Schooner Days at Christmastide: Schooner Days DCCLXXVI (776)

by C. H. J. Snider

GRIST TO THE MILL, Toronto, Winter, 1835," is the title of this very beautiful card from Gooderham and Worts, and it is of historical importance. The card was prepared by Mr. Ross, of the Rous & Mann firm, and the artist was Rowley Murphy, and it is a careful representation of the old waterfront at the foot of Trinity street, when the red brick windmill which gave its name to the Windmill Line, the northern boundary of the water-front, was new. Everything is studously in keeping with the time—the swaggering soldier with the uniform of the old 100th Regiment, the topsail schooner unloading grain into the blue box sleigh, the snow-laden roofs, the ice fisherman, and the other schooner frozen in on the snow-clad bay.

"QUEEN ELIZABETH" COMES TO PORT AGAIN the card TO PORT AGAIN—The Gordon Daly Company's fine Christmas card, from a pencil drawing of great clarity and photographic accuracy - particularly in its perspective—by a Toronto Island friend of Schooner Days, ALAN HOWARD. It is, perhaps, his finest piece of pencil work. In the card the planes overhead and the welcoming fountains from the New York fire tugs come out with great distinctness.

OLD TORONTO LIGHT FROM BLOCKHOUSE BAY — Another Rowley Murphy drawing—in line—done when the stonehookers were carrying sand, gravel and stone for the new filtration plant at the Island 30 years ago. The schooner in the forewater is the Madeline, towing the big deck scow with which she gathered her cargo. She was sailed by Capt. Steve Peer of Port Credit—to whom also a Happy New Year, which will be his 83rd.

AMONG Christmas cards received were several kosher ones, which is not surprising. Our favorite radio entertainment is Harry Harris' Yiddish hour, CHML, to whom and to which we wish a VERY Happy New Year, in Verne Hill's best manner. But we did not understand why Schooner Days should appeal particularly, until a bright Jewish lad sent a reproduction of this picture, with the notation, "I think you will agree that our common ancestor Noah deserves a place in your column." The picture which Schooner Days has carried before, is of the ARK—-at Port Dalhousie, about 1880. This Ark was not the one of the covenant, but one built by Muir Brothers in their Port Dalhousie shipyard 70 years ago. That shipyard is now filled with as many wintering steamers as it once had schooners.