Читать книгу Henry John Cody - Donald Campbell Masters - Страница 9

Chapter 1

Embro and Galt

Henry John Cody (Harry) was born in Embro, Ontario, on December 6, 1868. His father, Elijah John (1844–1927), was a member of a family that had lived in New England since the eighteenth century and had come to West Zorra Township early in the nineteenth century. Zorra was mainly a Scottish settlement of Highlanders from Sutherlandshire.¹ Harry’s paternal grandmother, a member of the Galspie family born in Sutherlandshire, was one of this Highland group.

Harry’s father had a long career in Embro, at varying times clerk and treasurer of Embro, magistrate, clerk of the Division Court, and postmaster, but his main occupation was as proprietor of a general store. He was also secretary-treasurer of the Bible Society for some forty years.

Harry’s mother (Elijah John’s first wife), Margaret Louisa Torrance (1842–83), was of Irish descent, born in Dublin. Her parents, Henry Torrance (1814–98) and Margaret (1826–1904), settled first in Woodstock and later in Galt.

Embro in the early 1870s was a comfortable rural community, with a population of about five hundred, mostly farmers (some of them Harry’s cousins), storekeepers, clergy, and schoolteachers. For railway connections, one had to go to Beachville six miles to the south on the Grand Trunk line. The village was almost entirely Protestant. The four churches (Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist, and Congregational) were all of the evangelical variety. The Congregationalists had established Ebenezer Church in 1872 and built a new church in 1877 on St. Andrew’s Street. Since there was no Anglican church in Embro, Harry’s mother attended the Congregational church. She wrote to Harry in 1881, “Mr. Silcox [the minister] continues to preach splendidly and his sermons are very instructive to the young people.”²

North Oxford, in which Embro was located, had a strong Grit tradition. Harry later claimed that in the general election of 1878 when the National Policy came in, there were only seven Conservative votes polled in Embro.³ Harry’s parents were Tories, as were the Torrances in Galt. When Elijah met John A. Macdonald at a local Tory convention, John A. said it did his heart good to meet a Tory from Grit North Oxford.⁴

While Embro villagers travelled to nearby Woodstock and Galt to attend football tournaments, political meetings, and so on, Embro itself was not without culture. The presence of Protestant clergy in the village, especially the Scottish Presbyterians, made for stimulating discussion, at least for the more literate citizens. Harry later recalled, “My grandmother was Scottish and the early life of the place was very much like what Ian Maclaren has described in sketches from Drumtochty, where the intellectual interests were very keen and there was a good deal of plain living and high thinking. From my earliest years, I can remember discussion in the Public Library on matters theological and philosophical, literary and political.” In letters to Harry in 1881, Mrs. Cody reported the organization of a library fund and Elijah wrote of the setting up of a Mechanics’ Institute. In 1882, when Harry was at school in Galt, Elijah asked him to bring home readings for use in a Christmas concert organized by the “Entertainment Committee.”⁵

There was also the usual round of private parties. Elijah reported in March 1882, “Miss Beales ‘that was’ is married and Mrs. Macaulay is giving a grand party this evening in honour of it.” There were other private amusements the Codys considered less respectable. Elijah complained to Harry in October 1881, “No local news of any account a great deal of whiskey drinking going on in the village.”

Like other progressive villages, Embro had an elementary school. The original frame structure had been succeeded in 1876 by the “new” school on a different site. Harry attended both schools. E.J. Jamieson, the principal, wrote to Harry (now in Galt), reporting that the school had a large attendance with forty or fifty pupils in the class Harry had been in, of whom a few were studying Algebra and Euclid.⁶ Jamieson’s students had formed a debating society, while he had established a night school for the study of penmanship, bookkeeping, arithmetic, and composition. The quality of Jamieson’s work was indicated by the fact that Harry’s initial report after he had entered Galt Collegiate indicated that he was “very well-grounded in Euclid.”⁷

In 1880 Harry had gone to Woodstock, the county town, with a group of Embro students to write the entrance examinations. Having passed with flying colours, he went to Galt in the autumn of 1881 to live with his Torrance grandparents and attend Galt Collegiate. The Torrances reinforced the influence of Cody’s parents, particularly that of his mother. They were very Tory and very Anglican.

Harry was one of the boys of exceptional ability produced by small-town Ontario. From the first he did brilliantly at school. His relations with his parents seem to have been very happy. The Codys had only the one child, and the relations within the small family circle were quite exceptionally affectionate. Harry was considerate and performed his small household tasks well, such as splitting the kindling. When he left for Galt, he left a supply which lasted his parents for over a month. By modern standards, the letters that passed between Harry and his parents were effusive, typically beginning (from Elijah) “My dear little son,” “My darling little son”; (from Mrs. Cody) “My precious boy,” “My own darling Henry”; and (from Harry), “My own dear darling Papa.”

After Harry had gone to Galt in September 1881, his parents were lonely, but by October Mrs. Cody was beginning to adjust. Clearly, though, she was concerned with his welfare. On October 27 she adjured Harry (in the third person) “that he will never write his letters on Sunday if it can be avoided – that he will not neglect to wash his feet every night well and that he will eat porridge sometimes.” There was always a religious emphasis in Mrs. Cody’s letters and to a lesser extent in her husband’s. During Harry’s first autumn in Galt she urged him to join the Bible class run by one of his teachers, Mr. Carscadden, in the Methodist Sunday school, adding hopefully, “You may find the boys better behaved there and it is so near home.” She was concerned he had not already joined a Bible class but was glad he was joining a class in Greek on Sunday mornings, “as it will not only be a benefit to you, but you will have the chance of studying the scriptures.”⁸

Elijah said less about Harry’s spiritual welfare than about his political development. He urged Harry to go and hear Mr. Meredith (the Conservative provincial leader), who was to speak in Galt, and reported his own attendance at Tory conventions. One of his big moments was his brief chat with John A. at the Conservative Convention in 1882.

Harry’s parents were immensely proud of his early academic achievements. In returning to Harry the first report he had received from the principal of Galt Collegiate, Elijah wrote, “He spoke very highly of my darling little son” (September 1881), and after a second report (February 17, 1882), “I am so well pleased with your last report ... It is such a comfort to pay fees, when I hear such good reports from my little son.”

Harry’s correspondence in this period indicates that he was a friendly boy who got on well with his contemporaries. His friends wrote to him when they went on visits or had jobs outside Embro and Galt. Hugh Munro wrote chatty letters when he visited Fort Worth, Texas: “Cotton is coming in here every day in bales”; “I go to the Baptist Sunday School here the rest of the boys call the teacher ‘Joe’ and yell out ‘Say Joe, what is this?’ and the like of that.”⁹ Perhaps the best letter to Harry in this period came from Bob Duncan, who wrote from Embro on October 9, 1885. Duncan captured the spirit of a small Ontario town, describing a fall fair in Embro, the establishment of a debating club, a large purchase of books by the Mechanics’ Institute, and plans for making a roller-skating rink. The letter went on:

We had an amusing time the other day. The crowd was composed of as follows Messrs. E. Cody, Dickson Stuart, Kam J. Stuart, Halesham and Duncan Pell and the object of the fun was Milton Payne. Well your worthy governor [Elijah] prevailed on Milton to come over to Hank Kam’s barber shop and he (Kam) would play a tune and Milton would dance. We all went over and got Milton on the floor and of all the dancing you ever saw he only could shuffle his ponderous no. 1 and 2’s. We told him it was the best dancing we saw in years while our sides were breaking with laughter.

I have been out hunting one or two days and we have been feasting on partridge pie the last week. Man and boy who can possibly loan a gun is out shooting no harm done except the expenditure of powder and shot.

Bigger than Embro, Galt in 1873 had a population of nearly four thousand. According to Lovell’s Gazetteer, it possessed an impressive array of facilities: extensive water power, six churches, three branch banks, several insurance companies, two newspapers, twelve hotels, several large flour mills, an array of factories, and so on.¹⁰ It was a more exciting place than Embro with political meetings, football tournaments, and other entertainments.

The Galt period was an important stage in Harry’s life both academically and in a religious sense. Galt Collegiate presented something of a challenge to Harry. It was a fine school that enjoyed a national reputation, having been presided over by the famous educationalist Dr. William Tassie. Tassie had left in 1881, but his tradition of excellence continued.¹¹ In this stimulating atmosphere Harry blossomed. In preparation for university matriculation he embarked on a heavy schedule of classical studies, but he did well in numerous other subjects on the curriculum.¹² His first report was uniformly laudatory: Greek – “Has made excellent start”; Latin – “Going to do capitally”; arithmetic – “Very good”; algebra – “Excellent”; history – “Excellent head for history.” His second report was similar. That Harry was not too disgustingly perfect was revealed by the remarks on “Conduct.” His first report made the cryptic comment “a very good bad boy,” while the second, signed by “Kitty J. S.” in February 1882, described his conduct as “only middling.” By October 1882 Harry was held in higher esteem – either that or Kitty J. S. had been overruled by the principal, who wrote, “Conduct Excellent.”¹³

The teachers at Galt took a friendly and enthusiastic interest in Harry. J.E. Bryant, the principal, was a sensitive and considerate man. He established a friendship with Harry that carried over into Harry’s time at the University of Toronto. Bryant retired from Galt Collegiate in 1884 and entered the publishing business in Toronto. D.S. Smith, the classics master, was equally interested in Harry, as was his successor, Logan, and the mathematics teacher, Thomas Carscadden. Bryant and Carscadden were both strong Christians, the latter conducting a Bible class in the Methodist Sunday school.

Harry’s turn toward Anglicanism probably began in Embro owing to the influence of his mother, although he attended the Congregational Church. There is good evidence that he had been baptized in Woodstock, probably by its famous rector William Bettridge, who served at St. Paul’s Woodstock from 1834 to 1874.¹⁴ According to Harry’s second wife, Barbara, Harry’s mother had had him baptized at her parents’ home in Woodstock by one of the local clergy.¹⁵ There seems to be no surviving church record of the baptism. Harry’s relations with the Congregational minister, Silcox, and with his son, C.E. Silcox, were always friendly.

Harry’s drift toward the Anglican Church was brought to completion during his stay in Galt. He attended Trinity Church with the Torrances and joined the Church of England Temperance Society when a branch was formed at Trinity Church in 1884. His pledge card was signed on June 5, 1884. J.P. Hincks, the rector, took a great interest in Harry. Harry later recalled that Hincks “was a man about six feet three inches in height, thin and scholarly, eloquent and absent-minded. Boy as I was he made a very profound impression on my mind.”¹⁶

Hincks probably presented Cody for confirmation. While a search of the Trinity Church records failed to reveal an entry for Harry’s confirmation, there is no reason to doubt Cody’s assertion to his wife Barbara that he was confirmed in Galt, probably by Bishop Maurice Baldwin.

Hincks subsequently encouraged Harry to enter the ministry. Writing to congratulate him on his fine showing in the matriculation examinations in 1885, he added, “I would fain hope that, God willing, you may yet become an ‘able minister of the New Testament’ in connection with the dear old English Church in Canada, but in any event your truest friends (among whom may I be remembered?) will rejoice most in the persuasion that your talents and learning are consecrated to our Divine Master’s use.” Hincks gave him a letter of introduction to his brother George, who was rector of St. Philip’s Church in Toronto: “I am also happy to add that Mr. Cody is a consistent Evangelical Churchman, and he will be only too happy to render any service that may be assigned to him by his clergyman. I dare say he may find his way to St. Philips Church, but I know you will rejoice in making his acquaintance and will show him any attention in your power.”¹⁷

Harry had truly become a convinced Anglican, and despite efforts by Presbyterian friends in Toronto to maintain a connection with him, he soon cultivated close relations with J.P. Sheraton, the principal of Wycliffe College, T.C. Des Barres, the rector of St. Paul’s Church, and other Anglicans.

It should be noted that while Cody came to accept the Anglicanism of his mother and his grandparents, he also shared with them a tolerant attitude toward other Christians, particularly of evangelical denominations. Neither Mrs. Cody nor the Torrances were narrowly denominational. Although Mrs. Cody had taken pains to have him baptized in the Anglican Church, she had also encouraged him to join the Methodist Bible class in Galt, and after he had gone to Toronto his grandmother was anxious for him to hear a sermon of the Presbyterian professor Gregory of Knox College.

In March 1883 Harry suffered a profound blow. His mother died quite suddenly. She was only 41 (1842–83). According to the Embro Courier, she had been suffering from a stomach disorder for several weeks but became dangerously ill early in the week of March 11. Friends sat with her, particularly Mrs. Silcox, the wife of the Congregational minister, but Mrs. Cody was not thought to be in great danger until the afternoon of Wednesday, March 14, when the pain became acute. She died just after 6 p.m. Harry later told Barbara that the doctor had given his mother the wrong medicine, but this was probably just a family suspicion.¹⁸ Harry arrived from Galt just a few minutes too late. Mrs. Silcox told him of her death and later told him of his mother’s wish that he enter the Christian ministry.¹⁹ J.B. Silcox took the funeral service.

Harry and his father received numerous letters of condolence, many of them couched in the devout language of the period. Principal Bryant of Galt, who had been at the funeral, wrote Harry a sympathetic letter. He took it for granted that Harry would not return to school until September and urged him not to spend too much of the intervening time in study but to begin to read more widely.

Take up some other reading than mere school work. Have you ever read Shakespeare? I think you could read some of his plays now with great benefit. I have been reading Macbeth today. That is why I think of him [Shakespeare] – and I wish some one had compelled me when I was your age. I should then have gained much in time and ease of acquirement. Commence with one of his historical plays ... I am going to try this summer to read all his plays. Don’t worry about your studies. Keep your health good by exercise, and as much as possible by riding drawing or playing. Write to me when you can.²⁰

While Bryant advised wide reading and plenty of exercise, D.S. Smith, the classics master, took a different line in his letter of condolence. He advised more study in classics and spelled out a formidable list of readings in Latin. He also sent a Greek grammar “as a mark of personal esteem.”²¹

There is no record of how Harry applied these rather conflicting recommendations. No doubt he put the time in Embro to good advantage. This period may well have helped lay the groundwork for his subsequent brilliant career in English and the classics at university. He had already begun to acquire the background that later showed in his superb use of English and classical quotations in his sermons and speeches.

Mrs. Cody’s death probably drew Cody closer to his father at least for a time. There was never a serious breach between them personally, although Harry told Barbara that he had not seen eye to eye with his father. Nevertheless, his relations with Elijah continued to be mutually affectionate.²²

Harry returned to Galt and to his grandparents’ home to resume his studies at the collegiate. He proposed to stay in Galt for two more years and wrote to his father on September 6, 1883, with this explanation:

I am in the form I wanted to be in last year namely the University Pass Matriculation form and have the same English and Mathematics as those who are trying to get a second class certificate, and have my Latin and Greek in the Senior Latin and Greek class. So I could go to the University next year [1884] in a pass course but I am too young and I want to go in an honours course. I am perfectly satisfied with my promotion.

There had been some changes in the staff. Smith, the classics master, had resigned, moving on to a post at the Ottawa Collegiate Institute. His farewell letter to Harry gave evidence of his high opinion of the young man: “I was looking forward to a very happy year of work in Galt – knowing that you would be back once more amongst us to stimulate both master and pupil with your eager mind as well as your excellent heart.”²³

Bryant was having trouble with his eyes and sought treatment in Hamilton. He tried to hang on as principal in 1883–84, but was compelled to retire at the end of the academic year. Now living in Toronto, he continued to write to Harry with advice and encouragement: (July 26, 1884) “I think you should read some biography. If you have it in your library [Cody was in Embro for the summer] look over the first part of the life of F.W. Robertson – Select a few of the biographies accessible and send me their names and let me help you in choosing one.” On August 2, 1884, Bryant recommended Plutarch’s Lives (“I should choose a few of the best ... those whom you know to have a moral character”) and some of Macaulay’s Life (“especially that referring to his youth and character”).

Harry continued to thrive at Galt Collegiate. He got on well with Carscadden, who succeeded Bryant as principal, and with C.S. Logan, the new classics master, to whom he had been recommended by Bryant. Harry had a high regard for Logan, later describing him as “among the best teachers in Ontario.”²⁴

Having passed the “non-professional” examinations at Galt with high honours in July 1884, Harry went to Toronto in June 1885 to write the matriculation examinations for admission to the University of Toronto. Bryant had written to him with further advice and an invitation to stay with the Bryants during his time in Toronto: “Be sure not to work hard now. Take a great deal of sleep and a good deal of exercise. Avoid trying to get up new things now.”²⁵

Harry’s performance at the examinations marked the beginning of an outstanding academic career. He matriculated with first-class honours in classics, mathematics, and modern languages, and won four scholarships: the Classical, Modern Languages, Prince of Wales, and General Proficiency.

It was a surprising performance and congratulations poured in from Harry’s teachers, fellow students, proud relatives, and others. Logan, who was staying in Peterborough for the summer, had told two Peterborough teachers about Harry’s brilliant prospects before the results came out. He reported, “They looked rather incredulous, as I imagine they often hear such assertions. I have seen the masters since however and I was approached by them and they expressed considerable surprise at my being under the mark in what seemed to them a very rash assertion.”²⁶ Grandpa Torrance’s letter of July 17 indicates the exuberance of his rejoicing:

When Mr. Woods came rushing down the steps his face lit up with joy and grasped me by the hand and congratulated me saying Harry won - four – scholarships – I was knocked into a cocked hat – poor Gran had just gone to post you a card. I rushed out in my excitement thinking I would be the first to send you the good news [he also sent a telegram on July 17] ... all Galt is stirred up you are spoken of by every one and we are congratulated coming from church – in the streets – in the stores – and calls at the house.

In all the chorus of praise, two letters were more muted. Hincks expressed warm congratulations in rather formal language but was concerned that Harry should not “commit the great error of overtaxing a facile brain or forget the good old maxim ‘mens sana in corpore sano’ [‘a healthy mind in a healthy body’].” R. Balmer, another Galt teacher, hoped Harry would not become a remote academic but would do some good in the world. He concluded dubiously, “We are all anxious that what is undoubtedly a great force should also be a useful force. No elegant inutilities, my boy, no mere subtleties. The world has just now great needs, and we insist that the able skill [be] up and about to satisfy them.”²⁷

It was advice Harry may well have pondered. In a certain way, the whole of his subsequent career was an attempt to meet Balmer’s demands.