8 OVER ON THE ISLAND

Boston about his origin, he informed his audience that he was from “the Island. ”

“ The island! What island?”

” Prince Edward Island. What other island is there?”

There really isn’t any other—at least, there isn’t any other like it. And now, I set foot in the newest town of Prince Edward Island—Port Borden, founded in 1917, and named in honour of Canada’s war—time premier, Sir Robert Borden.

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Borden is not only the newest town on Prince Edward Island but also the visitor’s first and last impression of the Province. For although there are other ports of entry, nine-tenths of the immigration is by way of this port. The other tenth comes by way of Pictou or Montreal to Charlottetown; to Souris from the Magdalens; to Georgetown from Pictou; or by aeroplane from Moncton. In June they come. In September they go. ‘

Borden gives the visitor a good impression. Perhaps it is the reaction from the mainland. Beautiful as Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are, they seem to combine all the worst features of their territories in their isthmus. So the traveller, wearied by sights of scrubby forests and struggling crops, finds in the bright meadows and waving wheat fields of the Island a plea- sant change and a decided rest. The Island is very different from the other provinces. Here there are no high mountains or long stretches of unbroken forest or big cities. The sea which surrounds it glitters and