s of being one of the oldest
universities in Canada. But though its tradition is old, its spirit is
modern enough; for its Chancellor is Mr. E. W. Beatty, the President of
the Canadian Pacific Railways. It was from the Railway
President-Chancellor the Prince received his degree.

CHAPTER XXII

MONTREAL

I

The Prince had had a brief but lively experience of Montreal earlier in
his tour. It was but a hint of what was to happen when he returned on
Monday, October 27th. It was not merely that Montreal as the biggest
and richest city in Canada had set itself the task of winding up the
trip in befitting manner; there was that about the quality of its
entertainment which made it both startling and charming.

Even before the train reached Windsor Station the Prince was receiving
a welcome from all the smaller towns that make up outlying Montreal.
At these places the habitant Frenchmen and women crowded about the
observation platform of the train to cry their friendliness in French,
where English was unknown. And the friendliness was not all on the
side of the habitants.

"They tole me," said one old habitant in workingman overalls, "they
tole me I could not shake 'is han'. So I walk t'ro' them, _Oui_. An'
'e see me. A' 'e put out 'is 'an', an' 'e laf--so. I tell you 'e's a
real feller, de kin' that shake han' wis men lak me."

Montreal itself met the Prince in a maze of confetti and snow.
Montreal was showing its essential self by a happy accident. It was
the Montreal of old France, gay and vivacious and full of colour mated
to the stern stuff of Canada.

It is true there was not very much snow, merely a fleck of it in the
air, that starred the wind-screens of the long line of automobiles that
formed the procession; but Canada and Montreal are not all snow,
either. It was as though the native spirit of the place was impressing
upon us the feeling that underneath the gaiety we were encountering
there was all the sternness of the pioneers that had made this fine
town the splendid place it is.

There was certainly gaiety in the air on that day. The Prince drove
out from the station into a city of cheering. Mighty crowds were about
the station. Mighty crowds lined the great squares and the long
streets through which he rode, and crowds filled the windows of
sky-climbing stores. It was an animated crowd. It expressed itself
with the unaided throat, as well as on whistles and with eerie noises
on s