The beauty of the Parliament Buildings in the early dawn has been celebrated by an Ottawa poet, Duncan Campbell Scott: "Fair, in the South, fair as a shrine that makes The wonder of a dream, imperious Towers Pierce and possess the sky, guarding the halls Where our young strength is welded strenuously; While, in the East, the star of morning dowers The land with a large tremulous light, that falls A pledge and presage of our destiny." {84} CHAPTER IV TORONTO THE BEAUTIFUL Toronto, city of education, culture, religion; a city of homes with all that makes for the beauty and the happiness of family life; Toronto, with her noble University whose enrolment of students exceeds in number that of Oxford, her conservatories of music, her impressive cathedrals and churches, her splendid Parliament Buildings, and her classic Public Library with its numerous branches--the capital of the rich province of Ontario, this beautiful and inspiring city of Canada provides, indeed, an ample basis for the enthusiasm and devotion of her citizens. No city could be more advantageously located, seeing that she commands the blue waters of Lake Ontario. Toronto is the centre from which radiate several of the most picturesque excursions into the western continent. The world-wonder of Niagara Falls is in her near neighbourhood. From Toronto all the summer "playgrounds" of Canada may be reached with the utmost convenience and readiness; or the tourist may make that picturesque sail down the St. Lawrence; or, again, would he be like Wordsworth's _Stepping Westward_, he may take train and embark at Sarnia for the tour of the Great Lakes, ending at the terminal of Fort William, {85} whence again he may wander into all the scenic glories of Canada.