In Canada

Along the cold, snowy streets of Ottawa, all the way from Government

House to the Parliament Buildings, dashed a sleigh, preceded by a troop of lancers, lances erect, pennants snapping in the wind--General Julian H. G. Byng, Baron of Vimy and of Thorpe le Soken, G. C. B., G. C. M. G., M. V. O., Governor-General of Canada, was on his way to open the fourth session of Canada's 14th Dominion Parliament. As in the Parliament at Westminster (TIME, Dec. 22), the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod was despatched to summon His Majesty's faithful Com mons to the Senate, there to hear His Majesty's representative, Governor-General Lord Byng, read the message of His Majesty's Canadian Government from His Majesty's Canadian throne. Arriving at the entrance to the Commons, Black Rod found the door closed ; he struck three times with his rod, demanded to be let in. Inside, the "faithful Commons" went through the usual pantomime of wondering what on earth the noise was about. The Speaker asks if the pleasure of the House is that the doors be opened. The House, enveloped in pseudo-mystery, jokingly gives its assent. A burly sergeant-at-arms is despatched to admit the patient Black Rod and, as he goes, he walks with an almost insolently leisurely gait. The doors are opened and in sweeps Black Rod, proceeds to the Speaker's Chair, executing en route three magnificent bows which wring continuous mirth from the Commons. Black Rod, having arrived in front of the Speaker's Chair, informs the Speaker that "this honorable House" is commanded to attend His Majesty in the Senate. He departs. The Speaker, clad in knee-breeches, silk stockings, patent leather shoes complete with large silver buckles and wearing a sweeping black gown and large three-cornered hat, stands up, walks down the steps leading to his Chair and leads the surging Commons to the bar -- of the Senate where he listens attentively to the Governor-General's speech from the throne and dutifully raises his hat at each mention of the House of Commons. Lord Byng, surrounded by equerries, Cabinet Ministers, officers, stands up to read the speech, previously written for him by the Prime Minister. The most important points made last week: 1) That an attempt would be made to obtain Parliamentary sanction for the calling of a Conference between Provincial and Federal governments to amend the British North America Act "with respect to the execution and powers of the Senate and other important particulars." 2) That the desirability of equalizing the railway freight rates will be inquired into. 3) That important ports on the St. Lawrence River and on the Atlantic and Pacific seaboards are to be equipped "to enable them to meet all requirements of modern navigation." 4) That a measure would be introduced to enable the Dominion Government to control ocean freight rates. Julian Hedworth George Byng, only surviving son of the second Earl of Strafford, was born a little more than 62 years ago. At the age of 21, he joined the Royal Hussars, saw service in the Sudan, in the South African War, the Great War, became successively Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel, Brigadier General, Major General, Lieutenant General, General. During the War, he commanded first the 3rd Cavalry Division; but as soon as trench warfare set in and all hope of using cavalry effectively was lost, he was put in command of the 9th Army Corps and shipped to the Dardanelles. After the failure of that ill-fated expedition, he commanded the 17th Army Corps and afterwards, until 1917, the Canadian Corps. From that moment he became a Canadian hero and it was under his command that the Canadian troops covered themselves with immortal glory at Vimy Ridge. It was mainly because of his great popularity with Canadian soldiers of all ranks and with the people in the great Dominion that he was appointed to succeed the Duke of Devonshire, in 1921, as Governor-General of Canada. In 1917, he ceased to be directly in command of the Canadian Corps when he was appointed to command the Third Army.

In 1902, while a colonel of the Royal Hussars, he married Miss Marie Evelyn Moreton, later author of Barriers and Anne of the Marshland.

--Brass bar in the Senate which acts as a barrier to remind the Commons that they are not technically allowed on the floor of the upper house.