THE NATION: The Beacon & The Flame

In the shadow of Ottawa's National War Memorial one morning last week, three little Canadian boys gravely examined the card on a wreath just placed there by a visitor from the U.S. "What's it say?" asked one. An older passer-by read it for them. "It says," said this man, "'the President of the United States.'" Then he added quietly: "Bless his heart."

Dwight Eisenhower's first Canadian visit in five years drew few such baldly emotional responses from Ottawans, who take a certain capital dwellers' pride in public impassivity before distinguished guests. But as the three days of speechmaking, banqueting and...