Modern language does not do justice the sights, sounds and people of Lake Ainslie. John L.MacDougall in his History of Inverness County, published in 1922, beginning on page 508,describes the people and place we have come to know."East Lake AinslieThis is and interesting division of Inverness County. It comprises all the territory along the waterfront from Scotsville to Head Lake, and projects into the hinterland so as to take in thesettlements of Mount Pleasant, Keppoch and Piper's Glen. The land rises very gently from thelake inward for a half a mile, and then lifts abruptly into towering hills and mountains. The frontfarms are well cleared and cultivated and the natural scenery is very pretty. To the earlyimmigrants this handsome lake, hidden in the wilderness, was always a happy relief. It was aglorious break in the spell of the forest. We imagine we hear some of the old settlers, after a hardday's toil, singing in soliloquy as follows: "How sweet at set of sun, to view Thy golden mirror spreading wide And see the mist of mantling blue Float round the distant mountains side."Trout Brook, about five miles south of Scotsville, is a well-known resort of anglers. This brookfinds its source in excellent springs at the foot of the mountain, and when the trout come up fromthe sea to the lake they are attracted at once by the cool waters and green shades of this ripplingstream. Hosts of dyspeptic desk workers from far and near, come here for a cure in vacationtime. In a week or two the virtue of the treatment can be seen in the happy faces, the liltingsongs, and the glad Gaelic of these convalescent knights of the rod and reel.The residents of this district are, we think without exception, lineal descendants of the genericHighland Scots. The settlers fronting on the Lake are all Presbyterians, having their own residentminister, and their own church and manse. The people living in the rear sections are chieflyCatholics belonging to the parish of South West Margaree. We doubt there is a rural section inNova Scotia, of the size of East Lake, that has turned out more Presbyterian Ministers than didthis district in the last century. We know of one family here who has five sons in thePresbyterian Ministry, two in the medical profession and one, a live, progressive farmer on thehomestead. The regular pursuits of these good people would appear to be farming and theology.Turning to the political arena, we find that this district gave a senator to the Parliament ofCanada, and a Lieutenant Governer to the Province of British Columbia in the person of the lateHon. Thomas McInnis. This deceased gentleman was not, in any sense, superior to his EastLake neighbours and contemporaries, but he hearkened to the voice that said "Go west, youngman, and grow with the country.". Before going west he had graduated in medicine and was aman of talent. ....... At the same time, we are glad to know that not many of his East Lake friendsand neighbours could be tempted to "go and do likewise".......The main road of this district runs close to the water; and follows the windings thereof from theOutlet to Head Lake, thence around Head Lake till it strikes the boundary of the NorthWhycocomagh District. In the main, it is good hard, level road. In the leafy month of June it isnot easy to find a prettier drive than that from the waters of Whycocomagh around Head Lake,and down the East side to Scotsville. The scenic eyeful is diversified and grand. When wintercomes, all the roads in this region lead to the Lake ice, - the chosen track of Jehu." Continuing to describe the Lake, MacDougall writes on page 520 - "Lake Ainslie is a beautiful body of fresh water in the very centre of Inverness County. It istwelve miles long, with an average width of 3 miles. The East side is called East Lake, and thewest, West Lake. It is named Ainslie after the last Governor of the Island of Cape Breton. Boththe East and the West sides are now densely peopled. Every spring Trout and Alewives[gaspereau] come up from the sea into this lake in bounteous quantities, via the South WestBranch of the Margaree River, which has its source at Scotsville."