Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-07-18

tants worship and which are TAR inferior TO
the Romsh churches. The cathedral of No.
ire Dame has two towers which are the first
objects seen from distance. In one of these
hangs the largest bell on this continent. The
church itself is of immense size and is open
at all times to the black-gowned priests and the
deluded worshipers. as are the Jesuit and Eng
lish churches. Mass was being performed
when we entered, and as the last incarnation
was uttered and the last blessing given, the
rude coffin of the deceased was unceremoni-
ously slid out of the magnificent catafalque
and borne hurriedly away upon stretchers.
The blazing altar, the smoking incense, the
golden candlesticks, the marble statuary, the
fine paintings by the old masters, the draped
confessionals, the colossal columns rising from
the floor and arching at the lofty roof, studded
with gilt stars, and all the other parapherna-
liza of the worship that may be expected in
these cathedrals, not only characterize Notre
Dame, but also the Jesuit and the English
cathedrals. The latter church, although
wanting in the gilt and and show OF the Others
is still magnificent in its simplicity. The
Catholics are building another church of i'm
mense proportions, the exact counterpart of
St. Peters at Rome. The walls are now
about IA feet high. The Grey nunnery, the
home of aged and INDECENT people; the pub
lie library; the great wholesale warehouses;
the extensive grounds of the monied aristo-
Gratis, afforded rich material for Yankee eyes
to pry into and Yankee tongues to ask ques-
tons about.
On Wednesday morning at s 80 O'Clock,
most of the ladies and gentlemen (the timid
ones were left behind) accompanied by some
residents of the city, took the horse cars for
the depot on Bonaventure street, where
hearty welcome was given by his worship,
Mayer Coursol, and the Hon Mr.. Dart Con-
sui General of the United States. The gen.
tlemen were greeted with applause, and par
ticularly acceptable was the invitation of the
Mayor to visit his 'humble domicle" in the
afternoon. In about twenty minutes the par
ty arrived safely at Lachine and took the
steamer "Beauharnois" for a sail in the St.
Lawrence and run down the far famed
"Rarids." smart shower (the only rain OK
perienced during the trip only cleared the
atmosphere and made the voyage more pleas
ant, as the sun came out before the Rapids
were reached. At two o'clock in the after
noon there was test of the capacity of the
Fire Brigade, at the Champ de Mars. A false
alarm was given and in two minutes a stream
of water was playing. The entire fire de-
partment of the city is composed of but about
thirty men. These are constantly trained and
drilled to the use of the hose. No engines
are needed, as the water is taken from power
full hydrants placed in the different streets and
supplied from reservoir situated short dis
lance from the city.
The horse cars were then taken for the
grounds of his worship the Mayor, laid out
in true English style, with flower and vegeta-
BILE gardens, shrubbery, ponds, bridges, walks,
drives and shade trees. The elegant mansion
of the Mayor was thrown wide open and a ia
BILE was spread in the yard loaded with refresh
ments. These being disposed of, the cham
payne bottles began to "pop" and foam. Toasts
were given to the Queen, the President of the
United States, and short, lively speeches made
by His Worship the Mayor, Mr. Stockwell of
the Boston journal, Mr.. Dngley of the Lewis
ton Journal, Hon. Mr.. Dart and others, and
poem read by Mr.. Boylston of New Hamp-
shire, on the 'Rad of the Faust Men" The
time until five o'clock was spent in the inter-
change of courtesies between the visitors and
their Montreal friends. For this elegant recep
ton and kind hospitality, the Mayor has not
only the thanks of his guests, but of the peo
pie of Montreal.
In the evening there was social reunion
at st. Lawrence Hall. Several ofthe members
of the Montreal press were introduced. Hon.
Mr.. Dart was made chairman of the meeting,
and various literary exercises followed among
them very witty description of the trip, in
the form of poem. by Mr.. Marden of Lowell.
At half-past eight o'clock on Thursday
morning, the party took their departure for
Newport, by the Grand Trunk Railroad, bear
ing with them, we are sure, the pleasantest
recollectiOns of their visit to Montreal. We
arrived at Newport about five o'clock, dusty,
weary and hungry Here we were met at the
elegant Mcmphremagog House by large
crowd who greeted us cordially, and the ST.
Johnsbury Brass Band. From the piazzas of
this hotel the waters of the lovely lake may
be seen, and the mountains loom up majesti-
cally in the distance. The large and elegant
steamer, "Lady of the Lake" Capt. Fogg,
leased by Mr.. Robinson, was in waiting after
tea to take the party on an excursion down
Lake Memphremagog which is thirty miles
long and two miles wide. As we sail down
the lake we find it to be dotted with islands
covered to the waters edge with verdure.
The shores rise bold and steep, and on the
right are grand mountain ranges. The high
est peak is Owls Head, rising precipitately to
the height of 5000 feet. At the base of the
mountain the water is very clear and deep.
Near this is the Mountain House, a hotel
erected for summer tourists, and all along the
lake we discover peeping out from among the
green foliage of shade trees, little summer
cottages which are now receiving their occu-
pants. The sun sinking behind the mountains
| the quiet lake, inspired both poetry and song.
| The excursion was followed by fireworks and
| grand illumination of the yard adjacent to
| the hotel. Then came another grand reunion
| of the four associations. Resolutions were
| passed thanking the railroads for passes ovei
their various lines, the hotels for reduction o
fare, the Mayor of Montreal, the executiv,
committee, and all others who had contributed
to make the excursion pleasant and mos
successful one. A neat poem. was read by
Mr.. A. Ross of the Boston Daily Advertiser
and the excursion proper was disbanded. A
social dance followed this, in which many
participated.
On Friday morning the train was taker
for st. Johnsbury, where the party began t.
separate, some to accept the invitation of tn,
Messrs. Fairbanks to visit their extensiv,
scale works in that town, little more thar
one hundred to keep on to the White Noun
tains, others to branch off to Lake Winnipi
sogee, and others still, few tired fugitve'
| of the pen, to take the shortest cut directly
to their homes. Those who went by the way
of the lake were delighted with the supple