Author John Passfield has studied and taught literature, creative writing and drama.  Born in St. Thomas, Ontario, many of his published books are true stories of his hometown.  Always interested in the "development of the novel as an art form," Passfield keeps daily notes during the writing of each of his novels. These studies are subsequently published in a journal to accompany the novel.  For an insight into his "search for the ideal form of a novel" visit http://www.johnpassfield.ca/

Among John Passfield's ten books are Jumbo, P.T. Barnum's Greatest Creation, Pinafore Park: The Swan Boat Incident and Rain of Fire:  The Ordeal of Conductor Sprettigue.

The Neat Little Bookshop is pleased to host an afternoon with the author on Thursday, July 5 at 1:00 p.m.  John is always available to discuss his own work; however, on Thursday, he will read the poetry of Canadian Poetess, Pauline Johnson.  Please join us.  "Coffee and tea pot's always on. . ."  No admission.

Photo:  Wikipedia

"As wampums to the Redman, so to the Poet are his songs; chiselled alike from that which is the purest of his possessions, woven alike with meaning into belt and book, fraught alike with the corresponding message of peace, the breathing of tradition, the value of more than coin, and the seal of fellowship with all men.
So do I offer this belt of verse-wampum to those two who have taught me most of its spirit ~ my Mother, whose encouragement has been my mainstay in its weaving; my Father, whose feet have long since wandered to the Happy Hunting Grounds."
~ E. Pauline Johnson

Reading Pauline Johnson ~ 

THURSDAY, JULY 5, 1:00 at The Neat Little Bookshop.  John Passfield returns, this time with a fascinating presentation on the native-born poet, performer, Pauline Johnson.

Don't miss this one.  Coffee, Tea Pot's Always on. . .  Everyone welcome.


Photo:  lbwalker

E. Pauline Johnson

Having made her debut in Toronto, Ontario, Indian Princess Pauline Johnson was "bewitching audiences with wampum belts, trade brooches, a bear-claw necklace and fiery oratory."  Between October 1892 and May 1892 alone, Pauline gave 125 recitals in 50 different towns and cities in Ontario ~ Paris, Fergus, Berlin, Strathroy, Watford, Renfrew, Smiths Falls, Rockland, Kingston, Lindsay. . .  "The poet sometimes felt that wherever steel rails went, she was bound to follow."

~ Flint & Feather, The Life and Times of E. Pauline Johnson, Tekahionwake, Charlotte Gray, HarperFlamingo Canada, 2002.
Photo:  Wikipedia

Canadian Born ~

 Canadian Poetess, Pauline Johnson recited the following poem on Dominion Day, July 1, 1804 in London, England.

We first saw light in Canada, the land beloved of God,
We are the pulse of Canada, its marrow and its bloos:
And we, the men of Canada, can face the world and brag
That we were born in Canada beneath the British flag.

Few of us have the blood of kings, few are of courtly birth,
But few are vagabonds or rogues of doubtful name and worth,
And all have one credential that entitles us to brag~
That we were born in Canada beneath the British flag.

We've yet to make our money, we've yet to make our fame,
But we have gold and glory in our clean colonial name;
And every man's a millionaire if only he can brag
That he was born in Canada beneath the British flag.

The Dutch may have their Holland, the Spaniard have his Spain,
The Yankee to the south of us must south of us remain;
For not a man dare lift his hand against the men who brag
That they were born in Canada beneath the British flag.

~ Flint & Feather, The Life and Times of E. Pauline Johnson, Tekahionwake,
Charlotte Gray, Harper Flamingo Canada, 2002, A Phyllis Bruce Book.

Happy Canada Day.  Fly the Maple Leaf Proudly and . . .


Cayuga, ON



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Let Us Remember the Hard-Working Men & Women Who Came Before ~

Excerpt from Pauline, A Biography of Pauline Johnson*:

As in 1894, Dominion Day was celebrated with enthusiasm by the Canadian exiles, [Pauline and Walter McRaye in London, England], but since July first was a Sunday, all the festivities took place the following day.  There were balls, fetes, garden parties, picnics, dinners, suppers and luncheons.  The celebrants entertained each other with tableaux vivants, songs, dances, recitations, speeches and more speeches.  Pauline and McRaye attended Lord and Lady Strathcona's Dominion Day party at the Imperial Institute in South Kensington.  Both were asked to recite;  predictable Pauline gave "Canadian Born," and McRaye gave "When Albani Sang."  McRaye then went on to the "Men Only" dinner being given by Lord Strathcona at the Hotel Cecil Strand."

* Betty Keller, Douglas & McIntyre, Vancouver/Toronto, 1981.


Photos:  lbwalker



Lion Don Young

 Lions International  ~ Cayuga
Lion Don Removes the Cayuga Signs

Philosophical, Don talks about the passing years

and the end of an era.

Cayuga Lions ~

A Lasting Community Legacy



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