The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1872-09-27

NAl bIc 5cfCIdl AO1uLtOLlCS3 NC
could but draw unfaForable COM
parlson between the well ventilated
rooms, the neat cots, &C., as con-
structed with too many infrmaries
in our own land. AS the hour of
noon approached, We entered the
chapel already containing a goodIv
number Of American visitors, and
were seated by our conductors near
where he assured us the lady-super-
ior would stand during the devotion
al exercises. Precisely at twelve
fifty nuns entered in double file,
passed down the aisle, halted, knelt
and arose in obedience to the signal
of the lady-superior made by elapp-
ing together the leaves Of her pray
er-book. Prayers and responses
over, they left the room as they came
in, with perfectly timed crossings
and genufections. All were dressed
in gremb gray, with striped aprons,
and black caps. The great fashsion-
able world was crucifed here for
ever. Some were young and pritty,
and others in middle and advanced
life. All wore a pensive, sad, and
sickly expression Of countenance as
if cast il the same mould, the result
shall we say Of that terrible and un-
natural crushing out Of their Wo-
manly affections, or Of long fastings,
of daily contact with affiiction, and
sorrow of midnight vigils by the
bed of the dying, Of prayeTful Wrest-
lings with sin-cursed notions. When
these self. sacrificing souls shall have
passed to their reward, fifty others
sealing their hearts to eartly attach
ments and pleasures will have taken
their place, and so has it ever been
since the gray nuns in 1892 founded
their convent here on the ground
first broken by Champlain as early
as 1911, and named by him Place
Royale. Hither has come the high
born dame from France, satiated
with the frivolities of noble and
courtly life, seeking refuge from the
vanities of the world in the perform
ance of her monastic vows by the
side Of the Indian Maiden fresh
from primeval forests charmed by
the imposing ceremonies of the RO-
mon ritual Who shall say that these
institutions are an unmixed evilG
Who shall deny that they are in
struments Of good2 And yet who
would desire to see a friend, a sister
immured for life within the cold
walls Of any eonyentP Is it or is it
not well that there should be such
places Of refuge for those who wish
to retire from the world and dedicate
their lives to works Of charity and
religion? We certainly left feeling
no harsh criticisms over the work Of
the Gray Sisters of Montreal what
ever opinion we may entertain as to
the doctrine that such notions and
privations are duties incumbent
upon any as conditions Of heavens
favors.
We visited next the English Ca
thedral, and the Church Of the
Jesuits. Both these churches cruc-
form in plan, the first imposing ex-
ternally and internally. The Church
of the Jesuits in its interior adorn-
meats Is by far the most beautiful
and magnificent Of any in Montreal
and probably unsurpassed on the
continent. We spent some time in
viewing its paintings and the beauti-
full frescoed groups that adorned its
lofty walls and arches. The lady at
tendant informed us that the church
was in debt 100000. We contrib
uted our mite to its liquidation by
an investment in stereoscopic views
of the building.
On our drive homeward to our
hotel we passed Nelson's Monu-
ment. Better by far that it should
have been erected to Jackrues Cartier
or Champlain than to the hero Of
Trafalgar or any ether old world
hero. This is but another ilustra-
ton of the subservient loyalty of the
Canadian people, their reverence for
every thing English.
In the afternoon we visited st.
Patrick's Cathedral, more gorgeous
in its adornments but by no means
as beautiful as that Of the Jesuits.
In looking upon these magnificent
and beautiful churches, one cannot
Danish the reflection that much Of
the money expended on them has
been contributed from the heard
earnings of the poor who could i'll
spare their benefactions.
1t was our design to take our fare
well view of Montreal from the top
of the tower Of Notre Dame. The
toiIsome ascent achieved, the view is
in every respect grand and exhilar-
ating. The green crested mountain
is before us. The black Ottawa
meanders through the distant plains
to its junction with the blue Saint
Lawrence. The mountains Of Yer
mont are seen in the misty southern
horizon, whilst still other mountains
rear their SUBMITS in the far north.
Montreal with its glittering dOmes
and tin covered roofs, its shaded
avenues, its solid mass of masonry,
its ocean and river shipping lies all
around and beneath us. Its histori-
cal associations come croWding thick
around US. Here below US once
stood the Indian village Of Hochel-
oga, with its palisades, its maya
zines Of stores for defensive warfare,
its oblong dwellings enclosing the
great squaw of the place. Hither
came Jackues Cartier in October
1886 with fifty French sailors and
two Indian guides, whom he had the
previous year kidnapped near the
| gulf of st. Lawrence and taken to
France. A thousand Indians were
now on the docks gathered to bid
them welcome with gifts Of corn,
with laughter and shoutings. All
night long, before their blazing
campfres, they danced their glad
welcome W bu6 ucuA4- 5OA SeAaA szOAS3
who with swords, and guns, and he'll
NETS. and bearded faces had come
among them as from another planet.
In the morning they led them
through the forest already dashed
with scarlet by the autumnal frosts,
through fields of ripened corn to the
souaw of the village. Men, women
and children gathered around them