What you need to know about the 19th century

My journey south took me away from a terrific snow storm in my part of Ontario. Nevertheless, even before it hit, I experienced a comfortable but contemplative train ride through a very snowy landscape. And once again I thought -- what the heck were they ever thinking? Those people who left everything to cross the oceans to farm and lumber and mine in this country where -- at least where I live -- we may have snow on the ground five months of the year? They lived here with no electricity.

And all I can figure is: what they left was worse than risking their lives in a harsh climate in an unknown country. Here, there was hope.