The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1871-08-26
scrIbner's Monthly for September

Scribner's Monthly for September.
A pleasant, skstchy paper, entitled "Scenes
from Canada" opens the September number of
SCRlBNERs. 1t is BY DR.. Beers, of Montreal,
aud is principally descriptive of that quaint PEG.
pie, the French Canadians. The illustrations
are Of costume, village life, NC. Next we have
IN interesting paper on "Mercator, the Path
Finder Of the Seas" with an excellent portrait
The other illustrated articles are graphic de.
scription of "Mouutaiu Views and Adventures"
by ]. T. Headley; "Scenes from the Marble
Fsun," by W. L. Alden; and an entertaining pa.
per by James Richardson on the recent expert
ments in London, by men Of science, with Home,
the so-called medium" "Whose Wife was
She ?" is the title Of story of marvellous power
and exciting interest, by SAKE Holm; Susan
Archer Weiss writes bright story-"Peter
Bloch, Hartz Legend" and the installment of
Wilfred Cumbermede isl unusually interesting.
Then we have very timely and valuable article
by Mr.. William F. G. Shanks, in which are Civ
en- the facts and figures of the present expert
ments in "Chinese Skilled Labor" at North Ad.
ans, Mass. and Belleville, N. j. Mr.. w. o
Stoddsrd throws light on the mystery connected
with the River of Egypt: &C., &c.
"Topics of the Time, ""Home and Society" and
Culture and Progress at Home and Abroad are
we'll filed and entertaining departments, and
this very readable number closes with some
amusing outline "Scenes from Shakespeare"
We make an extract:
The FRENCH CANADIANs.-The French Can.
adams. as we find them to-day, are very differ.
emit people from what they were fifty years ago.
With respect to the state of education, CONNER.
cial enterprise. aud agriculture. among them
half century ago, the less said the better We
will take them rs any traveller will find them
to-day.
They are OF the average height; stouter and
stronger than the people of France though lack
ing the gracefulness of carriage aud tout ensemble
Of the Frenchman, The prevailing type of face
is distinct from the English Canadian. 1t is dark
and STERN while gloom hangs over the counte-
nance, which, however, is often relieved by a
pleasant versatility of expression peculiar to the
French character. The hair is remarkable for
its luxurisnce, darkness, and tendency to curl
The French Canadians manifest hereditary
pride in dress The upper class without fault
but the middling and lower class verge upon tn
vulgar. A French servant-girl will appear on
Sundays aud church holidays in all the colors OF
the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. chiynon, crinoline, q
| cete1d, in the most eXtravugant extreme. Butch
er.boys aud cabmen strut around in conspicuous
suits Of tho brightest yellow, brown, and velvct
with black beaver hat, and lavish display Of
pure oroide. The poorer classes strive and strain
to keep up appearances beyond their means, aud
periodically the french clergy censure their ex.
travagance from the pulpit. The days of beef
moccasins and home.spun cloth have vanished
even among the laborers. The interesting jean
Baptste' of twenty or thirty years ago, clad in
the primitive gray or blue flannel coat and
breecbes, and the peculiar worsted cap called a
''tuque,' with variegated colored sash, has be.
come traditionary in the cities 1t has even dis
appeared from the cab.stands and wharves OF
Quebec city, and those who wish TO see it mus,
look at its representation on the copper coins OF
the "Banque dn Peuple," in the masquerades, in
the skating Kinks, or in the water-ccors of Kreig.
hotf and jacob. Within the last 20 years, Eng.
lish ind French Canadians have become NJ
blended in many socia! respects that old dstnc.
tions Of dress have been almost entirely obliter
ated, and there il not the same effort made to
retain unsuitable fashions simply because they
! happen to be French.
The French of the cities do not, ms many sup
pose, speak pure French. have heard Parisian.
affirm that at first they had some difficulty il
understanding perfectly the most of what edu
Gated French Canadians would say, owing to The
introduction Of peculiar idiom and the inter
mixture Of English, producing paios different
from anything besrl 10 France. They speak fas