Some Personal Recollections of Victoria. 321 



or uninterested technical advice, were some of the many under- 

 takings in which British capital has paid a high price for experience, 

 and the non-success of which has given the country a black 

 eye.* 



Nor can the conduct of those entrusted with the government 

 of the country awaken other than regretful feelings. Enough has 

 been said lately by the financial press of London and other centres 

 in condemnation of certain misguided ministers of the Crown who, 

 in their official position, joined boards of highly speculative town- 

 site and mining enterprises for the purpose of thereby attracting 

 the s. d. of foolish investors at home. 



At the date of my first visit to Victoria, it was still the Sleepy 

 Hollow of America, for only one transcontinental line (Union 

 Pacific) was in operation in North America, and mails reached the 

 province every ten days, via 'Frisco. Nevertheless, it struck me as 

 one of the pleasantest towns I had ever been in, and it certainly 

 was the most convivial one. Its once famous hotel, the old Driard, 

 was still managed by the best French chef it has been my luck to- 

 run across in any part of the world (he died soon afterwards), 

 and coming from the wilds of the upper country, or from the 

 inferior food of Oregon hotels and steamers, the cuisine of 

 mine host added another charm to life in old Victoria. Old 

 Victoria ! Changed in many vital respects it is to-day. The 

 advent of the "stranger" from Canada was not an unmixed 

 blessing, nor has the completion of the C.P.R., with its selfish 

 policy of pushing its own terminal town (Vancouver), benefited 

 the old capital of the country. 



. Invidious task it would be to search for the causes. The 

 absence of all push, which made life pass so pleasantly in the 

 old town, was, no doubt, one of them. For certainly in no other 

 city of its size was existence taken so easily as there. Time 

 was reckoned by the ten days spell between each incoming mail. 



* In one year during the boom 336 mining companies, with a capital of 

 ; 70,000,000, were formed in British Columbia. I doubt if a score have paid 

 dividends. 



Y 



