New-York tribune., 1871-07-25
RUNNING THE RAPIDS.


MONTREAL July 13.-Montreal is a resting
place for tho stvatAg Bedouins of the United States
Tley & not here to remain for weeks, as at Long
Branch and Saratoga , .ncy teLA IN the city IL
course Of Canadian travel and conscientously do It's
objects Of interest Montreal is situated near the Grand
Trunk Railway Bridge and just below the point where
the st. Lawrence River flows beneath that monument OF
engineering skill Montreal founded or discovered
don't know which, by jacques Cartier, In year too
remote to recall in such temperature. am sure about
Jacques, because have read so in book and have
boon told so by two thoughtful haokmen Boshes there
Jacques Carter-st, Jacques Cartierpace, Jacques
Cartier Monument Jacques Cartier Hotel Jacques Cartier
Bank, beside saloon two bearing the ilustrlou5
name. am forcibly reminded that am not in New
York One of the lions of the city Montreal Mountain,
which first back of the plateau where Montreal
built and oyerools the st. Lawrence River for long
distance. There is fine road around the m0uIt2in and
every visitor expected to travel a least once during
his stay.
Yesterday four of hired nice roomy carriage with
a driver (who combined poeness and tacturnity ia To-
marlable prOportions), and. took ride around the
mountain. The distance is eight miles, and the road,
though good is far from level We consulted before ne
gotiatng and thought should be fortunate 70 mako
the ride for s. gold Prudcntly, asked our man his
price before making OfRcr. He proposed -
offered 49, and he accepted with an alacrty that
made us feel liko reckless spendthrfs After our re-
turn We engaged him at 81 an hour 90 take us around
the city see The churches and other public buildings;
then we hired him for short drive In the evening he
leaving the price us, and grumbng when
we gave him third of what would have been very
satisfactory to his New-York cousin. Carriages
cheap the result ia that they frequently used New
York hacmen might take hint from the two facts but
OF they will not. And they might find well to
adopt the model OF the Montreal carriage, which is
vastly comfortable than the wretched box
wheels 10 which Manhattan Island is accustomed
But the carriages drawing away from tho lions
of Montreal First and foremost are the Lechine Rapids
just above the city The journey "a by rail to Lachne
Station and then by steamboat back to the city by way
of the Rapids The boat swiftly down the river
where the current is gentle. increasing the water
horizon in 'front.' q line of whte-capped breakers
is discovered; they grow larger they are ap-
preached and the boat begins to toss she were
passing Point Judith in sulky weather The ladies utter
gentle and cling to the nearest supports, gen.
orally masculine and the careless and notwithstanding
young who have mounted the rail find 1t prudent to
descend Rocks here and there in tho waters
and the steamer goes hem the force or the
wheels added to the powerful current carried us "a we
travelled this speed which the swifest boat on
the Mississippi might envy, and our boat shot through
the sparkling foam like an ocean bird set free There
were two at the Wheel and If ever there was tlme
when the injunction Don't speak to the man at tho
wheel" should be observed 1t is when running the
Lachine Rapids rock almost In our path. but
graceful kept from grazing 1t, though we went
near enough to enable twO-year-old baby to toss
ginger cake upon it, There generous utterance OF
"Ohs and "Ahs from fair lips and just as we began
10 think the becoming interesting we were
ont of the rapids steamng In smooth water down to
Montreal Two hours after leaving the city we were
back again.
The experience is well worth having. though could
not help thinking OF Sir Charles Codsreams comment
upon Vesuvius and other sights and sensations IN Eu-
rope. There Is appearance Of danger about the
Rapids but they have been passed so many times that
they are perfectly safe. and therefore good deal OF
their interest Is lost. was assured that should be as
safe in passing the Rapids in riding up Broadway In
an omnibus. eff danger other charms hath none then
dangers self is lure alone" To my mind the mar VINO
first took a steamboat down the Lachine Is worthy
OF a monument greater than that the who
first swallowed an oyster. / believe history
records that the first was an indian, ana
until recently he was almost the sole pilot OF
the Rapids looked for him with his feathers and war
paint but he was the wheel unless darksknned
Canadian in prosac pantaoons and colored shirt were
he. Well the Rapids were DONE We steamed under the
Grand Trunk Railway Drdge-they call 1t Victoria
Bridge here-and looked up at that huge tune tnat
stretches from pier TO pier as II 1t were trying 10 20
across and could not succeed We approached montreal
an d. from whatever direction approached It, we saw
tbe twin towers OF the Cathedral rising far above the
grounding buildings and telling US where must be
found the next object OF our visit. we lanu9u az
granite quay and aScended the hill, and before long, we
we're at the Cathedral. 1t is spacious building and
more sting than many of the churches To which
travellers In Europe taken. IL has beautifuiiy
stained window and quantity OF paintings so badly
drawn and cOlOred suggest that they were made Dy
yong pupils at the beginning OF erapprentceshp or
by the old masters when had brought on blndhes.
or imbect one OF its towers can be aseended Tor y
cents; but fatigue short breath, and conviction that
does not pay obtained. -, -,
When we had done this building went TO the Church
OF the esus and the new Episcopal church, and then
10 see Montreal at random There are many fine build
ings Montreal but they are too neat ana snbstaa
to be interesting. Yesterday the England EdOrai
Association, numbering about $50 persons iad1s IN IA
cluded was entertained by the Mayor Of Montreal ana
evidently enjoyed itsef 1t started last Monday S M
Boston other points and assembled that nght a o
Adams where IL slept Tuesday II came here, arINns
In the evening and yesterday IL went sightseeing u
underwent entertaining This morning IL starred Io @
Lake Memphremagog, and tomorrow IL Will dream "
and 20 home by different routes The Association hso
annually for pleasure journey and for sOItehhse ro
aspertes which somehow exist In the JOurniis.o IT, ~
fesslOn II pleasant TO $50 editors, Win aPn,
tionate number of wives and daughters . ,ln
in harmony and free tickets, ana leaving I'm INV
sonal and political prejndoes az nome, ~ ooo ~ The
boyhood DAYS lived the Capltal ol .he rival
smaller New England States. used 10 Ica oaitors
papers OF that town and imagined tha NhVh eH Ian~y
ine they must indulge IN fights to wnicn s' Al grew
cat encounter would be the mlheet ,,s very
oider inv bright Illusions vanished ana ~
Veek seen those rival editors cOnNerslk ~ ' Al.
ond bappIy a. n couple ~ brothers VINO hn'o % sush
''i.J = m =, a. or WIOed tho h.Ule Diai.Vh. ttiiT
- a., ,t,ar,utne summer Nlp"H "+f