkable tribute to the memory of the great general.