3 - Spring 1904

[Top left side of page - a drawing of two silhouettes of persons in caps and gowns] Afternoon - Tea [Top right side of page - a drawing of a basket containing food" The east-bound Transcontinental Express stood on the tracks of the great steel highway at Winnipeg. All was noise and confusion as the travellers hurried to and fro. I had boarded the train early enough to get a good seat and was engaged in watching the heterogeneous stream of hu manity passing along the aisle

Presently my attention was centred upon two men, who came struggling through the door, carrying a large clothes-basket between them, whcih apparently contained something heavy. The foremost of the pair was a large, fat man wearing a luxurious fur coat. He was rather distinguished looking but wore an anxious expression. He reminded me of a giant snow-plough as he pushed his way through the crowd

leaving a wide furrow for the big basket and the other man. The other fellow ( I shall for convenience refer to them as the fat man and the other fellow) was an insignificant looking mortal, rather carelessly attired and wearing a mustache resembling the mud in color.

After a great deal of fussing, they managed to find room for themselves and the basket in a double seat. The two soon became familiar with their surroundings and began to talk loudly enough for everyone to hear. The more I listened and observed , the more I wondered who they were and what were the contents of the big clothes basket of which they seemd so careful and which they eyed so lovingly. It was not long however before the pair began to enlighten us. I gleaned from their conversation that they were students belong

ing to some divinity college down in Ontario They frequently referred to their school as the monastery and spoke of what a jollying they would give the old monks when they returned. What finally confirmed my idea that they were theological students was the way they entered pell-mell into the discussion of all their lady friends. I have been informed that this is a characteristic of young theologs

About five o'clock the fat man said some thing about supper time. The two then entered into a conference evidently pertaining to the big clothes basket. I then began to suspect what its contents were. I wasn't kept long in doubt. The other fellow uncovered the basket and together they commenced to take out various articles of food. Such a conglomeration of victuals I never saw. There came forth light roasted prairie

chickens, six roasted ducks, a boiled ham, about a dozen cans each of sardines and kippered herring and four cases of corned beef. Then in canned fruits there were about nine of peaches, plums and apricots, three each of cherries, pears and strawberries together with several jars of marmalade and honey. Then out came what looked to be about a ten pound hunk of cheese which the fat man appropriated. There were also at least then loaves of bread and a five pound crock of butter.

When they had arranged these items the pair "dug in". Such a devastation! Talk about an earthquake swalling a town - it isn't in it. The sight of that big fat pillow stowing away bread and cheese inspired me with an idea. What a fine hit he would make as a travelling "ad" for my firm, the Force Food Company, Sunny

Jim would be cast quite in the shade by this masticating monster. Why, he ate slice after slice as fast as the other fellow could cut it off the loaf. The other fellow soon became tired of bread-cutting however and suddenly grabbing a chicken by the legs, he wrenched it in two and commenced to dvour it. What in Sam Hill are you doin'? mumbled the fat man between the bites. "Trying to get a start," said the other. "Well you might eat like a gentleman." "Not when I'm so badly handicapped," returned the other fellow After they had sampled all the goods and stuffed themselves to their utmost capacity, the pair fell asleep like gorged vultures. They continued thus until it was time to turn into our berths. The fat man woke first with the exclamation "Say old many I don't feel quite so comfortable as I did." "Nor so hungry either"