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Today, this beauty arrived in the mail — this calls for a twitter thread! With colourizations!!
The book is a rare leather bound edition of “The Secret of Heroism” — PM Mackenzie King’s first book. This is the story behind the book...
The book is a rare leather bound edition of “The Secret of Heroism” — PM Mackenzie King’s first book. This is the story behind the book...
Have you ever seen the Sir Galahad statue at Parliament Hill and wondered what it was all about?
When Wilfrid Laurier helped unveil the statue in 1905, he said “the stranger to our city will pause as he passes this monument and wonder what deed called for its erection...”
When Wilfrid Laurier helped unveil the statue in 1905, he said “the stranger to our city will pause as he passes this monument and wonder what deed called for its erection...”
The statue, unveiled in 1905 with the Governor General Earl Grey & a young Mackenzie King in attendance, commentates the bravery of Henry Albert Harper, who died attempting to save Ms. Bessie Blair in a terrible tragedy.
Henry “Bert” Albert Harper was a young journalist from Cookstown, Ontario who made the transition from working in print media to working for the Labour Gazette as an associate editor in 1900 for the (brand new) Department of Labour.
Bert went skating with a group of friends on Dec 06 1901 along the Ottawa River when a sad turn of events occurred. Ms. Bessie Blair & Alex Creelman struck a patch of soft ice, falling into the icy water.
Bert reportedly asked “What else can I do?” before jumping into the Ottawa River to try to rescue Ms. Blair. Both died that day.
Mackenzie King was Bert’s co worker, roommate, & closest friend. They shared a love of progressive politics, Arthurian lore, & were committed methodists. When King learned of Bert’s death he was grief-stricken & the event continued to impact King for the rest of his life.
King wrote “The Secret of Heroism” and fundraised to establish the memorial to commemorate Bert’s life and act of bravery.
But the story of this unique book doesn’t end there!
But the story of this unique book doesn’t end there!
The book is also signed by Sir William Mulock to his grandson.
This is especially significant because Mulock was Mackenzie King’s mentor & the minister who formed the Department of Labour and employed Harper & King.
Seen here is Mulock and King together on Mulock’s 101th birthday. Mulock donated the first $100 for the Harper memorial.
Seen here is Mulock and King together on Mulock’s 101th birthday. Mulock donated the first $100 for the Harper memorial.
You can read lots more about Harper & Mulock here at @dcb_dbc:
- http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/harper_henry_albert_13E.html
- https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sir-william-mulock
- http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/harper_henry_albert_13E.html
- https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sir-william-mulock
I’m not sure how “tie” this thread to the recent defacing of WLMK’s gravesite, except to say that King had a very special reverence for the dead in his life.
King brought white roses to Harper’s memorial after being sworn in as a MP for the first time.
https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5894979?__twitter_impression=true
King brought white roses to Harper’s memorial after being sworn in as a MP for the first time.
https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.5894979?__twitter_impression=true
