220 WHEAT AND WOMAN 



In late years in London sometimes I have felt 

 inclined to add a note to the jeer that greets the 

 threadbare argument that women must not be 

 allowed the privilege of a voice in the selection of 

 their lawmakers lest chivalry, which has held for 

 so long such a comfortable armchair in the hall of 

 tradition, might be heard of no more. But although 

 to whatever degree generosity may enhance the 

 quality of justice, it must never be allowed to take 

 its most sacred place, I can't say chivalry hasn't 

 any real existence when I remember how often 

 those three men came across the prairie to do me 

 service in time of need ; when I think of their 

 simple courtesy and kindness, their word of sympathy 

 and advice when things went wrong. To deny that 

 the advantage of careful breeding, and training, 

 and culture is each in its measure a factor in the 

 creation of the completely gentle man is ridiculous, 

 the thoroughbred is as unmistakable in the human 

 as in the equine order of beings ; but the Canadian 

 gentleman begins indeed on the prairie, and the 

 development of manner is as interesting and full 

 of promise as the development of character and the 

 material prosperity of this great nation which is so 

 sure of a leading place in the history of the world. 



In the morning came Roddy McMahon to claim 

 my sheaf-rack and team for Danny McLeay's use, 

 and towards evening I heard the hum of arrival. 

 I rode over to see the wheat ; it was of a most 

 beautiful sun-kissed colour, and clean and hard, 

 but not quite so hard as it had been in the previous 

 year. Wheat in stook cannot stand such rain as 

 fell in that September. Heriot Hylton-Cave had 

 assured me that Danny McLeay must be contem- 



