Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-09-20
Correspondence
Notes of a Tour Through new
Brunswick and Nova sco-
tia.-No. 4.
ny RRv. y. CYR,

The British Government intended to
expel all the French from Nova Scotia
in 1856, and they would doubtless have
succeeded in doing so, had the intabi-
tants of the various settlements fallen in
the trap as did those of the Grand Pre-
District of whom we spoke in our last
paper. But the Acadians in other places
were afraid of the proclamation which
summound them together in their re-
spective churches, and did not obey.
Although the British officials, bent on
their destruction, hunted them like
wild beasts-many had taken to the
woods-yet certain number OF them
escaped, some finding their way to Cana
da, others settling among the Indians.
About eight years after, portion Of the
poor exiles, who had been scattered
from Massachusetts, to Louisiana were
permitted to return to their native CCun-
try. But alas they found their fertile
farms occupied by strangers, and had to
settle on the soil they could get, princi-
pally on the rocky shores of st. Mary's
Bay, out of the great Bay of Fundy.
There they have wonderfully increased,
so faithfully obeying, although deprived
of the Bible, the command: "Be fruit
| full and multiply" that now they form
the majority in the county of Disby, the
settlement occupying some forty miles Of
the shore. They are all Romanists, ex-
cept few who have embraced the Pro-
testant faith within a few years. They
have in that county eight churches.
They have retained the French char
acter in many respects; they are gentle,
lively and polite. They seem to wear up
on their countenance the impress of their
misfortunes. The women especially
present mournful appearance. They
are generally dressed in black, and wear
kerchiefs of the same color upon their
heads, instead of bonnetS. When l saw
a hundred of them together in church,
thus clad, | could not help fancying
them in mourning on account of the
sufferings of their forefathers. 1t is
strange to see the little girls in this
cos tune; the rosy cheeks and sparkling
eyes, peeping out of the black cotton or
silk kerchiefs, produces a singular effect.
1t makes them look older than they
really are, and deprives childhood of its
charms. The old folks seem to think
that it is very unbecoming for little girls
to go about with their heads or necks
uncovered. They would be shocked
were they to see the children as they are
dressed in this country.
-4DrQp0S of dress, any thing different
from the above costume is generally
considered as pride and ought to be re-
proved. The young women who wear
bonnets, light colored dresses and hoops
are considered on the way to ruin!
| was told that on one occasion, some
years ago, there was little insurrectior
on the part of the females on account Of
this traditional dress; they wanted al
least to wear bonnets. But the old French
priest who had enjoyed complete sway
over them for many years, put his veto
and knipped this wish in the bud. Tht
old man did not believe in Innovations
and could not tolerate such exhibition!
of wordliness His successors have
followed in his footsteps, and Conse
quently Acodians shall wear the simple
dress of the French peasantry of thu
? seventeenth century. Some think tina
the reason why their pastors are opposed
to the modern fashions is that they &c
from this people the more money as i
costs them but little to dress. [ cannO
affirm that this is the main motive 0
these gentlemen, but should not wonde
: if it were more or less the case.
think the priests do decided injur!
to these people in condemning or discour
aging the beautiful in dress, for, as on
has said, if dress does not make tn
, man, yet man and woman too look bet
: ter, dressed.
The language of the Acadians is a
: Anticipated and outlandsh as their dress
t 1t is one of the old patOis of France, witt
a little sprinkling of English and Indian
However I understood them, and the,
: understood me, and on one occasion
:, good woman said that spoke Frencl
l as we'll as they l felt very much com
plimented, and realized that it was no
!, useless to go to Paris.
. These people have grown in ignorance
S their religious leaders have taken blu
S little interest in education; the onl
e schools they have ever had are third o
fourth rate primary schools. The con
. sequence is they have no professions
: men. Their physicians and pastors ar
[ foreigners; as to lawyers, they have no
: been supplied yet with this commodity
: A recent law which makes it bindin
on the people to establish schools, 70
, J IL Sc, ,lu