He was born, one might say, in the manufacturing interest,
and inherited the complacent and Conservative political
views of a tenderly nourished industry. Mr Milburn was
of those who were building up the country; with sufficient
protection he was prepared to go on doing it long and
loyally; meanwhile he admired the structure from all
points of view. As President of the Elgin Chamber of
Commerce, he was enabled once a year to produce no end
of gratifying figures; he was fond of wearing on such
occasions the national emblem in a little enamelled maple
leaf; and his portrait and biography occupied a full page
in a sumptuous work entitled Canadians of Today, sold by
subscription, where he was described as the "Father of
the Elgin Boiler."
Mr and Mrs Milburn were in the drawing-room to receive
their young guests, a circumstance which alone imparted
a distinction to the entertainment. At such parties the
appearance of the heads of the house was by no means
invariable; frequently they went to bed. The simple
explanation was that the young people could stand late
hours and be none the worse next day; their elders had
to be more careful if they wanted to get down to business.
Moreover, as in all new societies, between the older and
the younger generation there was a great gulf fixed,
across which intercourse was difficult.
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