CHAPTER L 



HOMEWARD BOUND 



Toronto and Montreal — London Once More — Thrill from Racing News 

 — Evening Standard again — " The Judge " — Trying to lift the 

 Jockey — The " Ticker -' Reader — Mr Davidson Dalziel — Mr 

 Bottomley's Advice — The Sense of Humour — Trouble to Affluence 

 —Night Clubs 



It is no use giving an " appreciation " of Canada — I 

 didn't see it properly — but at all events I can say what 

 I thought of Toronto and Montreal. I disliked the 

 former city as much as I liked the French-Canadian 

 city. Toronto spells holiness, " bum " (American 

 sense) respectability and cheap mining deals. They 

 close the bars at seven o'clock on Saturday night and, 

 generally, envelop themselves in sanctity or cheap 

 gentility. The whole of Toronto reeks of keep- 

 ing people good on old Covenanter and American- 

 evangelical lines. Impressions can be wrong, but 

 there seems an asceticism and " fear of fun " idea which 

 certainly oppresses the visitor. There are nice people 

 everywhere, and there was no lack of good words, but 

 no regret on my part at leaving it. 



Montreal is so different. Seventy per cent, speak 

 French ; they have that and their ancient faith which 

 they cling to. There is a picturesqueness about 

 Montreal, too, which is so refreshing — the sleighs, 

 with big buffalo rugs for those riding, and the musical 

 jingle of the bells. Now Montreal has its Ritz 

 Hotel, which will give a distinction to the city and 

 enable certain of the light-hearted residents there to 

 amuse themselves. Racing is progressing, and at 

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