, 1865-07-14
LETTER FROM sl0NTREAL
ExpeFtence8 In CanAhn-Sl.ht Seeing
IN montrraI-The muGnra1n-Sl.
Johns Day-Consul General Potter
lhe AnneK0110nl8tS and IkebrIS, DC,
[Correspondcncs Of the Chicago Tribune.

[Correspordenca Of the Chicago Trioune.]
MONTREAL, Ju'y =, 1865.
A stranger. dropped down unexpectedly in
this city, fresh from the United States, would
require very little imagination to fancy him
self in Europe. There Is certainly no Place
in cur eBn glorious Republic which resembles
Montreal. Its narrow streets approlch come
what The Boston standard, but in every other
particular the appearance Ct this chef city
OF tic Cauaaas is ut once novel and unique,
The first thing which strikes the eye ia the
1etominance Of French signs, French peo-
IIe, French specialit'es, and French churches.
All the stsee.s havc double rames-one In
Erg1Ish and another In French mud, by the
way. the nomenclature Of the streets
exGautts the list Of Saints, as there ate
streets named after every Sstnt ever heard
Of, md some Saints never heard ofanywhcre.
The public buildings are nassiye and sub.
staptial. The hanks arc The finest, without
doubt, On the continent; the American Ex-
change, lhe State Bank Of New York. and
few Others In New York, and the Marine
BaIk building IN Chicago. approach but do
not e4usl tht Ontario, the Bank OF hoateca1,
The St. Lawrence and Others in ttls city.
The hot. Is ne all e. cond rate, with first c!ass
prices. The St. Lawrence Hall Ia tbs best,
though It Is lnfameusly assoc atcd with rebel
conspiracies. They charge three dollars Der
day IL geld, OF four In Erecnbacks, md FIR
that sum en!y medium board is given. The
Doncgava is TOO Ter from the business centres,
ard too poorly kept to BE- faForlte.
There Is certain ronnd OF sight seeing
Which occupies strangers just 80 long. You
rct carr;age all day for tour dollars fgold,
and drive around Montreal Mountain, IRON
the summit Of which a truly magnificent
view is obtaintd. The St. Lawrsnce river
and the distant Lachlue rapids and canals
above ard below the city, he Victosia bridge,
ard both sides Of The river, with its Islands,
and then the city l:sclf, Is spread before yon
like q pancrama. I know Of only one view
which can surpass It, considering that The
summit Of the mountain Is only 100 feet.
above high water-that is, the view from the
Mountain House OF Catskill Mountains.
St. Johns Day Eas celebrated on the 10.h
during onr stay he'e. twas curious affair
but nesrly all the stotekeepess, whether
Catholic OF not, decorated their stores with
maple bougbs, and Judging from the loads
hrnt,eht In ny Acasters'' thc name applied
here Tor dsaymeb} the labor Of providing these
boughs must have been yely profitable in
deed. On Notre Dame street where the ptin-
cipal procession passed, for two blocks every
shipping and public buildings Joined In the
demonstration. As early as a. n. the
sounds Of music were heard and professions
Of nurs, students, prests and civic societies
passed our hotel. The central attrac-
lion. however, was the big French
Cathedral, the largest In Canads and one
Of the largest on the continent.
The procession, excepting the music, all
entered the body cf this Immense building.
The size of thcinterlor may be imagined from
the fact that there are upwards OF one thou
sand pewB, zach Of which will hold i've per-
sons. Then there Is broad aisle in the cen
ter, which will accommodate 1000 chairs.
md side aisles and galleries Of immense ca.
pacity. On he present occasion 1t was Weu
crowded. The front OF the galleries
and the arches were trimmed win maple
leaves, and French and English aags. lBy
the way, wherever you sec the cross Of St.
George In a pirate building, either In hunt
ing Of In paint, you are sure to ind the tri-
color also) The sermon wasin French. The
singing services, equal TO the Italian Opera,
and The magnificent tones Of the organ-one
of the largest In America rare treat. The
whole thing vas over by l O'Clock, when
store keepers, church Hardens and whoever
had the matter In charge, tore down the
green boughs, and by 5 o'clock few stray
green Leaves in the cutters were the only ev-
idence left Of the celebration In the morning.
The metamorphoais was complete and sud-
den. It wAs literally dissoiyiog view.