Stephen Leacock was an early 20th century Canadian writer and economist. He received a PhD is political science from the University of Chicago. He opposed women"s rights and non Anglo-Saxon immigration, however he was a supporter of social welfare legislation. Set in 19th century Canada Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town tells of life in a small town called Mariposa on the shore of magnificent Lake Wissanotti Leacock looks at life in a nostalgic and slightly ironic light.