The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-09-04
Litterae Ruris---TOrOntO

lFrom an Oceasional Correspondent
TORONTO. August 2Sth, 1865.
A hurried ride from Buffalo; S brief
pause at the Falls to disgorge q host of
pleasure-seekers; a momentsry
and tantalizing glimpse of the majestic
cataract and the swift emerald river as the
train creeps along its steep and rocky bank;
a dusty ride or tramp of three quarters of
q mile from the cars to the boat at Lewis
ton q delightful sail of two hours across
the head of Lake Ontsrio-snd you are
landed at the Capital City of Upper Can
ada. This, the most attractive city of the
Province, is situated on the northern arm of
the lake, about thirty-si1 miles from the
mouth of Niagara. She brings her feet
down to the waters edge of Ontario more
gracefully that the abrupt slope of Cleve-
land into Erie. The ebay" as it is called,
is formed by a natural breakwAter or island
about 3 mile and a half from shore, and
nearly three miles in length. First sur
veyed in 1893, this point was for several
years a mere trading post called Little
York" Now it can boast of q population
of sixty thousand.
1t need be no misfortune to the tourist
if he is dropped in this city of a Saturday
afternoon to wait for Mondays Royal Mail
steamer. If he desires a quiet Sabbath he
may fndi it here. 1 venture to ssy that no
town of its size settles down from the tur-
bulence of the week into q sweeter Sabbath
repose. The street cars cease their run.
ming entirely; and there appear to be no
beer gardens in the suburbs to attract q
beisterous crowd of Sabbath breaking Wis
itors to the great annoyance of sober citi-
zens. The city government is admirable.
All saloons and places where intoxicating
drink is sold are closed on Sunday. Even
the bar of the hotel is kept fast by lock and
key. This calls to mind the fact that
Mayor Chaplin, some time since, made our
wi municipal law vigorous in the same
direction; for which noble exercise of au-
thority he should receive the support of
every good citizen.
Toronto is well supplied with churches,
among which, as might be expected, the
Church of England takes the lead, though
the other denominations are ably repre-
sented and sustained. We sought the
Scotch Kirk for morning worship, and sure
enough We found it in its pure original
simplicity-square pews, birds nest pulpit,
sounding board, gown and broad Scotch
accent. The people evidently repose great
confidence in the homilitical ability Of their
pastor, for soon after the text was announ-
ced. "mony q guide mon" might be seen
fast asleep. The Kirk surely cannot be
popular in Canada, for a scanty hundred
were assembled to hear a most adifuin0 dis
A person spending q Sabbath in this
city will not fail to hear DR.. ORldicott of
the Bond Street Baptist Church, one of the
first Canadian preachers. He is almost q
perfect counterpart of Chaplin, of New
York, in physique, in tone, in manner. and
IN admirable %elOcution. The charming
vision he opened to US of the New Jerusa-
lem and its Great Light, rocked US to sleep
when we retired, and did not leave us
with the gray of the morning.
Toronto is noted for its fine public build
tngs. 1t contains many elegant banking
and insurance houses, two magnificent ca
thedrals, and several educational edifces of
uncommon excellence. Among the latter,
visitors will take a special interest in the
Normal School building. This is q plain
Corinthisn structure, containing the head
quarters of the Educational Buresu,
library laboratory and lecrIre rooms
on the first floor, and on the
second story a large collection of rare
paintings and ~statusry. What circum-
stances, thought we to train common
school teachers inl One of the lecture
rooms is adorned with q theatre of Eng.
lands kings and queens, naval and militia
~ heroes, orators, poets and literary men,
brought here by the sculptor's art.
As you sit in the midst of these eloquent
busts OF mighty men, you are at once
struck with the superior power that sculp-
ture possesses over painting to produce an
immediate impression; and you cannot
wonder that the former marks the earlier
period in the history of ths race, Just as
poetry came before metaphysics.
Osgood Hall, named sitter one of the
Chlef Justices of the Province, is q large
expensive building, embracing a law
school, a law library of 10000 volumes,
besides the rooms in which the different
courts hold their sessions, all finished in the
most elaborate and substantial manner.
But grander thsn any other is the edi.
fee of the University of Toronto. This
building, situated in the northern extremi-
~ of the city, consists of an upright ele-
walton, fronting the bay, 200 feet in length,
with a wing at either end running back
about the same length, the whole making
; hollow squsre. The architecture is An.
slo-NOrman, and at a distance gives a lit
lie OF the appearance of an ancient castle,
The main entrance is through castellsted
ITO feet high, standing upon ground
.OS feet above the level of the sea. The
western wing contains q lsboratory,the DOR
nltories OF the students, q dining hall and
The eastern wing includes a
nsgniicent examination hal! lecture and
o1umns. The whole edifce is Of sol,d
tone, quite deliberately adorned. and Was $
uilt at a cost of $500, 900. 1t is the finest 1
EDUCATIONAL building on this Continent
he means for its construction and main. .
snance all came from lands set apart for :
he purpose by King George, while Toron-
was yet Little York. The institution has
cen IN operation for six years. It is a
'aI University, embracing the depart
tents OF classics and mathematics, enpi-
eerlng and military science, together with
for each of the Professions !
here are many other interesting features |
out this Capital City, but 1 Will not en- Q
lmber your space. $.
Your namesake, Mr.. LEADER, appears d
ne daily as an evening star, and il de-
Its lustre (tf such can be called lus. ]
from the genius of q p4rson who de-
IDS The raiders during the week and
sctlces to q small band of adisciples'I on
nday. As we wind our watery path
'tWard we cannot but accompany our
ring survey of Toronto and her insti-
ions with an este perpetuG. Is
Mon DENIES.