Reminiscences of a Raconteur, Between the '40s and the '20sHam, George H. (George Henry)
History
Reminiscences of a Raconteur, Between the '40s and the '20s
Ham, George H. (George Henry)
Canada; Ham, George H. (George Henry), 1847-1926; Journalists -- Canada -- Biography
There are many men whom death has called, bright lights in the early
days of the C.P.R., and amongst them Judge Clarke, of Cobourg, was one
of the ornaments of the Canadian bar. His legal acumen was of the
greatest service to the company. Another historic personage was Mr.
Henry Beatty, father of the president, who designed and built the
original vessels for the Great Lakes. From this nucleus has grown the
splendid fleet of ocean, lake, and river steamers, which in itself would
entitle the company to front rank among the outstanding transportation
systems of the world. He was associated with the company until his death
in 1914. Other outstanding figures are T. A. McKinnon, George Olds and
Lucius Tuttle, of the traffic department. Harry Abbott, of Vancouver,
did invaluable work in construction days in the mountains of British
Columbia, and Richard Marpole, of the same city, who started with the
construction of the road in Algoma in 1882, after many years’ arduous
and efficient labors in the mountains of B.C., became the chief
executive officer on the Canadian Pacific Coast. Mr. Marpole had a
wonderful grasp in railway matters and died in June, 1920, deeply
regretted.
Some Reminiscences.
W. Sutherland Taylor’s connection with railways commenced in 1868 when
he was secretary of construction on the Toronto, Grey & Bruce road, and
afterwards treasurer of that company. When the T., G. & B. was absorbed
by the C.P.R. he became its treasurer and retired in 1908 when he was
succeeded by another old-timer, Mr. H. E. Suckling, who is still
actively and efficiently serving the company. Mr. Sutherland Taylor and
I were old cronies, and we frequently used to indulge in reminiscences.
One of his memories was that when a lad he was going down the Rhine and
fell in with a very nice Danish family of father, mother and several
children. To him they appeared to belong to that highly respectable
class which consists of fairly well-to-do old families. He became
intimate with them, and when a little later he met them again in Berlin
their friendship was renewed and he was invited to lunch at their hotel.
During the luncheon one of the boys, Master George, misbehaved himself
and received a gentle cuff on the ear and was dismissed from the table.
Years after Mr. Taylor discovered that the head of the friendly family
had ascended the throne of Denmark and was none other than King
Christian IX., and that of his youthful companions, the eldest daughter
had been married to the Prince of Wales and had become Queen Alexandra
of Britain, and her sister, Princess Dagmar was the Empress of Russia,
and the others were afterwards King Frederick VIII., of Denmark and His
Royal Highness Prince Wilhelm of Denmark, and George had occupied the
throne of Greece, that Princess Lyra of Denmark had married the Duke of
Cumberland, and Prince Vladimar of Denmark was wedded to Princess Marie
of Orleans. Never before has a wandering young Canadian boy
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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