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
Next morning we were on the C.P.R. east bound train, and at an early
hour, I was busy at work. Sir Alexander came along and seeing me writing
so early in the morning, after the previous two days’ strenuousness
asked if he could help me. I said he could, as so much had happened so
quickly that I might have a hazy idea of some things that had occurred,
and asked him if he would look over my report, to which he willingly
consented. The introduction pleased him, for I had paid him a deservedly
high compliment, and maintained that no matter what might be the
official title of the road, it would always be called the Galt Railway,
which it isn’t now. The report of his speech at the banquet met with his
approval, but when he came to Lord Lansdowne’s he hesitated. “I didn’t
hear him say that,” and “I don’t think he said this,” and similar
remarks. But I told him I was not bigoted, and he could fix it up to
suit himself, which he did, and it was a corking good report. So much
so, that a few months later, when I went to Ottawa to represent the
_Times_ in the press gallery, Lord Lansdowne sent Billy Campbell to tell
me how highly he appreciated my (?) excellent report, and asked me to
call and register on the visitor’s list, so that invitations could be
sent me for social functions. By which you will learn that if you can’t
do a thing yourself, get somebody who can do it better than you to do it
for you.
Talking to Aberdeen
Lord Aberdeen was only met incidentally and he always seemed to be very
nervous, as if he was afraid of being hit with a brick, which I
attributed to his long residence in Ireland. He was affable and trying
to do good and was very approachable. When in Winnipeg once, he was in
residence at Silver Heights, one of Lord Strathcona’s country houses. I
had arranged with him one day to ’phone him in the evening when he would
give me his itinerary for the following day. There was an employee at
Silver Heights who was very disobliging, especially to the press, and
whom I called up that evening. I thought from the way the reply came
that this person was answering the ’phone. I told him to get to blazes
out of that, and that I wanted to speak to Aberdeen. Then came a quiet
gentle voice: “I am Aberdeen,” and then he told me all I wanted to know
about his movements. Lady Aberdeen was a most indefatigable worker, and
it is to be regretted that their late tour through the United States for
some worthy object did not have the results that were expected.
A Great Horseman.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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