Coffee and How to Make it, Montreal, 1911

Montreal Standard, 28 October 1911, page 17

Coffee and How to Make it
By Mrs Stanley Wrench

Coffee should be freshly ground at home if possible, if not procure it from a grocer who will get it roasted and ground for each customer.
There are two or three little coffee shops in Soho where most delicious coffee is sold thus, and one may rest assured that the powder is unadulterated but absolutely fresh from the bean. If liked, the best French chicory will be mixed with it, but one should be careful to remember the proportions and to add only two teaspoonfuls of it to a pound of pure coffee.
It must also be remembered that a perfectly made coffee should have generous proportions allowed for it; in fact, there is little doubt but that a too niggardly allowance to the pot is often the reason why the coveted cup of fragrant coffee turns out to be a failure.
A Frenchwoman whose café au lait was the most exquisite I have ever tasted , confided to me that she allowed a generous tablespoonful of ground coffee to every person, so that the proportions ran – a tablespoon of coffee for every large breakfast-cupful of coffee made.
Freshly boiled water should be used when making coffee. As in making tea, the water should be used in the instant that it becomes to the boil. If it has been boiling even for a few minutes, it should not be used, as it will have lost some of its gases, and the coffee made with such water will taste flat and insipid. It is such a little thing; and many housewives may deem it unimportant yet really it makes a veritable world of difference.
First make the coffee pot very hot, by pouring in some of the boiling water, and if possible, put the powder in the oven or before the fire, so that it may get hot too. Another minor point, maybe, but this serves to bring out all the flavour and aroma of the berries. Place the hot powder in the upper part of the coffee pot, together with a pinch of salt, the latter also serving to bring out the full flavor.
Press the coffee down rather than tightly, and pour over the required quantity of boiling water very slowly. A saucepan or bain-marie containing boiling water should be at hand, and the coffee pot should be stood in this whilst the process of filtration is going on. This keeps the coffee at the right heat, and as tepid coffee is not a pleasant drink, therefore try to achieve the more perfect condition.
Coffee roasting machines may be bought, but the homely frying pan will quite well serve the purpose. Very great care must be taken; however, that the berries do not burn as one burnt berry will spoil a whole brew of coffee. Hence, it is wiser to roast only a few at a time. Three tablespoonfuls of berries will be found amply sufficient for the amateur to cook. A tiny piece of butter should be placed in the pan, which must be held over a clear but slow fire, and the berries should be shaken about. The butter tends to lubricate the beans and prevents the escape of much of their fragrance, so that before the roasting is complete this is absorbed. The berries should be of a rich dark brown, when the roasting process is complete.
Hot milk should always accompany coffee, and this too, needs delicate preparation. First-rinse out the milk saucepan with cold water, as this tends to prevent the milk from burning, of course making sure that the pan is perfectly clean. Pour in the milk, and slowly heat it until it reaches the boiling point.
Milk which comes to a boil very rapidly is never so good as the casein or albumen of milk hardens, mixes with the cream, forms a skin, which thus carries off the best products of the milk, leaving the remainder poor and thin instead of rich and creamy. Milk which comes slowly to the boil has a far more delicious flavour.
Heat the cups by rinsing them with hot water before the coffee is poured out. The milk jug should also be heated before the hot milk is poured in.

Montreal gossip by Mdme Bavarde, 1911

Montreal Standard, 16 December 1911, page 14

By Madame La Bavarde

With the arrival of their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Connaught and her Royal Highness Princess Patricia on Tuesday, the past week has been most brilliant. While the presence of Royalty was sufficient to make the week notable, there were numerous entertainments of note in honour of the distinguished out-of-town visitors. Quite the most important event was the civic reception in honour of Their Royal Highnesses, the Governor General and Duchess of Connaught, which was held on Tuesday evening at the City Hall, and for which many invitations were issued.
On Wednesday Lady Shaughnessey gave a luncheon in honor of Mrs RB Borden and the following evening Premier and Mrs Borden were the guests of honour at a dinner given by Senator and Mrs T Chase Casgrain at the Mount Royal Club. On Thursday, Mrs Henry Joseph gave a large luncheon for Mrs JD Hazen, of Ottawa; and on Friday, Mrs D Lorne McGibbon gave a tea in honour of Miss Pelly, lady in waiting to her Royal Highness,
The St Andrew’s Ball at the Windsor Hotel on Tuesday evening, which was graced by the presence of Their Royal Highnesses, the Governor General and the Duchess of Connaught, and Princess Patricia, was a brilliant success, and the attendance was record-breaking. The ballroom presented a most unusual aspect, and the brilliancy of the handsome gowns, officers’ uniforms and the elaborate decorations presented a picturesque and memorable spectacle.
The merry whirl of debutante parties continues to crowd the days and nights with excitement. Each year the formula for bringing out a debutante includes more entertaining. Now the first step is a luncheon usually given by some relative or friend; then the reception proper, followed by a dinner, a party to the play and a dance. Already a large number of the attractive young ‘buds’ have made their formal bow, and during December there is a brilliant array of young girls to be presented.

St George’s Snowshoe Club Celebrate St Andrew’s Day, Montreal, 1911

Montreal
Daily Star, 1 December 1911, page 4

St George’s Had a Most Delightful Dinner

Speeches, Reminiscences and Musical Numbers Comprised the Jolly Programme

St Andrew’s Day was celebrated in right royal fashion last night by the St George’s Snowshoe Club. By a happy coincidence, yesterday was also the date fixed for the annual dinner and smoker, so that there was a double excuse for the evening’s enjoyment. Over 100 members sat down to the banquet in the club house. The President, Mr Geo J Sheppard announced the only toast of the evening. The King, which was drunk with musical honors, and in the course of a brief speech, referred to the fact that they were celebrating the twenty-sixth anniversary of the club’s occupation of its present quarters. Although many changes had taken place in the neighbourhood, he hoped the club would still maintain the reputation it had acquired as the home of winter sports. It was felt, said Mr Sheppard, that the coming winter should mark a renewal of all the activities which had marked the club in its early years, and for the one twould promise to take his share in any tramps that might be arranged. Mayor Rutherford of Westmount, in thanking the Club for its hospitality, spoke of the memories he had, through his long residence in Westmount of the name of the Club had always maintained for keeping up the spirit of true sportsmanship, and referred to the beauty of clubhouse’s site, which in his opinion was actually the finest in the city. Dr. Finnie was the next speaker and urged the members not to lose sight of the traditions which were inseperable from the history of the club, and to take up again the long tramps which had given rise to its foundation. He himself hoped to come down from Quebec and attend the first tramp that might be held. Mr. Guthrie and Mr. Sinck briefly addressed the company and the excellent musical entertainment which had been prepared was then gone through. A pianoforte selection by Mr. Eichhorn started the ball rolling and number after number succeeded to the great enjoyment of the club members. Among other items on the programme was one which delighted the audience because of its somewhat unusual features. The concertina, when played by such an expert as Mr Richardson, of Toronto, reveals unexpected beauties. Mr Richardson was encored time after time, and each time responded by giving fresh proof of his talent. Mr H Rees was also heard to great advantage in a number of songs and Mr R McGlaughlin added the necessary touch of humor with some amusing recitations. Nor was St Andrew’s day forgotten, for such choruses as “Annie Laurie”, “the Banks of Loch Lomond,” and many others made the rafters ring.
Before the evening came to an end, the President, Mr Sheppard, announced that open house would be kept for the Scottish curlers during their approaching visit to Montreal. A special tramp would be arranged in order to initiate them into this form of typical Canadian sport, after which a dinner and a smoker would be given in honour of the visitors. As a fitting wind-up to the occasion, Captain Sully, the first President of the Club in 1874, called upon all members present to pledge themselves once more to the taking of the long tramps, in which, despite his age, he would be only too glad to participate.

Women as Scandal Mongers, Montreal, 1911

“A Little Tea and Gossip” 1859, by Robert Payton Reid, Cider House Galleries

Montreal Standard, 1 July 1911, page 14

Women as Scandal Mongers

A cynical old bachelor, upon being asked what he thought women liked best, replied, “Afternoon tea and scandal, Least ways” corrected he, “I ought to have said afternoon scandal and tea.” A woman, he contended, would do without the tea altogether, but without the scandal, never- it is to her as the very spice of life.
And as the nectar flows from the teapot, so flows the breath of scandal from the fair tea-drinkers, whose conversation waxes more confidential as cup after cup of the fragrant beverage is drained. To the masculine mind, it is incomprehensible that a bevy of refined, daintily clad, cultured women, who would not hurt a fly, can sit down and calmly destroy the reputations of those whom they count among their friends.
Deprive a woman of her companion scandal-mongers, and you deprive her of the very cream of joy.
Generally, every little social clique has its champion scandal-monger, and she it is who heads every meeting whereas the sayings, doings, and beings of others are discussed. No teapot meeting is complete unless graced or shall I say disgraced? – by her presence. Here she is queen, as she sits confidently wagging her head sagely, now this way, now that, as she informs her listeners in a mysterious whisper that she knows Mrs So-and-so is this, and Mrs So-and-so is that, until one really wonders that she has a friend in the world left to slander.
Now, the next worst thing is being an actually scandal-mongers is listening to scandal. It is no business of ours as to what people may or may not be as long as their conduct is within the bounds of propriety, and so long as they are not insistent in the matter of forcing their society where it is not required.
The scandal-monger is very provoking too, in that she invariably chooses to consider herself an example of real perfection. If only she would just pause and ask herself a few direct questions, she would soon learn how thoroughly bad and horrible her conduct is. For instance, what right has she to conclude that because Mrs Newly-Wed’s eyes were red with weeping she and her husband do not hit it, and that their marriage is a failure?
What right has she to criticize people because they do not choose to detail their whole life history for the benefit of the curious? What right has she to take it for a fact that others are wrong, simply because they have not take the trouble to vindicate themselves? Probably they had a reason for maintaining silence.
No, the scandal-monger has no right to presume these things, and if she minded her own business she would have quite enough to do without taxing her brains with any such imaginary details. There is only one right absolutely our won and that is to mind our own business.

The Pass-it-on Library, Montreal, 1911

Montreal Daily Star, 27 November 1911, page 8

The Pass-it-on Library
The following excellent suggestion comes from a reader of this page and might well be followed by others who find themselves encumbered with books.
`We are living in a temporary quarters in a strange city,“ writes this correspondent for whom hearty thanks are due, “and we are anxious not to accumulate impediments, as several moves of all our effects have made us realize the necessity of reducing our belongings to their lowest terms. One of the constant problems which has confronted us is, what shall we do with superfluous books?
“We are fond of reading, and books seem to gather about us in an astonishing fashion. We have limited ourselves to two small bookcases, and have agreed to keep in them only such books as may bear re-reading. This we find is a severe test and few of the books which we buy for ourselves or which are given to us come up to this standard, so they must be disposed of. So many of the books of today are charming ephemera. They give great pleasure at a first reading but their shares consists in some unusual situation or surprise, and beyond this they have little title to consideration.
To give them away is not always a kindness, for it is putting upon some friend the obligation of housing the book and the friend too may be hampered for space, and grudge the book room and still be possessed of a conscience which prevents her giving a gift-book.
The idea of a pass-it-on library occurred to me, and I put it into operation this Christmas. I do not claim it as original. The longer I live the more I find that all my original ideas were someone else’s original idea long before I thought of them. Still on the chance that no one else has thought of it. I pass on the idea.
I took twenty books and wrote inside the cover of each “the pass-it-on library”. Conditions of membership. When you are through with this book write your name and the date on it, and pass it on to a friend.
You will see that this puts the responsibilities or restrictions on the receiver. He or she may keep the book indefinitely or forever, if desired. On the other hand if the book is familiar, or if on skimming the first few pages it makes no appeal, it may be sent on its travels at once.
It is the encouragement of friends which has led me to give this little outline of the plan to your paper. AC.

[Note from Gilliandr- sorry, there are never too many books in a library, and just two shelves? Not in this house!]

Women and the Census, London, 1911

Montreal Daily Star, 24 April 1911, page 8

WOMEN AND THE CENSUS

The census protest has been a great and unqualified success says Votes for Women. It has demonstrated to the nation two things: Firstly how large is the number of women who are prepared to undertake revolutionary methods in order to enforce their demand for the vote; and, secondly, the impotence of the authorities in the face of the determined resistance of this section of the people to government without their consent.
How many women throughout the country succeeded in evading the classification of the census will, of course, never be accurately known, but from the reports that reach us from different places, it is evident that the number was far larger than anything anticipated by the authorities. In the front line were the householders, men and women who refused to fill in their census forms. Many of these sheltered dozens and some a hundred, and even two or three hundred women for the night. Then, in the second place, in London and in nearly all the large towns, special all night meetings and entertainments were undertaken, the attendance at which ran into hundreds or even thousands. Finally many individual and successful women adopted novel and successful means of escaping enumeration.

A Large Parade is Now Predicted for St Patrick’s Day, Montreal, 1911

Montreal Daily Star, 15 March 1911, page 19

A LARGE PARADE IS NOW PREDICTED FOR ST PATRICK’S DAY

Archbishop Bruchesi will Probably Join Procession as it Passes Cathedral

From present indications the change in hour of the annual St Patrick’s Day parade, instead of reducing the number of people participating in it, appears to have the effect of increasing interest. At least, such is the opinion of the marshals, who have received reports from the various parochial and national organizations as to the numbers in which they will be able to muster. It is found that even the remote parishes of the district will be able to send large representations to the parade.
Neither will there be any difficulty in securing music, as already ten bands have been engaged. The indications are therefore entirely favorable to a larger and more representative procession than usual. In fact, a record turnout is looked for.
His Grace Archbishop Bruchesi will officiate pontifically at High Mass in St Patrick’s Church. He will be assisted at the throne by Very Rev Canon O’Meara, pastor of St Gabriel’s: Rev JE Donnelly, pastor of St Anthony’s and Rev Luke Callaghan DD pastor St Michael’s. the decons [sic] of the mass will be Rev ML Shea, pastor of St Aloysius; Rev Thomas F Heffernan, pastor of St Thomas Aquinas. The sermon will be preached by Rev Thomas F Burke, CSP of New York.
It is probably that His Grace the Archbishop will view the procession as it passes the Cathedral and will likely join in and proceed with to the church.

Poems in Honour of St Patrick’s Day, Montreal 1911

Montreal Daily Star, 17 March 1911, page 8

Poems in Honour of St Patrick’s Day

CORRYMEELA

Over here in England I’m helpin’ wi’ the hay,
An’ I wisht I was in Ireland the live-long day.
Weary on the English hay, an’ sorra take the wheat
Och! Corrymeels an’ the blue sky over it.

There a deep, dumb river flowin’ by beyont the heavy trees,
This livin’ air is moithered wi’ the hummin’ o’ the bees:
I wisht I’d hear the Claddagh burn go runnin’ through the heat
Past Corrymeela, wi’ the blue sky over it.

The people that’s in England is richer nor the Jews
There not the smallest young gossoon but thravels in his shoes!
I’d give the pipe between me teeth to see a barefut child,
Och! Corrymeala an’ the low south wind.

Here’s hands so full o’ money an’ hearts so full o’ care,
By the luck o’ love, I’d still go light for all I did go bare,
God save me, colleen dhas, I said; the girl she thought me wild,
Far Corrymeala, an’ the low south wind.

D’ye mind me now, the song at night is mortial hard to raise,
The girls are heavy goin’ here, the boys are ill to plase;
When one’st I’m out this workin’ hive, ‘tis I’ll be back again-
Ay, Corrymeala, in the same soft rain.

The smoke o’ smoke from one ould roof before an English town!
For a shaugh wid Andy Feelan here I’d give a silver crown,
For a curl o’ hair like Mollie’s ye’ll ask the like in vain,
Sweet Corrymeala, an’ the same soft rain.

Moira O’Neill

Maclean Chief Claims Tito ‘Fairly Successful’, Montreal, 1957

Montreal Gazette, 26 November 1957, page 3

Maclean Chief Claims Tito ‘Fairly Successful’

Sir Fitzroy Maclean, the British soldier who dropped behind German lines in Yugoslavia by parachute during the Second World War to organize guerilla resistance said yesterday he believes Josip Brost Tito has been ‘fairly successful’ in maintaining Yugoslav independence.
Sir Fitzroy, who now sits in the House of Commons and is president of the Clan Maclean Association visited Montreal briefly en-route to New York. He returns Thursday to be guest of honour at the St Andrew’s Society Ball in the Windsor Hotel.
“I think since his break with the Russians, Tito’s main objective is to retain his independence. That I believe he has managed to do,” said Sir Fitzroy.
“Now, he is trying to have good relations with East and West and it is not always easy for him to do so.”
Sir Fitzroy advised Winston Churchill that all their support should go to the then unknown Tito. “Today, I think this was right, as I did then,” he said.
“I think it was always right militarily because my direct concern was to support anyone fighting the enemy. But since I think it has turned out to have been quite a wise decision politically, as well. I believe it showed Tito that it was possible for him to find help elsewhere than from the Russians without sacrificing his independence.”
The British MP, brigadier and author, arrived with Lady Maclean aboard Trans Canada Air Lines. They left shortly after for New York where a speaking engagement and two television appearances await Sir Fitzroy.
Ball officials meanwhile announced that Lady Maclean, a daughter of the 14th Baron Lovat, will wear a century-old tartan velvet dress found by her mother in an attic at Beaufort, the family manor recently.
Lady Maclean wore the dress at the Caledonia Ball in Paris and according to her, “It stood up quite well to the Dior gowns also being worn.”
Sir Fitzroy’s personal and clan flags arrive here via TCA this week.

Uncle Clair’s War Service- Or My Historical Blind Spot

My Great-Uncle Clair served in the CEF in the First World War.  This was something that I have known for a seriously long time, but not something I really thought much about. 

Really I think it was a blind spot.  There was knowing that he served, and understanding what the service entailed.  Uncle Clair signed up to the McGill University Siege Artillery Draft [10^th Canadian Siege Battery].  I had the first two pages from the Library and Archives Canada website that told me this.  I had pictures of him in his uniform, and there were letters, postcards and snapshots written and taken by him during his service. 

I got that he served, but I never thought that he fought.  Why?  Dumb, really, as he was in a siege battalion, that I never got that he went to France and fought.  I mean, I understood that my Mother’s father fought in France, why not Uncle Clair? All of the material we have from Uncle Clair come from his time at Shorncliff Camp in England, a hospital in Manchester, and a visit to London- all of it comes from England. [These letters and post cards were donated to the Canadian War Museum: MCG: Textual Records 58A 1 146.1; Photo Archives 52A 6 32]  There exists no letters from France at all and certainly in the letters themselves he never talked of going to France, let alone fighting in France.  And when I knew him, granted I was very young, but he never spoke of battle, and my father, his nephew, never talked of his Uncle’s service in the Great War.  In my mind, I just decided he didn’t fight. 

But he did fight, and while his service record at Library and Archives Canada dwells more on pay and health, it states specifically he was in France. [RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 5560-42].

Herein lies the problem with talking about War and service, we never “understand” as bystanders what being in military service in the war actually means. There is a strong disconnect between understanding that people are in a war, and getting what that actually means for them.  That Uncle Clair, and many veterans like him chose not to speak about their experiences in the War compounds this. 

There must be an understanding that war service means fighting, and for Clair specifically, fighting in France during the First World War.  He was a soldier, and he had to kill.  He also suffered horribly in the trenches and was evacuated because of illness, which kept him in the hospital in Manchester for a while.  It was painful, messy and bad.  He never spoke of it, not then in his letters, or later when he got home.