UNITED STATES AND CANADA 33 



following February. I remember how struck I was 

 with the study in '' black and white " that the large 

 dining-hall of this hotel afforded. The black faces 

 of the shoals of waiters, all clad in white twill, stood 

 out in striking contrast to the white walls and ceiling ; 

 and the number of plates piled up one on the top 

 of the other that those coloured '* pussuns " could 

 support on one hand, while walking at a brisk pace, 

 without ever a mishap, was a marvellous feat of 

 balancing. That night Mr. Chamberlain enter- 

 tained at dinner the Canadian contingent, who had 

 come with us from New York and were also putting 

 up at the Arlington. They consisted of Sir Charles 

 Tupper, G.C.M.G., C.B., one of the three British 

 Plenipotentiaries and at that time Minister of 

 Finance in Canada. His distinguished career is too 

 well known to need recapitulation in detail here. 

 His knowledge of all the ramifications of the Fishery 

 question was profound, and being an able debater 

 as well, it goes without saying that no more valuable 

 or efficient colleague could have been chosen to co- 

 operate with Mr. Chamberlain in his difficult task. 

 Sir Charles was accompanied by the Hon. J. S. D. 

 Thompson, the Dominion Minister of Justice ; by 

 Major-General D. R. Cameron, his Official Secre- 

 tary ; and Mr. Chipman, his Private Secretary. 



