New-York daily tribune., 1843-08-25
THE TRIBUNE.
Wharvcs a;d C;ty-Cabs
and Cabmen-Streets and Business
Great Catholic CafheGral-The Nuiine-
Correspondence Of The Tribune.
E.Nchanre CnEse Unnse.
MONTREAL, Aug. Il, 1913


Exchange Coffee House,
MONTREAL, Aug II, 1913.
1t is some four or five years since my last pre-
ro,ls visit to Montreal and though have OBJ
sryed in thcnewspapers glowing accounts OF tiie
snkjng changes tha, have been made within that
tlne | was not prepared for so remarkaple d
nsnsforrnation as has in reality been elected
This is visible in every portion OF the city; but
,nonc more so than at The wharvcs Immediately
mon landing from the steamboat. Formerly
hose were dirty and decayed, the landing unplca-
.,ut, and the whole aspect Of the city forblddlng
,,1 repulsivc Now the first sight that grccts
,hs eve is quay, or range OF wharvcs, unequaled
On this Continent and unsurpassed IN the world,
or convenience and beauty They arc built en-
frelv Of hewn stone, laid iii mortar, and present
succession of elegant and substantial fronts, with
caujaqe roads leading up either way by gravclcd
and gradual incllnations. They have been built
within the last three years unccr the direction
,ndat the sole eexpe2se OF the Home Government.
lis by the construction of public works like this
hat the Government has of late sought to evince
It's regard for the welfare of It's Province, and
thus 10 quiet the discomfort, and conciiatc the
Affections OF It's subjects. Passing from the
wharycs into the streets Of the city, the change
spo less striking. Nearly ali the streets have
ieen repaired, and the side walks have been laid
anew, and, though still very narrow, arc much
more commodious than they formerly were: new
buildings, public and private, have been erected:
thc city is furnished with water from capaclous
reservoir, and lighted by gas: and the whole
place wears the aspect OF energy and business
activity which has never, till recently, been yis-
be- Much of this is attributed TO the remodel
ng Of the City Government and the extension OF
It's powers, especially Of Taxation. which was cf-
Rcted under the administration of Lord Svdcn-
lam. The Police of this city is effective, though
smaller than heretofore. The reduction was
nadefor the sake of economy; though the pre-
cent force has been found scarcely adequate to
he wants of the city. a regular patrol is kept
Up through the day as well as night, the officers
Of Police being distinguished by u uniform dress
from ordinary citizens. Each man carries short
club and wears band hordered with white upon
his hat, and white cord, neatly arranged, upon
his dress-Cabs are as thick in Monrcal as in
Newly but there is none of that rutiiany
spirit among the cabmcn which renders your
city so dsagreeabe and even dangerous to stran-
gers. One reason may be that here the great
hody of drivers are Frenchmen, who seem to have
an instructive poteness which preserves even
The lowest of the race from every thing like bru-
tality Haze cab, Sn?n saIutes your ears
frequently as YOU walk the streets; but it is
coureously spoken, and never pressed with rude
ness. Probably more satisfactory reason is the
surveillance OF the Police. One or more officers
always attend the landing of boats at the wharf,
and ,T
Like annoyance to the passengers dcbarking.-
Their powers seem TO be very ample on such oc-
casons and they are exercised with striclregard
to The comfort OF passengers. AS our boat ap-
preached the wharf we saw the officers with their
clubs at the side when the plank was thrown
out half a score or more Of cabmen made a rush
forit but they were hurled back in double quick
time, and the passage way kept vigorously and
completely clear. The inalicnable rights of loaf
ers 10 raise row at their pleasure are not here
treated with very substantial rcspect.-The cab
men here, as elsewhere, will swindle you if they
can; but they rarely attempt TO cXtort more than
aiew shl.lngs, and the rates to which you can
'oice them are quite reasonable.
Passing out of st. Paul.strcct, through the Rue
de st. Francais Navicr to the Place d'Armes, YOU
come IN front of the great Cathedra!-thc largest
church in the Western Continent, except, per
haps, one in Mexico 1t was commenced in
is2S, and is yet unfinished. 1t has been occu-
pied, however, for some years. Its appearance
nom without is more pleasing than the interior
view. The front entrances are beneath three
arches some fifty feet i'll hight. Above these in
'ont are inches painted at the top and in the cen
!fal one IS a statue Of the Virgin. The building
Is 20 feet length-from cast to wcSt--S,nd ia
ieet IN width. The towers, of which there arc 10
DC SIX, three on each sdc-and thus two at each
end are 2O0 feet in hight square. of hewn stone,
ana furnished with windows. Only two Of these
arc as ycl erected. 'fhc space between the front
lowers Is t3 feet by ll9. The style of this build
ing Is colhlc-hnShcd. with very few ornaments
ana IN an extremely PLAIN manner. 1t Is partly
T, Coeed from some of the best European models
ine coorS are kept open continually, and wor-
snipers pass IN and out almost every moment.
some merely 90 in, dip their fingers in holy Wa
leF, cross themselves and pass out ohcts lincel
70 The Virgin and repeat their prayers, or tell their
0saos, and many confess 10 the Priests, who are
ai"ayS IN attendance Strangers, too, arc con-
Saually gong III and out for the qualification OF
nef curiosity, as access is always perfectly free.
Inc v'ey of the interior, upon entering the door,
striking and grand. Three broad aisles con-
euc' rom the door to the great altar u: the fur
aer end, which occupies tic whole width OF the
ooue'ng. Behind 1t is a great window thrfy-,wo
Eei wide and slxty.iour in hight ii is divided
INTO shafts and muli!ons and in each is :; large
Painting upon glass-the upper series arc pictures
o. the Apostles, the next below of the Popes, and
the lower sketches from Scnp;ural history. Along
he sides beneath the galleries are seven altays ior
the nuns, each being furnished with large paint
ing generally of the Virgin Mary and with nm.
mense SILVER candlesticks. The pulpit from which
Preaching is heard is on the left side just beyond
the middle OF the building. Service is always in
french. There are two galleries, one above the
other and portions of each are consiged to pupils
iom the different schools, students from the Col
lsege, &C. The pcws are small and very plainly