The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1858-04-17

around and says turn potatoes; potatoes
then turns and call on some other name and
80 on. Whoever makes mistake, or ne
elects to turn when the name is called, has
to pay forfeit, which suppose you know
is the deposite of something, to be after
wards redeemed according to ancient usages;
and as some of the modes of redeeming was
new to me, l will relate them When there
is sufficient forfeits, one Of the party takes
the part of Judge, and another goes behind
their chair, and holding each pledge over
their head, askes what the owner must do to
redeem it. The judge then announces the
penalty; ono of these was to form bridge /;
the owner Of the pledge then calls one Of the
| other sex on tho floor, who stands opposite
him, she then calls gentleman, and SO on
until all the company is on the floor, the la
dies in row on one side, the gentlemen in
row on the other side {; they then all join
hands and holding them up, the top couple
then goes under the arch, and as they go
through, the lady kisses each gentleman, and
the gentleman each lady; each couple as they
in turn get to the top passes through in like
manner; by this process each gentleman kiss
es each lady, and each lady does the same to
the gentlemen, this is what call reciprocal.
Another penalty was to form Scotch pillow;
this is done by gentleman going to the cen
tire of the room kneeling on his left knee,
his right leg forming square, he then calls
lady whom he seats on his knee and salutes
her. Of course you will wonder how bash
full man like your correspondent could 60
through such an ordeal, but a person don't
know what they will do when they canno:
help themselves.
Another game was called choosing part
ners; to do this all the ladies seat themselves
in a room by themselves, ard each choose a
partner from the men; one stands at the door
and admit the gentlemen one at the time,
and tells him to go and sit by the one that
has selected him; who that is of course he
don't know, and he most likely sits by one
that has not chosen him; they then all clap
their hands and hiss him out of the room,
this is kept up until all find their partners.
The ladies were after served in like man
ner.
The party broke up at half past three,
which l am told is "good hours" compared
to some weddings.
Four fifths of the people in this part of
Canada are French Canadians they are a
mixture Of Indian and French, there is not
one in hundred that can read or write, and
their mode of living is miserable; raw fat
pork is dainty dish for them; although
nearly all of them are very poor, they are an
inofensive, happy, contented lot, and as long
as they have enough for to-day they care but
little for tomorrow. The English Canadi-
ans, or English as they are termed here, look
upon them as We look upon the colored peo-
pie; gentleman speaking of them to me,
said "they would do very we'll for soles, but
would make very bad uppers > meaning they
are better kept under.
The ladies IN this part have generally a
fresh, healthy look, and many of them in
cold weather wear a round fur cap or turban,
giving them a very pleasing appearance, and
many of the men wear cap on their over
coat, which in cold weather they pull over
their head forming hood.
will write to you shortly from Ottawa
City, the new selected seat of the future
Capitol of Canada. &c.