Enjoy John Galt Day

John Galt, novelist, poet, Uncle to Edgar Allan Poe, founder of Guelph, Ontario. You can find some of John Galt's work online at Project Gutenburg

John Galt - Wikipedia

John Galt - Library and Archives Canada Biography

John Galt - the other "John Galt"

John Galt Day reflects history
August 01, 2008
Nicole Visschedyk

GUELPH

The life of Guelph founder John Galt will be celebrated Monday with historic games, a parade and canoe hockey.

Galt, a prominent Scottish author, founded Guelph in 1827.

Monday, Aug. 4

11:30 a.m.: Flag raising ceremony at Guelph City Hall, 59 Carden St.

Noon: Picnic and events at the River Run Centre, 35 Woolwich St.

John Galt, from the Autobiography of John Galt, page 58,59

It was consistent with my plan to invest our ceremony with a little mystery, the better to make it be remembered. So intimating that the main body of the men were not to come, we walked to the brow of the neighbouring rising ground, and Mr. Prior having shewn the site selected for the town, a large maple tree was chosen; on which, taking an axe from one of the woodmen, I struck the first stroke. To me at least the moment was impressive, -and the silence of the woods, that echoed to the sound, was as the sigh of solemn genius of the wilderness departing for ever.

The doctor followed me, then, if I recollect correctly, Mr. Prior, and the woodmen finished the work. The tree fell with a crash of accumulating thunder, as if ancient Nature were alarmed at the entrance of social man into her innocent solitudes with his sorrows, his follies, and his crimes.

I do not suppose that the sublimity of the occasion was unfelt by the others, for I noticed that after the tree fell, there was a funeral pause, as when the coffin is lowered into the grave; it was, however, of short duration, for the doctor pulled a flask of whisky from his bosom, and we drank prosperity to the City of Guelph.