The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-01-23
MONTREAL IN WINTER.
BY THE REV. DIR. E. WENTWORTH.


1t is the last of November. Winter
has scarcely begun in the States, yet
here everything wears Siberian letters
The st Laweraucc still flows icely--
North of the river, every vehicle is on
runners: the mercury is down among
the Zeros; Venetian blinds are gone
from the house-fronts, and double doors
and windows have taken their places :;
stoves and furnaces are in full winter
blast; and the entire population has
robcd itself in furs, the cast-off gar
ments of the four-egged denizens of
this frigid region-the mink, otter, bear,
beaver, and seal
Montreal is beautiful city; but it is
difficult to dwell ON its special beauties
with your feet slipping on icy pave
ments, and cutting winds starting in
voluntary tears, and freezing ice-scales
as they flow. The old, dull, dingy
French city is rapidly giving place to
stores and dwellings, built of brick, with
stone fronts, or of solid stones, with
fine architectural proportions and orna-
ments, such as, we think, might satisfy
a Ruskin. The mountain at the back
of the city furnishes unlimited stone,
and its endless quarries are growing in
to churches, dwellings,, and warehouses
at a rapid rate. More than two hun
dred noticeable buildings, mostly of cut
stone and expensive structure, were adj
ded to the city during the last year
The city water-works, elevated on the
mountain-side, preclude the necessity
for steam fire-engines, hose being sutfi-
cient to dclugc the highest buildings in
the city. Here, as elsewhere, the city
outgrows the supply ofwatcr, and there
is sad complaint of efficiency in hydraul-
ic accommodation, especially during the
winter The =" city fathars" are being,
just now, "haulcd over the Goals - for
dereliction in duty-more promise than
fulflment
Fifty years ago, Montreal had less
than 10000 population; now it is esti-
mated at 10000 A million of dollars
were spent in building during the last
year, and its assessed property is now
about 500, 100000. The city is still
largely French, and predominantly
Romish. The French church-Notre
Dame, sometimes called " Cathedral :"
is widely known forits capacity, said
to hold ten thousand persons The
Jcsuits' church is fine structure Pro
testants of every name have fine stone
oh I ID
Methodist churches, and one or two of
the antediluvian type; preached in the
pulpit occupied by Bangs, Summerfeld,
and, for aught l know, Philip Embury
an uncouth tub, which has served
its day, and ought to be whitfield into
canes and crosses, and added to the
accommodating stores of Methodist relics.
Our Wesleyan brethren follow English
ways, some of which seem to us pecul-
lar The hymn is read verse by verse,
on the supposition, apparently, of ina
bility to read, or inability to possess
hymn books. The preachers of the
city meet Saturday afternoon, to pray
for blessing upon the labors of Sun
day, instead of coming together for Cos
sip on Monday morning. In prayer
meeting-at least the one | attend
the hymns were lined out, and sung
standing; brcthern two at time, were
called upon to pray by the clergyman
leading. Missionary meetings are con-
Quoted with all due platform formality.
Each church erects an actual platform,
furnishes the meeting with Il chairman,
invites clergy, dignitaries, and speak
ers to an elevated position, and APP
pIauds in all stylcs-English parliament
tary hear. heart Methodist
amens," and lecture and concert hand
clippings. Fifty-fvc thousand Metho-
dists raised $4,000 for missions-al-
most dollar and half in currency per
mcmbcr-whilc, this side of the line,
we have hard work to raise seventy
five cents rnr mrmbpr