To the Last Ha'Penny
by Ed Ogle

Eskimos are quick to recognize a good thing. At Cape Dorset (several years ago), the head of the welfare department, Olive Chesworth, came to town and was still full of all the glories she had seen on her vacation trip to England. She told about pubs and cathedrals, the fast life in gay old London and the craggy moors of Scotland.

Johnny Williams, an Eskimo welfare official who was 25 years old at the time and his wife were so taken with their chief's description of England that they asked her if there was any reason an Eskimo couldn't go.

She said, "Well good God, no". They asked if she thought they would have as good a time as she did, and she said no reason not to. She then went to her library and pulled out several books on England.

So Johnny and his wife took the advice of Mrs. Chesworth and went over. They had a marvellous time and so reported on their homeground when the holidays were over.

Mrs. C. said, "Johnny, there was one thing I forgot to tell you and that was about the crazy English money system. How did you handle that"?

Johnny said, "Oh, that was no trouble at all. I just held out my money in my hand and those people just took what they needed. English people are very honest, you know".

Background Information

Vacations can be very relaxing, but they can be full of stress too. Where is your favourite place to go to? Have you ever travelled somewhere where you had to use a different kind of money?

Questions

1. What does a craggy moor look like?

2. Where did Olive go on her vacation?

3. How old was Johnny when he went to England?

4. What is welfare?

5. Why do you think Johnny and his wife asked if there was any reason an Eskimo couldn't go?

6. Why did Olive pull books on England out of her library?

7. What's another word for marvellous?

8. What's another word for holiday?

9. How is the English money different from Canadian?

10. Do you think Johnny and his wife got ripped off? Why or why not?