Famine in China. Russian chaos and Irish thunderclouds. Inoculation against the "Bolshevik bug" in every quarter of the globe. Fortunate Canada! Industrial depression, unemployment and foreboding grips the United States. Canada has had a tinge of this malady, too, during price convulsions--but Canada is sound. Canada--especially Western Canada--is busy, optimistic and possessed of a confidence unbounded. A happier or more prosperous Christmas and New Year's that just past in Canada, never has been. For twelve months ending October, 1920, Canada's volume of trade was _up five hundred million dollars_ over the year previous. Canada is fortunate. To the sweet uses of Peace, she is applying herself assiduously. The Yankee Balloonists The Beaver refrains from elaborating upon current newspaper reports about the U.S. Navy balloonists who drifted from New York City to Moose Factory and were rescued by H.B.C. men at James Bay--until the report of our Associate Editor at Moose Factory and his photographs have been received. It is expected these will come out to Mattice by next packet, and _The Beaver_ will then be able to give authentic details. Ambition Ambitious men raise themselves like the tallest trees high above the shrub growth of somnolent spirits and so are "most in the power of the winds of fortune." Your chance for Success is not lacking as long as the spark of Ambition is alive within you. With some men, Ambition dies between thirty and forty; with others it remains unquenched. Some men have made fortunes and lost them at forty-five, then have turned in and made other fortunes before retiring. Scores of great Successes have been recorded after the age of fifty; cases where Ambition, the "divine discontent," was never downed. Without Ambition, the fire under the boilers of Industry would die and the pop-valves of Commerce would cease to reveal live power that drives the pistons of progress. A Martian at the Rink Picture a man from Mars, just descended, as he steps into an H.B.C. curling rink during the ninth "end"--when Scottish excitement is at its hottest. Try to comprehend his bewilderment as he hears frenzied shouts of "_SWEEP, SWEEP, SWEEP 'er up! GET IT across the hog!_" And again--"_out turn, Mac; draw-weight and a wick off this one. Just come TO it!_" And sweatered, mufflered figures contort themselves in fantastic fox-trots on the ice as they swing mad brooms in the van of the skidding stones. The grey rocks curl and thump--or twist uncannily to a berth behind guardian stones. "_WE LIE_," bursts in raucous chorus from steaming throats. "A marvelous confession thinks the man from Mars." The roarin' game of Cur-r-r-lin' is in full fling at many of the Company's branches. Young and old all become _younger_ in a fast and furious "draw."