Up to his last days Sir Wilfrid used to laugh over this incident, and he
often remarked that it was a great pity the debate was stopped, as the
entire international situation in Europe might have been affected by the
result of that discussion, participated in by the boys of L’Assomption
College. “Of course,” every ready with a joke at his own expense, “very
few of us knew what a Huguenot was, but that made no difference. We had
started in to settle questions affecting the religious future of
humanity, and should have been allowed to accomplish our mission.”
* * * * *
St. Valentine could not reproduce an incident so romantic, nor the gods
that preside over the efficacy of Mistletoe, narrate one of their
well-known triumphs more picturesque, than that which Fra Cupid could
delineate when first he interfered with the heart and pulse beat, as
well as with the slumbers of young Laurier trying to rest himself at
Arthabaskaville! In the words of Senator David, it appropriately
happened as follows:—
During his clerkship at Montreal, he made the acquaintance of a
beautiful and good natured young girl, who refused a very advantageous
marriage in preference to Laurier. Having heard one day, to what a
degree she still remained faithful and devoted to him, he made his way
to Montreal, got married on the following day, returned immediately to
Arthabaska, and came a few weeks later to get his wife. Their union was
a beautiful instance of unity of aim and interest. Lady Laurier proved
to be a helpmate in the fullest sense, and to her love and devotion to
him throughout life Sir Wilfrid paid many a proud and touching tribute.
Lady Laurier, though quiet and retiring, took part in many activities
and held office as vice-president of the St. John’s Ambulance
Association; vice-president of the Local Council of Women;
vice-president of the National Council of Women; honorary president of
the Canadian Immigration Guild; and honorary president of the Women’s
Canadian Historical Society.
In his home Sir Wilfrid Laurier was an exponent of the simple life. As a
young man he cared little or nothing for games, preferring to devote his
spare time to his books, and as he grew older none of the various forms
of amusement to which Canadians are accustomed to devote much of their
time appealed strongly to his fancy. He did not even succumb to the
fascination of golf, the favourite pastime of many men of brain, and to
the last was a “home” man in the truest sense of the word.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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