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an unkind comment or tinge of ill…nature； although in places；
especially in later years； there is bitter indignation against
those Canadian patriots who were patriots merely for their bellies' sake。
Taken together his letters and diaries are a revelation
of the heroic struggle by which a man gains a footing in a strange place
in that most particular of all professions； a struggle comprehended
by those alone who have made the trial of it。 And yet the method is simple。
It is all disclosed in his words； 〃I have never refused any work
that was given me to do。〃 These records are merely a chronicle of work。
Outdoor clinics； laboratory tasks； post…mortems； demonstrating； teaching；
lecturing； attendance upon the sick in wards and homes； meetings；
conventions； papers； addresses； editing； reviewing； the very remembrance
of such a career is enough to appall the stoutest heart。
But John McCrae was never appalled。 He went about his work gaily；
never busy； never idle。 Each minute was pressed into the service；
and every hour was made to count。 In the first eight months of practice
he claims to have made ninety dollars。 It is many years
before we hear him complain of the drudgery of sending out accounts；
and sighing for the services of a bookkeeper。 This is the only complaint
that appears in his letters。
There were at the time in Montreal two rival schools；
and are yet two rival hospitals。 But John McCrae was of no party。
He was the friend of all men； and the confidant of many。 He sought nothing
for himself and by seeking not he found what he most desired。
His mind was single and his intention pure； his acts unsullied
by selfish thought； his aim was true because it was steady and high。
His aid was never sought for any cause that was unworthy；
and those humorous eyes could see through the bones
to the marrow of a scheme。 In spite of his singular innocence； or rather
by reason of it； he was the last man in the world to be imposed upon。
In all this devastating labour he never neglected the assembling of himself
together with those who write and those who paint。 Indeed；
he had himself some small skill in line and colour。 His hands were
the hands of an artist too fine and small for a body that weighted
180 pounds； and measured more than five feet eleven inches in height。
There was in Montreal an institution known as 〃The Pen and Pencil Club〃。
No one now living remembers a time when it did not exist。
It was a peculiar club。 It contained no member who should not be in it；
and no one was left out who should be in。 The number was about a dozen。
For twenty years the club met in Dyonnet's studio； and afterwards；
as the result of some convulsion； in K。 R。 Macpherson's。 A ceremonial supper
was eaten once a year； at which one dressed the salad； one made the coffee；
and Harris sang a song。 Here all pictures were first shown；
and writings read if they were not too long。 If they were；
there was in an adjoining room a tin chest； which in these austere days
one remembers with refreshment。 When John McCrae was offered membership
he 〃grabbed at it〃； and the place was a home for the spirit
wearied by the week's work。 There Brymner and the other artists
would discourse upon writings； and Burgess and the other writers
would discourse upon pictures。
It is only with the greatest of resolution； fortified by
lack of time and space； that I have kept myself to the main lines
of his career； and refrained from following him into by…paths and secret；
pleasant places； but I shall not be denied just one indulgence。
In the great days when Lord Grey was Governor…General he formed a party
to visit Prince Edward Island。 The route was a circuitous one。
It began at Ottawa； it extended to Winnipeg； down the Nelson River
to York Factory； across Hudson Bay； down the Strait；
by Belle Isle and Newfoundland； and across the Gulf of St。 Lawrence
to a place called Orwell。 Lord Grey in the matter of company
had the reputation of doing himself well。 John McCrae was of the party。
It also included John Macnaughton； L。 S。 Amery； Lord Percy；
Lord Lanesborough； and one or two others。 The ship had called
at North Sydney where Lady Grey and the Lady Evelyn joined。
Through the place in a deep ravine runs an innocent stream which broadens out
into still pools； dark under the alders。 There was a rod
a very beautiful rod in two pieces。 It excited his suspicion。
It was put into his hand； the first stranger hand that ever held it；
and the first cast showed that it was a worthy hand。 The sea…trout
were running that afternoon。 Thirty years before； in that memorable visit
to Scotland； he had been taken aside by 〃an old friend of his grandfather's〃。
It was there he learned 〃to love the trooties〃。 The love and the art
never left him。 It was at this same Orwell his brother first heard
the world called to arms on that early August morning in 1914。
In those civil years there were； of course； diversions：
visits to the United States and meetings with notable men
Welch； Futcher； Hurd； White； Howard； Barker： voyages to Europe
with a detailed itinerary upon the record； walks and rides upon the mountain；
excursion in winter to the woods； and in summer to the lakes； and one visit
to the Packards in Maine； with the sea enthusiastically described。
Upon those woodland excursions and upon many other adventures
his companion is often referred to as 〃Billy T。〃； who can be no other
than Lieut。…Col。 W。 G。 Turner； 〃M。C。〃
Much is left out of the diary that we would wish to have recorded。
There is tantalizing mention of 〃conversations〃 with Shepherd
with Roddick with Chipman with Armstrong with Gardner
with Martin with Moyse。 Occasionally there is a note of description：
〃James Mavor is a kindly genius with much knowledge〃； 〃Tait McKenzie
presided ideally〃 at a Shakespeare dinner； 〃Stephen Leacock does not keep
all the good things for his publisher。〃 Those who know the life in Montreal
may well for themselves supply the details。
IX
Dead in His Prime
John McCrae left the front after the second battle of Ypres；
and never returned。 On June 1st； 1915； he was posted to
No。 3 General Hospital at Boulogne； a most efficient unit
organized by McGill University and commanded by that fine soldier
Colonel H。 S。 Birkett； C。B。 He was placed in charge of medicine；
with the rank of Lieut。…Colonel as from April 17th； 1915；
and there he remained until his death。
At first he did not relish the change。 His heart was with the guns。
He had transferred from the artillery to the medical service
as recently as the previous autumn； and embarked a few days afterwards
at Quebec； on the 29th of September； arriving at Davenport；
October 20th； 1914。 Although he was attached as Medical Officer
to the 1st Brigade of Artillery； he could not forget that he was
no longer a gunner； and in those tumultuous days he was often to be found
in the observation post rather than in his dressing station。
He had inherited something of the old army superciliousness towards
a 〃non…combatant〃 service； being unaware that in this war
the battle casualties in the medical corps were to be higher
than