Though quite different in its nature, yet with an importance perhaps scarcely less, we may now speak of the attractions this country has to offer to the tourist. The money that is expended in hotels and transportation facilities indicate to some extent the importance of the financial side of this question. It may very properly be classed among the country’s sources of wealth.
No form of recreation is so pleasant or profitable as that of travel, and there has been no age in the past when travelling for pleasure or health has been so popular as at the present time. The facilities for travel in these modern days, and the cosmopolitan character of modern civilization, all con-tribute to this increase in the movements of the pleasure-seeking millions. The motives which prompt people to travel, apart from business necessities, are very few-they may be regarded as health, sport, recreation, scenery and historic associations. Few countries combine these various attractions in any marked degree. Palestine furnishes historic attractions such as can be furnished by no other land. In other respects it has nothing special to offer. Europe is also rich in historic attractions, and has considerable scenic splendor, but from a stand-point of health or sport it has little or nothing of a special character to give. To these transatlantic countries, however, the great tide of travel has been setting for long years, and it will doubtless continue to flow in that direction, especially as it represents the lovers of scenes and associations immortalized by the events of past ages. Those who seek health have heretofore generally sought it in the south, or on the Pacific coast, in California. Modern medical opinion, however, no longer regards a warm climate as offering special advantages for those who formerly sought it there, and these places are likely to decline as popular resorts to some extent.
There is a growing class, peculiar to the present busy age, which must be classed among these moving masses of humanity. They are not seeking health, neither do they care much for historic associations, nor have they time to seek them. They,, are the busy upper classes who stand in the fore-front of the world’s great commercial and professional battles, and they recognize the importance of rest and . recreation. These men, with their families, coming from the blistering streets, and sweltering offices of the great cities, desire a country near at hand where they can get in touch with nature, away from the busy haunts of human life. They can appreciate good scenery, mountains, forests, lakes and rivers ; they love sea beaches and the haunts of wild birds- and animals. For this large and ever-increasing multitude no country has so much to offer as has Canada. Indeed, probably, no country combines so fully the various attractions of an ideal tourist land. Here we have historic associations, not equal, it is true, to those of the Old Land, but Quebec and the Land of Evangeline represent the best that America has to offer. Many choose them in preference to those of a more hoary age. As a health resort Canada has much to offer. The cool nights and refreshing sea breezes and abundant ozone give tone and health to those who seek it, while for special reasons those suffering from pulmonary trouble find Southern Alberta preferable to California.
For big game, towering mountains and magnificent lakes Canada is without a peer. A quotation or two may serve to emphasize these statements. Mr. Tyrrell says, when travelling in the north country, ” One of the party called attention to something moving on the distant shore to our right. It turned out to be not one, but a band of reindeer. Our canoe was then turned to leeward of the herd, that they might not scent us as we approached the shore. Drawing near we found that there was not only one band, but that there were many bands, literally covering the country over great areas. The valleys and hills for miles seemed to be a moving mass of reindeer. To estimate the numbers would be impossible, they could only be reckoned in acres or square miles.”