Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1857-07-29

Messrs Editors You last heard from me just
as I reached the foot of the highest mountain in
"the States" as the Canadians say. Just as we
reached that point, and were seated in a carriage
for ride of eight miles, to the Alpine House,
there came suddenly upon us one of those, not
showers, but descending torrents of rain, which
SO frequently pour almost iustantaneOusly and
unannOunced upon those regions. So we had. if
not the pleasure, at least the novelty and vasety
of thorough drenching, and, without which, a
person could scarcely say he had visited the White
Mountains-as the drenching seems really an in
separable part of such an event.
From Gorham we proceeded to Montreal. as d.
rect as the quilted roads and tottering bridges,
occasioned by the late torrents, would permit
OF course, we were several hours belated, and
thus missed view of this metropolis of British
North America, from the Grand Trunk Railroad.
The terminus of this road, here, is at Longueil,
on the opposite side Of the ST. Lawrence from
Montreal, which we reach by ferriage. The Vic
toria bridge, in progress, is designed to con.
tnue the road across the river to this city. One
can have gut faint idea Of this stupendous work
from the seven piers already constructed, which
is all that's now done Of the bridge.
Montreal strikes the beholder, at once, as not
truly American town; and the people are plain
ly not Yankees. The buildings are comparative
ly low, but massive and strong, large propor-
ton being of stone. The Court House. a
stone structure, ofCorinthian architecture, SEEM
ed to me the most like having been cut from sol.
id rock, of any building ever saw And the Ca
thedral goes beyond anything of the kind that
have ever in the States,'' in regard to stu.
pendous vastness, which was my controlling idea
while viewing it +; but its, finish and decorations
within are, think, surpassed by some churches
in New York
No person should, if he can avoid it. neglect a
visit to the top of its tower, two hundred and fifty
feet, whence is most splendid view of the town,
its environs, the river, and the distant country.
The ascent to this tower is the easiest l ever
made. The great bell, the largest in North Amer
lea, weighing almost twenty five thousand pounds,
hangs just half way to the top of the tower 1t is
monster of human ingenuity, labor, and art.
In this church Catholic services are being per-
formed almost every hour in the day. and priests
may be seen walking to and fro almost con-
stantly. These priests are strange looking OBJ
jects in the living panorama, which, from a posi-.
ton in Place d'Armes, opposite the Cathedral is
seen to good advantage, moving up and down
Notre Dame street, and past this vast architectu-
raj pllo They seemed to me rather above the av-
erage height, an effect, perhaps, of their singular
ly unoecomng dresses, which were of a black
wooden stuff, like bOmbazette, made somewhat
like scant loose dressing gown, thus hanging
nearly without folds, from their shoulders quite
w 'hS4l thiCAs unSlSnllJ SuOeb OF Dr0ganSs llee
were confined at the waist by sashzot the same
material. Neither collar, wristband neck tie, or
other article of Dress was in sight, except broad
brimmed black hat One, indeed, saw, with his
robe open at the breast, showing a coarse, red
wooden shirt, but whether worn as a penance or as
daily garment 1 could not tell
Every good Catholic raises his hat as he passes
these priests. These people are uneuualed in
their devotion to their religion, and, think
may add, in their charitable, benevolent acts.
rar,I LII
sisters from some convent going about the streets
searching out objects of charity, and on errands
OF mercy; and when | saw the miserable insight
ly victims of self-indulgence, of poverty, or dis
ease, whom they receive into their institutions
and take of, or the homeless, friendless
children to whom they furnish homes and instruc-
tlon, could not help querying where else could
be found such institutions Where are the
Protestant women who will sacrifice and do as
much Truly, they feed the hungry, clothe the
naked, &C., and truly will they be rewarded
Only two or three of the converts are open to
visitors.
Notwithstanding Montreal is tolerably clean
city, yet there seemed to me kind D. siovenli-
ness about every thing, which was very disagree
able. 1t made an unpleasant impression upon
me. l did not see as fashionably and richly
dressed ladies as in most other cities although l
passed what supposed the principal prone
nades; therefore, judged, either that they do
not dress as much in Montreal as in other cities
OF eise Lnat they are greater :" keepers at home"
The patriotic citizens of Montreal erected
monument to the hero of Trafalgar which is now
somewhat defaced. 1t is the only monument
: that saw or heard of, in the city 1t has how
ever quite number of substantial rather than
magnifcen: public buildings. Its principal mar
ket (Bonsecour's) appeared TO me not inferior to
the justly-famed Quincy Market. L had glimpse
at the Museum of Natural History, which APP
peared very inferior. Perhaps l am wrong about
1t. The wharves of Montreal are scarcely sur
passed on this continent.
The citizens consider the high lands upon their
island, which gave name to the city, and which
they dignity as mountain as an important por-
ton OF this earth, and ride around the hill
mountain, they say, and view from the top,
are considered among the most desirable things
to be obtained in their vicinity "If you go there
you'll think yourself in Heaven !" said an en-.
thusastic Frenchman.
The st. Lawrence is noble stream, and the
lands extending long distance back from its
banks are as lovely any Western prairie, and
seemed to me very fertile. The dwellings are
sparsely scattered, and appeared small and un-
comfortable. But few fruit orchards were to be
seen, upon my route from Maine to Montreal
nor have l seen many in other directions from the
city. Vegetation is quite as forward here, l
think, this season, in Massachusetts,. Per-
haps it is not always so.
My route through Burlington to Worcester
will afford little Of interest, so, friend Spy, shall
trouble you no more at present. FMB