From the Tavistock Gazette - September 24, 1896 - page 3
FIVE MINUTES WITH ROYALTY
“The Tavistock Public School gave Lord and Lady Aberdeen a loyal reception as they passed through here this (Thursday) morning, The station was beautifully decorated and a large assemblage of scholars and citizens gathered to do honor to the Governor-General of Canada. The School Board, Dr. Steele and Messrs. Stock and Jung, received the Vice-Regal party and conducted them to the platform, around which the children were standing each waving a flag.
Then little Lizzy Ballantyne, on behalf of the school girls, presented Lady Aberdeen with a beautiful boquet and received a kiss in return, and Willie Richardson, for the school boys, also presented Lord Aberdeen with a boquet. The Governor-General then gracefully acknowledged the reception and the presents of boquets to Lady Aberdeen and himself. He regretted the short time at his disposal to speak. He observed the fine farms as the train passed along and approved of the systems of mixed farming. He noticed that the nationalities represented here were mainly Scotch and German, and while he as a Scotchman could address the former in their own language, he would ask Lady Aberdeen to address the latter in German. This she then did in a few graceful words, to the delight of all, using the purest German, thanking them for the graceful reception and the beautiful flowers. The Governor-General then closed by saying that it matters not so much the nationality from which we come; it is as Canadians and loyal British subjects that we rejoice and are bound together. Three hearty cheers were given for Lord and Lady Aberdeen and for the Queen, and all joined in singing God Save the Queen.”