Politics 43

ballots on election night, a federal vote in the 50s. A few of us sat in the background for that evening event which was carried out with due solemnity and grace. The ritual began with the dumping of the ballots from their official metal box into a simple household face pan. The designated head tenderly opened each ballot and read off the winning names while two or three scorekeepers kept rigid tally. The mood was reverent. As was fitting for the occasion, there was no jubilation or other emotion expressed over the final results which were pretty well known beforehand anyway. The formality of the counting prowss duly completed, Harry MacTavish then proceeded in his usual com- petent style to tell an uncouth joke about MacKenzie King which elicited peals of laughter that brought a long day and tired campaign to a roaring close.

This small-scale involvement in the political world begun in our home was truly educational and gave me, at least, a keen interest in the part politics played in our province and country. For years I used to be a keen observer in the visitors’ gallery of our Island legislature and on my first visit to Ottawa in the mid-505 I felt honored and awe-struck as I walked slowly up to the parliament buildings and sat in rapt attention during several House of Commons sessions, the leaders of the day being Louis St. Laurent, John Diefenbaker, M.J. Coldwell and Solon Low. Yet, this early involvement did not prepare us in any way to be truly critical of the day‘s issues or to challenge politicians and parties on their stands. That was to come only years later. Because of this, one can easily understand how generations of

family members can remain so loyal to the party of their fore- fathers.