put to practical use. This war has given to him, at least,
what possessions could never have offered.

It almost requires the fabulous Jack to overcome the hoary giants of
prejudice and custom, or the irrepressible energy of the Gorgon. It
has been helpful to remember away "down North" the stand which
Archbishop Ireland took for public schools. When the Episcopal
clergyman for Labrador, whom we had been influential in bringing out
from England, decided to start an undenominational boarding-school on
his section of the coast, we began to hope that we might yet live to
see our sporadic effort become a policy. Laymen in St. John's, led by
the Rev. Dr. Edgar Jones, a most progressive clergyman, sympathized in
dollars, and we were able to back the effort. A splendid volunteer
head teacher will arrive in the spring to begin work. The effort still
needs much help; but I am persuaded that a chain of undenominational
schools can be started that will react on the whole country. Already a
scheme for a similar uplift for the west coast is being promulgated.

In a letter written to my wife some years ago I find that my
convictions on the subject of education were no less firm than they
are to-day. One came to the conclusion that "ignorance is the worst
cause of suffering on our coast, and our 'religion' is fostering it.
True, it has denominational schools, but these are to bolster up
special ecclesiastical bodies, and are not half so good as Government
schools would be. The 'goods delivered' in the schools are not
educational in the best sense, and are all too often inefficiently
offered. Instead of making the children ambitious to go on learning
through life, they make them tired. There is no effort to stimulate
the play side; and in our north end of the Colony's territory there
are no trades taught, no new ideas, no manual training--it is all
so-called 'arts' and Creeds."

CHAPTER XVI

"WHO HATH DESIRED THE SEA?"

We are somewhat superstitious down here still, and not a few believe
that shoals and submerged rocks are like sirens which charm vessels to
their doom.

On one occasion, as late in the fall we were creeping up the Straits
of Belle Isle in the only motor boat then in use there, our new toy
broke down, and with a strong onshore wind we gradually drifted in
toward the high cliffs. It was a heavy boat, and though we rowed our
best we realized that we must soon be on the rocks, where a strong
surf was breaking